After receiving my approved letter/mail from the U.S. Embassy in Suriname around February this year, that I made it through the application of the Hubert H. Humphrey fellowship, the waiting started. The program starts somewhere in August 2020 till June 2021. But the whole world started to change- not knowing that this would happen; A ‘pandemic’ started. ‘The COVID-19 pandemic.’
You have read about this virus that has a high spread rate but a low death rate. People all over the world, and even in Suriname died because of COVID. This virus is new; and there is a lot of conspiracy and theories around this virus. How this virus can ‘kill’ you is when you have underlying medical condition, and when your immune system is very low. That is why they say the elderly are the ‘high’ risk group. The symptoms are like the flu. The only difference is: it is new and there is no vaccine. In my logic when I should test like the internet says (CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html) ‘How will it be secure? It is new, and are the testing methods, really secure and does they really say we have COVID? When having COVID or getting the symptoms that indicates that you might have COVID or the flu, this virus ‘attacks’ your lungs. How does this virus reach your lungs? Simply, just like how the flu is spread. Someone in your area (mostly closed airconditioned areas) are sick, they sneeze and cough, they touches surfaces and you talking to them- breathing the droplets or touching the surfaces they touched, and Viola- You got the flu OR now COVID. I learned from my childhood: always to wash your hands before eating, coming from the toilet, once in a few hours, because everywhere there are bacteria’s. And I know you might say that a virus is different. One thing I know: A virus needs me or other living hosts to multiply and bacteria (good and bad) lives around us and in us. So, by constantly washing our hands (OCD) and constantly putting that hand sanitizer (that contains chemicals) repeatedly you are also helping to create a more unhealthy environment for your bodies immune system. Putting hand sanitizer on your hand before eating is so unhealthy. I prefer washing my hands- just like I have learned as a child before cooking or eating: wash your hands. DISCLAIMER: You need to do your own research and not only from mainstream media, also from the small independent media outlets, that are now also bringing the different sides of news. Try to put all the puzzles together. It takes time, effort and energy, but it is in your best interests.
HUBERT H. HUMPHREY PROGRAM
I hoped and prayed that the program will continue, despite the ‘pandemic’. Friends and family where eager to know, and also advised me NOT to participate due to the world spread. In agony again, I refreshed my email account to see if I had some news. No News ;( The American Embassy in Suriname relies on the State Department. A month later, I received a mail from the director of Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship in America; it was an update regarding the program. There was a change in the program. The outlook still looked good, but not for this year. BUMMER. We would have a delay in arrivals, prior to the start of the spring academic term it is in our host university to decide if we arrive no sooner than December 2020 or early January 2021. This fellowship requires to be in-person and actively participate for your own personal development and experience. It is possible that we would have virtual engagements. All depending on the host university.
MY HOST UNIVERSITY
When this mail on August 19 reached my inbox I got so excited. I started googling my host university. My host university is the Arizona State University and I will attend the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. That means I will stay, not a year or 10 months, just six months in Arizona, Phoenix. I haven’t told you, but this program is fully funded. With the money I get from the Institute of International Education (IIE) I will pay for my housing, living expenses and everything regarding the program- even professional development and cultural experiences. It is in my best interest to experience how an American citizen is living with the monthly allowance they get. You need to pay taxes and also always tip (the service is also excellent) whenever going out. Arizona State University is very big. There are five locations: Tempe, West, Polytechnic, Lake Havasu and Downtown Phoenix. I am located in Downtown Phoenix. We, as a cohort, have a lot of adventures ahead of us, because of the exploring.
VIRTUAL SESSIONS
After this email, a lot of exchanges started; from writing bios to attending some getting-to-know-us Zoom session. In these session we also got a lot of instructions about our housing, for when we arrive in Phoenix- more getting-to-know-everything-of-the-program. Within our own experience, de cohort per individual, had also their own lives in their country. I still had to work till the day I departed, and still am working a little remotely. Since I see that I haven’t got paid- I stopped working. Next was working together with the Embassy, they needed to know, that my host university still wants us to be in Amerika before the spring semester starts. De cohort got a WhatsApp group, so we could get to know each other. In September we enrolled into Canvas (University student platform)- more Zoom sessions. We also had sessions with professors, alumni’s, others (media persons, IIE, etc. ) and seminars we needed to attend.
Things got real when I needed to show a letter of approval. It got realer when they (host university) advise us to prepare for departure on December 1st. I knew that when I requested and sign my lease for my apartment in Phoenix, this program will happen. Unless, I got my visa- I was still very quiet with coworkers. My visa was issued on November 16th and within the next week- I tried to contacted the Fulbright Commission in my country- so they can start the application for my ticket. I started to prepare for my departure.
Yes! I had a medical exam- my immunization and much more- these were very important as well.