Study Abroad Blog @trustudyabroad - Tumblr Blog

How to stay connected AFTER your exchange

1. Attend Study Abroad Events

a) Seeing Faces, Trading Places- Where you can meet other students going on exchange, here from another university, or have studied abroad before. The event is hosted by study abroad ambassadors, and there is always tasty food provided :)

b) Fundraising events- Throughout the year, study abroad ambassadors put on fundraising events to raise money for the Study Abroad Legacy Award- an award of $500 given out to a student heading on exchange! Fundraisers also help out ambassadors with presenting at internationally focussed conferences, such as the CBIE (Canadian Board of International Education) where they promoted the Study Abroad program at TRU to other universities and educators! In the photo below are some ambassadors from 2015 attending the CBIE conference in Niagra Falls with Lian Dumouchel, the Director of Global Engagement at TRU!

2. Become a Study Abroad Ambassador!

a) You can work with other past exchange students, and promote the program to other students!

b) You get to contribute to the study abroad program and help others apply to go on exchange.

c) It looks great on your resume, and you get to work with some awesome people!

3. Sign up for intercultural events, like International Days!

International days is “an opportunity to share culture, international experience, research and interests while celebrating TRU's international community and international collaborations.” If you haven’t checked out IDays yet, be sure to check out the schedule and events schedule for this year! Information can be found at the university’s website: http://www.tru.ca/internationaldays.html

Photo from: Kim Anderson, taken from Thompson Rivers University website (IDays 2015)

4. Volunteer or join a club on campus!

This not only looks great on your resume, but keeps you active with involved and interested students who share common interests and goals as you do. Check out these awesome groups and clubs on campus and within Kamloops:

TRUSU International Club

TRUSU Spanish Conversation Club

TRUSU WUSC Club

Volunteer Kamloops

Kamloops Rotary Club

Check out more at: http://www.trusu.ca/services/clubs/directory/ , or check out the annual Clubs Day that the TRU Students Union organizes!

5. Get your Global Competency Certificate!

What’s Global Competency? Simply a way to showcase your international and intercultural skills, knowledge, and understanding, acknowledged by a TRU awarded certificate and designation on your transcript! (Ahem, yet another resume booster ;))

Check out the details here: http://www.tru.ca/learning/students/pathways-toolkit/global.html

6. Go on another exchange!

You can go on up two semesters abroad, and they can be in different places! Why not learn more about the world and yourself by completing another exchange? Check our new website for more information: https://www.tru.ca/studyabroad.html

AND follow us on Facebook and Instagram for continuous updates, opportunities, and contests! Just find us under trustudyabroad :)

-Aaren

3 Reasons Why Every Student Should Write About Their Travels

They say that travelling is the only thing in this world that makes you richer, and it’s true. Travelling is so much more than an experience - travelling is a journey, not just for one instance of your life, but throughout your entire life. The lessons you learn, people you meet and memories you make shape you into a better, more dynamic version of yourself. You truly discover who you are when you wander, and uncover a deeper understanding of the ways of the world and the millions of people that make it unique.

If I’ve learnt anything from my travels, it's that you begin to slowly forget the memories you’ve made around the world. As sad as it is, it’s true. After your adventure is over, and real life beings to settle in, the small moments from your travels begin to become as distant as the country you left. It happens to all of us, but have no fear, for there is a solution - writing it all down.

I’ve managed to document the majority of my adventures in a journal and some parts in a blog. I will share with you three reasons why you should start documenting your travels too.

1) It’s easy! You don’t need to be the next J.K Rowling or Steven King - write, type, or film, blog - it’s up to you! This doesn’t just have to be written stories either; I’ve doodled, dirtied, attached ticket stubs and even maps in some of my journals. When I didn’t have my journal with me, I would jot a few notes in my phone and type the rest when I got a chance. The best part about it, is that you can control who reads or views your journal entries, if you choose to show anyone at all.

2) It’s free! There are tons of different sites that allow you to create your own travel blog: wordpress.com, travelblog.org, etc. If you choose to write it down, all you need is a notebook. There are a bunch of different companies and organizations that run blog contests as well. Check out these ones!

