MU: Theresa Knauf

Preparing for a stay abroad:
I had been dreaming of a semester abroad since the beginning of my studies. Gaining new experiences, spending some time abroad and improving my English skills at the same time - it doesn't get any better than that!
During my 5th semester at the Sports Institute, I found out about the possibilities of spending a semester abroad and the partner university in Newfoundland particularly caught my eye. St. John's, Newfoundland, not only looked incredibly beautiful in pictures, but the experiences of my fellow students also sounded very good.
I started preparing about a year and a half before I started my semester abroad. As I needed proof of English for my application, I took a preparatory course for the IELTS language diploma and registered for the exam. To be able to study at a university in an English-speaking country, a language level of B2-C1 is required. With the help of the preparation course and reading English-language magazines, I was able to prepare for the diploma in the best possible way.
In December, I then applied for the Sport Institute's program with the partner university "Memorial University Newfoundland" and just a few weeks later I was accepted by the Sport Institute and the university in Canada.
I decided to spend the autumn semester in Canada because I could still experience some warm days in Newfoundland and also the winter days in the snow. The application process and the immediate preparations were less stressful than expected. Both the housing situation on site and the formalities with the university in Canada went smoothly. You could compare this effort with the formalities you had to fill out in Kassel for the first semester. Selecting courses, creating a university account and looking for accommodation. I applied for a room in a hall of residence on campus. However, it is also very easy to find an apartment or a room in a shared flat near the university. Some fellow students even started looking on site and were successful. Even if you don't know what to do, the staff at the International Office in St. John's are always ready to listen to your questions and are very helpful.

My time in Canada
To explore the city, the campus and the area around St. John's, I flew to Canada in mid-August. Especially in August and September, it's worth planning a few days to explore Newfoundland with its breathtaking coastline and beautiful hiking trails around the island. St. John's is about the same size as Kassel in terms of population, but is much quieter and cozier, as the town stretches along the coast and is spread over a fairly large area. In addition to colorful wooden houses, cozy pubs, small natural harbors and large parks, there is a
wild party mile, small cafés and restaurants, as well as small stores for a leisurely stroll. Just like the people, the city is incredibly friendly.
The university campus is about half an hour's walk from the city center and is also easily accessible by bus. Public transport is not as extensive as in Kassel and unfortunately not included in the semester ticket, but it's enough to get to the most important destinations. Before I could move into my room in the hall of residence, I spent a few nights in an AirBnB and also used the only hostel on site. Even in the first few days, I noticed that the people in St. Johns are incredibly open and friendly, which is great for a semester abroad. Even the slight Newfoundland accent hardly caused me any problems. After a week, I was able to move into my room in the hall of residence. The accommodation options on campus are divided into different buildings. If you are interested in a room on campus, you should inform yourself well in advance and consider which of the three buildings is most suitable. In "Burtons Pond" you are accommodated in small shared flats and have a kitchen at your disposal. In the other two houses there are few cooking facilities and the rooms are shared. Here, however, you have the option of being catered for around the clock in the canteen or "Dining Hall". I got a room in "Paton College" and a very nice roommate from Spain. I also opted for the meals provided by the Dining Hall. In retrospect, I have to say that sharing a room and living in the college was a great experience. The catering provided by the dining hall saved a lot of stress in terms of cooking and shopping. The people in the hall of residence quickly became a small family and it is very easy to get to know a lot of people quickly. However, you should be open to communal activities with the house community, such as loud parties at the weekend. The showers in the corridor also provide little privacy. The location of the accommodation on campus is a great advantage, as even in bad weather you can use the underground walkways for quick, warm and dry connections to university events and the sports hall. After the initial welcome events by the International Office and the university itself, things got going straight away. I attended four sports courses, only one of which was a practical course. All the lecturers were delighted to have an international student with them and gave me a very warm welcome. All four courses were valuable in terms of content and helped me a lot. Giving a lesson in English in particular was a new challenge for me and a very good experience. I also had no problems with the language, even without studying English. I was able to hand in papers and essays without any problems thanks to the help of tutors. In general, students are expected to hand in a lot of papers and mid-term exams halfway through the semester. However, the amount of material is manageable. I was able to train with the Memorial Sea Hawks athletics team throughout the semester. I was also able to use the sports hall and the university's own gym free of charge. I supported my hall of residence at the university's internal "Intermurals", small volleyball, soccer and frisbee tournaments. In addition to welcome events, the International Office also offers many projects and events where you can get to know the other internationals. At the weekends, we planned excursions to the west coast with extended hikes in a large international group or met up for a cold drink in the pub next to the university.

Conclusion
To sum up, I had an extremely enjoyable and, for me, very valuable time in Canada. St. John's and Newfoundland are definitely worth a visit. Newfoundlanders are incredibly open and friendly and made me feel very welcome for the four months. Not only did I have great language experiences, but the encounters with new people and discovering a new culture are priceless. I can recommend everyone to take the opportunity and go abroad for a semester.