Of all the experiences I have ever had, the two semesters I spent in Winnipeg were the coldest times of my life, but I bet it was one of the most heartwarming and valuable memories I will keep during my life. I studied at the University of Winnipeg (UW) in Canada during 2019-2020 Fall/Winter terms. I still remember the taste of the fresh foods and snacks I had every day in the school restaurants, and my friends who were always with me. I miss the peaceful and clear blue sky. The overall atmosphere of the country was friendly, warm, and green, and every spot was photogenic.

The City of Winnipeg
    ‘Wear many layers, get mittens, and bring a hot pack.’ These were all the things I had to prepare when hanging outside in “Winterpeg” which is the nickname of the city of Winnipeg since the weather is remarkably cold as the temperature goes down around -30 degrees Celsius sometimes in winter. At the Exchange District in the downtown area of the city, diverse events such as art, food and cultural events took place from week to week. During the winter, I enjoyed skating on the frozen rivers near my town. The Red River Mutual river skating trail at The Forks located at the confluence of the Red River and the Assiniboine River, is the world’s longest ice trail along the Red River. It is a beautiful spot for skating and a nice picnic spot as well.

My Canadian Friends
    “I’ll show you around when you arrive,” said my friend from Winnipeg at the farewell party of the CNU International Summer Session 2019. It was the beginning of my amazing and exciting exchange student life. I was lucky to meet three local friends, Alex, Beatrice and Raquel through the program, who turned out to be my best friends.
    I had a buddy from the buddy program for exchange students operated by the UW’s International office. When I applied for the program, I asked for a buddy of the same gender. However, my buddy was male. I did not happen to spend much time with him. It just happened in such a way that I came to hang out more with the three friends who I had more things in common and more to share.

Culture Sharing is Important for Us
    Through cultural curiosity, we made good and long relationships. My friends and I kept wondering, asking, and answering questions about different cultures between the two countries, such as the education systems, dating culture, and job trends. Besides, we were all great foodies, and this also played a great role in our connection. We often cooked together, sharing our hometown recipes and meals. I vividly remember the best Chinese mala stew I have ever had and a decent Peruvian Thanksgiving meal. Sharing each other’s culture was a great start to broaden my perspective towards the world. It helped me understand people from other countries and increase my cultural awareness.

Relationship Started at CNU
    Thanks to my friends, I had no time to feel lonely but we built unforgettable memories together. We went out to skate, ski, and we often met after class to find out about famous places to eat out. What I felt was special about us was that we could build truthful friendships with each other. I felt like I had another family in a foreign country since they were always with me whenever I felt happy or blue. I never knew that the relationships I made in the international program of CNU would lead me to meet such great people. I would gladly say that the friendships I gained were the best part of my exchange life in Canada.
 

By Ko Jung-yeon, Junior, Faculty of Business Administration