TORONTO 09.01.2017–29.04.2017

HUMBERCOLLEGE–NORTHArchitecturalTechnologyContactperson:RebeccaFitzgerald

DanishExchangestudentsfirstdaydowntownTorontoonNathanPhillipsSquare(Meinthesilverjacket).KATRINEJUHLHANSENkatrinejuhlhansen@gmail.com

LISTOFCONTENT

THOUGHTSABOUTGOINGABROAD............................................................................................3

APPLYINGPROCESS.....................................................................................................................3

EXPERIENCEATHUMBERCOLLEGE..............................................................................................3

SOCIALANDCULTURALEXPERIENCES..........................................................................................6

CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................8

GUIDELIST................................................................................................................................10

Gamenightsinthelounge

THOUGHTSABOUTGOINGABROADIactuallydidnotthinkmuchaboutit.ItwasareallyquickdecisionaMondayinschoolandIappliedforgoingabroadthreedaysafteranditturnedouttobeoneofthebestdecisionsinmylife…Idonotknowwhichsituationyouarein?ButIhavenoteverthoughtaboutstudymyeducationabroadbecauseIdance,work,myfriendsarehere,IlivewithmyboyfriendinCopenhagenandIdidnotknowifIcouldaffordit.Ialwayswantedtotravelforlongerthanjustasummerholiday,butthethoughtaboutbeingawayforoverfourmonthsdidnotseemlikethebestideainmyheadinthebeginning.IreallywantedtoimprovemyEnglishsomynewthoughtbecame“Whynot?”“youhavetheopportunitytotravelandstillgetyourS.U.”“ThebuildingindustryissointernationalandmulticulturalsoitwouldbegreattoimprovemyEnglish,gettheexperienceandapplyittomyresume.”

APPLYINGPROCESSTheapplyingprocesswasreallyeasyandSophiaissogoodandkindtohelpwitheverythingandreallyopenmindedtoallthequestionsand/orconcernsyoumayhavetoyourexchange.IwillrecommenddecidingtogoabroadatleastoverahalfyearbeforegoingabroadbecauseofthepossibilitytoapplyforscholarshipshereinDenmark.AlotofscholarshipsrequireyoutoapplyaleastsixmonthsbeforeandalothavedeadlineinSeptemberwhereIwasgoingabroadinJanuary.Iwentabroadonmy4.semesterandtheyhavejustopenedupforgoingatthattime.ItwasprettylateforapplyingIalreadystartedmy3.SemesterandIstartedtoapplystartSeptemberandthatisreallylatesoeverythinghadtogoreallyfast.

EXPERIENCEATHUMBERCOLLEGEBeforeleavingIappliedforsevendifferentclassesknowingthatIwillgetfiveofthem.Ingeneral,thecoursehasmorearchitectureinit.WemakethedesignourselfwhichisabigdifferentfromtheeducationinDenmark.Ihadthefollowingclasses: DraftingandDetailing

MaterialsandMethodsPrinciplesofManagementSustainableDesignDigitalCommunication

DowntownToronto

Alltheteachersreallycareaboutyouandtheyaresoniceandmotivating.Alltheteachersdoattendantsintheirclasssomeofthemmorethanothers.Theattendantscount10%outofyourtotal100%youcanreach.Youhavetoget50%topassyourclassandeveryassignment,in-class-exercises,testorexamcountdifferentpercentageandintheendyougetatotalofhowwellyoudid.DRAFTINGANDDETAILINGTeacher:MichaelGuidoMichaelissuchagreatteacherandarchitect,heisreallypassionate,motivatingandcompetent.D&Disthemainclasswhereweshoulddesignanofficebuilding.Everysecondweekwehandedinanassignment.ItwasareallygoodwayofdoingitbecauseyouhadtodomoderateofworkallthetimeinsteadofonlyonebigexamintheendaswedoithereonKEA.ThefirstassignmentwasaSustainableReportwhereweshouldfinddifferentsustainableinitiativesthatweshouldincorporateinourbuilding.Thenextassignmentwasthedesignpart.Wedidschematicdesignthatcouldgivereasonsforthebuildingsdesign.Thenextcoupleofassignmentswerefloorplans,elevations,sectionsanddetaildrawingsthatshouldbehanded.OneofthebiggestassignmentwasPresentationdrawingswhereweshouldhandinsomerenderingsitisanadvantageifyoucanusePhotoshop.MygroupsresultwasthisandweonlyusedRevitforrendering:

Someoftheassignmentsshouldbeprintedbeforewehandedthemin–seephotoabove.AnadviceistochooseaclasswhereyoulearnhowtousePhotoshop,Ididnotbutitcouldhavebeeninterestingandifyouthinkyouwilluseitlater.

