Vicary, an Appalachian international exchange student from England, arrived in August 2019 with plans to return to England in May.

“I have received a lot of support from both my home institution and Appalachian’s OIED during COVID-19. It is good to have some other internationals here who I would classify as my little family. We’re all in the same situation,” he said.

Vicary continued, “This will not define my experience here at App — I’m very grateful for my time here, although I won’t get to say goodbye to many friends. Without a doubt these have been the best few months of my life, and it’s not quite over yet.”

Nazareth, who is from the United Arab Emirates and has attended Appalachian for three years, said, “This experience has taught me a lot about my strengths and weaknesses as a student and about my community in Boone.”

She said Appalachian’s OIED has helped her sort out her visa restrictions, which limited the number of credit hours she could take for online courses.

“I realize online classes are not ideal for most students, but the professors at App State have tried their best to make these courses engaging for all learners. I have heard several stories from my peers about the kindness and flexibility their professors have demonstrated,” she said.

“My experience during this time has made me more grateful to be a student at App State. I have seen our community come together to help each other. I feel strongly that this community I am part of will bounce back and thrive soon,” she said.

Yang was born in Beijing, China, and moved to Asheville in 2010, where she attended boarding school while her family remained in China. She has attended Appalachian for four years and will graduate in May with dual bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and exercise science and a minor in biology.

She was scheduled to participate in an Appalachian Alternative Service Experience trip to Costa Rica during spring break 2020 but decided not go because she was worried about not being able to return to the U.S.

Witnessing what the coronavirus did to her home country, Yang said, “I thought it would never happen in the U.S. So now I’m living through what my friends and family experienced, but two months later.”

“I think everyone is doing their best to stay positive and supportive. This is an important time to show leadership through encouraging each other and keeping a positive outlook,” Yang said.

Aside from her schoolwork, Yang said she is using her extra time to read books and preview some material she will learn next year in dental school.

“At Appalachian, I have learned healthy ways to cope with tricky situations and to maintain a positive outlook. I don’t know if I’d be equally equipped to handle this COVID-19 situation without my App Experience,” she said. “There are so many happy memories, camaraderie and wonderful relationships I can choose to focus on, and those will define my time here at Appalachian.”

“It is a challenge being far from home and being worried for the safety of my family,” said Cherubala, a first-year international student from the Democratic Republic of Congo. “I believe this time will really test my dedication to my studies as well as my mental health.”

Cherubala, who is majoring in community and regional planning, added, “Student Services and OIED have been great sources of support by checking on us (Appalachian’s international students) and sending information on how to stay safe with the virus.”

Cherubala said she is finding “nourishing ways” to stay mentally healthy — picking up a book or an interesting article to “feed her brain.” She said she expects to come out of the pandemic more knowledgeable and motivated.

“I have been at App State for almost two years and will likely stay through the summer to finish my thesis,” said Tovar, an international graduate student who is pursuing dual master’s degrees in political science and applied data analytics at Appalachian.

“There is a large amount of uncertainty about pretty much everything in my life right now. It is hard to get an authentic picture of how the situation is in my home country and get a grasp of the level of risk for my family,” Tovar said.

“As an international degree-seeking student, there is a second layer of uncertainty. If I were to leave the U.S. I am not sure when or if I could return. OIED has done a great job in keeping us updated on recent developments regarding international students — they quickly moved online and helped me with all my questions,” he said.

Yilmazer, who has attended Appalachian since August 2019, said he was attracted to the university’s Master of Science in technology degree program due to the program’s combination of technical instruction and hands-on work. The program is offered through the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment (STBE).

As a graduate assistant to Brent Summerville, practitioner-in-residence in the STBE department, Yilmazer said he has particularly enjoyed working on wind turbines atop Beech Mountain at the university’s Small Wind Research and Demonstration Site. However, this fieldwork was discontinued under the COVID-19 conditions and has been replaced by virtual experiences such as instructional videos — including one made by Summerville that provides details regarding the main utility panel in his basement.

“The STBE faculty have been very supportive and creative these last few weeks,” Yilmazer said.