I came across one of the more interesting, out of the norm over the phone assignments yesterday. It was an overseas phone call between a dean of the students affairs department in a university and the parents of an international student. The discussion revolved around an urgent matter regarding the student's current status.
The conversation started off with an introduction from the dean who then informed the mother that her son will soon be released from the hospital on Tuesday. Her son is subjected to go straight back to his homeland upon discharge because according to the professional opinion of the dean, the student is incapable of continuing his education, and due to his current condition, is unsafe to remain in the university. With that being said, the boy will be escorted to the airport and be sent back home in a plane come Tuesday.
Mom almost went hysterical when she heard that they will put her son on a plane, have him fly across the globe and go on a few transits, via a 20-plus-hour flight route all alone under his "unsafe condition". She pleaded (assuming she was in tears as her voice was cracking) that the school could show some leniency by allowing her son to stay in his dorm until his parents arrive to take him home. The parents addressed their concern to the dean that they were extremely worried should anything happen to the boy on his way home since he is undergoing a dramatic phase in life and will definitely be in distress. Mom and dad were already trying everything they possibly, humanly could to expedite their visa application so to execute the trip ASAP. All they asked for was a few extra days.
The dean enunciated that the university cannot take the responsibility for her son who is an adult over 18 and shall not be liable for a student's unsafe condition in school, their son therefore, has to go home immediately upon discharge; on the other hand, the dean stated that doctors confirmed that it is safe for their son to leave the hospital and board the plane to return home despite the "unsafe condition in school" claim. (It sounded paradoxical, but it isn't up to the interpreter to challenge any contradictions) More than once the dean emphasized and reaffirmed his position, meanwhile, avoiding the parents' inquiries about the possible outcome if their son refuses to get on the plane. (Ahha...)
It appeared that the school would rather risk the student suffering an unforeseen mishap outside campus vicinity so to evade responsibility(not to mention ignoring the parents' questions about possible adversities), than to cut his parents some slacks by accommodating them with a few extra days to arrange for the travel. (Again, the interpreter is not allowed to be opinionated toward the context of assignments)
In the end, the dean was resolute to have Friday as the deadline. How compassionate, it must be a ginormous favor to ask of him to allow 3 extra days for the panic stricken parents during these exigent circumstances. They just bought themselves some bonus days, they should be grateful. If the parents couldn't arrive in time, the student will be put on a plane and sent away on Friday.
I truly felt sorry for the parents.
Imagine the pain they have endured learning about their child on the other side of the world going through a turmoil in life, on top of that, having to take drastic measures to make sure he gets home safely, not even taking into account the amount of efforts the parents toiled through to send their child to school overseas in the first place...
Hopefully things work out in their favor. Amen.
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