By Darcy Dai Grade 11  

Fortunately, l had the chance to go to Canada last summer holiday. It was probably that the most interesting traveling which I have had. Take the wonderful schedule, for instance, I went to the University of Toronto, McGill University, University of British Columbia and several others. It was certainly a memorable trip.

The most excellent thing is that I went to Canada with my classmates, and we could have a great memory together. It is significant for us to cultivate the good relationships between us. Although we could talk to the tour guide of the university, most of the students are pretty shy and they were afraid to express their emotion and questions about their majors during the college tours. We relied on each other.

However, a few difficulties were waiting for us. We could always hear these words in our heads “Oh, where is my phone? Maybe I left my mobile phone on the bus.” It worried us that someone would leave their phone, even lose their phone. It would have been a big problem for us. Luckily, nobody lost their phone. Our phones were our connection to each other and to our families in China.

In the first two weeks, we went to the New Westminster Secondary school to study and lived in a home-stay. This was my first time to stay with a host family, I felt different cultures between Chinese and Canadian people. The owner prepared a lunch bag to eat at school. I may have felt I was unadaptable for the first time, but I gradually began to see the opportunity to experience the Canadian way of life.

To some extent, you can integrate and adapt to this lifestyle very quickly. They do not do things aimlessly, they plan a form first and then execute it. It really inspired me. Making a list is better than putting everything in your mind. For example, if we need to go to the shopping mall, we should tell the host family a day earlier. That’s because we might disturb the original schedule. That’s why Canadian life looks very leisurely, they plan everything.

Studying in NWSS was very easy and relaxed, it may be because we were students who came here to study tour. However, it had outside activities that were meaningful and helpful for us. I still remember the activity that teachers let us find some shops named in the paper in the city of Vancouver. It means we needed to ask strangers where the shop is and we must listen to what they said. Once I asked an old man who was walking on the road, he acted as if he did not notice me. It very confused me. I think back many times, maybe he had something urgent to do. After that, I realized that not every foreigner is polite and helpful. Can you imagine that many Chinese students who are asking unending questions under the sun? Of course, we sweated a lot, but we have gained a lot. At the end of two weeks, we showed a presentation of dancing and singing, and we obtained the certification of NWSS. It was my pleasure to study in the NWSS.

During the process of exploring the universities saw many innovative buildings in the overseas. At the University of Ottawa what impressed me the most is the building of professor’s offices. There is no difference in height between surrounding and it has a slanting mirror which can show us the inside of the building. Therefore, I could view the chairs, desks, and a lot of books. I even could saw the professors standing or walking with each other. I must also give a compliment to Toronto’s library, it is sublime and there are massive books there. I want to acquire knowledge and impart knowledge from here in a casual way.

It is not only about Universities, but also a nice environment. We watched Niagara Falls up close by ship and I was dampened by the waterfall. Before this, our English teacher helped us get the ship tickets and we lined up for the boat. On the verge of boarding, I got a red raincoat which is thin. I took a lot of pictures while being aboard the boat. What a fantastic waterfall in Canada! It looks like a curtain which is full of water. The ship has two stories, and it can fill up with thousands of people. Further, there are many shops that are like cartoons and a haunted house near the Niagara Falls. It was very amusing.

At the classes boy’s request, we were lucky enough to get into the Bull’s home stadium. One of them bought clothes or hats in there as a souvenir. Unluckily, we could not visit the basketball court at that time. We saw there were more than ten ticket offices inside and plenty of people’s pictures on the wall. Over there, there was an enormous soccer site and a statuary that describe the soccer players were playing. It all looked very realistic and lively.

Actually, it was my first time going to Canada and being so long away from my family. In the course of my visit to Canada, I got to know how to live independently. I learned how to ask the way while abroad and how to spend money. These are problems I will encounter in the future. I am glad to face these questions in advance and solve them. It is a meaningful trip to learn and study for me. In the following journey of life, I hope to do even better.