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Montreal: Pedals, Parks & Public Transport
By Katie Dolan, McGill University, Montreal, Canada From the very first day that I arrived in Montreal, the city was noticeably vibrant, clean, and well-taken care of. In the summer time, there was music on every street, and every restaurant was full of people sitting outside on terraces. But as the months passed and the weather got (A LOT) colder, the atmosphere didn’t change. People embraced the cold weather and the snow. Every frozen lake became an ice rink, and winter jackets were fashionable. Over the year, the respect and love that Montrealer’s have for their city became so obvious. Montreal is such a unique city because it is literally…
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Merci Montreal
By Katie Dolan, McGill University, Canada After facing every challenge that comes with moving 3,000 miles away from home for almost a year by yourself, it truly is saying goodbye that is the toughest part of going on an exchange. I always thought going on an exchange would be a great experience, but I never could have imagined just how great it would be. After being home for a couple months now, I have had some time to reflect on my year in Montreal and all my favourite areas of the city, classes that I took, and trips that I went on. I feel so lucky to have lived in…
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Rockin’ around the Canadian Rockies
By Katie Dolan, McGill University, Canada Banff, you are absolutely beautiful! After a year in Montreal, a couple of friends and I decided to take a final big trip to the Canadian Rockies before our exchange was over. In early May, we went to Banff, and I can confirm that it is well and truly worth the hype. We landed in Calgary late at night, so it was very dark when we arrived in Banff, and we didn’t see much that night. The next morning, I got ready and went downstairs for breakfast where we were staying. I have never in my life made toast with such an incredible view.…
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Keeping Warm in the Cold
By Katie Dolan, McGill University, Canada After a few months of only seeing minus numbers on the weather app, I am finally beginning to defrost, and now I can safely say that I have survived my first Canadian winter! If you take anything away from this, the most important tip I have in dealing with temperatures like -20 degrees is to face it and enjoy it. I know that sounds a little crazy, but I truly mean it. Whether that involves actually spending time outside or embracing alternative options like joining an indoor sports team, it is the best way to stay surrounded by friends and avoid feeling isolated and…
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Navigating Academic Life at McGill
By Katie Dolan, McGill University, Canada McGill isn’t nicknamed the ‘Harvard of Canada’ for nothing! If I am being honest, there is a pretty hefty workload at McGill. This might not be what some of you want to hear, but as someone who hasn’t said no to many (or any for that matter) social activities during my exchange, I have been able to manage my workload just fine. In all seriousness, yes, there can be a lot of work, but it is more than doable, and McGill students really live up to their ‘work hard, play hard’ reputation. Class Size and Schedule As a business student, I have been studying…
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Reading Week Roadtrip: NYC, Boston and Vermont
By Katie Dolan, McGill University, Canada. Eight days, three states, and a ton of photos later, it’s safe to say that I’ll be thinking about this trip for a long time. New York With around 10 days off in October, some friends and myself decided to go on a trip to New York, Boston, and Vermont. We got a night bus from Montreal to New York which got us in at around 8am in the morning. You can imagine how much a NYC bagel and coffee hit the spot after the 8-hour bus ride. But in fairness, the bus wasn’t actually too bad at all and I would be lying…
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My First Two Weeks in Montreal!
By Katie Dolan, McGill University, Canada McGill’s Redpath Museum Wow, I have completed my first 2 weeks in Montreal and what an amazing few weeks it has been! If I am being honest, I wasn’t all that excited for my study abroad year when it finally came around to it. I know that is not usually how people feel. It wasn’t nerves or fear that was causing this, it was more the effort of having to reinvent your life – making new friends, finding a new favourite study spot, a new grocery store, or a new café that you love more than the rest of them. I found the thought…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
