Amazing people, amazing moments

Jermaiane Ah-Siu explains why her semester at Concordia University in Canada was the most enjoyable and eye-opening experience she has ever had.

Jermaiane Ah-Siu

Why I chose my host uni:

Canada has always been my top destination for places to visit, so when the opportunity to live and study there arose, it was a no-brainer! After seeing the amazing things people had to say about Montréal, I was excited to know that a university there offered places for students in my programme. I chose Concordia University because of the extensive support it offered students and how student-friendly Montréal’s city life was, which was most appealing to me.

How I found applying to my host uni:

The process itself is pretty straightforward, but after your acceptance, when you have to apply for courses, it can get tricky. For example, they may not have many courses that are similar to yours, and even if they do, they may already be full; you’ll have to join the waitlist or pick a different course. The best you can do is choose multiple options for your programme leader to approve and to get enrolled into your classes as early as possible.

As for documents, you only need a scan of your passport, your transcript and a Canadian eTA (if you’re there for less than six months), which is inexpensive and (mostly) instantly issued to you.

How I found learning in a different academic system:

I enjoyed studying at Concordia University because it felt pretty similar to AUT in terms of its support system and environment. However, the workload and assessments were definitely a step up from what I’m used to at home. The learning is more demanding, and lectures are split in half, so you can expect to spend two days on campus for one course and then another for its lab/tutorial.

Something that helped me adjust was making an effort to study outside of my flat and with friends, so that I wasn’t isolated (especially once winter came), and also to keep using AUT’s academic support resources for that extra help.

What I gained from this experience:

Studying abroad has always been a goal of mine, and actually getting to do it was the most enjoyable and eye-opening experience I’ve had! I gained lifelong friendships with people from all over the world, visited bucket list locations like Niagara Falls and New York City, tried food we don’t have in NZ (Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, Panda Express etc), ticked off bucket list experiences like a winter Christmas and going to an NHL game, and had the chance to spend time with family I hadn’t seen in years. To say this was my favourite experience ever is an understatement.

I gained so many memories filled with amazing people and amazing moments, an increase in my independence, confidence in my capabilities after living so far from home and a deeper passion for travelling. I genuinely learned so much about myself from the interactions and experiences I had and I’m so enamoured by the different possibilities and lifestyles there are out there; this is something I would never have been exposed to had I not taken this opportunity.

I feel that the biggest thing I gained from this overseas experience was how it expanded my worldview and showed me the different possible lifestyles and paths that are truly attainable when the right opportunities are taken.