Summary(2:00) Calling from Le Marche, Italy -- (2:41) February 21: Communications with family in Italy increased her awareness of pandemic there -- (4:18) Exchange student recently moved to New York -- (6:25) March 9, conditions in NY seemed normal -- (7:23) March 10, discussions about closing CUNY schools -- (9:15) Living close to Brooklyn College in Flatbush -- (09:30) Brooklyn College campus closes -- (10:40) Preparing to leave U.S., meetings with university -- (13:00-14:00) Technical interruption -- (14:30) Confusion about future -- (17:09) Father worried, persuaded her to return to Italy -- (19:50) Explored Brooklyn before departure. Facemasks, but felt normal -- (27:30) Understood was a worldwide emergency on flight home. Quarantine in Italy -- (35:00) Teachers in U.S. more understanding than those in Italy -- (37:00) Beginning of 2nd phase in Italy -- (39:48) Reports from New York classmates about conditions in city. Shocked by photographs from NYC -- (44:45) Future plans.
NoteAudio interview conducted on May 8, 2020, by Maria Luisa Gambale. Collected for the Covid-19 Oral History Project through Our Streets, Our Stories, an oral history project of Brooklyn Public Library.
SubjectQuarantine ; COVID-19 (Disease) ; Epidemics ; Coronaviruses ; Brooklyn College--Students ; City University of New York ; Italy
LocationItaly
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TitleOral history interview with Marilù Ciabattoni on 2020 May 8.