George School Helps Sisters Reunite Amidst Pandemic

2020 was a difficult year for many, especially for those separated from loved ones. Nadira Talayee ’22 and her two sisters are from Afghanistan and are all studying in different parts of the United States. George School, along with the Dublin School in New Hampshire, made efforts to reconnect the sisters last summer while neither of them could travel home due to pandemic restrictions. Nadira has been in the United States for over a year now and remained on George School’s campus throughout the summer.

“The staff were emotional support for us. They really did their best to make us feel at home,” she recalled.

Over the summer, George School and the Dublin School, where her sister Rahila studies, took turns hosting each of the sisters on their campus.

“It was really tough for me to not be able to see my family and siblings,” Nadira said. “I went from seeing them every day to not seeing them at all. We were having video calls, but it was nothing like being able to spend time together.”

The girls’ older sister Adela is a student at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. The schools worked together once again to ensure the sisters could remain together throughout the holidays. George School’s Co-Director of Admission, Kim Major, and her husband drove with Nadira to New Hampshire to pick up Rahila, and then drove them both to Maine, where they stayed with Adela.

“Kim and Tim drove us all the way from Pennsylvania to Bar Harbor, Maine. I really appreciate them,” Nadira said. “They drove from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and made it possible for us to be together.”

While the sisters were together, they cooked their favorite Afghani dishes, took morning runs along the coast, rode bikes in Acadia National Park, and enjoyed reading and discussing books together.

Nadira is extremely grateful for the time that she was able to spend with her sisters. “I don’t take that for granted because during this pandemic, most people are not able to see their family and people lost their loved ones. I’m very grateful to have my sisters and I’m so happy that I was able to spend time with them. It really felt like home.”

George School has been working tirelessly to make sure all students feel at home during this unprecedented time. Read more about George School’s programs and International Admission and programs here.