SUNG-HEE

World Link Volunteeer For: Korea

International Experience: Summer Internship

Languages Spoken: English, Korean

Program of Study: Life Sciences SSP, Music Minor

I thought it would be a good opportunity to visit my home country again, and visit my relatives. From this internship, I also learned a lot as it was directly related to my academic program.

Korea was more westernized than I expected. They also had advanced technology and good internet/wifi systems everywhere.

Since Korea was more westernized than I thought, it was easier than what I expected. People seemed to be shy or hesitant at first, but once you get to know them, majority of them were warm-hearted people. Even after about 2 month stay there though, I had not quite overcome the crowdedness in a big city with lots of people, cars, and buses, especially as I grew up in small cities. It was very hard to get around, but once you got familiar with the system, it is accessible and convenient.

Going to mountains and beaches would be the highlights of my stay. The country is small enough for you to drive 2-3 hours, or not even, to go to beaches and mountains. I also went shopping in Seoul with new friends that I met at work. They had a lot of small crafted things in the streets, which was interesting and fun.

Some Koreans might not know/speak English fluently, so it is a good idea to plan beforehand if you want to get around (transportation information is easily accessed on internet) and it would be very helpful to learn the language, or at least the basic things.

 ANTHONY

World Link Volunteer For: Shanghai, China

International Experience: Exchange

Languages Spoken: English, Intermediate Mandarin

Program of Study: Life Sciences Major, Music Minor

I felt it was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to travel while also working towards my degree. I’ve always wanted to experience living abroad and learning to fend for myself, and I thought China would be a really great place to do that. With its recent emergence as a global superpower these last few years, I felt even more inclined to pursue a semester studying abroad there and get a firsthand account of the level of development that is taking place there. I also come from Chinese parents so I felt it was an excellent chance to immerse myself in the culture and traditions as well as polish my Mandarin.

I was probably most shocked at how much the cities, and the country overall, have changed. I remember travelling there when I was a lot younger and the contrast between then and now is simply unbelievable. I remember when I first travelled to China over 10 years ago the landscape was virtually flat and devoid of any tall buildings. However, going back there last year, it is arguably more advanced than Canada. The sizes of the cities are staggering and the skyline is filled with bright lights and skyscrapers. I was born and raised in Toronto my whole life so I always thought that it was the standard for all cities in terms of size and population, but after going to Shanghai I quickly realized how mistaken I was. The other surprising thing was probably how advanced the subway system is there, as well as how cheap the food is! Breakfast for me usually consisted of spring rolls, eggs, and dumplings, and it usually cost less than 75 cents!

It was a big adjustment in terms of getting used to new surroundings. I know it can be tough for students to have little experience outside of Canada to suddenly live in a foreign country that they know little about; however I was a bit lucky in my case since I was a bit more familiar with China due to past travels there. The diet can be difficult at first in the sense that the food is very different than in Canada and the locals generally use a lot more oil in their cooking. Language is another concern, however more and more people in China are learning English so it is not as nearly as bad as in the past. Asides from that, another challenge is probably just learning how to get around the city. Shanghai is absolutely huge and the subway system has over 12 lines so you definitely will experience a bit of a steep learning curve in how to explore the city without getting lost.

Highlights from my exchange probably included my volunteer work with the mentally disabled, riding a bike in the terrifying streets of China, and making so many friends there from around the world.

I would probably bring back the hot bubble tea they serve there. They’re only about a $1.00 Canadian and they’re really good!  The food was really nice too and there was tons of variety in what you could have for a meal. I also would have liked to bring back my bike I rode around campus there. It was really cheap and definitely made going to class a lot quicker and easier on my crippled ankles!

I would probably suggest they spend as much free time as possible going out and exploring the city. Shanghai is a first-class metropolis and there is an endless amount of things one can do there. There are shops for pretty much anything and the scenery at the Bund is breathtaking. I would also recommend planning in advance to spend a few weekends travelling to cities around Shanghai. The general area surrounding Shanghai is actually a relatively prosperous region in China and a lot of other famous, major cities are within a few hours train ride away. A lot of students book train tickets to go on 2 or 3 day excursions to other famous areas near Shanghai and they always come back really impressed. Finally, I would recommend that everyone bring an open-mind and be willing to try different things. China is definitely very different from the West, but they have a lot to offer if one is willing to just try.

     JENNY

World Link Volunteer For: China

International Experience: Home country is China

Languages Spoken: Mandarin, English

Program of Study: Politics, History

I came to Canada when I was 15 for high school. I arrived in Vancouver and studied as an international student at one of the High school there. I decided to study at Vancouver after a summer trip to Canada in 2004. I was attracted by the beautiful scenery of Vancouver and its multi-cultural environment. After finishing highs school in Vancouver, I decided to come to Queen’s for further education. The primary reason was I would like to experience different parts of Canada, especially the East coast. Furthermore, Queen’s is a very good school and has very high reputation that is also why I came to Queen’s.

The thing that surprised me most is the portion of dishes in restaurant. I was extremely shock when I first dined in a Canadian restaurant. The portion that I received could feed me for more than two meals. Despite the large dishes, the clothing sizes also surprised me. Sometimes, I am not able to buy a pair of adult pants because the sizes are too big, and I have to buy kids or youth sizes.

FOOD!!! I miss all kinds of Chinese food in China, especially those cultural cuisines

Students have much freedom and personal space at Queen’s. Most of the professors are very helpful and friendly. There are also many extra curriculum activities on Campus, such as volunteering, student clubs or sports events. All of these factors made my experiences at Queen’s more pleasant.

The biggest challenge for me is the winter here in Kingston. I grew up in the south-east part of China where winter is never severe. After me junior high, I move to Vancouver where winter is also not very cold. So when I first moved to Ontario, I could not get used to the extreme winter here.

Advice I would give to students In terms of academics, I think it is very important to have a good communication with the professors or TA. Use the office hours of the profs or TAs, you will find it’s very helpful. On the other hand, it is beneficial to attend social activities, such as join a student club or volunteer at QUIC!

   MOMOKA

World Link Volunteer For: Japan

International Experience: Exchange from Japan

Languages Spoken: English, Japanese

Program of Study: Arts and Science Major, Canadian History and Politics

I am interested in experiencing different cultures and meeting people around the world, so Canada seemed the best place for me to have multicultural experience. Also, I wanted to know students outside of Japan and their way of study, which looks very different from Japan.

I was surprised by the open attitude of people, such as socializing very casually with each other.

I miss relaxing in the hot water of the bathtub at my home in Nishinomiya, Japan.

I am inspired by many hard-working students in Queen’s and by tough but rich study tasks. I feel there are many opportunities to learn more and participate more in my academic interests.

I study in Japanese at my home university, so language is a very big challenge here. I always feel it would be more interesting if I understood lectures better and joined discussions.

I would tell other students thinking about going abroad that there many chances to meeting different people so do not miss them!

    ZIXUAN

World Link Volunteer For: China

International Experience: Exchange from China

Languages Spoken: English, Chinese

Program of Study: Music Performance (Violin)

I wanted to experience a different environment of comprehensive university, to develop an international horizon, and to contribute communications between two destinations as a culture ambassador

Nanjing is a big city with both time-honored history and modern culture, and my home university is so professional in arts. I find people here really kind and ready to help you, so you never feel helpless.

Challenges are always inevitable, but at the same time they go along with opportunities to become mature.

I am the first music exchange student in the history of my home university as well as the OJS Exchange Program.

If I could bring one thing back with me to China, I think it should be a Brand New Me!

I would tell other students thinking about going abroad to just go ahead! Enjoy challenging yourself without any regret.