Foreign students in Wuhan cherish dawned fall semester, confident in campus anti-epidemic measures

Most students in China's kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools and universities will embrace their fall semester as usual on September 1, marking China's success in containing COVID-19 and providing students with safe campuses.

Foreign students in Wuhan, Hubei Province reached by the Global Times expressed confidence in their school's anti-epidemic efforts, as well as excitement to study together with their classmates. After more than half a year staying in dorms and taking online courses for the whole spring semester to prevent the spread of COVID-19, they can finally enjoy the direct experience of the classroom.

Some said the epidemic made them value face-to-face discussions with professors and classmates, and vowed to study harder in the new term. 

Primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, colleges and universities across China have basically opened from August 15 to October 10, according to Ministry of Education. All the 31 provinces and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps have made clear the arrangement for the beginning of the fall semester.

"I can't wait to embrace my classmates and teachers as I have never seen them face-to-face for around seven months because of the epidemic. The regular opening of fall semester in Wuhan, such a brave and heroic city sacrificing a lot for fighting against the virus, makes me excited," said Barry, a 27-year-old Gambian man pursuing his bachelor's degree in mathematics at Central China Normal University (CCNU) in Wuhan, told the Global Times on Saturday. 

Barry spent the most severe months of the epidemic on campus. He expressed his gratitude in being able to study safely, contrasted with the high risks of infection from US campuses reopening.