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International Exchange

The HUB residence

My room

The flags

My bed

The view from my unit

My unit

It snowed!

Snow outside the HUB

Kellie Wilson: University of Alberta

Name: Kellie Wilson
UOW Degree: B Teaching (Primary)
Host University: University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada

Well after an absolutely amazing time travelling around and seeing the sights of the world, it was sure nice to finally arrive at the University of Alberta which is to be home for the next 6 months. I decided to take the long way of getting from Australia to Canada and went via Greece, Great Britain and New York before eventually ending up here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I think that because I have been travelling around for the last two months it has really strengthed me to prepare for my new life here. I have become much more confident in myself and developed so much more as a person.

Upon arrival here at the University, I successfully managed to collect my keys to my new unit and go and check out my new home. I have found the housing staff fairly friendly, and they have helped me out whenever I have had problems. With my unit being unfurnished, it was quite an expedition to try and get furniture for the place. Thankfully, I was lucky enough to have been put in contact with a family before my arrival here so they have helped me out a lot along the way. However, my room mate from China arrived in Edmonton at 2:00 in the morning, spent the night at Lister Hall for a few hours before the HUB housing office opened where she went to collect her keys. She had nobody to help her go and get any furniture but she had no problems at all in doing it. There are notices up all around the place on various notice boards, advertising either where you can go to find furniture for your unit, or stuff that is actually for sale within HUB residence. She was lucky enough to even have all the stuff that she got delivered. So that just goes to show that you don't have to know someone upon first arriving to be able to set up your room.

The most vital thing that I have found as a preventative of homesickness, is to stay in contact with everyone back home. The internet is a vital resource to do that. Whilst I was travelling I basically emailed back home every day, telling everyone back in Australia the exciting things that I was up to. Not only was it reassuring for my parents to know that I was safe, but my family and friends love hearing about what I've been up to, and through reading all my emails, feel like they are experiencing the journey with me also. There are many facilities located all around campus that enable residents to use the internet free and accessibly.

HUB is a great place to live. It is really lively and its great being able to cook your own meals in a self- contained kitchen. I visited the international centre in my first few days here and found them so helpful. They registered me for a 3-day orientation program called "Transitions" which is bound to help me find out more about the locations of things on campus, what I need to do to prepare for study and a chance to meet a lot of other people who are in the same boat as me!! The university has also registered me in a one day orientation program with them also. So between two orientations I am bound to know the university better than anybody!!!!! I have also found grocery shopping very easy. There is a Safeway grocery store located about a 15 minute walk from HUB and with my new and extremely handy shopping trolley that I was quick to buy, grocery shopping is very easy. So at this stage, I have settled in nicely in to my new accommodation, am spending most of my days exploring Edmonton and getting to know my way around, meeting new people, decorating my room (which is lots of fun!) and just getting used to living in a new environment, city and country! Its great fun!!!!!!

- Kellie Wilson

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