Missing the University of Leeds already!

My journey at the University of Leeds started about seven months ago. I was really excited by finally starting one on my biggest dreams...to study my master abroad. My family and my closest friend were with me at the airport, I was sad to leave them but at the same time happy to start a new journey.



I enjoyed a lot my time at the University of Leeds. Taking many classes surrounded by really interesting people. Former journalists, ex-government officials, people committed to social causes, and so on... Above were my master’s classmates who later become my friends. Also, I was able to meet fellow Mexicans in the University of Leeds. They were from all over my country! I was really lucky to have met them there. Many of them are Engineers but still, we got along pretty well and become really good friends.

Everything was nice: classes, gym, parties, jobs but all of a sudden the news started to report about a new virus, the coronavirus also known as COVID-19. In the beginning, it seemed like a faraway thing but then it started to spread really fast and before we knew it, it was really close to us in Leeds...

My family was worried about me being far away and after talking and thinking we decided that returning back to Mexico, my home country was the best thing for me to do. I had around three days to leave my life in Leeds behind. Having to put all your life in a suitcase is really hard, I was really sad for physically leaving my dream but I was kind of relieved travelling back home before the global pandemic get worse.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, the University of Leeds has been really comprehensive towards the situation. Our teachers are supportive and try hard to teach us in the best way they can. No, I cannot hang around with my friends after classes...but sometimes we do hang around the video call after the teacher logs out of the online class.



Although far away, the internet has made it possible that I continue studying with access to a huge online library (it’s not the same that being in the 13th floor of Eddy Boyle), but at least I can be up to date with my lectures and have access to many books to continue working with my dissertation. I talk through Skype at least once a week with my dissertation supervisor and when in doubt, I send an email to the School of Media Communication officers or my teachers, which always reply very fast! 

Most of all, the University of Leeds is always reaching to us making sure we are okay, offering online courses and tips for looking after our mental health in this time. We all are learning about this new way of teaching, learning and communicating. I am sad not being in Leeds anymore but at the same time I am glad about the experience I had, the knowledge obtained and the many friends that I have now from all over the globe.

I hope everything gets better, I really do. I cannot wait to go back to Leeds and see my friends again, go back to the classroom in the G.17 at the Clothworkers North, have lunch with my classes in the Refectory and then a coffee in the Common ground in the Leeds University Union...finish my day in the library, and of course, finishing the week by having an amazing burger and a pint in the Old Bar. I really miss the University of Leeds...but we must stay safe, stay indoors and stay motivated so we can return to normal soon.