MATERIALSANDMETHODSTeacher:BruceTaylorWasmyfavoriteclass.Ireallyenjoyedmyteacherandthedifferentsubjectshetaughtusin.Itwasallaboutmaterialshowtousethemandwhattobeawareoffansoon.Hemadealotofparallelstotherealworld/buildingindustrywhichwerereallyrewardingtome.Healsoshowedalotofvideos.Welearnedaboutconcrete,differentkindofwindowsandglass,steel,excavation,,differentkindofshoring,masonry,convection,conduction,radiationandalotofotherrelevantthings.Inthisclassthereweresomein-class-exercisesandtwobigtest:amidtermtestandafinaltest.PRINCIPLESOFMANAGEMENTTeacher:ShantanuWadadarWasaverytheoreticalclassaboutmanagementingeneralandjustalotoftermsandtheoriestoremember.Someofitwheregreatandallthetestismultiplechoice.Butitwasnotdirectlyrelevantforthebuildingindustrybutyoucanusethetheoriesyouareteach.ThereisanotherclasscalledProjectManagementandismorerelevantforthebuildingindustryIrecommendyoutakingthatinstead.SUSTAINABLEDESIGNTeacher:AnaisDeragopianLovelyteacher.SheactuallygottheSustainablecourseontheschedule.Sheishumble,motivating,inspiringandshereallycaresaboutyouandwanttohearalotaboutDenmark.Sheknowssomuchaboutthewholearchitecturefieldandshehasalotofgoodstoriestotell.ShehasbeeninDenmarkbeforeandvisitedLouisianaMuseumofModernArtinHumlebæk.Theclassisverytheoretical.Itisalotaboutsustainabletermsyoushallrememberforthemultiplechoicetestandthereisalotofinclassassignmentandresearchingonprojectyoushallbedoing.ItisalsotheonlyclasswhereyougettospeakinfrontoftheclassanditisareallygreatwaytopracticeyourtechnicalEnglish.Theclasswasreallyhugealsothelargest.Wewerearound50peopleandallofthemwhere1styearstudents.Theclasswasoriginala6thsemesterclassbutwasapparentlybeenchangeto2ndsemestersoyoucouldreallyfeeltheagedifference.DIGITALCOMMUNICATIONTeacher:JasonPinhay

Modelofourofficebuilding.Section1:50

ThegreenwallatGuelphHumberUniversity

ThegreenwallatGuelphHumberUniversity

ThisclasswasallaboutRevit,actuallyprettynicetobeteachin.VerygreatteacherwhodoesRevitforaliving.Ichoosethisclasson4.SemesterIwillrecommendyoutakingitonahigherlevelthanyourownsemesterbecausewearemuchmoreskilledintheprogramthantheCanadians.Itwasareallysmallclassorwewereactually30studentsbutonly4-7studentshowedup.ThereisanassociationforDesignandArchitecturewhichIattended.Iwillrecommendattendingalsoforsocializingacrossclassesandsemesters.Theschoolisplacedinalittlehardarea,peopledonotrecommendyoutowanderaroundtolateintheevening.TheschoolisreallymulticulturalthereismanypeoplefromIndiaandalotofMuslims.

SOCIALANDCULTURALEXPERIENCESFirstimpressions:Everythingissohuge,peopledowntownaresofriendlyandpolied.DowntownTorontowasamazing.Thereweresomanyniceplacestogoto.Usehttp://www.blogto.comyoucanfindeverythinghappeninginthecity,whattodointhedifferentneighbourhoods,whatishappeningthisweekandsomanypricelessguidestowheretoeatandseethings.IuseditalotandIcanreallyrecommenditbecauseyouusethecityinawholenewway.

