The Coronavirus has interrupted Spring 2020 classes and sent many students home from their study abroad adventures.
This assignment allowed me to use my reporting skills to cover a newsworthy event happening in the world. I used the interviews that I conducted to tell a story for a listening audience through Audacity. I learned the importance and difference of writing for the ear rather than someone actually reading my script. I also learned how to paint a picture for my audience using my words.
Lead: The Coronavirus…a terrifying pandemic… has student’s study abroad plans ruined. Our reporter, Addie Timmermann has more.
Wrap: That’s right. Students all over the world are cooped up in their rooms…taking classes online instead of jetting off to study in other countries.
A university writer describes study abroad.
SOT: 00:01-00:06 “It’s an amazing experience to prepare for working and living in the interdependent world.”
But when your trip gets cut short it is hard to get the full experience.
Caroline Gillis, a freshman attending Class Afloat, comments on the issue.
SOT: 01:01-02:09 “I’m pretty bummed out and it was a pretty chaotic experience because we were told that when we were in Mexico we were told we were going to miss our next two ports and go straight to Canada, so we were going to miss Bermuda and Cuba (cut out the “wow”) and then we set off for Canada and then at two o’clock in the morning I was up for night watch on the boat and we were told that the port in Canada was closed and that we couldn’t go to Cuba or Bermuda and that Mexico has shut their borders down so that we essentially couldn’t get anywhere so we were just floating and our plan was to go back into Mexican waters because that was our last port of call and then we found out that we couldn’t go back so we had to figure out what to do and it ended up that two of the students on board, their parents knew officials high up in the Mexican government and were able to get our boat back into Mexico but for a while we didn’t know where we would be able to go”
Allie Palmer a student at Hobart and William Smith College, says that her status as a junior limits her chances of participating in study abroad again.
SOT: 01:14-01:23 “If I was given a chance in an ideal world I’d like to go back, but given that it’s gonna be my senior year that’s probably not going to be possible”
Refunds and reimbursements are still being negotiated, but as of now most students are expected to get part of their room and board back.
SOC: With Seahawk radio, I’m Addie Timmermann.
Addison Timmermann's Writing Portfolio 