Many days can go by in which I fail to notice the beauty that surrounds us. I can’t stress enough how important it is for me to do so. I have started to notice how fast my mood can improve…
Preparing to be a Stranger in a (Semi) Familiar Land
Ever since I was a little girl I always claimed that “the sea is nice and all but I am going to live near the mountains.” I also always spoke of “going back” to Chile – the country both my…
My Experience Moving To a City Where I Knew No One
Almost two years ago, I jumped on a plane from Vancouver to Toronto. I didn’t know a single person who was going to the University of Toronto, which was super scary. But, after a couple weeks in residence, I realized…
How Can U of T Help You Find Off-Campus Housing? An Interview with Student Life Officer Katrina Persad
Last week, I sat down and chatted with Katrina Persad, Student Life Officer, Housing Education & Outreach. Katrina’s job is to provide students with information while they navigate Toronto’s rental market. Even though I love living off-campus, it can also…
Dealing With Food Allergies At University
Coming to university with severe food allergies was one of the things I was most worried about. I have a long list of food allergies and finding the right places to eat can be tricky! Sharing a kitchen and eating…
My Favourite Study Places
One of my favourite things about the St. George campus at U of T is the incredible architecture. No matter which part of the campus I’m at, I can always find a nice building nearby to settle down to complete…
The Roar of Residence Life
Moving away from home can be a big change. I lived in residence for two years, and for me, it felt a lot like sleep-away camp. It was super fun and there were always lots of people around. The experience…
My Homesickness Tricks
The biggest problem I faced in my first year of university was homesickness. I was already familiar with the feeling, having been to sleepover summer camp as a kid, but I still didn’t know how to make it go away.…
Staying on “Track” During my Commute
"I love commuting", said no one ever. As a commuter, I frequently complain about having to spend more than 2 hours travelling to and from campus every day. Being a student, I find that every second of the day matters,…
My summer abroad in Toronto
Before we dive too deep into university life, I thought I'd introduce myself. Who am I? An Anthropology student going into my third year, navigating my way through my first summer in Toronto. My name is Francesca, everyone calls me…