Bruce is in Honolulu; his belongings are in China

I was studying in China as part of the global track program offered through the University of Hawai‘i's School of Architecture. It is a dual-degree masters and doctorate program in architecture where students spend time between Hawai‘i and China.

I left Shanghai at winter break (mid-January for my Chinese University), and thought I would be gone just a couple of weeks and return to complete the school year. But the coronavirus broke out and all flights between the US and China were cancelled. I had a lease in Shanghai, all my stuff is there, I’ve paid rent but along with my classmates, my student visa has expired (end of March) and I can’t go back, and legally can no longer rent the apartment.

I have lost most of my belongings and the deposit and rent money that I can’t get back. I feel dislocated, staying on couches, very transient and with a lot of stress. There is no clarity around when I can return to China to complete my degree (so I don't know if I should look for a place here). Only one student in my cohort has been able to get re-established here, there are ten of us from Hawai‘i (one is still in China). My master’s thesis, my doctoral dissertation are all still due. I am taking a major financial hit.

This very unique dual-degree program brought me to UH from the mainland. I have an undergraduate degree in Chinese and very much wanted to study architecture in China, so this program at UH was everything I dreamed of. I want to complete this program, get licensed, and work as an architect both here and in China.