Living the exchange student lifestyle in Frankfurt, Germany, was an indescribable experience, saturated with joy, adventures and travels. But along with the blissful, memorable moments came mistakes and chaotic situations that simultaneously turned out to be great learning experiences.After embracing the perks and pitfalls of studying abroad, here are my top recommendations for anyone preparing to venture upon the exchange journey.
6 months. That sounds like a lot of time, but it goes by faster than you’d think. Time is of the essence. It sneaks up on without you noticing. One day you’ll wake up and it will all be over. The reality of it is that exchange is only a small fragment of your life. That’s why soaking in every bit of the experience will ensure you won’t be left feeling dissatisfied with it.
I traveled to Denmark for my student exchange and stayed in Copenhagen for 6 months. I discovered that there is always a shortage in time. It is up to you to make the most of it in this foreign and magical place. How long is your stay abroad? 6 months? That is 26 weeks or 4,380 hours. Take note on some of these tips to help make the most out of your exchange.
Continue reading How-to Guide to Having the Best Time Abroad
Never in my life would I have pictured to have such intense experiences in just one semester! Traveling is without a doubt in my genes and it is something I wouldn’t want to miss in my life. So, I started looking for opportunities to spend a semester abroad while academically improving and making progress in my studies. Luckily, my home university in Trier (Germany) is partners with Ryerson’s School of Child and Youth Care. I was in a rush – applied – got picked – got accepted and just a blink of an eye later, I arrived at Pearson Airport in August 2018.
Landing back home in Canada at Pearson Airport felt strange, in the sense that it felt like I never left home in the first place. For the past five months I lived in Europe, constantly experiencing new cultures and cities, with each day being so spontaneously different— yet everything at home remained exactly the same.
I had never put much thought into going on exchange until second year when I received an email about an exchange meeting. I have always had an urge to travel the world so I thought I would check it out.
From that day on, I had my heart set on studying abroad.
Continue reading A Broad, Abroad: Toronto to Perth, Australia
So you’ve heard about the exchange program and you’ve already listed all the cities you want to visit. You’re daydreaming about the incredible sights you’ll see, flavorful foods you’ll try and inspirational people you’ll meet until the thought of the associated expenses tramples you back into the reality of a student budget.
As exciting as going on exchange is, you still have to be a responsible adult (sigh) and plan your expenses, but you shouldn’t let financial fears stop you from studying abroad. Managing and budgeting your expenses (especially in a different currency) is a valuable skill that might give you a new outlook on your spending habits, even upon returning to Canada.
Don’t know where to start?
When I was preparing to go on exchange to Edinburgh, Scotland, I was flooded with speeches from relatives and friends, filled with statements such as, “you’re going to have such an amazing time!”, “this will change your life!”, and “you’re literally the luckiest person in the world.” While I was incredibly grateful for the countless words of encouragement to ease my anxiety concerning this massive move across the world, I noticed that no one had discussed how different life would be once I returned home to Canada.
Continue reading Edinburgh to Toronto- Reverse Culture Shock
“I spent the past month predominantly in southern India and survived one of the worst natural disasters in over 300 years to take place in the state of Kerala.”
More than 1 million people in Kerala were displaced into refugee camps, the navy and military in full effect, airports, railways, and roads closed throughout the state because of monsoon rains and landslides, with the death toll surpassing 300. Now that I’m home, settled, and trying to show this jetlag who’s the boss, it’s time to share stories. I will post more photos on Facebook in the coming weeks.
By: Hana Glaser, Undergraduate Student in Creative Industries
Going to study for a semester abroad has always been one of my dreams. I had pictured myself going to school in a city, making friends with the locals, and learning all about the local culture. Although this was a small part of my experience, I lived a completely different reality that surpassed my expectations.
By: Maria Bendo, Undergraduate Student in English, Faculty of Arts
From the moment I got back to Canada, I’ve had trouble trying finding words to describe what my exchange was like. I spent the first five months of 2018 studying at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland during the second half of my third year. Strangely, I’ve found myself struggling to answer questions about it. I usually reply with “Oh, it was amazing!” or “Honestly, would go back in a heartbeat,” which are both extremely true, but I’ve never really elaborated upon it. So, I’m going to make an attempt.
