Incoming Exchange Students

A Trip to Remember!

By Marvin Janessen - exchange student from Fontys University, Netherlands

Halloween in Victoria

Studying at Camosun College has been a tremendous experience for me. I remember the first days well: the international student orientation was very welcoming and I fit right in from the very start. Even though there were a great many international students, I found myself to be the only one in most of the courses I attended. The local students were very kind and interested in my story, and I befriended quite a few of them. The way Camosun College worked was different than my school, but similar enough to just ease into it. I enjoyed how classes were divided into lectures and seminars, it was very refreshing after working in project groups exclusively for a few years.

I opted to stay with a host family because I wanted to experience Canadian culture firsthand. My host family was really nice and they made an effort to include me into their family. They showed me around and helped me when I needed it. We did a lot of things together and we remain friends to this day. Canadian culture, to me, was very similar and quite different at the same time. From the houses to the food, it was all different in subtle ways. I tried out many different Canadian foods, like poutine, maple syrup, and local microbrews, and went to do things like going on a whale tour, seeing an ice-hockey game, and a lot of other things. I just could not get enough of it.

I have been back for some time now, but I like to reminisce about all the things I have done and experienced in Canada. Surely this was one of the greatest experiences I have had in my life so far, and I will always cherish it. It was truly one of the best choices I have ever made, and I would not trade it in for anything in the world. Camosun College is a great school, and they are very good at taking care of international students. I am sure to make it back there one day.