3) It helps you reflect and grow! The single greatest aspect of writing everything down, is that you get to re-live your own adventure. There’s nothing more rewarding than sitting down, years later and reading about your own story. Document your time, make mistakes, learn lessons, meet new people, laugh, smile, live, breathe and re-live all those moments through your own words. You learn about the person you were at that time and it’s always great saying to yourself “oh right, I forgot that happened!”.

So my dear friends, wherever in the world you wind up going, I urge you to pack a pen and paper. Write on.

-Tatiana

Seven Ways to Travel Cheap During an Exchange in Europe

Book One-way Flights Rather than Return

Many travellers book return flights without checking the cost of booking two, one-way flights. However, you can often save time and money if you keep your options open. For example, if you are planning to travel Italy, it may be cheaper to fly into Milan, and fly out of Rome.

Buy Food from Grocery Stores

Of course, while travelling you should experience local restaurants and dishes. Yet, you do not need to eat out every day and night. Especially if you are in major cities such as Paris, London, or Amsterdam, you can save a lot of money if you buy your food from the grocery store.

Don’t Wait for Better Weather

Airlines, train companies and hostels are all aware of the most popular times of the year to travel. By travelling during the off-season, you can save money on transportation and accommodation. During these times, most destinations are not overrun with tourists, which will allow you to do more, as well connect more with the culture.

Save Your Shopping for Cheaper Cities/Countries

If you are looking to do a lot of shopping in Europe, but are also keeping a budget, steer clear of shopping in large cities and expensive countries. For example, rather than shopping in Oslo, Zurich, London or Paris, do your shopping in smaller cities or cheaper countries like Spain, Portugal, Croatia or Poland.

Try Couch Surfing

Although in North America many travellers may not be open to this option, in Europe Couch Surfing is much more popular and reputable. It is a great way to save money and meet locals.

Travel With a Group

If you are staying in a small hotel, rather than getting a hotel room on your own; you could split the cost between four people. Also, if you are travelling with a group you may want to rent a car, which will save a lot of money on transportation.

Travel By Bus

Especially in expensive countries, make the choice to travel by bus. For example, when I was living in Manchester, a return bus ticket to London was 8 GBP ($16 CAD) while a return train ticket was 50-60 GBP ($100-120 CAD). Yes, the bus takes longer, but it is tough to turn down that price.

Happy travels,

-Riley

Survival guide in the land down under

Byron Bay

Things to do

Hike the World famous Byron Bay lighthouse (The most eastern point in Australia)

View the many famous beaches and iconic scenery in and around Byron and lounge around all day in the scorching sun

Go Kayaking and Canoeing with the dolphins of Byron

Sky Dive Byron Bay, one of the world’s top rated sky dives

Hostels

Palms Guesthouse (9.1 - 70$/night)

Backpackers Holiday Village (8.5 – 36$/night)

Cape Byron YHA ( 8.5 – 32$/night)

Byron Bay YHA (8.5 – 34$/night)

Backpackers Inn on the Beach (8.4 – 32$/night)

Cheapest – Byron Beach Resort (8.2 – 22$/night)

Brisbane

Things to do

Visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. It’s one of the first and largest Koala sanctuaries in the world. You will also get to meet and interact with all other Australian wildlife.

Dreamworld (theme park) and Wet and wild (water park) are two must attend entertainment activities to do in Australia, located approximately 30 mins away from Brisbane

Visit downtown Brisbane if you like to shop, there are many stores and lots of things to see

Hostels

Brisbane city YHA (8.4 – 40$/night)

Aussie way hostel (8.1 – 42$/night)

Bunk Brisbane (8.0 – 30$/night)

Banana Bender backpackers (7.9 – 30$/night)

Brisbane Backpackers resort (7.4 – 24$/night)

Cheapest – Yellow Submarine (6.0 – 18$/night)

Find general tourist information at: http://www.visitbrisbane.com.au/

Lismore

Things to do

Walk downtown Lismore and view the small shops and boutiques

Tour the many restaurants and pubs, most are hidden and family owned (some of the best food I have had)

Visit Mt. Warning, a phenomenal hike about 30 minutes away from Lismore

Talk to Karen Jessen at the international office at Southern Cross University (SCU) and she will load you with ideas!

