Assem: "I really enjoyed the sports, festivals and concerts. I also learned about and participated in winter sports such as skiing. My English has also improved a lot since I arrived. The advice I would give to prospective students from Saudia Arabia is to learn how to cook, prepare yourself for winter, and learn about culture shock and homesickness!"

Home country: Saudi Arabia. Program: School of English

Edward: "I chose Queen's based on the positive interactions and experiences I had with Canadian teachers and friends in Zambia. I was always curious about the country closest to the North Pole! I made a lot of friends here, friends I'll treasure the rest of my life; people who are talented and smart, and that I've learned from. I got involved with QUIC, the Walk Home Service, the International Friendship Program and that helped me find a community."

Home country: Zambia. Program: Economics and Global Development Studies

Donald: "I chose to study at Queen's because of a recommendation from a professor in Sierra Leone. I knew Queen's had a very high reputation. It was the Oxford or Cambridge of Canada! What surprised me the most about Kingston was the lack of multiculturalism. When I first arrived in Canada I live in Brampton, Ontario, where there was lots of diversity. I expected Kingston to be like Toronto. But I had a very positive transition experience."

Home Country: Sierra Leone. Program: Department of French Studies

Crystal: "I was attracted to Queen's graduate program, particularly my graduate supervisor and the generous funding available to graduate students. One of the most positive aspects of my experiences at Queen's is my program. My department is outstanding and everyone is really accommodating, friendly and cooperative."

Home Country: Mumbia, India. Program: Masters in Science, Oncology Research

Haifang: "QUIC helped me a lot, from grocery shopping to visas. Whenever I had a question the door was always open. I tried to step out of my comfort zone, speak more English and be more proactive. Some of the challenges I experienced were around expressing my ideas clearly. I sometimes felt isolated and my ideas were not understood my people. My advice to incoming students would be to be brave and ask for help if you need it...and use QUIC as a starting point!"

Home Country: China. Program: Completed M.Ed, now pursing Master of Public Administration