EXCHANGE STUDENT

‘The University of Prince Edward Island is a warm, friendly community which is quite cosmopolitan, encompassing students from all over the world. | myself am an Exchange Student from Dundee University in Scotland. My university is considerably larger, with approximately 4,000 undergraduate students. It organises a formal exchange progran with various universities in the United States and Canada, of which UPEI is one.

The opportunity to participate in an exchange scheme is an extremely challenging yet stimulating experience, as one is required to be flexible in order to cope with a different environment, culture and simply, just with anew way of life. It is obvious that living away from home for a year ina foreign country is a great undertaking and certainly makes you quite apprehensive as you simply do not know exactly what to expect. Certain doubts and worries flood into your mind; will I settle in? What will the people be like? and other such concerns. However, I have been here for just over two weeks and most of my worries have subsided. For one, I have found that he Islanders I have met have been so sincere, yenerous and basically willing to help you in any lifficulties, which is quite refreshing. I have also ound that the people here tend to adopt you as one of hem, which helps diminish yourcomplex about fitting in’. I have found that people here have a enuine interest in you as you are foreign and lifferent. So many people have wandered up to me, isking me about Britain or where I’m from because hey love the English accent.

he only problem, if I could even call it that, would

¢ the size of everything here. PEI to me was omewhat of a culture shock, initially, as | have lways lived ina large town relatively close to iverpool. However, over the past two weeks, the Ommunity spirit and the unspoilt beauty of the island ave overwhelmed me and I feel quite settled here, ven though sometimes | still cannot believe it or

ike it in that I’m actually here, as I’ve never lived in uch a charming countrified environment.

FE here are not only the changes with my environment, it with classes, friends and even the smallest things has the important topic of food. The classes |

find are far more friendly and personal as they are smaller in size. I wandered into my first lecture and half-expected a history class of perhaps one hundred students at the very least and to my pleasant surprise there were about thirty students and in addition, the professors seemed vaguely human! The food must also come under the closest scrutiny and perhaps it will cause an uproar, but in my personal opinion, I feel that the food is very good, and although my fellow Canadian compatriots are repelled by the very idea of eating it, I think they should feei privileged, as it could be a great deal worse!

An exchange scheme which enables a student to travel to a foriegn country relatively cheaply is a highly profitable experience, considering the opportunities awaiting you. The possibilities are endless for travelling and I already have ambitious plans for the summer. If you are interested in such an exchange with a university abroad and you are fortunate enough to be chosen, then you ought to seize the opportunity as itis one very worthwhile, exciting experience.

Leslie O’ Flanagan

ee

JPEI X-Press

September 19, 199]