Studying Abroad - How to go on exchange

I had a scene in the world. Now you understand, we saw on your story you were having the time of your life. Meanwhile we were, it was so frustrating. I was in the middle of finals and I would see Art they're like, "Oh where is he this week?" Oh my god, I'm like, "Come on!" There's something. Hey everyone, welcome back to this week's episode. This week we're discussing what it's like to go on exchange and more specifically how it was like for Arthur to go to Switzerland this year. And we're going to be discussing a little bit about the Colter Shock and just tips and tricks that you learned along the way. Exactly. You have a bit of a smoker voice today. Yeah, I'm sick. Mother Nature was like, "No, you won't be sick this winter, but it's summer now!" In your defense it did not snow, but what is it called in English? Egrino. Hale, it hailed last night. I'm not kidding, there was some sorts. Even though you were in your bed. Nothing has been hailed outside. They don't need to be hailed outside. Alright, so first of all, Arthur, how is it like this year? This year was your last year of university and you decided that you wanted to go to Switzerland? Yeah, so at, well, I.V. usually exchange happens in your third year of university. But for me, because I was a bit of a different program, it was my last year, so fourth year. So I only did the spring semester, so I was starting from January or February up until end of June. And I ended up going to Switzerland. Yeah, why Switzerland? Because you know Europe, you could have gone to like Brazil. So yeah, so I mean, it was the whole process of applying for exchange had to start a year ago. So when I was in third year and so I had to sort of write a bit of a, there was an application, right? So you needed to have certain grades to be able to go on exchange. I mean, usually as long as you don't feel any course, you're pretty much good to go on exchange. But other than that, you had to write essays about the purpose of exchange for you. What you had in mind, what was your goal, what you wanted to accomplish there. And then you had to like give a bit of a top, pick out your top five choices. So I Switzerland, so I went specifically to those and which is in one of the French speaking regions in Switzerland. And it wasn't originally my top choice. I think I had, I remember correctly, I think I wanted to go to the UK first in London or maybe Manchester. Because I had some friends there, so I thought, oh, it'd be fun to go to the UK. Plus COVID-19, they were more open than Canada. So I think that was kind of what tailored my choice. And then I think I also had Milan in Italy and then Barcelona. And then I had, Lozen as like my fourth choice, I think. And then once I sent that in, the university took a few months to review. And then they sent me, you know, the offer of here's what we're proposing. And they said, well, do you want to go to Lozen? And then either I could accept or I could say no. And maybe you put on a waiting list for another exchange school. At first when I got, I remember when I got the, I got assigned to Lozen. I didn't really know what to think of it. And I showed Mom and Dad. And they were, they were way more excited about it than I was. I remember because you were like debating between Switzerland and Spain for some time. Because your Spanish kind of went down. Well, I did, yeah, so I did three years of Spanish in high school. And I thought, well, go into Barcelona for five, four, five months. If I force myself to really immerse myself with Spanish speakers, I could probably improve my Spanish quite well. But then real is sick feet during exchange, what usually happens is you kind of stay with the other exchange students. Because it's easier to make friends that way. So that was like, once I realized I was in Lozen and they spoke French, that's what helped me get excited about it. But it was like, okay, well, since they already speak French over there, I'm not going to struggle making friends. I'll be able to meet Swiss people and really kind of be involved in campus right away and not having to rely on all the other exchange students, which I thought was cool. So like, it is an exchange because you're going in a different country, but yet it still feels the same. Because it's as if you were going to another French country. Yeah. Like, you're going to Barcelona and you're going to the same country. So yeah, so compared to the Canadian students who would go on exchange and go further away from home, I actually got closer. So now instead of being a six hour plane ride from home, I was a three hour drive. Which was nice because that's also an experience I didn't really have in high school in Canada. I couldn't really go home for the weekend. I didn't really go home any weekends, but for Easter, I had a week off so I went back to Strasbourg, which was nice. And it allowed me as well, you know, before classes or when I had long weekends to either go in, you know, in New York or in Paris or even in the UK to go see friends, like high school friends that I hadn't seen in the whole world. No, yeah, we saw in your story you were having the time of your life. I mean, while we were, it was so frustrating. I was in the middle of finals and I would see Arthur like, oh, where is he this week? I'm like, I'm like, I'm a lot or something. No, I didn't travel that much. Compared to the other, it's for me going back to Europe wasn't to sort of travel like most people on exchange do. I feel a lot of people go on exchange and they, you know, it's like if it's the first time in Europe, obviously, and I don't blame them, I would do the same. They travel as much as they can and every weekend you see they're in some other city for 24 hours. But for me being back in Europe since I'm European, I kind of already know the culture. I didn't really know Switzerland. So I thought, you know what, I'm going to spend some actually some time in the zone to actually get to know the locals. So I didn't travel as much. I tried to stay in Switzerland as much as possible just to also guess I kind of network and actually meet people that in the future I could come