This article is a repost from The Blue Dragon, the former DKU premier independent student-run publication…

When the international students at Duke Kunshan University first received notice last January advising them to return to their home countries, few imagined that ten months later, they would still be unable to return to China. Fortunately, four South Korean students have been the exception and have successfully arrived in Kunshan. Now that New York University Shanghai has communicated plans to bring their international students back to campus, the hopes of some Duke Kunshan University students have reignited that they may be permitted to return to China. Semin Kim, a first-year student from South Korea, has graciously shared some advice for those who may come after her.

Expect expensive flights. Semin shared that her one-way ticket from Seoul to Shenzhen cost approximately 7,600 RMB. The scarcity of tickets offered drove Semin to use a travel agency to purchase her ticket. Without the travel agency, she speculates that she might have been able to secure a flight at half the price, but the travel agency assured the legitimacy of the tickets.

Consider flying into a variety of cities. Semin chose to fly from Seoul to Shenzhen due to the greater availability of cheaper tickets compared to flights to Shanghai or Nanjing.

Bring towels! And enough clothes! Wisely, Semin packed towels, as the hotel did not provide her with any. However, each morning upon receiving her first meal and reporting her temperature, the hotel presented her with three roles of paper towels. Perhaps these single-use towels were meant to be used in lieu of standard bath towels. Semin also shared that throughout her quarantine, she was unable to do laundry.

Pack plenty of your favorite non-perishable snacks. Semin relied on the hotel room service for her meals, but she supplemented them with the cereals and pea soups she brought from home. Also, her hotel allowed her to order packages from Taobao, but she was not able to use Waimai delivery. Policies on food and package delivery vary by hotel, so it is best to prepare in advance.

Expect to be flexible. Semin’s arrival to China was fraught with uncertainty. Thirty-six hours before her departure, Semin learned that she would have to complete an additional fourteen-day quarantine after leaving the quarantine hotel. She did not know her assigned quarantine hotel until she arrived at it from the airport.

Plan on paying for meals at the hotel in which you are quarantining. Semin would order her meals through WeChat: she sent a picture of her desired meal from the hotel menu and paid with cash. Upon her arrival, the hotel offered her the opportunity to preselect meals at a fixed price, but Semin opted to order à la carte. The meal plan pricing was as follows: 20 RMB for breakfast, 40 RMB for lunch, and 40RMB for dinner. Although the meals were expensive, she enjoyed sampling all sorts of local dishes. Her favorite breakfast was the French Toast, which cost her 22 RMB, and her favorite dinner was Stir-Fried Rice Noodles with Beef, which cost her 32 RMB. Complementing her meals, the hotel provided her with two bottles of water a day, but she was responsible for purchasing any other beverages.

Keep yourself busy. Semin spent her days in quarantine on calls with her family and friends, doing schoolwork, watching lectures, and watching Netflix. She also shared that the internet connection was not always stable, and at times she was unable to attend synchronous Zoom sessions. For exercise, she would pace around her room and follow workout videos sent to her by her advisor.

Finally, she expressed that the COVID-19 tests will be stressful but that you need to remind yourself that it will be okay. Semin had to present a negative test result before departing from South Korea and then upon her immediate arrival in Shenzhen. There was also required testing upon arrival and before departure from the hotel in which she quarantined.  She recounts that the tests made her anxious, but the stress was ultimately unnecessary.

The Blue Dragon would like to thank Semin Kim for contributing to the publication and sharing her experiences! If you have an idea for a story, or would like to share your experience, please reach out to us!