Queen's International

Scott: "Despite being small and diverse, Singapore manages to retain and foster a unique culture. Given the enormous size of populations in its neighbouring countries, I was taken aback by how distinctly Singaporean locals were...Participating in this exchange gave me my first experience of Asia, and there were obviously a lot of things to adjust to. Even in a 5-6 month trip, one could not hope to learn and understand all of the cultural differences. Once I accepted this, I became quite comfortable with everyday living."
Program of Study: Biology. Exchange Destination: Singapore. Time Period Abroad: Winter 2010.

Sarah: "Not having the support of close friends and family, and feeling isolated were the biggest challenges I faced. Although I was able to make supportive friends, I experienced strong loneliness in the first three weeks. My lack of previous knowledge of Mandarin was also a big struggle, for example, when figuring out how to get to the nearest supermarket...Going to the 2010 Shanghai Expo was the most memorable experience I had during my exchange. I was able to see many interesting exhibitions on the sustainable development strategies and urban practices from around the world. The experience of this was very exhilarating and stimulating."
Program of Study: Global Development Studies and Politics. Exchange Destination: Shanghai, China. Time Period Abroad: Fall 2010.

Heather: "I did not find it difficult to adapt to Australian culture and I was fortunate to have some great housemates. The only challenge I really faced was when playing sports such as AFL, as it was not stereotypically considered a girls' sport...It is difficult to pick out just one memorable experience - I met some amazing people, had many great traveling experiences and took some interesting classes that Queen's did not offer, such as Marine Biology and Aboriginal Societies and Cultures."
Program of Study: Biology and Psychology. Exchange Destination: Canberra, Australia. Time Period Abroad: February-July 2010.

Alison: "What surprised me most about Santiago was how comfortable I began to feel right away. Santiago is a beautiful and modern city with the most efficient transit system I have ever used, and it was abounded with different types of activities for me to take part in... At first, getting used to using another language in all of my daily activities and especially in the classroom was a challenge for me...My most memorable experience was a trip I took to a small town south of Santiago. When I was there, I took part in a volunteer mission to rebuild homes of families who had lost theirs in the 8.0 magnitude earthquake which rocked the country in February. This experience not only made me feel like I was giving back to the people of my host country, but it also amazed me to witness their solidarity in the time of need."
Program of Study: Sociology and Spanish. Exchange Destination: Santiago, Chile. Time Period Abroad: Winter 2010.