GOINGDOWNTOWNThebusandmetroworksreallywell.Thereis40mintothewestendofTorontoDowntown,butifyouaregoingtothecore/unionstation/TheFinancialDistrictyouusearound1hourand15min,IpurchasedaPrestocardthatisasimilarsystemtohowweuse‘rejsekortet’hereinDenmark.Irecommendgettingthatbecausegettingaroundbecomessomucheasier.Thebusdriversonlyacceptanexactamountofmoney/theycannotpayyouback.

NBAgameTorontoRaptorsagainstOrlandoMagic

Wehadareadingweekinweek8sosomeoftheotherDanishexchangestudentsplannedrentingacarandwedrovetoNiagaraFalls,NewYorkCityandRochester.IwantedtogotoWashingtonD.C.afterNewYorkbutwehadsomeassignmentstobehandedinafterthereadingweeksowedrovetoRochesterinstead.Rochesterwasasmalluniversitycitybutreallyniceandsomanygreatplacestoeat(seetheguidelist).Imadealonglistofplacesyoushouldgovisit,eatat,drinkyourcoffeeatandsoon.TheschoolisgoodatmakingalotofniceexperienceyoucanattendforexamplegoseeTorontoRaptors,withbustoNiagaraFallsandawinefestivalatNiagara–by-the-lake.Alsoremembertogoseevolleyandbasketontheschool.Itisgreattoexperiencethecollegelife.ACCOMONDATIONIchoosetoliveatResidencejustacrosstheschool.ItwaseasytoapplyandtherewasnoissueaboutgettingthereearlierthanalltheCanadianstudents.Theroomwasmaybe8squaremetersfurnishedwitha90cmbed,atable,achair,adrawer,lightning,shelfstoschoolbooksandsoonandaclosetforcloth.IthinkIused100CADonduvet,plantsandotherpracticalstuff–Ididnotgiveprioritytobringanyinmysuitcase.Itwasreallythinwallsandtherewassomuchnoisefromthehallwayeveryeveningandnight.Ioftensleptwithearplugs.TherewasabigcaféattheResidencewheretherearedifferentopportunitiestogetallyourmealsifyoulike.Itisalittlebitexpensivepreparedtotheamountofmoneyyoucanmakeyourownfoodforanditiswaytooexpensivetoeathealthy.HereyouseeapictureoftheHumberAboretum,ahugeparkbehindresidencereallynicetogoforawalkin.TherearesmallloungeswithTV,couches,tableandchairswhereyoucanmeetforatalk,watchtelevisionorpreparedinnerinthesmallkitchenettewithmicrowave,electricboiler,fridgeandfreezer.Youhavetobealittlebitcreativewithyourfood.Iboughtoatmealandatethateverymorning.ForlunchIboughtsomefoilandmadesandwichestotaketoschool.AndaftertwomonthswithfoodfromtheResidenceCaféIfoundoutthatitwaspossibletorentakitchenforfreeatResidence.Butyouhavetobuyapot,cuttingboardsandknives.TheResidenceisnot

DowntownToronto

offeringanythingforyoutomakeyourfood.IendedupbuyingfourplasticboxessoIcouldpreparedinnerforawholeweekandfrozedown3outof4boxes.Itwasaradicalchangeinmyeverydaylivingthere.Itwashardnottomakemyownfoodeveryday,ImaybethinkthatwasoneofthethingsImissedthemost.Besidethatyoudonothaveyourownprivatebathroomyoushareitwith70otherstudentsonthehallwayandtheywerealwaysdirtyandthehygienewasreallybad,Iactuallyhatedthat.IPAID: ResidenceFee 500$Residence 2,788$DiningPlan* 1,175$Intotal= 4,463$ ≈23.653dkr*Yougettheamountbackyouhavenotused4-6weeksafterschoolends.IdonotknowwhatIwillgiveasanadviceforaccommodation.ItwaseasyandnicetherewasaroomwhenIgottoCanadabutyoucandefinitelydoitcheaperthanresidence.Thepeopleyoutalkwiththemostistheexchangestudentsandmostofuslivedatresidence,soitwaseasytosocializeintheeveningandmeetforacupupcoffeeandplaygamesorwatchamovie.ItwasalsoreallyeasyandnicetolivesoclosetotheCollege.Fitnessisforfreewhichweusedalotinoursparetime.

