Musa K Ceesay, an international student from the Republic of Gambia who is Grant holder of Azerbaijan Government Scholarship and studies bachelor at Baku Slavic University with the major of international relations shares his main challenges about the coronavirus and describes his student life in quarantine days.

1.  When and how did you receive the news about coronavirus? What was your first reaction?
I first received the Coronavirus news in late February 2020. I got the information from our University class WhatsApp platform. My first reaction to the news wasn’t distressed because I wasn’t panic.

2. Was it your decision to stay in Azerbaijan during the pandemic time or it was too late you leave the country? (if yes, why?)
It wasn’t my decision to neither stay in Azerbaijan nor should I leave for my country because the signed agreement was to visit my country once, every year. However, no one had ever thought of such pandemic would have emerged; therefore, my stay in Azerbaijan in this period is unconditional.

3. Your life in Azerbaijan during the pandemic.
To be frank enough, my life in Azerbaijan during the pandemic wasn’t bad because I am not a good fan of going out regularly even back home. I like staying indoors when I have nothing important to do outside.

4. Does your university supply you with online classes? Do you attend the online classes? What are the advantages and disadvantages of online classes?
Yes, my university was and still providing me with very active online classes. Yes, I attended almost every class provided for us.
The advantages of online classes are as follows;
1. Accessibility to make research on a particular topic or assignment at any given time.
2. It’s easy for me to make an omission and addition to my research work whenever presentations are ongoing.
3. It saves my energy to and from the University.
4. I do have an absolute relaxation before and after the lessons.
The disadvantages of online classes are as follows;
1. The number of network problems.
2. My inability to understand the complete explanations of Russian language to the expectation.
3. Unarranged time schedules for classes.

5. Coronavirus: the pros and cons of keeping universities closed. The pros of keeping universities closed.
1. It makes me start and finish whatever University works is given to me and on time. I go to bed anytime I’m exhausted.
2. Not bothering about waking up early.
The cons of keeping universities closed.
1. University closure creates a little bit bored with me.
2. It keeps me in my house all day.
3. It distances me away from my friends, classmates and University staff.

6. How do you spend your time now? Has anything changed in your daily routine? Hobbies before and during COVID-19.
I spend my time on revising my University materials, researching, cooking, talking with my friends and family members around the World on Social media and following current news around the World. Nothing has changed in my daily activities. My hobbies before and during COVID 19 remained the same.

7. Did you try to learn something new or discover your new skills during a lockdown? (yoga, studying new languages...)
I was struggling and still trying so hard to have a complete understanding of my new language (Russian Language), to be comfortable learning with it just like the native speakers.

8. What lesson have you learned from this pandemic? Please express the advantages and disadvantages of this situation
Advantage.
I learned that no one is an island. Meaning, no country can stand alone without the assistance of other countries. Germany donated China about 130 Billion Euro for Corona Virus damage. Cuba as a country has sent many doctors around the world, including Italy, South Africa and Venezuela among the list to help and fight Coronavirus.
Disadvantage.
I learned the highest percentage of lives destruction of the twenty-first century, where more than 330,083 people to be exact have lost their lives throughout the world and about 5, 108, 943 have already been confirmed infected in more than 213 countries.

9. Comparison of the lockdown in home and host countries.
The home would have been little better, I would have been together with my family, compared to the host country, where there’s no single relative except my very good friends and the entire University management who are like parents and perfect guidance to me. The host country is not bad, but family members back home would always be worried and sceptical about the situation and condition I am living in.

10. Your communication circle during the quarantine.
My communication circle during quarantine was superbly good.