My study abroad experience was something that I will never forget. I undertook my exchange at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, somewhere I had never been to before. Because of this, and not really knowing anyone, I was a little apprehensive. However everyone was so friendly as soon as I arrived that I found myself settled in and after just a few weeks I was wandering around feeling like a local. Just visiting a new city is exciting enough; however when you have the opportunity to live there for 4 months you really get to see things which you would not have done if it was just a holiday and really get involved with the life and culture of the destination.
It was also such a unique experience to be able to study at a Canadian university for the 4 months as their teaching styles and overall university lifestyle is very different to those in England and I really enjoyed seeing how they make the most out of their time at Uni. One of the best things about my time in Canada was the people I met and the friends I made who were not only from Canada but also from all over the world. As I was the only English person it my flat, it was a great experience to be able to live with and also study with people with all different cultures and languages, giving such a multicultural feel to my time there and allowing me to make life-long friends from all over the world and giving me opportunities to visit them in their home countries as well as them visiting me in England.
Finally, whilst I was living in Toronto, I also took the opportunity to visit other places that I hadn’t been to before or might not have the opportunity to such New York, Montreal, Niagara Falls and celebrating the end of the semester in the mountains which were all highlights of my time there. My exchange experience was definitely one of the best things that I have ever done and I would encourage everyone with the opportunity, to take part and make the most of it as the experiences I have had and the people I have met, was not something that I would have wanted to miss out on.
Emily Fuller, International Tourism Management