Hostels

No hostel, however, this is where one of the SCU campuses is and the residence is unreal. With only a 5 minute walk to class and a pool right in the middle, you can hang around on your free time.

Cairns

image from: http://www.cairnsunlimited.com/itineraries_beaches_islands.htm

Things to do

Visit the Great Barrier Reef (my favorite thing in AUS)

Go rapid boarding (google videos to view)

Go on a guided rainforest adventure

Skydive Cairns (most popular in Australia)

Hostels

Gilligan’s (8.5 – 30$/night) *favorite hostel*

Calypso Inn Backpackers (8.3 – 25$/night)

The Jack Backpackers (8.1 – 25$/night)

Nomads (7.8 – 22$/night)

Cheapest – Tropical Days backpackers (8.6 – 16$/night)

Sydney

Things to do

Climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge

Tour and view the Sydney Opera house

Go on a fantastic scenic cruise of the Sydney harbor

Visit the Blue Mountains

Hostels

Asylum (8.1 - 36$/night)

The Original backpackers (7.5 – 36$/night)

Mad Monkey Backpack Kings (7.5 – 32$/night)

Tokyo Village (7.3 – 32$/night)

Manly Backpackers (6.9 – 40$/night)

Cheapest - BB’s Working Backpackers (5.0 - 19$/night)

Other tips and advice found

I found the Travel agency that gave the best deals and recommendations was Peter Pans Adventure Travel

The cheapest way to get to distant places in Australia was flying Tiger Air, generally on a Tuesday-Thursday

The transit was also very easy to use and understand in each town

If you’re interested in staying in a town for a long time, ask to work in the hostels. You can work without a visa in the hostels for roughly 12 hours a week and receive free accommodation!

Buying food from Coles, Wolsworth or Aldo will save you tons of money rather than always eating out

Cheers, - Jared

Why you should study in France

France was my home for 10 months and I would not change a single thing about my exchange. There are great challenges and equally great rewards for studying in a foreign country. Here are some of my personal accounts and hopefully, encouraging words as to why you should do the same.

1- It is so beautiful

Tiny little cobblestone alley ways. Vibrant villages. Breathtaking architecture. Stunning mountains. Greenery. This list goes on, France has it all. It is a truly beautiful place with so many places to explore.

2- For its culture

Of course, French culture is more than crepes. It is more than a lot of the most delicious breads, cheeses and wines you have ever tasted and more than its obscure delicacies. It is drinking espresso in the sunshine in immense outdoor squares. It is eating dinner late, ensuring you have time to sit with friends for a drink after school/work. It is walking through art and history museums and biking along canals It is all things family, friends and gastronomy and it is something to experience first-hand.

3- And its people

I carpooled with a French woman down to the nearby city of Annecy for a weekend. It was one of my first weekends in France and I did not know many people. I was feeling lonely but decided that going to explore a new city would be a fun experience. My french speaking was far from excellent, but nonetheless, she spoke with me during the whole car ride. She even offered to take me on a hike the next day in the city we were driving too. I accepted and the next day, she picked me up and we went and hiked to this wonderful look out. At the top, we took some photos and she pulled out lunches she had packed for both of us. We ate and I could feel nothing but lucky and grateful for this person whom had gone out of her way and treated me so kindly since I met her. Of course, this was just one of my first great experiences. I met some incredible people abroad. Anywhere you go, people can be great and people can be less than great. If you travel with an open mind, I can guarantee you will meet some incredible people.

3- It can be challenging

Naturally there are going to be some challenges anywhere you go, but challenges are part of what makes studying abroad such an experience. Let’s address some particulars for France.

Parlez-vous anglais? The truth is, it is likely the majority of us do not have our French language skills up to par. The good news is, we are very lucky. Though French is the language of choice, English is not a completely foreign tongue to most French. Also, you will be amazed at the amount of conversations you can have even without words. Plus, it is a really cool opportunity to learn a new language- or refine some knowledge you may already have! I can say, by the end of 10 months in France I learned and was more confident with my language skills than 12 years of French Immersion taught me.

