Capilano University Students Blogging Abroad

What drew me to Vlissingen was the fact that the city was right on the North Sea and I figured would be similar to living by the ocean in Vancouver. Once I arrived here I realized this city is nothing like Vancouver, but in a good way! If you have a free hour just go for a bike ride up the coast along the beach and stop at the boulevard for a coffee. My time here has been amazing. Just the other day I piggybacked through a babbling brook and up a grassy knoll too and was given an incredible view of the beaches in Breezand. When you get off the bus it might seem like it was an accident, but no worries once you stare at a map and see the town is only one street it is hard to get lost; you will find the beach very easily. The highlight of my time in Vlissingen over the past couple of weeks has been getting to know the many other students. This city is small which means that everything is close, and therefore walking or biking down the street means high chances of running...

1)   This past trip to Lyon, France and Geneva, Switzerland I realized that it is absolutely horrible to arrive in a city in the dark. I had done it last year when I arrived in Barcelona, Spain and no matter how much you look up what bus or train to take it is impossible to take it when it is not running because of the late or early hour. Not only is it dangerous to be alone in a new city in the dark and no one is around except for creepers, it is expensive as well because you end up taking a cab if you are lucky enough to cab and not have to walk. I was lucky to have a cab pre order to arrive at 4 am, so it is up to your judgement if you want to risk it because some small places may not do that. For instance in Bordeaux when I called a cab at 3 am they said there were none available. My advice is to not arrive in a city late at night, and if it is a big city you can have a early departure time. 2) This trip I found out that using google earth would have been a very good i...

Depending on what kind of activities you are into in Australia don’t let your apprehensiveness of “going it alone” keep you away.   The Blue Mountains just 80k West of Sydney is a great place to explore, enjoy nature with beautiful waterfalls, and have some reflective moments alone.   The park is massive and most bushwalking trails can be accessed close to the train station.   Alternatively sticking your thumb out is another option if your adventurous and don’t mind having the odd convo with a stranger.   I went on a hike called the Federal Pass in the Blue Mountains, SOLO.   It was a 40 minute walk from the train station to the conservation hut, where the friendly staff sold me a cheap map to find my way around the park and its majestic waterfalls.   The walk itself was 5 hours and takes you from the cliff top down through majestic waterfalls to the cool valley below.   Unique geological formations makes it possible to walk overtop and under...

If I don’t do it now… when will I do it? Soon I’ll graduate, have a job, a mortgage, a few children and I’ll be using the excuse that I’m just   “too old” . It took many months of planning and much “umming-and-ahhing” about whether I was even capable of doing this. But in the end, it’s all about exploring the world; new beginnings and new chapters in my life. Looking back on it now, I know this is best decision I have ever made. My time abroad has been incredible. I have had the opportunity to see different views and appreciate every detail of the world I’m in. I have to admit, I didn’t know much about Switzerland upon my arrival but in these two short months, I have hopped on many trains and explored most of the country. What amazes me most is that although the cities are small they have a lot to offer. Whether it be traditional cuisine, historical attractions, exciting nightlife; the common denominator is its filled with great people.   The genuinely sincere peop...

  So I moved to Vlissingen, the Netherlands, and studying at HZ University for a semester. Let me give a little of what has led me to this point, I had been planning on studying abroad since I began university. Before coming I had been working between 60 to 70 hours a week between school and two jobs. I took leave from both my jobs and came here.   I am going to write about time for my first blog post and the importance of taken advantage of the time you gain while you are studying abroad. If you are ever bored here, do something about it. Since coming to HZ, I have made sure to take advantage of my extra time. There are many student programs that allow you to get to know other international students as well as Dutch Students. During the beginning it is important to meet the others because these people are going to be with you during your stay here. They are in the same situation as you so it is really easy to meet. Since coming I hang out with a great group of people...

During my spring break in Vienna, Austria myself and five other exchange students I met and became friends with (one American, one South Korean, one Finnish, one French and one Spanish) travelled to Italy for two weeks.    Our first stop and most memorable part of the trip was Venice, Italy, it is an absolutely breathtaking city.   The first day we arrived it was quite surreal the weather was amazing, we were in jeans in a t-shirt and the sun was shinning. We spent the whole day walking all throughout the city and taking beautiful photos.   For lunch we sat in the sun on the water and I split a Calzone and a salad with one of my friends.   A Calzone is a special Italian pizza that is folded in half and has air in it, inside the pizza was ham, sausage and mozzarella. This city was so amazing due to the weather, food, the view of the water, castles, churches, buildings and of course taking one of the famous gondola rides.   I would highly recomme...

It has been around a month since I arrived Sapporo, Japan, to study graphic design and illustration. The past month was filled with creative inspirations, cultural shocks, and adventures. Since my first day at Bisen (our school), I have indulged myself in its resource collection. I visited the school library every two to three days, as most of the books there can’t be found in Vancouver. The Japanese design aesthetics as well as its way of thinking differ greatly from those of North America. The art forms seem more delicate and emphasize on touching the audience in subtle ways rather than shouting the core concept out loud. Maybe this is a manifestation of their culture – reserved, harmonic, and detail-oriented. Painting at Bisen Japan is an amazing place. One of the things that struck me culturally was the people’s high level of courtesy and social collectivity. It seems that almost every action I took (some even as small as opening a door or pressing an elevator butt...