CONCLUSIONIcansayitinonesentence:Iwoulddoitagain.Itissuchagreatwaytostudyandtravel.IloveTorontocitytherewasalwayssomethingtodoandsee.Iwilldefinitelyreturnonedayonvacation.Mysemesterabroadwasbeyondmyexpectations.Itisaperfectwaytoevolveyourself,getalotofnewexperienceandmeetalotoflovelypeopleallovertheworld.IlearnedsomuchatschoolandIfeelIcancontributealotinmystudygroupwithmynewknowledge.IfeelmoreconfidentinEnglishandIknowIwillbenefitfromthatinmyfutureworklife.ItwasgreattobetaughtinadifferentwaythanwearebackhomeIreallyenjoyedthat.ThefirstmonthswentbysoquicklyandinthemiddleofthesecondmonthIstartedmissingmyboyfriend,ImissedmyeverydayandmyapartmenthereinDenmark.Iexpectedthatsoitwasokayandthenexttwomonthsjustransofast.Soeventhoughtherewasatimewith

NiagaraFalls

Myroom

missingIwouldrecommendeveryonetogoifyoufeellikestudyabroadandgetnewexperiences.Assaidearlierplanyoursemesterabroadasearlyaspossibleandtrytoapplyforasmanyscholarshipsaspossible.Formeitwasalsoawaytotravel,itissoexpensivetotravelifyouhavetosaveupforit.ButhereyoustillgetSUandyoutravel,liveandexperienceanothercountry.Howcanyousaynotothat?!Godowntowninyoursparetimeandenjoythecity.Takealotoftripsintheweekendsandhangoutwiththeexchangestudents–itissomeamazingmonths.

RoyalOntarioMuseum,Toronto

LowerManhattan,NewYork

GUIDELISTPLACESTOSEEINTORONTOANDTHINGSTOEXPERIENCEAllthedifferentdistrictsinTorontoisworthseeing:

KensingtonMarketDistilleryDistrictHarbourfrontFinancialdistrictQueenstreetEastQueenstreetWestTorontoIslandsThezooTheaquarium-Ihavebeentold,havenotbeentheremyself.Basketballgames–suchacoolexperienceHockeygame–Wedidnotexperienceit,butdefinitelymakesureyoudo!Baseballgame–buyhotdogs,beerandpopcornandenjoythreehourswithfriends.

PLACESTOEAT

LaCarnita–amazingMexicanplace,cheapfoodandsotasty.SoukTabüle–MiddleEasternfoodcheapanddelicious.IrecommendtheChefsPlatewithdifferentdipsandyougetflatbreadontheside.Oneofmyfavoriteplaces.BoxcarSocial–halfpriceonwinebottleseveryTuesday,smalldishes,tapasandagoodcupofcoffee.

Parts&Labour–goodplacetoeatanddrink.RestaurantownedbyMattyMatheson.

Chantecler–Frenchrestaurant,reallygreatfood,smallrestaurant,IrecommendtheTartareandduckconfit.TheOxleyPublicHouse–socozyandgreatdrinks.Alittlebitexpensive.Mildred’sTempleKitchen–Perfectbrunchplaceandtheyhavethebestpancakes.Bethereearlyinthemorningortherewillbealinewhereyouhavetowait20mintoanhour.RoselleDeserts-DeliciouscakesAuntiesandUncles–Gothereforbrunchitisamazinglycheapandsocozy.Remembercash!

COFFEEBARS

BoxcarSocialNeoCoffeeBar

PLACESTOSEENEARTORONTO

NiagaraFalls

Boxcarsocial

ScarboroughBluffsOakRidgeMorainTrailAlqonquinPark

PLACESTOSEE

MontrealOttawa–Suchacharmingandbeautifulcitywiththeparliamentbesidethelake.Rochester–EatatDinosaurBar-B-QueandGoodLuck(reallycheapandsocozy)Buffalo(FrankLoydWrighthasdrawntwobuildingsthere)NewYork

*Ingeneralremembertobookatablesomanypeopleeatout.EspeciallywhenthereisBasketball,IceHockeyandBaseballitisimportanttobookatablebecausesomanyrestaurantsaretotallyfullalreadyat5.30pm.