Diary of a student in swine flu limbo

Rangitoto College student Jaimee Berkahn, 16, has returned from "the trip of a lifetime" to be locked in quarantine for the past four days.

Here she documents the sequence of events that led her to craving schoolwork ... and the freedom to walk to the dairy for a block of chocolate.

Monday, April 20: Today we are going to the International School to meet our host families and I am really excited. I have developed a cough over the last couple of days but apart from that am feeling very well and just excited to meet my host family and stay at their house.

Tuesday, April 21: I had a fun day today. The 25 of us got together with all our host siblings and had an awesome day getting to know one another's host families. My cough is getting worse and I have slightly achy muscles but it is not too serious or a major bother.

Wednesday, April 22: Today, my host mum took my temperature and I had a slight fever but I am feeling all right so it isn't anything to worry about. We had a fantastic day today, we all went to Six Flags, the theme park, as a group and also went to the movie theatre. I have been coughing a lot for most of today.

Thursday, April 23: It is leaving day today, goodbye Mexico! Today was very emotional for all of us as we had to say goodbye to our Mexican host families who we have got to know well and will miss very much. We are going to be starting our return to New Zealand later on in the day. My temperature is gone and so have my achy muscles, however I still have a bit of a cough.

Friday, April 24: We lost today when we passed over the International Date Line.

Saturday, April 25: The last few hours of our flight from LA to Auckland were tiresome but it was a good flight. Arriving at the airport to greet our families was wonderful and we are all glad to see one another again. I am feeling very good today, my cough is slowly disappearing day by day. However, today we have been assigned to voluntary quarantine because of the swine influenza outbreak in Mexico. It is quite a surreal event but everybody is just being cautious. I got swabs taken tonight and the results should be back tomorrow.

Sunday, April 26: My mother and I have been in quarantine all day. We have been contacted by the Health Department and our quarantine period could be anything from two days, up to seven days. My swabs came back negative and we have been given Tamiflu to take but still are under quarantine as a precaution. I am feeling very healthy today and my cough is almost gone away but I have a minor sore throat.

Monday, April 27: Quarantine is starting to get a bit boring, but I am happy that my mum is here with me. My sore throat is gone but both mum and I are feeling headachy as side-effects from the Tamiflu but are otherwise healthy and eager to get back into our daily routines.

Tuesday, April 28: Today I got interviewed by CNN and TV One News. I am very happy with how school has shown us such wonderful support - always ringing up to check how we are doing and if we need anything. I am feeling 100 per cent today and my cough has almost subsided into nothingness! We found out today that we are going to be released on Thursday morning. We are both very excited and eager for Thursday!!