Getting ahead of myself..
Aug 22nd, 2007 by Miranda
Im reading the other Blog Squaders messages here and I just realized… Maybe I should formally introduce myself… Just an idea.
Miranda Abild from Alberta. But I have just moved back from Denmark where I was living for the past 4.5 years. (I’m half Danish, half Canadian) I decided to study at UBC for a number of reasons but mostly it was just to try something new. I love travelling and all of my savings, whenever I have them, have always gone to that. I have been very blessed with the support of my family as well and even while I was wondering the streets in Rome alone, my parents somehow stopped themselves from flying over, kidnapping me from my own adventurousness, and placing me in a room with a padlock on the door.
Another good reason to try something new was that my boyfriend and I had been living in room of 17 meters squared. This is not a lot of space as most of you are about to find out! I think this is going to be one of your bigger challenges while studying at the UBC (especially if you are coming from the protection of home) and this has nothing to do with the actual physical space, but rather the people who will constantly invade it… and it is inevitable. Im sorry.
Anyways, i guess what i am trying to say is that i got what i needed out of Denmark (an education, i learnt the language, etc.) but by that i mostly mean my honey. I am going to have to fight the girl off of him over here though… thats for sure.
Having come from Denmark, also means that I was invited to GALA for the international students. Even though i dont have any of the problems with VISAs or working that they might have, I am still totally going to go. I think one of the greatest things UBC has to offer is the fact that it is so international. There is so much to be learned from other cultures, and you dont even have to visit the country to learn them! GALA is a few days of us internationals getting together for seminars and what not to get truly prepared for what studying in Canada is going to entail. And for these international students, these days are huge! I only wish I would have had this type of thing when i moved to Denmark! I was totally lost! But GALA builds a basis for what the rest of their time is going to be like. If GALA is skipped on their part, they risk having all sorts of problems with making a life here succeed.. The reason why i am going is definitely for the friendships though. I have been in Vancouver a month now and without a job or school, getting friends can be kind of tough. I got a great apartment in Kitslano (if your not familiar with the area, you will be!) and i just cant wait to enjoy it with someone else! Anyone!?
Well.. i think that is more then enough intro to myself for now.
That last thing i want to say for now is just, remember to enjoy your holiday! Yes, i know how exciting moving/studying/starting new is BUT its going to become all too familiar and everyday, all too quickly. Enjoy that you don’t have to cram for that mid-term now, Enjoy that you can sleep in late without a doctors note or awful pangs of quilt!, Enjoy that you dont have to worry about not understand a word your professor said today but most importantly, Enjoy that every minute of everyday, you just want it to be break already!!
Very well said…I think you made me even more excited for GALA (I had no idea that was possible!)
If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you Miranda?
And I think I’ve gotten ahead of myself with excitement…I’m going to take your advice and try and enjoy the time that I have, right now, instead of only seeing next week.
Oh yes, I definitely agree with the enjoying the holidays for as long as they last! I did my best to enjoy my summer – and I’ve got to say, that was the best summer of my life. It was just golden, and I think I’ll always look back on it with love.
Hi Sam (and anyone else who might have wanted to know)
I am 24… yes, a little late for being a second year student in Canadian Standards but just on time in European standards. Im studying psychology and well.. there’s no one who would want to get advice from a 23-year old just out of University. That’s just my opinion!