So, to recap Ky’s year a bit…
He returns from China to Iowa last August and his sophomore year starts as it should. We later celebrate Christmas with him, his birthday, and even manage to take him on a spring break get away. And then…
Covid hit.
After spring break all our students come home and stay home. That is an adjustment for us parents just as much as for the kids. I move from supportive parent to everyday interactive parent. Anyway, back to the kids…
All three of my teens finish the school year with online studies. Ky rolls with the punches as well as any and finishes his daily assignments without struggle. He even manages to earn a 4.0 grade average for the semester. What a trooper. But with the school year done, what about going home to China?
What Covid Means for Ky
The spread of the Corona virus affects each of us differently. For Ky, it means no plane ride home to China.
In January or February, the virus was just starting to leave China and beginning to invade the United States. Normally during these early winter months, Ky’s dad would have been purchasing a plane ticket for Ky to fly home in June. But because Ky’s dad had just been through what the United States was about to encounter, he knew that buying a plane ticket could be futile. So he waited.
Good thing he did. Other international students from Ky’s school who had a plane ticket home are just stuck. Their flights have been cancelled with no promise of reschedule. A few students cut the school year a little short and took a last minute flight home a few months ago already, just to make sure they could get home at all. No such luck for the rest.
Up In the Air
Now the virus is receding slightly here in Iowa. Businesses are starting to open, restaurants at half capacity. It seems that flights might be doing the same. But that’s only what makes sense to me. I don’t know the actual status of international flights.
So I don’t really understand the main reason why Ky can’t go home. I have heard that one airline currently flies to China, but the ticket prices stand way beyond what Ky’s parents can afford. I have also heard that the few flights going to China don’t land anywhere near where Ky lives.
Family Separated
Anyway, I know that Ky’s parents would have him home in a heartbeat if at all possible. They miss him terribly. He has grandparents, aunts and uncles that would love to see him. And of course Ky looks forward all school year to the day he can fly home. But that might not be until next summer. His parents thought of flying here to the United States to spend some of the summer with him, but they are afraid they won’t be able to get home again. If the air prices drop in the next month, Ky’s dad may fly him home in July, but Ky would only get a month or so at home. Maybe better than nothing. But a month at home is only a possibility. Most likely he will just stay.
An Actual Chinese Summer Student?
We told Ky in March already that he is welcome to stay with us if he can’t go home for the summer. He has his own room, own computer and of course he has us. No reason why his life style during the school year can’t continue through the summer.
Although the daily summer schedule certainly differs for him, meaning a schedule doesn’t really exist. The first week after school ended already brought him boredom and maybe a little frustration. He slept in, got up to eat a bit, played a few video games and wandered aimlessly. The other two teens have can drive and have jobs, so they are in and out every day. But poor Ky can’t drive and isn’t allowed to have a job. So he is stuck at home. We have, however, come up with a few activities to occupy him.
Algebra
He started a daily online algebra class to keep up on his equations. Not a fabulous summer past time but better than video games. This class makes him a literal Chinese summer student.
Chores
I also came up with a chore list for all three teens. So Ky takes time every day to complete household chores like emptying the dishwasher, wiping down the kitchen table, or cleaning up the dishes from the sink.
Chinese Friend
And, an extra special treat, he met a new Chinese friend this past weekend. Max is also a high school sophomore and lives right here in our little town, just a few blocks away. Max goes to a different high school in Des Moines, but is from the same city in China that Ky is from. And Max is also stuck here in Iowa for probably the whole summer. Hopefully these two can spend some time together in the next couple months.
Weekly International Club
In addition, since so many international students are stuck in Iowa for the time being, the International Club from Ky’s school decided to have get togethers on Fridays for the summer. They will meet for lunch or supper on Fridays so they can see and support each other. This will be great for all of them who probably feel like fish out of water, having no rigid schedule and missing their families.
What’s Ours Is Yours
So, as we have heard over and over in so many of these Covid situations, this isn’t what any of us planned but we’re all trying to make the best of it. Ky didn’t plan to be a Chinese summer student and we didn’t plan to host a Chinese summer student. But in reality, we have a 16 year old Chinese boy that is somewhat homeless and homesick. The least we can do is let him stay in his second home.
Ky, we don’t have an abundance of options to offer you during the summer, but you are welcome to what we have. Here’s hoping you can enjoy your first home sooner than later.
I know your family will make him feel as comfortable as ever. Poor Ky. It has to be so difficult not to be able to go home .
Prayers for him to enjoy time with Max and other outings he will go on. Your family will
encourage him and help him through this difficult time.