Message from the Editor: In China, life isreturning to normal after taming the coronavirus. However, many parts of worldare still in lockdown. Currently more than 700 ZJU students are studying inoverseas institutions. How are they dealing with this crisis over there? GlobalCommunications contacted six of them and asked about their recent life.]

ZHENG Yixian, PhD Candidate

Major: Marine resources and Environment

Overseas university:the University ofBritish Columbia (Canada)

Starting time:Aug, 2019

‘In mid-March, UBC began to perform onlineteaching, close the laboratories, and restricted the number of on-campus staff.During this period of time, apart from the need to go out to buy food, Ibasically stayed in our room. The number of COVID-19 cases increase in anastonishing speed. At 7 o'clock every night, my neighbors cheer for the medicalstaff fighting the pandemic. They play the trumpet, knock on the bowl, stomp onthe drums and whistle. There was no one on the street, but every householdholds this ceremony at the same time to pay tribute to every frontline staffmember.

Everyone's daily routine is changed by theCOVID-19. For me, online lessons, writing essays, cooking, limited exercise,and a very limited occasions of going out are my new normal.”

WANG Shan, PhD Candidate

Major: Materials Science

Overseas university: National University ofSingapore (Singapore)

Starting time: Aug, 2019

“With ever-increasing number of confirmedcases globally and more reported cases on the NUS campus, we all felt a littlebit panic. Everyone closely monitors the progress of this outbreak throughdifferent channels. Self-protection tips and psychological counseling wereupdated to us from Chinese embassy, study abroad WeChat groups, and my teachersin Zhejiang University these days, which is very reassuring.

Furthermore, I was so touched by the peoplefrom the embassy that they distributed facial masks to us during the heavy rainand they even skipped their lunch to make sure we all got the masks in time.Through this unforgettable experience, I feel the strong support from themotherland. Gradually the anxiety went away and I am doing my best to cope withthe crisis.”

SUN Tiantian, PhD Candidate

Major: Marine Resources and Environment

Overseas university：Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research (Germany)

Starting time: Dec, 2019

“Leibneiz institute has been scheduled tobe closed from March 15th to April 19th, 2020. Since then, I have started tostudy from home. Group meeting in our geological team used the Zoom webconference video to exchange ideas and keep the progress of researchprojects.

My supervisor here is a very responsible tome. Due to the pandemic, all my experiments were postponed. He asked me toanalyze the data from previous experiments and help with the preparation of anarticle. I am trying my best to keep up with scientific research as normal.”

ZHANG Lulu, PhD Candidate

Major: Marine Resources and Environment

Overseas university: UniversitatPolitècnica de Catalunya (Spain)

Starting time: Sep, 2019

“Since the outbreak of epidemic，Spain has entered the ‘emergency state’. Most stores were closedexcept pharmacies and supermarkets that operate to meet people's basic livingneeds. UPC campus was closed as well and I started to study at home. UsingSkype video, my supervisor connected with me regularly.

I also participated in a meaningfulactivity that forms spontaneously in my neighborhood. At 8:00 pm every night,people go out to their balcony and clap hard for the medical staff and thepeople infected by the virus.”