back to and, you know, if I, if I, if I, if you do for work or even just for leisure, I have people that I can, I'm people that I can really call close friends. True. Because like if you think about it, it's as if you went on the three-year exchange to Canada and then came back mom. I remember mom when I was calling her to tell her about my day, she'd like get really excited because she was like, oh yeah, I am, I managed to get Arthur like some food because we went to go see him this weekend so she'd come with like, don't my words. Yeah, she bought me a bunch of like canned foods. Yeah, it's funny because it's you went to university for three years so far away from home and then all of a sudden you're on exchange and yet you know you're still like, it feels as though you're still like at home. It's fun for mom and dad because the three of us weren't home anymore, but you were still close enough that they could take care of you. Yeah, because they helped me move in, which wasn't something that they could have done my first year when I moved into Western like I moved in on my own. Like mom and dad, I think we're back in France. So I mean we had family friends that helped drove me to London, Ontario and helped me move, but then I was really on my own. Yeah, so then for Switzerland they actually, they made up for it. Yeah, they made up for it, which was a nice experience. So what was like the culture difference, would you say? From like Switzerland or what you've known in France and Canada, which changed the most? First of all, like Loseanne is a beautiful city. Like you're right by the Geneva Lake and you have a view of the lake and then French Alps in the background. So honestly you never get to go to the view, like it's like and you also can't be stressed because every time you stretch just look at the view. So I thought it was quite peaceful. Switzerland as a country is very peaceful, like Loseanne as a city, I felt very safe. I mean I didn't try to go in more sketchy neighborhoods, but it also didn't seem like there was any like Switzerland as a, the biggest culture shock I guess is just Switzerland is very expensive in general, right? For restaurants or anything like any basic meal at a restaurant, anything will cost you at least 22 euros or the equivalent of 22 euros at least. So it was funny because when I went to Paris for a weekend with some Canadian friends, we ate restaurants in Paris and it would still be pretty expensive. Because Paris is expensive as hell, but me coming from Switzerland or going from Loseanne, it was cheaper. I was like wow, this is great. And even coming from Canada back here, when we were walking in the store with Valentine and a friend that came over for a few days, I was like oh my god what, it's two euros? Because in Canada it'd be like six or five or something. Yeah, but the exchange rate is also like different. Yeah, I know. It's for like a euro and a Swiss franc is pretty much one to one, maybe a 50 cent. But it's understandable like Switzerland is a country of its own. Like it's not even in the EU. But it's like the living costs there are incredibly high. So I mean working in Switzerland is great. But yeah, if you're traveling in Switzerland, it can be really expensive. Other than that, I thought like the students, everyone on campus, like all the amongst students, everyone spoke English. Which was really cool. Like everyone was at least like bilingual. For me it wasn't like I didn't really care, but for the other exchange students that I'd meet, if they were from other countries like Italy or whatever. And we'd all speak English together. It was helpful because at least on campus, you know, everyone could understand them. But in general, you know, in the city, everyone was like I'd say friendly. And it's a pretty like student city too, because there's the UPAFET and also like the University of the USA. Yeah, yeah, Los Anis from one hour. told before I moved in was a very like you said student city like there's lots there's this one area in those on which is all bars and all the clubs are there so it's kind of the go-to place to go party so it's quite nice and everything like pretty everything's close by most of my friends were not Swiss yeah I if he was either at first like I missed the the orientation we can be getting because I had no idea like I didn't I didn't like there was one email about it and I think I missed it so like what not to do is an exchange I don't recommend it because then it was like oh yeah how am I gonna make friends right but there's still events that were organized during the year by like one of the student associations on campus and so I went to those and still met people but what I ended up doing is I ended up joining that association as an exchange student or which like their associations was like in charge of organizing events for the exchange students so I was organizing events for myself but it was great because I actually I got to meet make a bunch of friends through that and like actually meet locals and I'd go to the events for free as well yeah you got the good end of it deal like you can join a club like there was alcohol at every event it was fantastic but like academically because we've been talking about you traveling you partying the price of restaurants yes but what like did you have to study as much as you did in Canada or would you say exchange in general is usually pretty chill I think in general exchanges is like fairly chill I guess it depends how many credits you have to do exactly like for me as well being being in my fourth year I've had made me like overload during the fall semester when I was still with them so that this year I'd have so this so like during those semester the exchange semester I'd have less I'd need that it's exactly that means that I only I meant that I only had four classes and compared to the you know usually five classes you'd have for semester or six so it was pretty light and I actually got really lucky because one of my professors got sick a month into the semester but like pretty seriously sick so she was gone like completely and there was no replacement she just didn't upload anything online for us to