What about schooling? Studying in French was definitely one of the most challenging things I have pursued. I had to work hard to keep up with the grading system but I loved the challenge and can say, I really benefited from the experience. For those of you with adequate levels of French (like I thought with myself), I would keep an open mind to the idea of learning in French while abroad. For those with maybe less adequate levels, not every school requires courses to be taught in French! So do some research, and do not let a potential language barrier keep you from this beautiful country. 5- It can be really rewarding

I had the opportunity to babysit these two for a French family, and it was probably one of the coolest parts of my experience. I felt as I was studying in France that I was learning so much about a different culture and about myself, but it was easy to forget what I personally could offer to the culture. Teaching English to these two little French ones was such a rewarding experience. I picked them up weekly from school, and together we played and spoke English. Near the end of my stay, I was welcomed to enjoy a truly authentic French dinner, cooked by the family in their home with everyone including their little newborn and I was even gifted my very own French cookbook.

Being an English (-or bilingual) student in a French community is not only about gaining your own experiences, but also about giving. Experiences like that can make your own all the more rewarding.

Time for you to go see for yourself -Madi

Mental Health While Abroad

Students with the chance to study abroad get the opportunity for an exciting, adventurous, and sometimes life-altering experience while in university. The thought of international education while living in a new country and meeting new people can be thrilling for some, yet overwhelming for others. For students with pre-existing mental health issues, the thought of studying abroad may be more toward the overwhelming side. Yet, this shouldn’t be the case! Here’s why:

*** Included is many links to other Univeristy and Country websites, from these resources, take away what applies to you***

1. You won’t be the first student who has a mental health problem or illness to study abroad internationally. There are plenty of stories from students online who can attest to the benefits from an exchange on their mental health.

2. There are also stories from students who have had negative experiences while on exchange. However, by recognizing that mental health may be an issue for you, there are plenty of steps and resources to help you plan and live abroad positively.

From this^^^^^^^

To this^^^^^^^^^

Check out these online resources for more info:

-http://studyabroad.uark.edu/health-and-safety/health-and-wellness/mental-health.php

-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-quigley-md-dphil/mental-health-study-abroad_b_2852843.html

3. Most students gain a new perspective on their lives during or after their exchange, and it can in some cases be beneficial to your mental health. Here is one example from a student studying abroad in Africa:

-http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113846968

4. Proper planning for yourself, recognizing ways of coping with mental illness abroad, and having the proper support in place in case you need it while abroad will help ensure you are well prepared for your exchange. Here are some other great links to help prepare:

-http://www.northwestern.edu/studyabroad/guide/health-and-safety/health/mental-health-abroad.html#links

-https://educationabroad.global.usf.edu/_customtags/ct_FileRetrieve.cfm?File_ID=010F767D754F740204030507000B1C700C7B7714737B02036E010303067D070B7603057D047B730676

-http://www.thirdyearabroad.com/advice-and-tips/health-and-fitness/item/1376-mental-health-issues.html

5. There are a lot of online resources aimed at helping students with pre-existing mental health issues, or any that may surface while on exchange. Here are some more sources with some great tips and information for students:

-http://www.miusa.org/resource/tipsheet/15mentalhealthpreparations

If these reasons don’t convince you, try taking a look at other websites and blog spots for other reasons mental health is an important issue with a large number of students, and why it shouldn’t hold you back!

Ultimately, it is your choice whether or not you go on exchange. But if you do decide it’s right for you, you will never forget your experience while studying abroad for the rest of your life. For Thompson Rivers University students, don’t forget that all resources at the Kamloops campus will be available to you as an exchange student while you are abroad. These include:

-The Wellness Centre resources online and email

-TRU Counselling services: http://www.tru.ca/counselling.html

TRU Counselling is available before you depart to talk about ways to maintain your mental health abroad. They are available by phone, email, or Skype to support students who are away. Here is a great self-check link to assess your own status before you leave: http://mindcheck.ca

As well, don’t forget to talk with the folks at the TRU Study Abroad Office for other resources available to TRU students while on exchange! Once accepted, students will have access to a Moodle site which will include lots of other helpful tips on Mental Health and other issues for exchange students. So get going :)

Good luck!

