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.

Looking for adventure?

Create it here. Study Abroad.

 

 

So you want to travel, but not delay graduation? Or are you looking to travel, but not as a tourist, but a "local"? Whatever your reason for studying abroad, make sure you have one!

 

Thinking about WHY you are going abroad will help you achieve goals, manage expectations (your own and those of others around you), and adjust to life abroad.

 

We get a lot of students wanting to just "get out of town!", and that's great, no, that's awesome! But in order to find the program that suits you, the country that you're looking to be that "local" in, or the school that will give you the opportunity to meet your academic goals, you need to do some deeper thinking than that. And start thinking about it right away!

 

Academic Goals:

 

What are you studying right now? Do you want to study the same thing abroad? Is your focus going to the academic courses, the experience, the language, or a combination of all?'

 

Researching the programs at the different partner institutions is the first step. Which ones offer what you're looking for? Once you narrow it down to general programs, book an appointment with the Study Abroad Assistant for further details, course descriptions, and advice as to which school matches your academic goals.

 

The big question will come down to: do you want the courses you take abroad to transfer to your home institution? If you need credits to transfer back, then your courses will be more limited than if you are going for an experiential study abroad experience, and this may require a bit more work at choosing your courses ahead of time.

 

Remember, be creative. Online/distance courses are always a good way to add in a few extra credits here and there, and so is summer school before or after a semester.

 

Language Acquisition:

 

This is where you can really take advantage of being immersed in a language, so plan for that! If you don't speak the language, look into whether or not the school offers introductory courses. Are the academic courses taught in English or the native language?

 

If you're planning well in advance, taking an introductory language course at your home institution will give you a good foundation for your time abroad. Then you will just spring-board into the immersion of a new language!

 

Choose your location:

This can be the most obvious decision for some, and the most difficult for others. Depending on your language acquisition and academic goals, this may limit where you can go. Family history, research, and media may all influence where you want to study abroad. Consider all your options, and think about WHY you're leaning towards one country or another. This may help you prioritize the bigger questions around WHY you're studying abroad.

 

Some things to consider when choosing your location are: cost of living, language, culture, the academic calendar, and schools available to you.

 

Plan your timeline and budget:

 

Make sure you have an idea of what your time abroad is going to cost you. With more time to prepare, this is easier to manage. Think about your summer employment, part-time employment before you go, scholarships (apply for them ALL - you just never know!), and student loans.

If you have any questions around how to finance your time abroad, or what the expenses will be, don't hesitate in contacting the Study Abroad Assistant!

 

Remember, be creative, optimistic, and ask for advice. This will help make your planning and even your trip a lot smoother!

The Ingredients for the Start of a Terrific Journey

    So, my first post on here will be undoubtedly boring compared to what there is to come, but I thought that the nit-picky little details may be helpful to someone out there, so here it goes.

    Back almost a year ago, late fall of 2012, I started thinking of how I want to branch out from just Victoria and Camosun. In high school I had never understood why people wanted to move away for school – you have everything you need here, and the beauty of Victoria is amazing! I loved Camosun, of course, from the teachers and the classes to the learning experiences (especially figuring out that I would never take philosophy again.) Still, I wanted the “Harry Potter experience” of living away from home, at the school, and forging new friendships, maybe joining some clubs or committees, and learn more about how to be on my own.

    This is where, in a moment of curiosity, an internet search led me to find the Study Abroad section on Camosun's website. I had a zillion fears about everything, mostly how I would afford it as I pay for school and room and board while living with family friends. I decided to just go for it though, and spent awhile refining my application and asking Julia, the amazing lady who works in the International offices, a million pointless (and maybe some important) questions. I even ended up emailing the girl, Caitlin, who was currently at the University in Wales (where I was planning the exchange for), and asked for her advice.

    Helpful Hint Numero Uno: Apply for the Scholarship! The application is very similar to the Study Abroad application, so you may as well do them both at once. Here's what the (almost?) final version of all the paperwork looked like. I added in passport pictures and changed some things last minute, but you can get the idea.

I handed in my application a couple days before the deadline (March 31^st) and spent a few weeks biting my nails waiting to hear back from Camosun.

    On April 26th, I got an email from Julia saying that I was accepted into Camosun's exchange program. I was excited and astonished, but said things like “I don't think it's hit me yet. Ask me again when Wales has officially accepted me.” With about five days to the end of May, I got an email from Julia asking if I had finished my application.

I panicked. No, I hadn't. What application? I couldn't find any in my inbox, and when I got the reply that I had to also apply to the Uni in Wales, I about fainted. Luckily the process was similar to the one I had already done twice over, but I spent a few hours trying to get the scanner to work for my passport, and may have had a mini meltdown thinking that this was the end for me and I wouldn't get to go.

Miraculously, I got everything in on time, and was stuck playing the waiting game again.

On June 18^th, I got an email with a copy of the letter from Wales (with the promise of a hard copy coming via post). Still, even with this confirmation, I wasn't quite sure it was real; a part of me at least began to at least believe it was.

    Of course, during this whole process I was obsessively emailing Julia while looking up a bunch of school stuff. The University, by the way, has an amazingly long name: The University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter Campus. Or, for short, known as TSD. While researching, I had seen somewhere at some point, the deadline for applying for dorms was mid to late June, and I took it upon myself to get in contact with people and apply for them. Of course, just a few days later Julia asked me to come into the office to sign the same forms so she could send them off, so I may have jumped the gun a bit on that one. Though, I do believe in better safe then sorry, despite being rather embarrassed that I had gone ahead on it.

