SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — A UPEI student had a lucky break when he returned from study abroad to visit family in P.E.I. for Christmas.
Kensington native Ricky Jamer became an exchange student at Dankook University in South Korea for three months (June to August 2018). After he attended Hainan University in China for one year, as part of his course majoring in history with a minor in Asian studies.
He worked in Jiangxi and Beijing in China from August to December 2019, before the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) made headlines around the world.
“I’m supposed to return to China on May 11 to teach oral English at Yunnan University,” said Jamer, who is now fluent in Chinese and is currently in Charlottetown studying for his final university exams in May.
He booked flights with Air Canada, but the Government of Canada has a travel warning in effect for China to “avoid non-essential travel,” according to their website visited on Sunday at 5 p.m.
“I think Air Canada would have to refund my trip if I’m unable to return to China, but it’s also a matter of lost wages because that’s where I work and live. I’m only back on P.E.I. to finish my degree,” he said.
Adding, “The coronavirus has been awful and bit overblown by media, but it’s disheartening that the entire country (China) has essentially been shut down. It has certainly put some ambiguity into planning and I’m anxious (to see) if I can return in May.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) listed 79,968 confirmed cases in China, with 2,873 deaths, on Sunday at 4 p.m.
For international traffic WHO stated on Friday, Feb 27:
“Although China, particularly the Province of Hubei, has experienced sustained local transmission and has reported by far the largest number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the outbreak, lately the situation in China showed a significant decrease in cases.
“At the same time, an increasing number of countries, other than China, have reported cases, including through local transmission of COVID-19. As the epidemic evolves, it will be expected that many areas may detect imported cases and local transmission of COVID-19.”
Jamer hopes life will return to normal soon.
“I was asked by Hainan’s provincial government to partake in a program to promote international tourism to its Island. From this, I also started a reasonably successful travel blog. I’m hoping travel can become more of a career,” he said.
In his spare time, Jamer documents his adventures around the world on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FromChinatotheWorldBlog).
Travels include wrestling in Mongolia, a solo cycling adventure around Hainan Island, as well as exploring Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