-Aaren

5 best free apps to have when traveling while abroad

You have already made a big move by deciding to go abroad! So why not make a few more and go explore some other beautiful places while you’re there. Traveling around Europe quickly became my favourite hobby and these apps helped me travel Europe cheap and therefore, often! However, most are applicable to wherever your exchange may have taken you!

1- SkyScanner

Helps find the cheapest flights and links to booking sites. Plus, it is incredibly flexible with its searches, you scan monthly prices, or scan a variety of cities in a country or even a variety of countries! It is really easy and fun to play around with and inspiring when it comes to weekend or break trip planning!

2-XE currency

A tool for the confusing money exchange rates which is very helpful traveling to different countries for a short stay! Plus, its ideal feature: it works without wifi! So you will know exactly how much that must-have souvenir from your weekend in Prague will cost you.

3- Hostel World

Do not shy away from hostels! They are the best for meeting new people and Hostel World is the easiest way to find and book your accommodation, and includes numerous reliable reviews for each hostel.

4- GoEuro

Specific to Europe. Choose your start and end destinations, and GoEuro will find the various travel options for you which can be sorted by price or length of journey etc.

5-TripIt

All those confirmation emails from airlines, bus lines, hostels and whatever else can all be forwarded to this incredible app. TripIt organizes all these in one place, and will set you up with countdown to upcoming trips, check in/out times, maps etc. A serious life saver, traveling can be stressful at times but having everything in one place can help alleviate some of that stress.

That’s it! These are all free apps and all are based on my personal preference, but I highly recommend them all so go explore!

Happy travels!

Cheers, Madi

Five things stopping you from studying abroad.....DEBUNKED

Homesickness

This is a legitimate fear that many students feel when they think about studying abroad. However, the TRU study abroad service team offers great support for any student who may be struggling with homesickness. As you settle into your new life abroad (Moving in, starting classes, making friends etc.) the homesickness decreases and becomes minor.

Financial Concerns

One of the most common concerns about studying abroad is that it is too expensive. However, students still pay their tuition to TRU, meaning they do not pay steep international fees while abroad. Also, if a student is still concerned about finances, TRU and ISEP have many partner universities that are located in countries with much lower cost of living.

Losing Touch With Friends

Many students do not feel comfortable leaving their close friends for an extended period of time because they think they will lose touch with them. Yet, with the rise of communication apps such as Skype, Whatsapp, and Snapchat, keeping in touch with friends is now easier than ever. Plus other online blogs and websites have their own ideas on how to keep in touch! Like the Youtube example below.

Delaying Your Degree

Arguably the biggest myth about studying abroad is that you will sacrifice your education by delaying your degree, but this could not be further from the truth. In most cases, you can transfer the credits earned abroad into your TRU program. Also, in the new globalized world, studying abroad helps you become much more employable.

Loneliness (Not Making Any Friends)

Lastly, countless students have an overwhelming fear that if they were to study abroad they will not make any friends and become very lonely. However, one thing you must understand is that everybody who studies abroad is in the same situation. Everybody is there to meet friends and they have fears similar to yours. Escape your comfort zone and put yourself out there and you will create friendships that will last a lifetime.

So go!

-Riley

From a parents’ perspective: Past accomplishments, Present mindset, and Future goals resulting from studying abroad

- Betty

Reverse Culture Shock: Helping your parents understand your study abroad experience

- Betty

#study abroad #reverse culture shock #travel

greatlittleplaces

Dear Mom and Dad - I am coming home!

This is a great read for all of our students and their parents for preparing to come home. Here is the link from University of Wisconsin to support

Supporting Your Student Upon Return

Welcoming your student back as they return from an experience abroad should make you very proud as a parent or family member. Yet, whether you notice it or not, your student may be going through some changes known as readjustment (reentry or reverse culture shock). This readjustment may show itself through excitement and difficulties in resuming relationships, and adjusting back to UW-Madison both academically and socially.

