North America
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If I Could Start My Exchange Year Again: Lessons from Calgary
Deborah Oshidero, University of Calgary, Canada Spending a year abroad at the University of Calgary has been one of the most exciting, challenging, and eye-opening experiences of my life. Looking back now I feel like there was a lot of things I would do differently if I had the chance to start it all over again. So this last blog from me is essentially me telling you what to consider and do when on your own year abroad experience! While I wouldn’t change the friendships, the memories, or even most of the mistakes, there are definitely a few practical things I wish I had known from the beginning. First and…
- Application, Canada, Erasmus, Global Guidance Ambassador, Mental Health, North America, Uncategorized, University of Toronto, Year Abroad Travel
Rainy Days and Dealing with FOMO: The Art of Solo Dates
By Isabelle Henaghan, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada Choosing to do a year abroad can be daunting for many reasons. You might end up reeling pros and cons lists on your notes app on the 142 as you reach closer to the acceptance or referral deadline with My Placement. But whether you had premeditated the concern of feeling alone or not, I am confident that it is a feeling that almost everyone experiences during the exchange. Doing a year abroad is one of the best decisions I have made for myself. I have absolutely loved meeting so many new people from all over the world, and I have found the…
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Study Abroad Application Advice/Help/Guide
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Why Kensington Market Is Still One of Toronto’s Best Places to Explore
By Isabelle Henaghan, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada Kensington Market quickly became one of my favourite spots in the city. It’s a neighbourhood that feels completely different from downtown Toronto with so much colour, creativity, and character. The streets are lined with vintage stores, independent cafés, tiny bakeries, and food spots from all over the world. Every time I go, I notice something new: a mural I hadn’t seen before, a second-hand shop hidden down a side street, or a live band playing outside a café. One afternoon, while browsing through a vintage shop, I started chatting with an elderly leatherworker who had been working in the area for decades.…
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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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North Carolina State University: How to Navigate your first week
By Phoebe, North Carolina State University Leaving home and starting fresh in a new university for a year can seem like a daunting experience. Trading a familiar city, routine, and support network for somewhere completely new inevitably brings a mix of excitement and uncertainty. But stepping onto campus as North Carolina State University for the first time, I quickly realised that a year abroad isn’t just about adapting to new places- it’s about discovering a new version of yourself along the way. Arriving in Raleigh after studying at UOM felt surreal. Manchester’s usually grey skies and tightly packed streets were replaced with the sun, green campus spaces, and a distinctly…
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The UDLAP Handbook They Don’t Give You
by Scarlett Gilligan, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Mexico I have the world’s best privilege of spending semester two in Cholula; however, for most of my friends, they have moved on to other places, jobs, continents — you name it. This got me thinking that despite being here for a semester, I am still learning about my university. Don’t get me wrong, I do love this place, but UDLAP can be very confusing — it is wonderfully random. So, here I will provide future generations with little tips and tricks I have learned whilst being a student at UDLAP, which will hopefully give you the prime experience! The Gym First…
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From Manchester to Madison: My First Week as a Badger
By Orla Feeley, (University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA) First week as a Badger officially completed, and somehow it already feels like I’ve been here for much longer (in the best way possible). After arriving in Chicago and getting a 3-hour coach to Madison, I arrived at my dorm and immediately ordered Chick-fil-A, as one does when in America. I spent the first day acting as a tourist in the city: walking past Camp Randall Stadium, exploring the Memorial Union, walking up State Street, seeing the Capitol, and, of course, making my way to Lake Mendota.
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Exam Season on Exchange
By Deborah, The University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada My first semester on exchange went by SO quickly, honestly it felt like exam season came and poured a bucked of ice water over my head. While exams are stressful no matter where you’re taking them, the experience here felt surprisingly structured and supportive, especially within the law faculty. One thing that really stood out during this period was how much effort the university put into student wellbeing. There were loads of organised events running alongside revision season, including doggy yoga sessions, studyathons, and other low-pressure activities to help students decompress. These were genuinely helpful in breaking up long days of studying…
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Adjusting to Life at the World’s No.1 Public University
Lucy Blanchard- UC Berkeley, United States When I got my letter from the University of California saying I’d been accepted into Berkeley I was, quite frankly, elated. It had been my dream school ever since my first-year self decided she wanted to study abroad. Reading that letter, I felt every bit of self-doubt and stress lift from my shoulders– I did it! I got into Berkeley! All my hard work had paid off. Aside from this, though, nothing could have prepared me for the transition period once I moved. I’m here to tell you about my experience, so you can be well prepared for the first couple of months at…
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Life in Toronto – What To Expect
By Isabelle Henaghan, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada. Sunset from Toronto Islands
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Making your Host University Feel like Home
By Phoebe, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States When i first landed in Raleigh, I was honestly a mix of emotions- excited, nervous and slightly terrified that i’d packed the wrong power adapter. Studying abroad at NC state sounded amazing in theory, but stepping into a new country, culture and campus all at once? That’s a lot. But, it didn’t take long for NC State to start feeling like home. Orientation week was a blur of new faces, campus tours, and icebreaker games that made me forget everyone’s name five minutes later. But it was also where i met some of my closest friends- other international students who…
