Following a nearly two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, SUNY schools are set to once resume study abroad programs this spring.

Study abroad programs were brought to a stall across SUNY during the spring of 2020 as nations worldwide declared lockdowns and other restrictions amid the worsening conditions triggered by COVID-19.

For SUNY Oswego student Romeo Yotat, the opportunity to be part of the first group of SUNY students to study abroad since the start of the pandemic, he said, means a lot.

“I always had studying abroad in the back of my head since my freshman year of college,” Yotat said. “I was thinking about it over the summer and I decided, ‘You know, let me take a risk.’ You never know when you are going to get another chance.”

Yotat said he was looking into completing the program from Barcelona, Spain or London, in the United Kingdom.

“Knowing how much I love soccer and how I played soccer since I was little, I chose Barcelona because I wanted to really put myself out there and it is also out of my comfort zone,” Yotat said. “I never really traveled outside the country except for when I first came to America in 2008. This will actually be my first time traveling alone.”

Both Spain and the United Kingdom, along with France and Italy, the top four study abroad destinations in Europe for SUNY students, had been labeled as “Level 4” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention throughout the study abroad hiatus. The CDC identifies four levels of risk, with the fourth being the highest of all. Of those, only the United Kingdom remains at the highest risk level.

“The process really was long, but was really worth it,” Yotat said. “It has not really hit me yet. I’m honored I got accepted.”

Study abroad programs could be canceled at any time up to 30 days in advance of the start date.

“It has been stressful,” Yotat said. “It is like gambling. Basically, we have until Jan. 15.”

Being part of history as SUNY resumes study abroad programs means a lot for him, Yotat said.

“The pandemic really had an effect on all of us,” Yotat said. “Making history, going abroad and knowing this difficult situation, I get to learn a lot of things about myself. I am really excited to see the difference between Barcelona and America.”

If SUNY cancels study abroad programs due to the pandemic, refunds will not be issued, although they will allow students to complete the experience online or postpone until the summer months.

SUNY schools have been receiving foreign exchange students throughout the pandemic as individual institutions were able to make that decision on their own over the past year, although in order to send students overseas they needed to get the all-clear from SUNY, records show.

The Oswegonian has reached out to SUNY for comment on the status of study abroad programs but has not yet received a response.

Image via Javier Rodriguez