Students often go through a phase of "reverse" or "re-entry" culture shock when they return from studying abroad. Sometimes this phase can be more challenging than what was initially experienced abroad. Students expect to go through adjustments in foreign countries, but do not always realize that life has continued on without them at home and there may be changes for which they were not prepared. For your student, returning to their home culture probably feels much like when they arrived to their host country. Home might feel foreign, or no longer feel familiar and natural. The stages of culture shock experienced abroad can repeat coming home, in reverse culture shock.

The best way to help your student with readjustment is showing genuine interest through listening to your students stories and concerns while encouraging them to not segment their life abroad. Faced with questions such as "How was your time in xxxx?" a student often can only answer "Great!" before conversation moves on to another subject. Encourage friends and family members to ask more specific questions like "What were the best things about living abroad? The most difficult? What places did you visit? Are people's daily lives the same as in the United States? Do you have any pictures? etc." Have a party where your student can show off food, customs and souvenirs from his or her travels. Not only will such questions and activities remind students they had a worthwhile experience and help them to readjust, it will help others in your community or family learn more about the world around us.

Reading through our section for returned students may help you understand what your student may be experiencing.

Each Student Readjusts Differently

The following questions may help you understand the mix of emotions your student is experiencing, but know that everyone's experiences and adjustments may be different.

What is reverse culture shock? Relearning the American way of doing things. Different cultural skills were learned in a new environment while living abroad. Readjusting back to a home culture can take time.

What is being learned? Culture is a learned and deeply engrained type of knowledge – relearning culture takes time. Students slowly but surely adapt over the course of their experience abroad by both passively and actively learning a new culture. By the time they leave, many feel a greater sense of acceptance in the society than when they arrived. Ways of speaking, thinking, and interacting may need to be adjusted when coming home, though many students want to bring new knowledge with them, thus validating their experience. Common manifestations of readjustment are feeling like no one can understand your experiences abroad. Integrating new values and knowledge is harder than previously thought.

How long does readjustment last? Days to weeks to months – whenever it starts or stops is normal. Readjustment can begin the moment your student steps off the plane or after some time at home. Readjustment is a highly personal and individual experience.

What is there to adjust to? American ways of doing things. Culture is often so engrained that you may not understand that anything needs to be adjusted. Common points of stress for students include readjusting to American sense of time and pace of life, consumerism, and understanding of the world (or perceived lack thereof). Personal challenges can include expressing experiences to people who were not in their study abroad program, coming to terms with their new self, and returning to the academic and social norms of UW-Madison.

As a parent or family member, what can I do? Be there for your student. Your student may be going through a tough transition – help them along without being critical, especially when they are. Be patient. Adjusting can be particularly hard in the first few days. Students may just need a less busy schedule and time to reacquaint. When these feelings pass, help your student refocus their energy to identify new goals or become more active in their newfound interests. Be perceptive. Be open for listening on your student's terms. Be there when they need to talk but also give them space. Accept that memories and stories may only come out at a much later time when the student feels ready to talk about them, or remembers them. Talking about your own life experiences to the student will help to open a line of communication. Giving a small gift like a blank photo album can be beneficial. Be parental. Support and guide them as they readjust. Your student may be vastly more independent than before. If your student's goals have changed, discuss them. If your student is worried about losing language or cultural skills, ask them about mapping out a plan of action to keep their skills fresh. Talk about strategies for managing reentry. If you notice any drastic changes that need to be brought to attention, you may recommend that your student contact University Health Service's Counseling and Consultation Services.

More information and professional resources for parents and family members

Leonore Cavallero's A Readjustment Manual for Parents is a manual written for parents by a parent (and study abroad professional).

Bruce LaBrack's What's Up with Culture Twelve Tips for Welcoming Returnees Homeprovides basic tips for helping your student readjust after returning home.

