An eventful time in Wales!

By Louise Lauzon, Camosun Exchange Student in Wales

So, I have been blogging, and journal writing, but have yet to post much, so here's a backlog of the last month!

Also, before I start, I just found out that I'm receiving two awards from Camosun: thank you so much to the donors and I'm sorry I won't be able to attend the award ceremony and thank you in person! So thank-you for the following:  Vic & Pam Shemilt - Island Blue Print International English Scholarship and  Vic & Pam Shemilt/Island Blue Print Associate Degree in Creative Writing Scholarship ~ Year One

The hardest part about blogging is repeating yourself – over and over.

Personally, I've got a gorgeous purple leather bound journal that I'm writing most things down in. Then, there's Facebook. The status updates, the messages to friends and family, and then you have Skype; verbally telling everyone about everything that's been going on.

So now I have to repeat myself once more, but in blog form. So, I'm cheating a bit and copying from journal entries and Facebook messages. . .

(Then, of course, there's the huge distractions. A spider the size of my hand just wandered into my flat mates room. Surprisingly, there was very little screaming, just our lovely Italian friend saying that she would start charging by weight of the spider to kill it.)

Anyway, here's some of the things I've been up to:

 

 

So, it's Sept 24^th right now. We met up with the school on the 17^th, and today is probably the first day we've had time to just breathe. The 18^th and 19^th were long orientation days, and on the 20^th we were taken to this amazing castle, then headed to a superstore to do some shopping.

On the 21^st they dragged us to Whitesands Beach and St. Paul's Cathedral:

 Both of which were amazing. We wandered into a cave on the beach and found a seal – yeah, the animal – just hanging out in there. At St. Paul's we got kicked out early so they could hold a wedding. If you were looking at this cathedral right now, you'd have the same look of shock on your face as me. How many years would you have to book in advance to have a wedding there? Maybe I'll book now for ten years down the road and hope the timing works, ha ha.

On Sunday (the 22^nd) we finally had time to settle in and unpack, put up pictures, and do some laundry. People were finally starting to arrive, and we had the first of many parties – a cops and robbers theme at the school club.

Speaking of people, let me brag about the ones I get to spend time with!

There are 10 international students (actually, I believe more have arrived since we came along, but we're the core of it.) Of those ten, nine are female. Four are from BC – crazy, I know – one is from Italy, and the rest are from America. We all completely hit it off with each other right away, all sharing the same interests in, well, almost everything. I guess that's what happens when you get a bunch of people who are crazy enough to fly half way across the world to study Humanities. Anyway, three of the girls in my dorm are international, and the other two are from England. Surprisingly, I've only met two or three Welsh people! Most are from around the UK.

 

The dorm rooms are pretty cozy – if you ignore the REALLY loud pipes that are always running. (some nights they remind me of the ocean at home, but most nights I wind up throwing a pillow at them, which doesn't do much). Most of the time (like now for example) we all just have our doors open and we'll shout to each other to talk. Everyone here is incredibly friendly and welcoming.

Tonight we've got the International Potluck (Shintana and I are bringing Poutine, yum!). Tomorrow we get to do tasters of some of the activities they have. I've already met the head of the Quidditch team (yes, you read that right) and I'm really excited for that. Also planning on looking at archery and martial arts just for fun.

For now, I guess I better go start on the Poutine.

 

