In London, Theresa May’s Government is working fervently to try to deliver an acceptable Brexit (Britain’s departure from the European Union) deal by the April 12 deadline. But on the other side of the world, several IU students are already feeling the effects.

James Gibson, an exchange student at IU from Northern Ireland, has been trying his best to follow the news, but acknowledges that it can be tricky to keep up. “I definitely had more insight when I was back home, I think it was a lot easier to keep up back in the UK,” Gibson said.

Even before he left for his semester exchange, the specter of Brexit was already having a big impact on Gibson’s US experience. Since the referendum, the value of the British pound has dropped sharply, meaning that the money Gibson had saved back home was less valuable in the US than he had originally anticipated and planned for. Gibson, studying business at Kelley in Bloomington, attributes this economic effect to Brexit, saying it was the first change that he noticed.

Gibson’s home of Northern Ireland is one of the biggest talking points with regard to Brexit. There has been a history of violence and terror in the area, leading to the eventual establishment of a fragile peace. However, Brexit threatens this, as experts say it will likely result in the implementation of a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Gibson, who’s grandfather served in the police during the “troubles”, fears a return to violence in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s history of violence makes it a key area in the Brexit debate. Source: Pixabay

“Purely looking back at the history of it, people are very against it, on both sides, Northern Ireland and Ireland. So I think if Theresa May, or anyone else, was to introduce that, it would definitely have a negative effect on the country,” Gibson said.

“Safety is the number one [thing] that I’d be worried about”.

It can be hard for someone like Gibson, trying to enjoy their once-in-a-lifetime experience in Bloomington, to be worried that the home to which they’ll return may not be as safe as when they left.

Another English student currently at IU, Eve Day MacNeely, is still holding out hope for a reversal of Brexit plans. “I signed a petition to repeal Brexit completely. It had like five and a half million when I signed it”, said MacNeely, “I don’t necessarily think it’s going to happen. The will of the people can change”.

MacNeely expressed concern that voters in the initial Brexit referendum were misinformed about the effects. “I think people definitely didn’t think about what the effects were going to be when they voted. I saw a lot of news the day after it happened where people were saying, ‘Well, I didn’t know what I was voting for’, which I think is sad”.

“I think it’s probably one of the worst political decisions ever”, said a passionate MacNeely, “I think it’s stupid”.

MacNeely has family all throughout Europe, and says that hindrances to freedom of travel will be of particular concern to her and her family.

Eve and James both see Indiana University Bloomington as a home away from home, but they now must play a waiting game to discover what sort of home they will be returning to when they depart Bloomington at the end of this semester. Decisions which will have a massive long-term effect on their safety, freedom and financial futures are being made on the opposite side of the world, and the pair are hoping to enjoy their remaining weeks here before it is back to the harsh reality of a post-Brexit Britain; whatever form that Britain takes.