Study Abroad and Future Education

#studyabroad

Five Reasons Why You Should Study Abroad in Central/Eastern Europe

Countries located in Central and Eastern Europe may not be on many people’s radar as a possible location for studying abroad. However, there are awesome destinations in CE Europe that have a lot to offer students! Here are five reasons why you should consider studying abroad in Central/Eastern Europe:

1. It’s Beautiful

Hungarian Parliament, Budapest

Wroclaw, Poland

Central/Eastern Europe is home to some beautiful tourist destinations, such as Prague, Krakow, Budapest, and Bratislava. Even in smaller cities, you can find gorgeous architecture and charming city centres. CE Europe also boasts a large number of stunning castles, such as Poland’s Malbork castle, and gorgeous natural scenery, such as the Tatras Mountains.

2. The Food

Pierogi

Central/Eastern European countries are home to incredibly delicious food. Some notable delicacies are: Pierogies (Poland/Ukraine); Goulash (Czech Republic/Hungary); Borscht (Ukrainian, but can be found all over Eastern Europe); Potato pancakes (Poland/Ukraine/Czech Republic); and sausage (incredibly popular in all CE countries). Eating out is also popular in CE Europe, and a wide variety of restaurants serving cuisine from cultures around the world can be found. People from CE Europe also love their sweets, including ice cream, pastries, cakes, and chocolate. No matter where you go there will be delicious food for you to try!

3. Its Location

CE Europe is not isolated from the rest of Europe, and it’s incredibly easy to travel to other countries. Countries such as Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary are located in the heart of Europe, making destinations such as Western Europe, Scandinavia, the Balkans, and further east to Russia and Turkey just a short journey away. Traveling to other destinations from CE Europe is also inexpensive thanks to buses, trains, and budget flights.

4. It’s Cheap

Studying in Central/Eastern Europe is a good way to study in Europe without breaking the bank. The cost of living, even in large cities, is generally quite low compared to Canada. In Wroclaw, Poland, a week’s worth of groceries for one person can cost around $30. Eating out can also be inexpensive. In Poland, small restaurants called bars sell meals or around 8 zloty (under $3 Canadian) and drinks for 2 zloty (less than $1 Canadian). Transportation is also quite inexpensive; a two-way bus ticket from Wroclaw to Berlin costs around $40 Canadian. If you budget wisely, you can definitely save money while studying in Central Europe.

5. It’s Fun!

Christmas Market in Wroclaw, Poland

No matter the time of year, there are lots of activities and things to do in Central/Eastern Europe! CE Europe has gorgeous landscapes and lots of outdoor parks. It is popular to visit small resort towns (such as Smokovec, Slovakia) located in the mountains for skiing, snowboarding, or hiking. CE Europe also has beautiful beaches, such as in Gdansk, Poland. City centres are always bustling with activity. In the winter, cities have gorgeous Christmas markets where you can buy gifts and special food. In the warmer months, there’s lots of performers and music festivals, such as the Heineken Open’er in Gdansk which has featured Mumford & Sons, Outkast, Kings of Leon, and A$AP Rocky.

Studying in Central/Eastern Europe is extremely rewarding experience. It is home to gorgeous cities and landscapes, interesting history and culture, and fun activities to do all year round. Even if you do not study in Central/Eastern Europe, you should definitely pay a visit!

Tips For Staying Connected With Family And Friends While Studying Abroad

Exchange Student Svenja Helbach writes about life in the Netherlands

International Student life experience in the Netherlands

Going on your exchange to Breda you will not only encounter Dutch culture but meet students from all over Europe and the world. NTHV Breda University of Applied Sciences offers many English-speaking international studies which attract students from all over, plus you don´t need to be afraid of overcoming language barriers, as most of the Dutch speak English fluently.

I am an international student from Breda, studying International Tourism Management here at Thompson Rivers University and will share some insights with you from my home university. I will be more than happy to help you out, if you have any questions you can contact me via [email protected]

Life in Breda

Living in Breda is very relaxed and it is easy to get around; biking is the easiest mode of transportation and I recommend buying one as soon as possible. There are separate biking lanes, traffic lights and parking options for your bikes everywhere – just make sure to lock it properly as it may get stolen quickly. The place in town to hang out is called Inspire - it´s a popular place among students to go for coffee or lunch. It is located in the city center where there are also more cafes and restaurants nearby. The city center also includes the shopping streets, as well as the bars and clubs for your night out. The church is right in the center and therefore, a great orientation point. There is the Valkenbergpark close by which is a nice park to relax and meet up with friends. Bress is the student sport center in town.

