Capilano University Students Blogging Abroad

Well here we are, 16 hours until take off and its just starting to hit me. We are leaving for China!  I do not know if the word excited can even be used to describe what I am feeling right now but if I had to pick a word to describe my feelings this very moment I would have to say I am thrilled. There is so much that I am looking forward to seeing and experiencing on this trip. If I had to pick one thing that I am looking forward to the most I would have to say… the food! Oh and maybe the Forbidden City.  Honestly there is so many amazing site that we are going to see over the next three weeks it is hard to pick just one. Whether it is roaming the markets, hiking the Great Wall, or early morning Taichi classes this is going to be the trip of a lifetime.             I know that there are many differences between China and Vancouver. I am expecting it to be crowded, busy, and congested. I am expecting a bi...

So the eve of our departure has finally arrived.   All our bags are packed (hopefully), and all we really have to do is wait until the morning arrives.   I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep at all; it’s the excited, nervous, anticipation that usually makes it hard for me to do so the night before something amazing.   It is almost like Christmas! Questions race throughout our minds.   Who will be become lifelong friends?   What experiences will push us outside of our comfort zone and allow us to grow?   What wild new food will we eat?   What is the spiciest thing that we’ll be served, and who will have the best tolerance to it?   Will anyone become sick (stay optimistic)?   Who are the new and exciting people we’re going to meet, what will we learn from them and what will they teach us?   How will we deal with conflicts in the group and emerge stronger; or will the WOLF PACK not have them because we are too awesome?  ...

I cannot express enough the excitement I have for this trip! The thing I am looking forward to most is experiencing the Chinese culture firsthand. Being in the busy overcrowded streets, the different language, the people, the food, I am excited for every part of it. I think visiting the Great Wall of China is also what I am most looking forward to because it is something I have heard about since I was young. I know that China will be much different from Canada in most aspects. The air, the food, the culture, the people, the social norms, almost everything will be a major contrast to what I am used to. Being put in situations that I am not familiar with will be a valuable asset and will give me perspective on how Chinese people feel when they first come to Canada. Being in a tourism degree program, travelling is a valuable asset in addition to having the degree. The most important part of travelling is coming into contact with different cultures all around the world, especial...

Two months have already passed for my exchange in Caen, and I really wish time would go by slower, much slower. Quite a big contrast compare to the first few weeks here, I was rather disappointed at not be able to connect with the locals, as most of the French don’t speak a whole lot of English. It got to a point that I regret not learning French when I was younger, and I have only myself to blame. The group of volunteer students who organizes events for incoming exchange students, Global Village, has been encouraging us to party with them or go on day trips with them. Honestly, that’s the closest encounter most of us exchange students are getting with the locals. Some of the exchange students are quite fluent in French, yet they are still complaining about the lack of love from the locals on a daily basis. More weeks have past, and I’m adapting to this city quite well as I’m exploring new places, discovering new bars to go to, and, best of all, people to hang out ...

I was so excited about the Easter break trip. Me and a bunch of people had been planned this trip for a few month. We decided where we'll visit, booked flights and hostels. We had been travelled the whole time during study abroad period and knew each other well enough like a tacit team . The trip (14 days) Three countries: France, Italy, Spain Five cities: Paris, Rome, Venice, Milan, Barcelona All of cities were amazing, especially Paris and Venice for me. However, t here is one moment I'd like to share rather than the description of this trip . We decided to start this trip at April 1st. The first stop was headed to Paris by taking Eurostar. Due to I wanted to visit a n old friend in Paris, I left on April 1st. I told the rest of them I will pick them up the second day at Eurostar station.    (I was so lucky because his girlfriend is a tour guide for Europe and she knows everything about Paris.) I had a great time at my first day of the trip. I met up my friend at Eu...

Going to school in a small town has turned out to be a positive thing for my experience studying abroad. In the small town of Vlissingen, at first I was a little worried that my choice of location had put me in a town where there was little to do and boredom would come quickly. After being here for a while I now have realised that living in a small town and living in student housing was a blessing in disguise. Because the students all live together in the same building, go to school together, and live in a small town, it has made it very easy for us to become very close and hang out in large groups all the time. Everyone goes to all the parties (because it is impossible not to hear them from your place), everyone knows that spot on the beach where people will be hanging out and everyone’s door is always opened. I love that no planning is really needed, if you feel like going to the beach, chances are someone else is going and a group is probably already there. The people that I have me...

Surfing in Waikiki is the place to do it, especially if you have never done it before. Everyone from beginners to pros ride the waves here. It is said that surfing was invented right here on the shores of Waikiki by Hawaiian legend Duke Kahanamoku. It is the coolest experience when you catch your first wave. Your instructor yelling at you to “Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!” and you thinking, there is no way I can paddle any harder, especially with this big 12 foot board, plus you have the Beach Boys song “Wipe out” playing in your mind.  But all that paddling pays off and feel the wave lift you up and you’ve caught a wave. It is one of the most exhilarating feelings standing up on your board and riding the wave all the way to the beach.  I took a few surfing lessons when I got here in Hawaii and got totally hooked and wanted to keep surfing. I looked into buying a board, but never bought one until two weeks ago. I can now go out whenever I want and I have met a few friends t...

From the moment I stepped off the plane I was ecstatic to feel sunshine and know that I had no plans (for the first time in years!). I found a hostel and get to know the downtown before meeting a fantastically hospitable family who took me in, helped me find a place, fed me and furnished my room when I left.  They were like my borrowed family and I couldn’t have had a better situation.  This beginning of my stay was wholly preparing me for the hospitality and friendliness ahead too, from then on everyone I met was instantly welcoming and open to helping with anything – I didn’t even have to ask.  Everything I had worried about pre departure I was forced to rid from my memory to make room for all the new people I met!  Now, I’ve set up my life in a way that I always try to back home and I have extracurricular activities planned every weeknight including rock climbing and volleyball, I joined a club at school and met other exchange students, my roommates are fantastic...

I did take a few finance classes and learned what Budgeting is. I understood the subject well enough to manage my own money and plan ahead. Obviously that was not true. I totally underestimated my purchasing power and spending habits. Besides, England’s prices and their exchange rate were beyond my budgeting knowledge. Despite the fact that I need to carefully spend money, I created my own illusion of exchange rate: GBP £1 = CAD $1 As soon as I created my own imaginary exchange rate, every thing seemed affordable. My journey started off brilliantly.   My favourite part of study abroad is that no one knows who I am. In other words, I can be whomever I want. “Wear suit like a businessman, speak like a businessman, act like businessman, and Think like a business man. Then, you are a businessman.” Yes. It was the perfect time to choose one and act one. Guess who I wanted to be? I wanted to be a CANADIAN! Of course I am Canadian. I have lived in Canada for more than 6 years and now ...