Return of STEP Students

 By OnYou Kim

Seven STEP students, who stayed an additional month in Korea due to the MCO extension, returned to school on September 14th.

The journey of the students began on the evening of August 29th at the Incheon Airport; the group involved OnYou Kim (12), Sieon Park (12), Grace Bae (11), Haeon Park (11), Sharon Kang (10), Hajin Kim (7), and Joseph Lim (7). The plane ride took approximately six hours, and their arrival at the KL Airport signaled their five hours of immigration. Downloading and signing into an app was the first step. The second step involved getting numerous documents verified and the COVID test done in the nose and mouth. The final step was the passport check, which took the longest with nearly four hours of waiting.

After claiming their luggage, the students were led outside where Uncle Brian Weidemann, one of the dorm representatives, was waiting to drive them to Penang. While wearing enormous protective suits, the students were taken to Penang in a van, arriving at the Paradise Hotel at five in the morning.

The arrival at the hotel prompted the students’ quarantine that lasted for two weeks. The inconsistent internet connection was one of their major problems faced in the hotel; however, the dorm parents bought them hotspots, which assisted them in completing homework. Also, many people supported them by supplying them with snacks.

Before the last day of the quarantine, the students had their last COVID test at the hotel, which involved extracting a small amount of blood from their fingers. Thankfully, everyone tested negative, which allowed them to return to the dorms on September 13th.

Their return to school on September 14th marked their transition from online schooling to face to face schooling. Fortunately, everyone adjusted well into school.

Grace Bae (11) commented, “Coming back to school made me realize the importance of the time together with friends and the community.”

The return of the seven STEP students was an arduous journey that required patience and endurance. However, with many others’ considerate help, they could return safely and adjust well back into school.