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Home Sweet Home
By Jing-Jing Hu (University of British Columbia Okanagan, Canada) After another two weeks of travelling in Canada and the US, I eventually made my way back home – first to Germany and then to Manchester (at last). In Germany, I spent the majority of my time with friends and family, exchanging stories on all the things that had happened in the last few months (and there were a lot), celebrating my sister’s highschool graduation and visiting friends in different cities in the area. It took me a while to realise that I am not in Canada anymore (it is summer, but where is the snow?!), but I eventually got used to the fact that…
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What happened next?
By Jing-Jing Hu (University of British Columbia Okanagan, Canada) About one and a half months ago my time at UBCO came officially to an end and it was time to say goodbye – goodbye to UBCO, but not to Canada. After we had finished our exams, Maria, a friend from Mexico, and I made our way to Banff and Lake Louise. It took us quite a while to get there (yes, it all looks very close on the map… maybe a bit too close), but the view awaiting us was simply breath-taking. I would even say that Banff was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. Nothing…
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Reflections On Returning To Manchester… A Year On
By Sophie Black (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada) It’s been a year since my time at UBC ended. The sense of spontaneity and adventure has long gone, taken over by the dreaded dissertation and final year stress. Living in Canada for the year taught me to be flexible, open-minded to different cultures, and adapt to new ways of thinking and doing things. I have grown in so many ways – I have more confidence, I am far more independent, and my mum says I am noticeably more mature (I’m not sure what she is insinuating… but I’ll take it as a complement!). It has made me more appreciative of what…
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The last month of the best year ever
By Giulietta Grassi (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada) It’s officially one month ’til I leave the best city in the world, one month ’til I come home to London and start my final year at Manchester. I am lost for words just thinking about it; I can’t believe a year has passed so quickly… I just want to fly back to the beginning and do it all over again. It has been the best year of my life!! The past month has been packed with trying to see and do as much as possible. We visited Seattle again for the weekend, had one last trip to the USA, and visited…
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Academic differences between Manchester and UBCO
By Jing-Jing Hu (University of British Columbia Okanagan, Canada) To all those coming to UBCO, or interested in coming to UBCO, here are some differences that you might be interested in knowing beforehand: Term dates and alternative assessment The second term at UBCO starts about two weeks earlier than in Manchester and lasts about four months. Since the start of the term at UBCO falls into the January examination period in Manchester, you have to arrange alternative assessment for these exams. While it is in most cases possible to arrange alternative assessment in the form of an essay in more discursive subjects, such as Politics and Philosophy, other departments, such…
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Trips (Seattle, L.A. and Whistler)
By Giulietta Grassi (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada) The trips and travelling have been one of the best things about studying abroad! I’ve loved going away with everyone, from researching where we’re going and where we’re staying right down to getting on a plane all together and finding our way in a new place. Here is a breakdown of some of the places I’ve been to so far during my first semester: SEATTLE Seattle was the first place on our list of places to visit. It’s so easy to access from Vancouver, a 4 hour coach journey and you’re across the border and in the US of AAAA. I loved Seattle!…
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New City, New Uni, New Home
By Jing-Jing Hu (University of British Columbia, Okanagan, Canada) My first two weeks in Kelowna passed by very quickly. I moved into Purcell, a hall of residence on campus, and soon got to know my roommate (we have two separate rooms, but our rooms are connected through a common bathroom). Because afternoon classes and the international student orientation were cancelled due to a snowstorm on my first day of class, my roommate gave me a little tour around the campus and told me everything I needed to know to survive the first week of uni. Despite the cold weather, the Canadians I have met so far seem to be very…
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UBC school life
By Giulietta Grassi (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada) So I have been in Vancouver for three months now, and I still can’t believe it! Three of the most amazing months of my life. It definitely has been an adjustment, living so far away from everyone you love, getting used to the time difference, and finding your way completely by yourself. However, the biggest thing I think I have had to adapt to is UBC’s academic and school structure. The workload here is really different compared to Manchester. I always assumed there wouldn’t be much difference between Canada and England, but there really is. I, and many of my other international friends…
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I MADE IT TO VAN CITY
By Giulietta Grassi (University of British Columbia, Vancouver) After days of stressing, packing and saying goodbyes I have now finally made it to VANCOUUUUUVER! I’ve been here nearly 2 weeks now and have loved every moment of it. Let me try and somehow start from the beginning… I arrived in Vancouver completely jet-lagged and confused, and getting through immigration was only the start… but a few hours later I was in a hostel, surrounded by people from all over the world and in downtown Vancouver at the centre of it all. Vancouver is beautiful! It is the perfect mix of city life and outdoors. You walk 5 minutes down the road…
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Bye, Bye BC!
By Sarah Winspear (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada). So here goes, my last blog post in Canada and what can I say it’s been amazing! Although for me this is not the end of my time abroad as the adventure will be continuing in the States with a bit of travelling and then working at an American summer camp which I can’t wait for. But it has meant the last few days have been pretty hectic as I only finished my exams yesterday and have a lot of stuff to sort out in the last few days before I can leave for the USA. Looking back this year has…
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Vancouver Top 10!!
By Sarah Winspear (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada). After doing so many amazing things so far I thought a summary of my top 10 might be a good idea. So here goes in no particular order. 1. Thanksgiving in the Rocky Mountains 2. The best gig ever in Seattle (Arctic Monkeys, Foals, Lorde and many more) 3. Trips to Whistler 4. Going to Camp 5. Climbing Grouse Mountain 6. The Canucks Game 7. The Aquarium 8. Christmas Lights and the Christmas train in Stanley Park 9. Day of the Longboat 10. The Colour Run
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Beautiful BC
By Sarah Winspear (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada). I really don’t know where to start, so much has happened in the past week!! One thing that immediately struck me about Vancouver and the UBC campus is how beautiful the surroundings are. I still can’t believe I live so close to such vastly differing terrains with mountains, the ocean and a city centre so close by, and I love how green the area is, so many trees!!! So far this week I have been to the beach which is actually on campus and about a 10 minute walk from where I live. I thought I lived close to the coast…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
