Why my gap year in Canada is the best thing that ever happened to me
It all started with a feeling I needed something new, something to get me away from my old routines. I wasn’t ready to apply to a university at home, though, since I didn’t know what I wanted to study. I thought about travelling, which I had done the year before. At the same time, I wanted to learn and develop as a person. So why not study abroad for a while? I chose to study at Thompson Rivers University in beautiful Kamloops in Canada. This is my story.
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Why I chose to study in Canada
I chose to study in Canada because I love the outdoors and nature, and really, have you been to Banff or Jasper National Park? It’s magical! But it’s not just Canada’s amazing nature that makes me stay here (okay, maybe a little), it’s the people and the feeling. Everyone greets you with a smile, whether you enter a bus or run into someone’s shopping cart at the grocery store.
My life as a student in Canada
The university is amazing! I chose to take a mix of classes since I didn’t really know what I wanted to study. I’m not taking a specific academic program, but classes ranging from English literature and writing, and anatomy of different animal species. The professors are really good, which is a big difference from many of my high school professors back home. The demands are much higher, however, though not that much higher than at universities at home. Still, you have a lot of responsibilities, which is both good and bad. The difference between universities at home and what I have experienced here is the strong sense of community. There are over 50 clubs to get involved in, and personally I’m involved in the Adventure club. Last week, we took a hike to a beautiful lake about an hour away.
A typical day for me
I have 2-3 classes and afterwards I stay at the university to study. YES, you need to put a lot of time into studying if you want to pass your classes, haha…but it’s not a problem since campus offers about 10 different restaurants and cafés. Besides, I usually take a break and walk over to the big sports facility where I work out for an hour, which makes me feel better (it’s free for students). But I have to admit that I have become addicted to coffee since coming here, and I didn’t even like coffee before I came here…haha!
What I do in my spare time
When I don’t study, I have my free time. I do quite a lot of springboard diving, which I also practised at home. It is so much fun. Otherwise, I spend a lot of time doing things with friends. Last weekend we celebrated Thanksgiving and I went out with one of my Canadian friends to Williams Lake and had a real Canadian Thanksgiving with turkey, mashed potatoes and all. I rolled out of there because I was so full… I was also at a drive-in movie theater recently, to see a scary movie, which was scary on a whole new level. Next week I’m off to a “salmon river” to see salmon swim, which will be exciting. I’m waiting for some snow too, so that I can start skiing and snowboarding.
My plan was to stay here for only one semester, but I have grown so attached to the city and the country that I’m planning to come back next Fall to do a full degree here. I just need to go back home so that I can work and save up some money for more great times. I’m so happy I seized this opportunity and I’m so glad KILROY helped me all the way. I would not have made it otherwise. I will also receive continued help from them now that I’m thinking of doing a full degree here in Canada, which is fantastic! It makes me so happy!