SETTING out from Shenzhen, it took 33 hours to fly from Hong Kong International Airport to Houston of the United States via Doha, Qatar.

After 4 p.m. local time Aug. 15, a Sun Yat-sen University graduate under the alias Zhang Kexin finally arrived at her destination and would soon start her two-year study in the United States.

Zhang, from Shenzhen, began to prepare for studying abroad since she was a sophomore. But as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to wreak havoc on the world and everyday life, Zhang started to wonder whether she could still go to the U.S. for further studies.

After the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou resumed processing of visa applications in May this year, Zhang successfully applied for her visa to the U.S. in June. With the help of her father, Zhang bought a ticket from Hong Kong to Houston via Doha two months in advance.

At that time, her airfare only cost a little more than 5,000 yuan (US$771.5). After July, airfares to the U.S. rose sharply and in August, economy class tickets had risen to 20,000 to 30,000 yuan, and business class tickets had even reached 70,000 to 100,000 yuan.

Although Zhang was not worried about flight cancellation and airfare increases, she was more worried about less rigorous COVID-19 preventive measures on the way to the U.S. However, Zhang’s parents believed there are flight risks anyway and personal protective measures are important, so she gave up the idea of changing for a safer flight.

Zhang took a nucleic acid test in the morning one day before her flight to ensure her certificate was issued within 72 hours before departure.

On the morning of Aug. 14, Zhang’s parents drove her to  Shekou Cruise Homeport to check in and take the ferry to the Hong Kong airport. At 7:20 p.m., the plane took off from the airport for Doha. During her nine-hour flight, Zhang has three meals while maintaining personal protective measures. She arrived in Doha at 11:40 p.m. local time and then upgraded her next flight from economy to business class.

During her flight to Houston, Zhang didn’t let down her guard as well and put on disposable gloves when she had meals.

After the 16-hour flight, Zhang arrived safe and sound in Houston after 4 p.m. local time Aug. 15 and was picked up by her university’s bus to the campus.

(Zhang Yu)