A bit on bikes in Japan

By Jessica Tamblyn, Camosun exchange student at Josai International University

So having a bike here is COMPLETELY different than in Canada. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Helmets are only required for students in elementary and middle school, nobody else ever wears them...which is awesome because I hate wearing them.
2. Bikes have the right of way pretty much always, and we ride on the sidewalk. (Sometimes people will ride on the side of the road, since the sidewalk is so busy)
3. 
   Driving and biking is on the left hand side of the road. (which is opposite from Canada and I still struggle with what side I need to be on from time to time.)
4. People on bikes are not legally allowed to use their cellphones while riding, but cars can.
5. You cannot drink (alcohol) and bike.
6. It is required to have a bike light at night (I guess that's the same)
7. When you purchase a bicycle in Japan, you must pay an extra 5 dollars for insurance. Doing this requires giving them all your information, so that if you get hit while on a bike, you would be insured. Or if your bike gets stolen, you could go to the police and they would report it. (So if a policeman were to pull you over, they check your bike licence number and your name, if it doesn’t match then you most likely stole the bike.)
8. It is illegal to have someone ride on the back “seat” of your bike, the bars at the back are meant for carrying boxes.
9. Bikes here have keys to lock he bike, rather than a bike lock. The lock tightens around the wheel. Maybe I’ll take a picture or video of it later. 

We went to Cainz and looked for the cheapest possible bike, which was ¥8,900 or about $90. This was the basic grey one with the black basket that every foreigner that we saw with a bike so far had. (Naturally, since its the cheapest option) We went to the shop worker and asked him for the cheap bike. He then said a bunch of words in Japanese and pointed at two different bikes. I was kind of confused and pointed to the cheap grey one outside, so we went out there and he proceeded to explain that the bike doesn’t have gears, the light did not have a motion/sunlight sensor, etc. He then took us inside and showed us the cream/white bikes. The original sign on it said ¥19,800 but he said it was only ¥9,800 (he said this by repeating the price and also covering up the 1 with his finger). Okay, so these bikes were much better, and looked awesome, for only about $10 more! Renato got the white one and I got the cream one, we filled out our paperwork and headed home.

Welcome to Josai International University!

Excerpts from Jessica Tamblyn, exchange student

Day 1

 The night we arrived they told us that we had a welcoming ceremony, which we had to wear formal clothing for. I hardly brought fancy clothes, but I guess I did alright by wearing a skirt/semi fancy top. When we got there though, all of the students were wearing SUITS, it was crazy fancy!! I definitely felt out of place, but luckily there were more foreigners that weren’t too crazy fancy, so it wasn’t so bad. The opening ceremony was basically like a school assembly, but I think it was only for exchange students? All the important school staff were there, like the president and the chancellor, they spoke all in Japanese, so naturally I didn’t understand much of what was happening. OH! And every time someone got up to speak (every time, doesn’t matter how important the person was), everyone in the audience had to stand up, wait for them to get to the podium, and then bow, then we were able to sit down, then when they were done we had to stand up and bow again. (I think all that moving around was the only thing that kept me awake at that point, actually.)

After the president, the chancellor, and some other people (teachers, maybe?) spoke, visitors from various embassies gave their speeches, some short and others a bit long. They were half in English though, which was a relief to hear after having everything thus far spoken in Japanese. There was someone from Poland, Norway, and somewhere else... No Canada or America though. The guy who spoke (he was from Poland I believe) was very inspiring!! He went off about how the true meaning of がんばって (ganbatte/goodluck) was work hard, try your best and most importantly, persevere. I should’ve recorded it, it was actually pretty a good speech.

Immediately after the ceremony we walked out, and there was a pathway of people clapping and cheering as we walked out. I don’t know how to explain it really, like two rows of people, and we walked in between them as they faced us. Anyways, it felt pretty cool, but weird at the same time. We then headed over to the English tea room. In here we had to find the table that had our country’s name on it, ours was combined with a lot of other countries since there was only 3 Canadians at our school. Here I met the 3rd student from Camosun that came to Josai as well! He had already been in Japan for I think a week by that point? Then we started to eat and mingle with people, I met a Californian girl named Kelsey who then introduced us to a few more people.

One of them when they found out that I was from Camosun College told me that I need to introduce myself to the chancellor. I already realized during the assembly how important this lady was, and was quite nervous to meet her because I didn’t want to offend her in any way. So, apparently Camosun is some super famous school according to Josai, which I was really surprised by!! As soon as we went to talk to her, instantly 4-5 photographers were taking photos of us with her.

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.