Barbadian students opt to remain in Korea to continue studies

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, two Barbadian students have opted to remain more than 9,000 miles away in one of the global epicenters of the disease, as dozens others are packing their bags and heading home.

When Ryan Rock and Dorial Quintyne left Barbados on Government scholarships from The Republic of Korea (South Korea), they never envisioned being virtually trapped in the midst of a crisis-stricken country.

But both students are praising the Asian country’s “proactive” response amid the second wave of imported cases again threatening their safety, and are hoping Barbadian authorities take a similar approach as the country records three new cases.

Latest statistics indicate that South Korea has the highest infection rate in Asia outside of China with more than 8,400 cases resulting in 81 deaths.

The two Barbadian students have been watching in disbelief as life around them has been changing rapidly in the cities of Daegu and Seoul.

“When we go outside, we always have to wear a mask and although some people are still dining in at restaurants, most are either ordering and having it delivered or going for takeout meals,” said Ryan.

Ryan Rock

Dorial Quintyne

The 24-year-old, who first entered the country in August last year, now limits his outside activity in Daegu to the campus cafeteria for lunch and a nearby basketball court for exercise.

“Sometimes I wanted to come home, but being so far away and looking at those ticket prices, I knew I couldn’t get home as easily as some other people,” accepted the St Lucy resident, who intends to pursue studies in plant pathology and horticultural science after gaining proficiency in the Korean language.

After more than a month in the foreign country, Ryan, who is COVID-19 free, is satisfied that any attempt to get home would have exposed him to the risk of contracting the virus and bringing it into Barbados.

“Between Daegu and the international airport near Seoul is about five hours by bus and two hours by the fastest train. There would have been many people and the situation would have been out of my control and the risk of exposure would have been much greater trying to get home,” he explained.

“Countries have also decided to quarantine people coming from Korea. The transit ports to get to Barbados are Canada, the U.S or England and it’s possible I would have been quarantined in one of those three countries, so it really didn’t make sense rushing to come home,” Rock added.

As he sits in his dorm daily, content to catch up on his studies, Ryan is finding comfort in the fact that members of the Cave Hill Seventh-Day Adventist Church in his St Lucy stomping ground are continuing to keep him in prayer along with the staff at his Alma Mater, the Barbados Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School.

The young man is also in contact with his family at least twice daily despite a 13-hour time difference.

Meanwhile, Dorial Quintyne has been studying in South Korea for two and a half years and is now in her final semester in Seoul. Ironically, she is studying for a master’s degree in Public Health and Epidemiology.

Unlike Ryan, she was returning from a vacation in Barbados in early February, as Korea recorded its first cases, much to the concern of her friends and family.

But her confidence in Korea’s healthcare system and its government made her feel comfortable returning.

She explained that although “all” masks are gone, hand sanitiser is everywhere, disinfectant is abundant and even elevators are outfitted with anti-viral films that reduce the spread of the virus.

All schools have been suspended at least until April and universities are conducting online classes, giving her confidence that she may be allowed to submit her thesis proposal and graduate at the end of the semester.

“A few weeks ago, it was like a ghost town because everybody was trying to go through with social distancing and minimise social contact based on the government’s advice.

I think that really worked because even in stores, they would tell you if you don’t have a mask, don’t come in. And only a couple people were being allowed in at a time to make sure that places are not too crowded. People are working from home and if necessary, they are only going in once a week,” she explained.

However, like her colleague in Daegu, Quintyne would rather have endured the ordeal in the land of her birth with her family and friends.

“I know the healthcare system in Korea is good, but family would be best. Even though I would be comfortable with the doctors over here and I could communicate with them in Korean, I would rather use English and I would rather be with family,” she said.

As her worst fears subside, the public health student is turning her attention to unfolding developments in Barbados with the hope that the current government will be as proactive as the leaders of the Republic of Korea have been.

“Some countries only waited until very severe cases occurred. But in Korea, every time you go into the subway, they announce that if you’re feeling ill, just call a hotline and they will come directly to you. They have drive-thru testing and walk-through testing where you walk into a booth, they sanitise everything and you get tested and you get your results in a few hours.

“It’s proactive and efficient and that is the key. If you wait until things get worse, then how will you be able to track the cases? How will you be able to know how many people you came into contact with? How will you know the reproduction number of it if somebody is a ‘super spreader’? she asked.

Despite Korea’s still high number of new cases, the country has been wrestling the outbreak to more manageable levels.

“Even though the numbers seem very high, this could be seen as a good thing because authorities are confirming these cases, putting people into quarantine and giving them treatment,” Ryan told Barbados TODAY from his dorm room in Daegu.

He decried “unnecessary” panic buying which serves to place dozens of people, especially the elderly, at a disadvantage.

“You hear some people saying it just attacks people who are 60 or 70, like if they don’t need to be taken care of. Given that this particular virus targets the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions, I think we must do more to take care of our elderly, remembering that they are responsible for getting us where we are today,” Ryan added.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb