Study Abroad

2011 Spring Exchange in University of Leicester, England
By: Guangjia Xu

There are a ton of good reasons for students to go on an Exchange. However, you will never know how wonderful it will be until you actually go to a foreign country, attend a school that you know nothing about, and meet new classmates and professors with different accents.

I am currently on my exchange at University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. UK is a good place not only for education but also for travel. Since the town I reside in is in the middle of the UK, I have travelled to different cities such as London, Newcastle, and Edinburgh by train. I am also planning on visiting more places during the Easter vacation in April. I am taking three Sociology courses as my electives and studies in the UK are slightly different than from Canada’s. With the classes I am taking, I would say the workload here is less intensive and students have more time flexibility for self-studying instead of numerous quizzes, assignments, and midterms. One thing that I need to mention is that people here are very nice and enjoy socializing. You will have so much fun hanging out with English people.

I strongly recommend any of you in SFU should not miss such a great opportunity. Studies are just part of your lives as students. More importantly, the cultural experiences you gain will definitely benefit you for the rest of your lives.

Oi, oi, oi! Aussie’s a real beaut – Spring 2010 Exchange to Murdoch University in Perth, Australia
By: Beatrice Benavides

Prior to my Exchange to Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, I was quite terrified of animals. After Exchange, I am amazed by the courage (and insanity?) I mustered to do some of the things I did. I fed kangaroos, petted koalas and a wombat, swam alongside a turtle, a mantra ray, and a variety of fish, saw one-ofa-kind animals, such as a cassowary and a Tasmanian devil, and had close encounters with quendas, possums, spiders and dingos. Literally, I faced my fears through this trip.

My exchange made me realize that life is so much more than allowing fears and worries to control you. Not only did I gain courage, but I became more confident in myself and my abilities. I learned about Australian history through my Intro to Australian Indigenous course and about various Communication topics through my Public Relations and Cultural Media Policy courses. And of course, I soaked up different cultures, starting with the different kinds of food I tried: German kartoffelsuppe, Japanese Okonomiyaki, Malaysian curry, a delicious taco dip from the friend of a friend, and of course, good ‘ol Australian kangaroo and Pavlova.

Learning more about myself, various cultures and seeing numerous animals and amazing sights were definitely huge highlights of my trip. However, the best part about this whole experience was certainly gaining new friends. It was the best experience ever.

My Time in Prague – 2010 Humanities Field School to Prague, Czech Republic
By Georgia Gavel

When I embarked on the field school to Prague this past summer, I was worried that the workload would be too much to actually enjoy my travel experience. However, there was no need to worry, as the school simply became part of the whole adventure. What we learned in our classes was so incorporated into all aspects of experiencing the city that our time spent with teachers simply felt like they were the most knowledgeable tour guides. On my walk to school after cutting through the castle grounds, I sauntered down the cobble stone streets described in the Kafka selections we were reading. I was always astounded to find that after going out for dinner with friends, we had actually spent our time talking about our current readings without even realizing it.

Our class on Czech culture was one of the most memorable and showed us some of the wonders of the Czech Republic. It took us on field trips to an Ossuary with piles of bones, the Pilsner Urquell factory and the countryside of Southern Bohemia. My favourite portion was a medieval town called Cesky Krumlov, which is best seen from the river while floating on a raft and raising a beer while shouting “Nazdravi!” (cheers) to all the boaters going by.

I made great friends during my time and had the best experience of my university career. I also came away with an important discovery; what is the difference between studying at home and studying abroad? While traveling I took on a drive to make every moment count, this mentality may have been the best souvenir I found.

¡Hola México!: 2010 Communication Field School to Guadalajara, Mexico
By: May Yao

I had always lamented the fact that I did not have an international experience during my undergraduate studies. So when I heard about the field school to Mexico over the Olympic break, I was really excited! A capstone to a post-baccalaureate diploma in Education, this was a ‘muy excellente’ fit with my interests in international and global education.

The field school closely examined culture, communication and industry in various cities in Jalisco. In the morning, we attended lectures at Universidad de Guadalajara (U of G) and in the afternoon, visited various sites, including a software company, traditional ceramics store, clothing factory and an archaeological dig. It was a fantastic blend of classroom theory and hands-on experience! The U of G students were also incredibly gracious, bringing our group out to activities such as karaoke, luchadores (Mexican wrestling), and more. Having never been to Mexico, this was a unique way to experience the country and culture.

The main tip I would give others thinking of going abroad is to be both curious and open-minded. Customs, traditions, food, language and other things are often unfamiliar. International travel offers insights into culture, languages, and ways of seeing and being in the world. It is a memorable adventure and fantastic opportunity to experience new things

Discovering Ghana: Heart and Soul – 2009 Ghana Field School
By: Mina Tabei

I will never forget the tear filled eyes of my two sponsored children when I looked back and waved goodbye. Emma and Emmanuella became my heart and soul in Ghana. Not a day goes by when I don’t think of Africa and what this continent did for me.

Last year, I challenged myself to go beyond my comfort zone and travel to Ghana as part of the Contemporary Arts Field School Program. There were many aspects of Africa, specifically Ghana, that appealed to me.The tortured history, burden of the past and current political and economic stability made me curious, but I knew there was more to Africa than poverty, disease, corruption and war. I wanted to experience Africa’s complexity with my own eyes and soak up the culture. The opportunity to go to Ghana came to me when I stumbled upon a 2009 Ghana Field School Program poster. I had recently begun researching and raising funds for an organization dedicated to rescuing child slaves from the fishing industry in Eastern Ghana. When I saw the poster, it became abundantly clear to me that I should take advantage of this great opportunity. Without hesitation, I pursued the opportunity and applied for the program.

The touchstone of my character lies within my experiences. I will be digesting these experiences, studying in and travelling throughout the different regions of Ghana for years to come. My experiences were exhilarating as we learned about Ghana’s beauty, rich history and culture. We learned how to play different African instruments and different traditional dances; I can still feel the rhythms coursing through my body and soul. Furthermore, I learned more about the deep culture, old societies and spiritual power that lay beneath the surface of Ghana and witnessed the people rise above conditions that would break most of us.

During the two months, I maintained relations with many individuals ranging from local teachers, ministers, market women to rescued child slaves. I strongly suggest any of the SFU International Field School Programs to anyone who wants to have an uplifting and life changing experience. I have gained great personal independence through travelling, and experienced different cultures which in turn helped me appreciate differences that make people unique. Participating in the Ghana Field School Program was the best decision I have made and was the perfect way to finish my studies at SFU

Norwegian Excursion – BI Norwegian School of Management
By: Justin Lepitzk

Participating in an international exchange was by far the most memorable experience I have had at SFU. At first, I was a little nervous about living in another country on my own. But after going through both SFU and BI’s exchange orientations, I realized just how much fun the semester was going to be.

I was able to travel around Europe while taking four business classes in Oslo. I visited Amsterdam, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, and Italy while maintaining a strict budget thanks to cheap airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet. I was also able to travel within Norway and made my way to the west coast to visit the cities of Bergen and Stavanger. While in Stavanger, we took a 4 km hike up to the famous Preikestolen – a massive 604 meter cliff overlooking the Lysefjorden.

During my stay in Norway, I met a myriad of new people and experienced the Norwegian style of living. If you ever get a chance to visit Oslo, I recommend trying a bacon-rapped hotdog and checking out one of the many awesome techno clubs.

While on exchange, I expected to meet people, but I never expected to come away with new lifelong friends. I plan to return to Europe after graduation, and will be fortunate enough to have a place to stay in almost every country.

Studying abroad in Norway brought me out of the “bubble” I was living in here in Vancouver and opened my eyes to different cultures and ways of living. It was truly an experience of a lifetime; all students should take advantage of international exchanges while studying at SFU.

The Perspective of Rebecca Lee

To anyone who is considering participating in a study abroad experience, Rebecca Lee had this to offer:

“I would tell someone who had financial barriers like I did that: money can always be earned, but never can opportunities like going on an exchange be earned back. Education is more than just about what’s been written in books, it’s about going out of your comfort zone and exploring the vast world we live in, with
small treasures hidden in every corner of life. I would say that the more capable you are of adapting to an environment outside your comfort zone, the more you learn.”

To learn more about exchanges and other study abroad programs, attend a Study Abroad 101 session.

From Bagpipes to Baguettes to Bratwurst – ESCP Europe and International Co-op
By Miroslav (Mirko) Suzara

I was a third year SFU Business student in the Spring of 2009: a young lad with minimal professional experience, a travel record safely consisting of travel to the US, and perhaps too much experience with comfort in the conveniences of home-life.

I realized, that as a student with a minimal number of real commitments, this would be the best time for me to pack my bags and experience firsthand what all this global fuss was about. So I applied and got accepted for two back-to-back international activities: a co-op position with the EDGE Programme in Glasgow (Summer 2009) followed up with an exchange to ESCP Europe in Paris (Fall 2009). The experience was an unforgettable ride of breathtaking sights, delicious tastes, and fascinating cultures. And by the end of December, my once-empty passport was filled with stamps from the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Slovakia, and Czech Republic!

But, if you didn’t figure it out from the title, my experience didn’t end in Paris. As I write this entry for
SFU International, I’m sitting on an outdoor patio a couple days after Starkbierfest in Munich, Germany. Thanks to the ESCP Europe database, I was able to secure a marketing internship out here with an international high-tech firm. I can only partially blame the travel bug for all this continued globe-trotting.

The larger reason derives from a profound realization that we, as Simon Fraser University students, have multiple international opportunities within our reach. I assure you, going from bagpipes to baguettes
to bratwurst is a lot more realistic than you may think!

Taiwanese Treasures
National Chengchi University

Going on an exchange is the most memorable experience that I’ve had while being an SFU student. Studying abroad has been a dream of mine ever since high school and I was ecstatic when I finally got the chance to go for a term. Taipei was one of my favourite places because there were a LOT of things to do there. The ShiLin night market is the biggest one in Taipei. They have the biggest variety of delicious and cheap Taiwanese food! Don’t forget to try the famous pineapple cakes, oyster omelette and bubble tea. Take the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) to XinBeiTou and soak in a natural hot spring, or go a bit further north to DanShui and take a ferry to the Fishermen’s Wharf. Then, of course, take the fastest elevator in the world up Taipei 101 to see the fabulous sunset!

If you ever get bored of Taipei, you can escape to the countryside through the High Speed Rail. It’s like the bullet train in Japan. Go down south to KenDing, the Hawaii of Taiwan, for the weekend. There’s nothing but palm trees, beaches and a relaxing vibe. Don’t forget to check out the southern-most point in Taiwan while you’re there. There’s no public transportation, so you’ll have to rent a scooter which is the most convenient way to travel around.

Going out of my comfort zone and being away from home really opened my eyes about my strengths and my limitations. I found I was able to effectively balance my three Business courses while immersing myself in the culture. Because of exchange I was able to make a lot of new friends from all over the globe and do things that I normally wouldn’t do back home. There are so many reasons why you should travel abroad. I really don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to go on an exchange.

Czech it Out! – Humanities Field School to Prague
By: Christine Lee

For a Communication major who still needed Humanities credits and wanted to travel without delaying graduation, the field school to Prague was like a dream come true! I had never been to Europe before, and visiting as a field schooler gave me unique opportunities to learn about Europe’s history and culture from a wide range of perspectives, go on excursions to various art galleries, museums and historical sites around the Czech Republic with knowledgeable (and fun!) Czech professors, experience both the ups and downs of living in a new culture with fellow SFUers, and also critically reflect on tourism and travel during class discussions. Where else but in Europe will professors treat you to wine while lecturing about Europe’s upcoming elections, or discuss Czech literature while standing at the graves of famous Czech writers?

While the academic workload is no joke (11 credits in six weeks!), many of us took advantage of our 3 day weekends to travel to other countries. My weekend highlights include reuniting with an old friend in Helsinki (Finland), relaxing at the thermal spa in Budapest (Hungary), and seeing the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall (Germany). Not that you even need to travel, because the architecture in Prague is absolutely stunning and there are always concerts or events going on in the city. Having just graduated this summer, I must say that the field school was one of the best experiences of my university career. I would recommend it as a challenging yet rewarding way to travel and experience a new culture