read or anything so we had three classes and then none yeah so I had three classes and she so she was gone and since she was like my only class on Mondays and I put everything else Monday to Wednesday I basically had no class for Thursdays to Monday so I had more vacation than classes but but overall like the classes I was because of Ivy and being in fourth year I didn't take I was in taking masters level courses but I wouldn't say that changed that was it was much more difficult I think overall I was actually quite interesting to see because I was I guess one of the youngest or the younger students in those master courses like everyone I all my friends really were all like 2324 everyone I'd meet I'd be interested because I'd meet some people in class and I'd talk to them and I think they're my age and then I'd learn later on like no they were 29 or like they were 31 and like what but it's cool because you meet people who have like working experience or so that was cool being in sort of that masters program because in the future if I want to do a masters all I kind of already know what it's like yeah and honestly it's not very different from any like bachelor like yeah I didn't I didn't find the courses very difficult so we're all your classes in English so they were so they were all in English for the masters level so everyone either they were students who had done a bachelor at in Lausanne or they were you know exchange students as well so because of the exchange students everything was in English but everyone spoke English like in class you know everyone had different accents but I thought was interesting I think like my like it was funny because I noticed I found myself some time to take on I guess like a strong French accent in the way I talk but subconsciously like it wasn't like in I couldn't control it but when I talk to some students people that's like having an accent I tend to yeah pick up an accent and I don't know why but I still have not like left out when I talk to like Canadians or or you know in native speakers like I'll just speak like I usually do and then for some reason whenever I talk to I guess like Italians or exchange students or like people from Sweden and they and I obviously they'd have an accent for some reason I'd have a stronger French accent that would come out and I think it's just I thought a lot about it and I think it's more like trying to fit in or like helping them out as well because I could speak slower with with stronger French accent I guess well imagine like remember when we were in TFS the people were trying to learn how to speak French and we were already fluent and then we'd come back home and mom would be like what? what accent you guys think? pick up on there yeah pick up on there like that's true we'd have like a weird like Toronto Ontario French accent yeah that's true yeah yeah so it's definitely fitting in and also so consciously I feel like if you're surrounded by people who speak a certain way then you'll you're like yeah because then I'd go on FaceTime and you know call some friends from you know back in London and and they tell me like dude you have the accent but it's interesting because some people like in the past like some people have no idea that I'm French or like I'll have to tell them and like I have no I had no idea I know what I would have guessed but then there's some people when I meet them I like I say two words and immediately they're saying oh your French and I'm like oh yeah it's interesting to have some people just can notice the accent I feel like right now I have a pretty like a French a bit of more of the French accent yeah because you've been here for a while yeah I can't I can't hear it but I'm just just being French now it's like in the past that's why I like I barely spoke we had to listen to a previous episode to see that people say you had like an American or Canadian actually did they pick up on that or so like yeah compared to the exchange students and in class like when I would raise my end and speak and say something like I had obviously like more of an American accent they were like compared to all the other students yeah but it's like if if but then but then it's like the way I talked if like if Canadians heard it they're like now you have a French accent there was a weird like in the middle no we don't fit in but overall like the the whole exchange was definitely like a positive experience it was a great experience like I have no regrets I'm glad I did it and last like beat so like doing your exchange the last year of university was that good or bad would you prefer to do it earlier um or was it kind of perfect because you ended on the exchange that's a good question because I think it's a bit of a mix like I think it it was nice to end on that note because especially it was a good experience and it allowed me to be home for a little bit it's funny because when I was in Canada I had never regretted you know doing my studies in Canada yeah but there were always times where when I'd come home for Christmas and see my friends here in France and like see what they were their studies I would always kind of wonder oh what it would be like to have done my studies instead in France just because culture is different people and like the parties are different as well so sometimes I had a bit of like an arm in like I wish I could see what it's like on the other side and that exchange helped me see that so now it's like well I've fully experienced both I guess cultures in that sense so I so that was great but doing it like again but then doing it like on your last semester it's kind of bitter sweet because on one end like I I could see all of my friends graduate and like finish the last semester and they also just partied all the time I didn't do very much either and like since things had reopened in Canada it was also like oh man like I wish I could be there with them yeah by the same time I know I'm going to see them again later on but and now it's like it's also sad because now I'm done my exchange but you know it's not like I can come back and see everyone again and tell them how it was like it's like I'll see those that are in Toronto