My adventurous gap year in Canada

"Thompson Rivers University is situated in Kamloops, British Columbia, ideally half-way between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific allowing both mountain and sea adventures. The adventure studies department there is legendary, as all the teachers are on the top of their respective fields for example in mountaineering, wild water kayaking & rescuing, back-country skiing, rock climbing and expeditions to remotest places.

The courses took place in the spectacular Canadian outback and offered a chance to become a certified guide in the wide range fields of study offered by TRU Adventure Studies Department. The highlights of my own journey included mountaineering and glacier rescue in Athabasca Glacier, rock climbing in Skaha, and back-country skiing in Wells Grey national park. It was wild water kayaking on Clearwater though that owed the most awful and the most exhilarating feelings of my entire life, both within one week. Still dumbstruck."

"When not on the field or in the classroom (only 2 months out of an 8-month program btw), we went skiing in Sunpeaks, hiking in Revelstoke or having a nice cup of tea in the best café in Kamloops, The Art We Are. Not to mention the adventure parties we held at our legendary house, the Eagle’s Nest with an occasional cider and beer pong championships. As the tourist of the bunch, I also travelled across British Columbia to Vancouver Island & islands around, spent an amazing month in the beautiful Invermere in southern BC, and ended my year with an amazing road trip, visiting the friends I had made during the year."

"My 5 cents for you, if you’re thinking about going abroad to study, is go & do it! Definitely the best way of getting to know a country & a culture, as well as get top-notch education.

What I liked about KILROY’s part in my story is how they introduced me the best options to match my dreams and expectations, set me up for success by sparring me with my application process and simply by taking care of circling round the paperwork for me – I never needed to worry if my papers went to the right place or not. The price for this service is practically zero and especially to me, working while applying, priceless knowing my application was handled promptly.

So, dream it, plan it and do it! You won’t regret it."