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Home (but the journey continues)
I thought that going abroad was going to be the biggest change in my life this year. But since returning, things are still continuing to change. I have started an internship with the University of Manchester over summer, and in turn, my first full time, professional job. I have lived completely alone for the first time – including setting up all the heating, internet and meters in the house!! And finally, (here comes the biggie) my parents made the decision to move to New Zealand. I feel as if this year hasn’t just been a monumental shift within myself, but my family too. And without studying abroad, I wouldn’t have…
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5 (surprising) things I’ve learned on exchange
By Catrin Stewart, (University of Guelph, CA) As we approach the end of the semester, I’ve decided to reflect upon what have been some of the best months of my life. However, there were a few unexpected bumps along the way, so I’ve decided to list them, and my (suggested) solutions to make the journey smoother for others! 1. Canada is EXPENSIVE And not just in the ways you’d expect. I knew my residence and flights would cost a lot, but food shopping, even with exchange rates taken into account, is about double what I pay back in Manchester. There are ways to get around it, like trying different supermarkets,…
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Hitting Halfway (Winter Break)
By Catrin Stewart (University of Guelph, Canada) Reading week was my halfway point. I was lucky enough to have my parents fly out to meet me in LA and we drove to San Francisco together. We saw everything: Venice Beach, Universal Studios, Haight Ashbury – we even biked the Golden Gate Bridge. California has always been top of my list of places to go and it definitely lived up to expectations. Seeing my parents and getting away for a week was also a welcome break after midterms. Whilst being at university in Guelph is so much fun, being in a small city can definitely get a bit claustrophobic, and…
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Letting Go of Expectations
Before I came to Guelph I have to admit I was apprehensive about what kind of experience I was going to have. I love living in Manchester for the city it is: the arts, music, culture and people. Guelph is much smaller, and I would be living on campus compared to being in Fallowfield in Manchester. Not least of my worries was the nauseating idea of moving back into halls after leaving Oak House behind in second year! I wish I could tell past myself to shut down all those worries. I spent so long concerned about comparing the two universities that I forgot that two completely different things…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
