University of Calgary
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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…
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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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Sustainability in Canada: What I’ve Learned (and Am Still Learning)
By Deborah Oshidero, University of Calgary, Canada Since moving to Canada, I’ve been trying to live more sustainably – both in my daily habits and long-term choices. It’s definitely a challenge at times (especially with how far apart everything is!), but I’ve also found small ways to reduce waste and make more eco-conscious decisions.
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Studying at UCalgary: The Ins and Outs
By Deborah Oshidero, University of Calgary, Canada With mid-terms coming up and having settled into life here at UCalgary I thought it was appropriate time to talk about the reality of a law exchange year at UofC. I am a third-year undergraduate student enrolled in postgraduate-level law courses at the University of Calgary, not to make it sound daunting. In all honesty this journey so far has been both intense but still rewarding. Studying here offers a variety of academic courses, big campus life, and the experience of living in Canada.
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Finding Accommodation, Settling in, and the reality of it
Deborah Oshidero, University of Calgary, Canada Moving abroad for school sounded exciting in my head. I imagined setting up my own space, exploring the city, and just getting into that whole “new chapter” vibe. But honestly? The reality of it hit me way faster than I expected. I realised the private accommodation I had arranged before arriving just wasn’t going to work. I had originally signed a lease for a private place off campus, this was because I applied for on-campus accommodation late and was put at 354 on the waitlist. I was optimistic thinking it would be perfect staying in a house, taking the C-train to get to UCalgary and…
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Countdown to Canada: Nine days to Go
By Deborah Oshidero, University of Calgary, Canada With my flight just 9 days away, the countdown is starting to feel real. It still hasn’t fully sunk in that I will be spending a year in a completely new continent and honestly I don’t think it will till I set foot in Canada. It feels surreal, but as the days get closer, my preparation has shifted into full gear.
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Getting ready to move to Canada!
By: Aleksandra Wozniak, University of Calgary Canada An exchange from the UK to Canada is an amazing choice, but you must ensure you come to North America prepared. From heavy snow to multicultural cities and an insatiable amount of maple syrup, there are certain things you must bring to derive the most out of the experience. Here’s an essentials checklist to make packing just a tad bit easier! Important Documents: Clothing for All Seasons If you’re staying through Dec–March: For other seasons: Tech Must-Haves: Helpful Extras Things to Set Up Once You Arrive 1. Get a Canadian SIM CardTo avoid crazy roaming charges, grab a Canadian SIM as soon as…
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Academic Cultural Shocks in Northern America
By Aleksandra Wozniak, University of Calgary, Canada. Landing in Calgary, I thought my cultural shocks would come mainly from the food, weather and people. What I didn’t brace for was a wholly different academic culture. Although united in language, Canada and England differ significantly when it comes to their learning. Hence, when I first saw the letter “B” on top of one of my papers I had a mini panic attack. What I didn’t realize at the time is that Canadian institutions prioritize your learning and growth over grades. Having been comfortably nestled into the first-class zone at my institution, I had to rewire my whole thinking when I moved.…
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Ranking Banff’s top hikes for Canada’s exchange students.
By Aleksandra Wozniak, University of Calgary, Canada. Although Calgary offers great sights, Banff and its surrounding areas are so close that you must visit them, whether for a day trip, camping or a weekend getaway! With many ways to get there (Brewster express bus or carpools being my favourites), you can make multiple trips to the region during your exchange. However, the trouble with such a vast space is that you have so many choices on things to do you may sometimes be unable to choose just one! To help with the decision, here’s my ranking of some of the top hikes to complete. 1. Kananaskis Country (45-90 mins from…
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The Unpacking you don’t hear about: Reverse Culture Shock after Canada.
By Aleksandra Wozniak, University of Calgary, Canada. And alas, the year came to an end! Once again, I traded snowy campuses, poutine and copious amounts of maple syrup for rainy weather and obligatory cups of tea. But coming home felt strange. In fact, home didn’t feel like home anymore. I found myself comparing everything to my life in Canada: the weather, grocery stores and even connections with my friends. This is an experience commonly overlooked by travellers: the unexpected reverse culture shock. Although some may not notice this nostalgia for months, it hit me a week after coming home. I was back in my hometown, in my room, surrounded by…
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Navigating the Canadian Housing Crisis.
By Aleksandra Wozniak, University of Calgary, Canada Having received my Visa and been accepted to my host university, there was only one thing left to do before my departure to Calgary in Canada, finding housing. Having been put on a waitlist for residence, I had no choice but to find an alternative place to live. I began my search by considering my options. I could live with a family, rent an apartment, or a room in a house. I decided that being close to the university was of top importance, and began my search by looking at surrounding roads. I was lucky enough to find a student house, just 10…
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The Canadian Cold: is it manageable?
By Aleksandra Wozniak, University of Calgary, Canada. After spending Christmas in England, I was welcomed back into Canada with -37C weather. Although I was shivering the whole way back to my accommodation, I could see people outside going about as if nothing happened – some even walking around in shorts! Depending on the region of Canada you are in, you’ll likely be met with temperatures ranging between -40C in the winter to 35C in the summer. Still, the cold weather tends to come in waves in the winter. Although you will almost inevitably be met with colds of -30, these don’t usually last longer than a few days before Chinook…
