By: Peyton Woolerton

Yes, it’s true, Canadians really are as friendly as everyone says. From the moment I arrived, people have gone out of their way to be kind and welcoming. That warmth has made it so much easier to settle into life here, even though I’m on the opposite side of the world from home. Now that I’m halfway through my exchange in Ottawa, I feel caught between two emotions: excited to return home, but also genuinely sad at the thought of leaving this place that has started to feel like a second home.

The university has played a huge role in that. They’ve been amazing with support and helping exchange students connect. During orientation, they took us to the National Gallery of Canada, and it ended up being the spark for everything that followed. I met an incredible group of friends there, people who were also figuring things out, just like me, and together we’ve explored so much of Canada.

What I’ve loved most is how many small adventures you can have here. Weekend trips to cities like Montréal (just a couple of hours away!) or soon Toronto. Visiting little nearby towns that are full of small-town charm. And during reading week, we did something I’ll genuinely never forget: we flew to the other side of the country and road-tripped through the Rockies. The scale of the mountains, the colour of the lakes, it didn’t feel real at times. It was the kind of scenery that makes you stop for a second because there are no words big enough for it.

If you’re considering going on exchange, my biggest piece of advice is to get out and explore the country you go to. Don’t just stay on campus, go to the next town, take the bus to a new neighbourhood, try the things you’ve never heard of. Say yes to what feels unfamiliar. That’s where the best memories come from. And if you’re deciding where to go, I would highly encourage you to consider Canada. It’s one of those places you can see a thousand photos of online, and they still don’t come close to the real thing. You have to stand on the trail, or in the snow, or by the lake, and actually feel it. 

And if you choose to come here, explore nature. Canada truly shines outdoors. Even just outside Ottawa, at Gatineau Park, there are endless trails and lookouts, especially in fall, when the forests shift into impossible shades of red, gold, and orange. It’s the kind of beauty that makes your day slow down.

Being here has taught me how much adventure can come from simply saying yes. Yes to new friends, yes to exploring, yes to moments that might never happen again. And honestly, that’s something I hope I take with me wherever I go next.