My Exchange at Queen’s University
On the First of September 2022, I landed in Toronto and took the train to Kingston, beginning my four-month journey at Queen’s University. Canada is an incredible country with magnificent landscapes and friendly people, and Kingston and Queen’s University are very student-oriented with students making up a quarter of the total population.
Over the next week, students flooded into the housing area known as the “student ghetto”. When I arrived, the weather was warm and sunny, around 20c, but unfortunately, the nice weather didn’t last long. Orientation was hosted by a student organisation of former exchange students called NEWTs, where I met other exchange students from all over the world, from Austria to Ecuador. During Orientation, we got a tour of the city, tried some Canadian snacks like beaver tails (which are a must-try), got a tour of the campus, participated in a paint party (as seen in photos), and it was a great introduction to what life at Queen’s could be like.
One of the most challenging parts of arriving for the fall semester was finding accommodation, as houses fill up very quickly due to more students going on exchange during the fall term compared to winter. Finding housing can be difficult, and many end up settling for expensive accommodation that may be far from campus. The best option for exchange students is the Kingston Student Housing Cooperative (KSHC), where power, heating, Wi-Fi, and food (Monday to Friday) are included in your rent. It is very affordable, and it’s where I made so many friends while socializing at events and parties on Aberdeen Street. In the KSHC, students provide 3 hours of work per week. These spots fill up fast, so I recommend applying as soon as possible, even before being nominated, since there is no deposit or down payment required, allowing you to withdraw if your nomination is unsuccessful.
At Queen’s, I enrolled in five courses in Geography and Development studies, including three second-year and two third-year courses. The level of work at Queen’s is about a year lower compared to the University of Auckland, but the lecturers often assign more work, with weekly assignments and quizzes, as well as multi-week assignments, which in total amount to about 25% more content compared to the University of Auckland. I highly recommend taking DEVS220 (Introduction to Indigenous Studies) and GPHY330 (Transport Geography), as they were both enjoyable and educational. However, I would not recommend GPHY209. It is also a good idea to plan either Monday or Friday off to have more flexibility and time to spend on long weekends travelling. Keep in mind that some classes may run from 6:30 to 9:30.
Queens campus is very pretty, with a full gym, pool, multiple food courts and libraries containing your new favourite food destinations-the cheap student Café Common Ground, the Canadian classic Tim Hortons among others. Most of the buildings are fairly modern and nice, with lecture halls ranging in size but are smaller overall than the largest at UoA. The campus also has a building down by the pier and the waterfront, which is lovely during the summertime. For food i recommend Union (for a special night out), Mekong (great Vietnamese), PizzaPizza or beavertails (for a post night out) & Baja (for tacos). Now time for Kingston Nightlife! Kingston has 2 and ½ clubs, being Stages, Trinity and Alehouse on Tuesdays. Each play rather similar music apart from the night aptly named Tumble Tuesday, which plays pure country with students donning cowboy boots and hats. Other highlights include Wednesday Karaoke night at the bar Mansion, StageRage Thursday (at Stages), and TrinTuesdays with dollar beers (at Trin). Also, house parties are big in Kingston, especially during Frosh week (Orientation), Homecoming/Halloween & Saint Paddy’s.
The location of Kingston is great, being only three hours away from Montreal or Toronto by bus or train. From Toronto, it is possible to travel to many other locations in the northeast, such as Quebec, New York, Niagara Falls, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC, and I definitely encourage making the most of these trips while you can! In regards to living in Canada, a winter jacket is necessary, with mine costing about 170 NZD and rated for temperatures as low as -30c. The change in weather is a unique experience, with a small but noticeable difference compared to life in New Zealand.
Canadians are enthusiastic, friendly, and always curious about where you are from and what life is like in Canada, as well as your opinions on their university, Stage Rage, and Tumble Tuesday. However, Canadians do not use sarcasm or dry humor as much as in New Zealand, which took some adjusting to get used to!
Highlights of my exchange
• Summer at the pier
• Snow fights
• Tumble Tuesday
• Canadian Games
• Music
• Wholesome Canadians
• Meeting people from all over the world
• Settling in Kingston
• Queen’s sports games
• HOCO
• First night of Snowfall
• Travelling!
Challenges of my exchange
• Talking to family and friends with time difference
• Cultural differences
• Preparing for the weather ( Windchill is a killer)
• Can be isolating at the start
• Workload
• Making your room feel like home
Any advice I would give to students thinking about exchange
• Just Do It?
• Why Not!
• Join clubs and intermurals
• Do Newts Orientation
• Put yourself out there! and do it often
• Go to every event possible
• Travel whenever you can!
• Make the most of the warm weather
• Only 1 week’s worth of summer clothes needed
• Try to meet some Canadians ( they have the most ideas)
• Speak to your lecturers (and remember to call the Prof instead of name)
• International office has free stuff and great advice
• Look for places early (student ghetto/university district), use google maps!
• Do not look at west campus instead of main campus by mistake
• Get accommodation through KSHC website!
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
The lecturer for GEOG 330 Ajay was amazing, I highly recommend. Although class contribution is difficult to get used to I found talking with students and professors to be rewarding. The different lens on content from a North America perspective was also really really cool. Also make sure you take courses with tutorials to meet some Canadians!
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
Homecoming Football Game, Ice Hockey, poutine, beavertails, Snowcones, French Canada, Harry Potter Room, the Pier, the student bar Stooleys and of course a good old snowball fight.
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
- Plan ahead for accommodation!
- Buy a Winter Jacket in Canada not NZ
- Ups and downs are normal for an exchange but I promise it gets better 🙂
How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?
No Co-Op expenses of friends – Monthly (CAD): Rent:780, Utilities: 130, 200-250 for groceries. 60 Dollars in disposable income. + money saved for trips. My Expenses: $3,817.38 (4 mo. lease) (Inc utilities, i.e. washing machine + powder, cleaning supplies, drier, toilet paper, heating & Water. Member Meal Plan Fees: $1,600 +60 dollars spending a week (Excluding trips)
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
Gained more independence, Social skills, New perspectives on North America, Got to meet incredible people from all over the world and made lifelong friends!
Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?
Must Visits, Toronto (Distillery District, Chinatown, Go to Toronto Raptors or Maple leaf game). NYC ( Brooklyn Bridge, 9/11 memorial, Central Park). Washington DC (African American History Museum, lincon, Korean war memorial, Georgetown.
Tags: 2022, Arts/Humanities, Report