Naomi Leblanc

I wanted to be able to practice English in my everyday life as well as in my courses. I also wanted to experience fall in Canada with the very bright colours and a small bit of winter, to see snow. 

My university has a list of partner universities, which Trent University is part of. I researched the universities in the list and Trent University seemed like a great choice for a semester abroad. 

I went to Niagara Falls for a day over Thanksgiving weekend. I was also able to go to Montreal for 3 days during the reading week. I loved both destinations and had a lot of fun. In terms of advice, I would say plan what you want to visit in advance, especially if you are in a destination for a short time. I would also say that even if the weather isn’t the best the experience can be just as fun. It rained the whole day at the Niagara Falls but it was still very fun, it made the experience more memorable. 

I lived in residence, and I had a great experience! Most of my roommates were international students so we quickly bonded over our culture shocks. I was able to make great friends because of this. The accommodations were nice and spacious enough to not feel cramped while sharing with four other people. 

I have amazing memories of the orientation week; I was able to make many friends and create great memories. The two destinations I was able to go to are also part of my best memories. 

I would say to try to be open to all possibilities and also to try to get involved in the clubs and events in the university, they can help to make great friends.