A 15-year-old Mount Aspiring College (MAC) student faces a journey home on a repatriation flight from Argentina tomorrow (Saturday April 25), after which she will be in quarantine in Auckland for two weeks.

Scarlett Norman left for a three month exchange in Rio Cuarto on February 24. At the time, Scarlett’s mother Natalie told the Wanaka App, COVID-19 “was happening, but hadn't really kicked off”.

After attending a welcome camp in Argentina, Scarlett settled in with her host family and new school, where she quickly made friends.

But after only two weeks of school the country went into lockdown.

“It’s all been quite stressful,” Natalie said. “It’s been quite a roller coaster in a way.” 

Scarlett with her Argentinian “sister” Paula.

She and her husband Chris attempted to book Scarlett on a couple of flights home, which were cancelled by the airlines. As Argentina is 16 hours behind New Zealand, there have been many hours spent late at night organising bookings.

“It just became incredibly difficult. Scarlett made the decision to stay and wait until she was safe to go home,” Natalie said.

But Scarlett has now secured a seat on an Australian repatriation flight tomorrow, with 12 other Kiwis.

“She’s really sad to be leaving her Argeninian family, she loved the school and made great friends quickly. She’s also very aware this is her last chance to get home,” Natalie said.

Both the New Zealand and Australian embassies indicated there wouldn’t be another opportunity this year.

Scarlett will leave early on Saturday morning and be driven for eight hours to the Australian embassy in Buenos Aires. She will go through a health check with the others going on the flight before boarding.

Because of Scarlett’s age the embassy has allocated her an unofficial chaperone - another Kiwi woman being repatriated.

“She’s nervous about it but she’s confident that she’s got everything in place for it to go smoothly. We’re so lucky that she is so independent and so capable,” Natalie said.

Because it is a charter flight, every step of the way is being managed quite carefully and there seems to be a contact person at every step, Natalie said.

“I think I’ll feel one step of relief once she boards the plane in Buenos Aires.”

Scarlett with her host family in Argentina.

The flight goes to Melbourne, where the Kiwis will stay briefly in a transit facility before flying to Auckland. Scarlett will be quarantined in a hotel there for two weeks. 

She will turn 16 while in quarantine, on April 30.

Natalie said Scarlett, who is a Year 11 student, will be trying to catch up with her school work while in quarantine.

“The teachers at the school have a fantastic set-up for digital classrooms. She’s an athlete so she’ll also be trying to keep fit.”

Scarlett is one of MAC's track and field stars, and competed at the secondary school nationals in December. 

Natalie and Chris have continued to work full-time from home during lockdown (their older daughter Estelle is also at home, having returned from music school in Wellington). 

Natalie, who is head of product for Mons Royale, said she has completed the whole clothing range for next winter while in lockdown, which, given the situation with Scarlett “has been very challenging”.

“It’s a big life journey for her. I don’t think we’ll really breath easily till she gets home,” Natalie said.

PHOTOS: Supplied