Student Blog

By Susan Seto

If you were to tell me five years ago that I would be living out of a suitcase for a year, I would think you were crazy. Last year, I decided to take a leap of faith to pursue my passion to go abroad.  It was a bold move to leave my career, apartment, and family and friends in Vancouver for the unfamiliar. Looking back, it was by far the best thing I did for myself in terms of personal and professional growth.

I had the opportunity to live in four different places through the Master of Global Business program at the University of Victoria. I studied in Canada, Taiwan, and Austria and completed a summer co-op term in Hong Kong. All of these were enriching in their own ways.

If you’re asking you...

On Sunday I will be celebrating an important milestone of my life. Exactly 10 years ago, on August 31, 2004, I landed in Vancouver to embark on a life-changing journey in this beautiful and welcoming country. Ever since, every day of my life has been eventful and memorable.

Shortly after finishing middle school in Kazakhstan, my parents realized that graduating from a high school overseas would better transition and prepare me for post-secondary success. As a safe, multicultural and accepting English-speaking country, Canada had no competition. In 2004, I entered Bodwell High School, a co-ed boarding school for international students in North Vancouver. I also had the opportunity to learn more about Canadian culture through studying French in Montreal while living in a Quebec homestay.

It’s been about a month since I have taken part in my amazing course abroad. In that time we studied art history in Florence and Rome encompassing the Renaissance, High Renaissance, and Baroque art including architecture. What I wanted was to enrich my education and build on subjects I have already studied to some extent. Not only was that achieved but it also was a catalyst in my future goals for education and travel.

In Rome I was also able to experience ancient Roman architecture leading into the Rome we know today. Coming out of the metro station in an entirely modern environment and all of a sudden being in front of the Coliseum is something that I have never experienced over in Canada. In terms of my own artistic practice I now have a better appreciation for the art that is often cas...