next year but those that I've left or that are in New York or elsewhere you live yeah oh that's crazy so yeah there's so there's some people when I left for exchange there were some people I said bye and I was like I don't know when when's the next time I'm going to see you so that was a little bit sad so having I think another another like going back to your home university after it can be nice I think it really depends on if you loved your exchange you might be a bit sad to have to go back but I feel like most both gone exchange have always come back with positive experiences it's like if you want to stay in your room all the time and meet nobody that's your choice but then if you want to meet people or if you want to travel like you can do whatever you want on your exchange you just have to get out of your comfort zone a little bit but there's always resources and all the exchange students are all great how different were the student residents in prison I'd say over all the residents had like the same components like the laundry room like the jam like essentially they say yeah like you just had to cook for yourself that's that's all but I feel like residence-wise it didn't really change much from the usual student residence you get like people party and people call the security to shut it down there's always those tensions right I guess my last question would be for anyone that's wanting to do What like number one or top three tips would you? - Mm-hmm. - That's hard, but like. - Yeah. - But for off-go, yes. So I say firstly, my first tip is to have a specific goal, like know what you're trying. I think going on exchange just for the sake of going on exchange doesn't really serve a purpose because then once you're there, you might be a bit lost as to what to do or you might get overwhelmed by the new environment. And so it might not be good for you. I think knowing for me, it was meeting people and networking and kind of discovering a new culture. For others, it's traveling and really just enjoying like a new country and just also kind of taking a little bit of a break from school without really leaving school. So I think just that having that goal in mind also helps you fill out the application and it helps your university determine the best fit for you. Like looking back when I first saw Lozan, I'd put it as my fourth choice, but after reflecting and looking back at the application and what I had written, it actually made the most sense into giving me Lozan was the perfect fit. And so I'm glad Ivy did a good job on that because clearly it helped me take the most out of my exchange. So I say that's my first tip. The second is try to meet as many people as possible. Ideally, don't miss the orientation. We feel like I did. I think because that one's-- That's a good one. For me, it was all right because I already spoke French. So I didn't really expect to make many friends from other exchange students or because I wanted to meet the locals. Turns out I had a good mix of everyone. And it was great. Try at least go to these. The first two weeks are especially crucial to really get all your comfort zone if you're more of an introvert and really meet as many people as possible just because those are the people that you might just spend the entire semester with afterwards. And that they'll help you discover the city. And if you want to travel, you can travel with them. And it's nice to create that group because you feel less lonely. I know at the beginning, I would just go to class and then go back to my room and just do my work. But as I got to meet more and more people, I would go out more and more. And that's when I really started to enjoy the semester a lot more. I would say, yeah, meet locals too. Because as you said at the beginning, most people that go on exchange kind of end up just hanging out with exchange students, which isn't really the whole point. Because you're going there to meet people from there. Like if you left Los Angeles and knew no one from Los End, you wouldn't even be able to go back there and be like, hey, I know you can stay at your place. You'd just be like, well, I know no one here. Like I think that's true. Like I wanted to make sure. I think like, yeah, like try it. It can be as difficult as difficult, especially if you have that language barrier. But there's always locals who are down to meet you. It was interesting because when I first, before I went to Los Angeles, a lot of French friends I know told me like, oh, watch out. You'll see Swiss people are a little bit more reserved. I did notice that a little bit, but I feel like that's something in every culture. When you first meet people, I didn't really find it particularly difficult to make friends with locals and get to know everyone. Like once I joined the clubs, once you kind of get in those circles, you're in. And I think that's, and I can only be done through, I'm really talking to a bunch of people. And I'd say my third tip would be to not compare your exchange to other students or the students that went to the same campus as the year before. Because it's always completely different environments, especially with COVID. It really highlighted that. But then also don't compare your exchange experience with people who are currently on exchange, but in different countries. I had some friends who were in Singapore or who were in Barcelona. And obviously they have, it's not the same schools, it's always also different programs sometimes. So comparing can sometimes make your exchange seem like, oh, it's not as good as the others, especially if you're just looking on social media. But everyone's kind of going through the same things. So let's say just rest, don't compare. And do your own research as well in the country you're going to get to know the culture. Because that'll help you out as well. Once you move in and once you have, if you have to fill out custom documents, get your visa obligations, that'll help you a lot along the way. - Thank you guys so much for listening to this week's episode. Feel free to tune in next week for a new episode. And follow us on Spotify to get notified as well as Instagram to find out more. (upbeat music)