(Valkenbergpark)

Classes/teachers

The system in Breda works a bit differently as we are divided into classes with about twenty people. In most subjects you will have lectures with everyone once or twice per week. Based on these lectures, most courses have seminars with your own class to discuss assignments. We cannot choose our courses but only choose a program - International Tourism Management and Consultancy or International Tourism Travel Industry.

The first one is more concentrated on the destination and development, while the second one focuses more on the travel industry itself regarding aviation management and tour operating. Your schedule is given to you but will often change from week to week. The semester is divided into two terms, after one term the courses will change and you have an exam and/or project to hand in. There is one big project in one of the courses per term which you will work on with around four people, in mostly international teams. There are two semesters per year, the first from September to January and the second one from Late January to June/July.

(Main campus)

Accomodation

Finding a room in Breda is not easy but NHTV will assist you. There is off-campus student housing available which offers one, two and four person flats. Another option is to try to find a room in a house via facebook or the webpage kamernet for example.

(Main square Breda)

Last but not least Travelling! Explore Europe!

You will have plenty of opportunities to travel while staying in Breda. The train system in Europe is fantastic which makes it easy to travel to other cities and countries. Day trips to other Dutch cities are easily doable within an hour and it is only a 1.5 h trip to the beach. Weekend trips can be done to the neighboring countries of Germany, Paris and Belgium. Compass which is our International student organization organizes usually two city weekend trips per year mostly to Paris and London.

Apart from that we have two one-week holidays in our semester, which gives you the chance to travel to other European countries too.

(Beach of Scheveningen)

Next to the Tourism program NHTV offers Int. Real Estate Management, International Media and Entertainment Management, Int. Game Architecture and Design, Int. Hotel Management, Int. Logistics and Economics, Int. Logistics Engineering, Int. Leisure Management and Int. Built Environment.

Check out the NHTV YouTube channel about student life and the individual study programs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcl1BRzBPQ0

NTHV website: http://www.nhtv.nl/ENG/home.html

Life in Breda: http://www.bebreda.com/

Study Abroad Ambassador Blessing Chiduuro looks back on his life changing experience abroad

It was always my dream growing up in Africa to one-day visit the United States of America, which produced all the movies I enjoyed and where beautiful cities like Los Angeles or New York City are. This was the main reason I chose to go to the USA of all the places I could go, and so for me, Study Abroad fulfilled a long-time dream that I had.

What I had envisioned to be just a tourist/study visit became a lot more. I enrolled in classes such as Psychology, Marketing and Accounting with some of the best teachers I have ever had. The one thing I valued the most was that their classes were not just school courses but life lessons taught. I studied a lot more that semester abroad than I ever have because of what my Psychology professor said to me once. She said “don’t make the mistake that most students do of coming to college just to pass courses and leave with a paper, you should come to college and leave with an education.”

This was a paradigm shift for me, I had always looked at my degree with that same mentality of just wanting to pass but not actually learning anything, I reflected at some of the courses I had taken and realized that I couldn’t remember half the things I had done in those classes. From then on I made a decision to get an education from school and not a paper at the end and this has improved my grades as shown by the higher GPA since my study abroad.

As a practicing Christian, finding a church to worship with was high on my priorities. I found a church that uplifted me spiritually; I became more knowledgeable on things in my religion and became even more enthusiastic about my religion. I personally don’t believe that this would have been the case if I had just stayed here in Kamloops. There is no church service I have attended now that has not left me longing for the church I found during my study abroad experience.

From a professional perspective, the career planning sessions held at my host University, the discussions on careers, the guest speakers at the Business School left me more motivated than ever and taught me important lessons. I learnt about the power of networking and being involved on campus and in the society. These again are the reasons I managed to land an internship for the summer with CIBC bank, which again was a goal of mine. This would have been far fetched if it weren’t for my study abroad experience.

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