Shelby Anderton, Douglas College

All Or Nothing

Posted by BCSAadmin on 05/16/2016

Helen Keller said, “life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”. Her words express a longing in my heart for adventure- to experience new places and culture, climb new summits and meet new people. Today however, as I sit here thinking about my impending departure this coming Friday to embark on the biggest adventure of my life, I feel as though I am grasping at the strings of that longing as something to hold on to, and frantically trying to stop shaking in my boots.

It was many months ago now that I was sitting in class, and one of my professors came to announce an opportunity for the Nursing students of Douglas College to go participate in a pilot field school experience in Shanghai, China, to experience firsthand the health care system there. Without a second thought I jumped a...

Tags: Study Abroad China Shanghai Stories from Abroad Scholarship Winner Douglas College Travel Adventure
Category: Student Blog
Read More
Kyla Oshanek, Camosun College

Why are you doing this?

Posted by BCSAadmin on 05/11/2016

Why are you doing this? I recently attended a pre-departure workshop on building cultural competence and was asked this question. Each of the twenty-five or so attendees shared with the group their reason for participating in their respective field schools. Feeling a bit on the spot, I answered the first thing that came to mind: "I have always wanted to go to another country and volunteer, especially with children, and thought it was a great opportunity to do so through my program of study (dental hygiene)". After the workshop, I started to think more about that question. Why am I doing this? Why have I "always wanted to volunteer in another country"? Is it because it sounds like fun? What does that mean, exactly? 

Many of us don't take the time for self-reflection. In the digital age, our...

Tags: Study Abroad Scholarship Mexico dentistry Travel field schools Stories from Abroad
Category: Student Blog
Read More
Garrett Lakey, College of New Caledonia

My Pre-Departure Entry before I head to Costa Rica

Posted by BCSAadmin on 05/04/2016

It’s April 30th, the day before my trip to Costa Rica. In this Natural Resource Field School and Cultural Exchange class I will be experiencing and learning about how Costa Rica manages its natural resources and how this country balances the different land uses. Being that this is my first time leaving Canada, I am extremely excited about this opportunity. Preparing for this trip has been a new experience as well. Little things like applying for a passport, getting travel insurance, and taking a day-long Spanish class have been both interesting and overwhelming. I have been working on my Spanish, and feel pretty confident about the common phrases used like greetings, goodbyes, and thank you’s. I’m sure I will continue to learn the Spanish language as I spend time in Costa Rica.

...

Tags: Costa Rica Study Aboard Scholarship Stories from Abroad Travel Adventure
Category: Student Blog
Read More
Melinda Ng, South Korea

Just Point and Shoot

Posted by BCSAadmin on 04/27/2016

I did not want my study abroad experience to end and I am sure many of you feel the same way. I made so many amazing memories that I was scared of losing them forever! Though it is probably inevitable, you are likely going to forget some things you wish you wouldn’t. I tried to look on the positive side of this thought: if I am able to be reminded of a memory, it is a great feeling to think “wow I totally forgot I did that, it was awesome”! If you happen to be a bit forgetful, I find it much easier to recall your experiences when something else sparks the memory for you. Taking photos is without a doubt one of the easiest ways to do this! I’m not the best photographer. I don’t take many photos in Vancouver and the only camera I own is the one on my cellphone! Nevertheless, I was a photo-maniac wh...

Tags: South Korea Study Abroad Writers in Residence Scholarship Winner Tweetsabroad
Category: Writers In Residence
Read More

Pages