My Scariest Experience on The Road

Posted by BCSAadmin on 08/23/2017

By Janna Wale, Thompson Rivers University, winner of the 2017 Stories from Abroad Scholarship and a member of the BC Study Abroad Writer in Residence Team.

As some of you may know, not many things actually go as smoothly as they were planned. As you start to become an expert traveller, you learn to expect some bumps along the road. Things become more relaxed because, hey, it all works out in the end right?

Rewind a little bit, and we are flying over to Amsterdam (and to Europe!) for the first time in either of our lives. We hop off the plane at 10:30 pm local time and are ready to find our Air Bnb. As rookie travellers (this being the first country of many) we failed to board the right bus in our excitement. The bus is taking us in the exact opposite direction of wh...

Tags: 2017 Stories from Abroad Scholarship Stories from Abroad Winner Study Abroad exchange Amsterdam Advice Thompson Rivers University TRU Travel Writer in Residence
Category: Writers In Residence
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Gigi Lin

A Refreshed Perspective: At the Right Time

Posted by BCSAadmin on 08/21/2017

By Gigi Lin, Simon Fraser University, winner of the 2017 Stories from Abroad Scholarship.

It feels weird being back home. This city where I’ve learned to walk, speak English, fell in love with my academic life, and chose to leave for the U.K. - feels more foreign than I would’ve ever imagined. It’s true what they say. You experience withdrawal when you build a life somewhere else (even if it is temporary), and end up having to say farewell to it. I can proudly say and believe, exchange is one of the most incredulous and valuable experience during my undergraduate degree.

Extraordinary Memo...

Tags: Stories from Abroad Scholarship Simon Fraser University SFU University of Bath Bath england Winner
Category: Student Blog
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Peter Mate

Take Time to Pursue Happiness

Posted by BCSAadmin on 08/15/2017

By: Peter Mate, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Vancouver Campus, winner of the 2017 Stories from Abroad Scholarship and a member of the BC Study Abroad Writer in Residence Team.

I advise my fellow travelers to take time to reflect in order to review their growth during their time away from home. Reviewing their growth will enable new ideas to take shape by providing time to reflect on their life’s journey. When I was living in New York and Budapest, I lived off the energy of my surroundings: Protests, exploring and achievement became a regular occurrence. However, my time abroad elicited contempt: I finished my studies confused about my career and overall intentions. 

When reviewing my time abroad, I realized that I pursued many endeavours simply for their achievem...

Tags: Travel see the world Study Abroad Fairleigh Dickinson University FDU Writer in Residence Scholarship Scholarship Winner Abroad
Category: Writers In Residence
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Realizing my first artwork ever!

Pre-departure Jitters

Posted by BCSAadmin on 08/07/2017

By: Alice (Ruo Ran) Wang, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, winner of the 2017 Stories from Abroad Scholarship.

As I get ready to leave for my study-abroad program, I find myself overcome with an intense pre-departure jitter. There seems to be an endless string of loose-ends: getting foreign currency (Did I get enough? How devastated would I be if I got robbed? If not too devastated, maybe I should get more?); booking hostels (Is this good/safe/clean/reliable? Is there a breakfast buffet? Can I smuggle food from the buffet to eat later?); trying to forecast the weather (Does 19 ̊C in Paris feels like 19 ̊C here?). The constant plague of uncertainties is exasperating the already difficult task of planning a realistic sojourn.

I have other worries too. I am vigilant ab...

Tags: Kwantlen Polytechnic University KPU Stories from Abroad Study Abroad Scholarship art history Paris Kassel Germany
Category: Student Blog
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