News Summary
A winter storm in January created significant travel challenges for international students returning to Lexington for the spring semester. Delays and cancellations left many, including students from tropical climates, stranded at airports. They faced lengthy waits, high ticket prices, and lack of winter clothing. While some struggled with the chaos, others found joy in experiencing snow for the first time. Despite the turmoil, students remain hopeful as they settle back into their studies amid Kentucky’s unpredictable winter weather.
Winter Storm Delays International Students’ Return to Campus in Lexington
Lexington was buzzing with excitement at the start of the spring semester, but for many international students, returning to campus turned into a real-life travel saga, all thanks to a winter storm that swept across Kentucky the weekend of January 11.
The storm turned an already challenging travel experience into an absolute whirlwind for some students coming from tropical climates. Flights were canceled and delayed, leaving many stranded and scrambling. One of those students, Quézia Arruda Cunha, faced a staggering struggle while flying back from her home in Niterói, Brazil.
From Brazil to a Bumpy Journey
Arruda Cunha had always managed to reach Lexington in a pleasant 10 to 11 hours. This time, however, her journey took an astounding 24 hours. She embarked on her journey leaving Rio de Janeiro at 7 a.m., making stops in Lima, Peru, and then Atlanta, Georgia. But the real adventure began when she landed in Atlanta. Along with her friend, Camila Pimentel, they found themselves stuck on the plane for four hours, without any internet service to keep them connected.
Things took a turn for the worse when Arruda Cunha realized she had been placed on the standby list. This meant there was no guarantee of getting on the next flight to Lexington. The wait was torturous, stretching into another 24 hours at the airport with only a meager $12 food voucher for Chick-fil-A, which felt like a drop in the bucket given the airport prices!
To make matters even worse, both students ended up sleeping on the hard floor of the Atlanta airport while they waited for a flight. After what felt like an eternity, Arruda Cunha finally arrived in Lexington on December 11, just two days before classes were set to begin.
High Costs Keep Students from Returning
Another student, Mauricio Sancho, a junior studying mechanical engineering from Heredia, Costa Rica, also felt the brunt of the storm’s impact. Sancho had to push back his return, missing the first day of classes due to skyrocketing ticket prices caused by the storm. The earliest flight he could find to Lexington was not available until December 14.
Sancho shared that many international students usually take two to three flights to get to Lexington. As he was stuck in Costa Rica, he worried not just about missing classes but also about the icy conditions in his Kentucky apartment. With the potential for his apartment’s pipes to freeze, he was left hoping for everything to hold together until he could return.
Winter Weather Woes
While Sancho dealt with travel challenges, he also lost access to critical student resources like MyUK and his student email while in Costa Rica, complicating his communication with professors. Mentally and physically preparing for Kentucky’s cold after living in warm Costa Rica was another hurdle, especially since he lacked proper winter clothes and had to rely on the Coats for Cats program from the University of Kentucky.
Another international student, Marianna Escobedo from Guatemala City, faced similar challenges. Not having a car made it a struggle for her to get winter clothing when she returned to Lexington. She reminisced about her first snowy experience, recounting how difficult it was to pack enough warm clothes while feeling the chill for the first time.
A Newfound Love for Snow
Despite the chaos, not every student viewed the storm negatively. Ana Carolina De Souza, an aerospace engineering student from Vitoria, Brazil, expressed her long-held fascination with snow. While it sometimes made her want to hibernate indoors, she also cherished the opportunity to experience a different climate. In fact, many students like De Souza found joy in activities like building snowmen and having snowball fights!
This winter season has already seen its fair share of chaos in Central Kentucky, with significant snowfall reported. The latest winter storm warning projected an additional 4 to 6 inches of snow and highlighted a state of emergency declared by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear due to hazardous road conditions.
In the wake of these weather challenges, it was reported that the storm led to over 170 crashes and 280 stranded motorists across the state. While this winter has been filled with obstacles, many students remain hopeful as they settle back into their studies and embrace the unpredictability of Kentucky weather.
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Additional Resources
- KY Kernel: International Students Face Travel Difficulties
- WLKY: Friday Winter Storm in Kentucky and Indiana
- Kentucky.com: Weather News Article
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Winter Storm
- WBKO: Impactful Winter Storm Expected
- Google News: Winter Storm Kentucky
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