    That almost brings us up to now! I booked my flight at the start of July, through my amazing travel agent of a sudo-Aunt. My flight leaves Victoria on September 12^th, and makes one four hour stop in Ottawa. My baggage won't be taken off the plane and I won't have to go through the US or anything, which is relieving as there is almost no chance of losing my baggage. With the time change and time of travel, I leave Ottawa at 9pm and get to London at 10am, Sept 13^th. International students don't have to be at the school until Sept 17^th, but I'll be spending a few nights in London with Shintana, the other girl that was accepted for TSD. Term ends Dec 13^th, but I'm flying back Christmas Eve, because it was cheaper, and it will give me a few days to travel, plus there's the dramatic touch of getting home the night before Christmas, and the day after my 21^st birthday.

    I just submitted my application for Student Loans, which was a little more difficult then normal given that I had to get course confirmation to Financial Aid so they could confirm I would be in full time studies. I'd already gotten a few courses transferred, so those were used while I wait for final confirmation on classes. In addition to the One World Scholarship, I received a second one from The Leonard Foundation. It won't be deposited to Camosun until mid October, so I wasn't sure if I would be able to use it. Luckily, after talking to a couple people and getting a couple signatures, it looks like it will be used towards my tuition. Hurray!

    The other week I attended the pre-departure meeting, and got a swag bag (see below) as well as some helpful advice on culture shock.

Are you still awake? Not falling asleep in the boring details, I hope.

    I think that's all for now. There, mysterious reader, you are completely caught up with more or less the process of the past few months. I'll be posting soon about the list that never ends of what has to be done in the next two months sometime this week. Any questions? Just ask! I always feel like I ask too many, so it will be nice to answer some for a change.

The Writer in Wales (well, still in Victoria for now),

 Louise

Uganda Field School 2013

Uganda Field School 2013

Camosun students spent four weeks with two Camosun instructors and a host coordinator from VIDEA in Uganada. They travelled to several non-profits in a number of different towns and villages, learning about fair trade, gender equality in development, and social enterprise.

The heat was extreme, and students found it to be a tiresome yet fulfilling trip.

For many students this was the start of a lifetime of travel, and for others, it was a welcome addition to their already full repetoire of travel destinations. However, all agree that this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be together and led by such a great coordinator.

Rethink your classroom

Get out and explore - use the world as your classroom!

Mexcio Dental Hygiene 2013

 Mexico Field School Blog:

http://ccdhmexicofieldschool.blogspot.ca/

Visiting the schools was eye-opening. I was impressed with the oral health knowledge of the children thanks to the work of previous field schools. It was also encouraging to witness the children's excitement upon our arrival at the schools where we were greeted with hugs and smiles. Although the children were able to answer oral health questions and were eager to participate in tooth-brushing workshops, unfortunately, the presence of dental caries persists. This reinforces the concept that a high level of oral health knowledge is not sufficient in eliminating or preventing oral health disparities.

This experience amplified the role of diet in the caries disease process. The continued presence of Early Childhood Caries and dental caries is likely to be associated with the availability of carcinogenics. At the primary school we observed children purchasing various carcinogenic snacks, (both traditional and North American foods) from a kiosk on the school ground. In the future, it would be important to target the snacks available to children in the schools in hopes of decreasing the prevalence of dental caries.

Wow- what an amazing experience. Working at Entreamigos was at times very challenging: my ergonomics were compromised and equipment, such as an ultrasonic and suction, were sometimes needed more by other students. Other than the gratefulness of my clients upon completion of dental hygiene therapy, my most memorable experience was on the very last day at Entreamigos. After working primarily with clients exhibiting moderate to severe periodontists I feel that I have gained a great deal of invaluable clinical experience. On our final clinic day I was assigned a client of lighter classification which allowed me to truly demonstrate my improvements in detection, debridement and time-management. Thanks to this experience I now know that I am capable of being an effective and efficient dental hygienist and I will continue to believe in my abilities.

My Time Here at Fontys

 

My arrival to Fontys was a warm and welcoming one. I was fortunate enough to have been paired with such a great buddy from Fontys new Buddy System. She came to the airport to pick me up, helped me settle in and become adjusted to my new surroundings.

My first impression of Venlo was a good one. The town centre is so quaint and lovely I had never lived near such a nice downtown. The shops and restaurants are good and lively and I love to go out and enjoy them. On the weekends the cafes are bustling and everybody is just enjoying themselves. I really love this about the European lifestyle.

When I started at Fontys it was an interesting and new adjustment for me. The school organization at Camosun is very different but I find this a positive aspect in some ways. I came to the Netherlands for new experiences and learning to adapt has definitely been one of them! I enjoy being part of a cohort and sharing all of my classes with the same students. It allows everybody to get to know each other better and on a more personal level. There are many activities organized by the school for exchange students such as trips to Amsterdam and Cologne. These are particularly special as it shows that they care about giving their international students the best possible experience. I have had the chance to meet so many people from all over Europe, Asia, and North America and create relationships that I would have never had the opportunity to do otherwise.

Being here in the Netherlands has taught me a lot. The Dutch people have a kind, easy-going and unpretentious way of life. I really love it. The Netherlands is similar enough to Canada in where I feel comfortable, but different enough to where I am getting the fully European experience.

I am so thankful for what the exchange program has given to me. I have been able to learn so much. If a fellow Camosun student is interested in studying in the Netherlands at Fontys I would definitely recommend it. The opportunities for learning, travelling, new experiences and meeting people from all over the world are bountiful.