CIE – Page 3 – Life @ U of T

Developing Those Intercultural Skills, Pt. 2: An Outing to the ROM

As I had mentioned in a previous blog post, I'm participating in something called the Intercultural Learning Program (ILP) this year. Apart from the introductory workshop which I talked about in that post, I was definitely looking forward to the experiential outings part of…

The “Study” in Study Abroad

Study abroad has been a life changing international experience where I have learned to live independently, experience a new culture, and study in a different academic environment. Most of my posts have been about the fun parts of traveling and living “abroad” part of studying abroad and now I am going to focus on the main reason for my exchange which is to “study” abroad.

University College at U of T. It is amazing how British our architecture is. (Taken from: http://www.transitionresourceguide.ca/universities/university-of-toronto)

The Strand Campus at King’s College of London is home to the Art’s and Humanities Faculty and located in Central London. (taken from: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/campus/strand.aspx)

Identity bubble map. Some branches include "third culture kid" and "hobbies/passions"

Developing Those Intercultural Skills: An Introduction

I’d like to think of myself as pretty “internationally-minded” (whatever that means) and I suspect a lot of Torontonians would too, seeing as we live in such a diverse and multicultural city. Apart from that, I lived in a few countries growing up and am still sometimes in conflict with my own cultural identity and what or how I choose to identify myself to others. For me, the question of “Where are you from?” can evoke different responses depending on the situation (and how interested I think the other person is in hearing my entire life story). Since I chose not to pursue a major that deals directly with issues of multiculturalism I’m always looking for ways to learn about intercultural topics in more formal settings, especially as I’m equally fascinated by the theory part of all this as well.

Hanami

This time of year ushers in several new beginnings in Tokyo. It marks the beginning of the University of Tokyo's school year, Japan's fiscal year, and spring, represented in the cherry blossoms (sakura) decorating the city. Friends, families, and co-workers congregate in parks all…

Osaka to Okinawa

After spending a few weeks hanging out with friends and host families in Hiroshima and Osaka, I'm ending my spring break with a brief solo trip to Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa. Once a semi-independent kingdom, Okinawa subtly separates itself…

Hiroshima in One Day

Hiroshima holds a strong sentimental value for me. It was the first Japanese city that I spent a significant amount of time in, and my friends and homestay families there introduced me to Japan. Last week, for the first time I…

Japan’s School Year

The University of Tokyo's school year is dramatically different from that of most Canadian universities. The first semester begins in April and ends in August. After a two-month summer holiday, the second semester begins in October and ends in February.…

Where to Hang Out in Tokyo

Tokyo's hangout spots are overwhelmingly diverse. In terms of music, atmosphere, and menu, there is a venue to match almost anyone's taste. Since there are few social spaces on the University of Tokyo's campus, most socializing instead takes place in one of the…

Reading and Traveling

I've loved Japanese literature since I was a high school student in Hiroshima. I've continued to read in between my stays in Japan, both as a source of enjoyment and a way of staying connected; no matter where I am, Japanese literature offers…

Dealing with Homesickness

Almost every exchange student experiences homesickness at some point. Living in an unfamiliar environment where everyone speaks another language can be alienating at times. Tokyo's case is ironic; despite being the most populous city in the world, it's easy to feel isolated…

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