MU: Vanessa Würtz

1. preparations for my stay abroad
I started preparing for my stay abroad about a year before my departure. However, I had already informed myself about my options for going abroad and my choice quickly fell on the Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), as it is a partner university of the Institute of Sport and Sport Science and is also located in Canada, which was my preferred country for my semester abroad. In addition, the university was recommended to me by fellow students who had studied at St. John's in previous semesters and who also actively supported me with all further preparations. To be able to study in America or Australia, you have to pass the TOEFL or IELTS test with a certain number of points. This is only offered on certain dates and at certain locations. I took the IELTS test at the University of Kassel, which offers two dates a year. In November, I submitted my application documents, which consisted of a letter of motivation, my current transcript of records and a list of the courses I would like to take at the foreign university. I was accepted at the beginning of the new year and the rest of the organization could begin. I had to enrol at the university myself, select courses and of course look for accommodation. It was clear to me from the start that I wanted to live on campus in one of the student residences so that I could experience Canadian university life. The different accommodation options can be viewed and compared on the MUN website. I also applied online, which went very smoothly and I received an acceptance letter for a room a few weeks later, so I didn't have to worry about my housing situation any more. I also had to create a university account, which is very similar to the one at the university, and apply for a campus card. During these preparations, I was in frequent contact with the MUN International Office, which was always helpful and competent and assisted me with all my questions. However, I got the most useful tips from my fellow students who had already studied at MUN and therefore knew about almost everything. I would therefore always recommend finding students who have already studied at the university abroad, as they usually have a better picture of student life in the destination country.
2. The stay abroad itself
2.1 Memorial University of Newfoundland and courses taken
The fall semester at MUN began at the beginning of September with an introductory week. Part of this introductory week was a campus tour, a welcome ceremony with numerous performances
by students and an introduction to the various faculties and much more. The International Office offered numerous information events for exchange students as well as events where exchange students could get to know each other. There was also a weekly coffee club and a discussion group to get to know other students.
Compared to German universities, the MUN campus is very large and spacious. Part of the campus is a huge sports hall with a gym and a range of sports courses. There is also a swimming pool on the campus. Exchange students can use all these facilities free of charge and should definitely take advantage of them. The central meeting point is the University Center with the famous Clocktower. There are numerous places to eat, places to sit, a small grocery store, the bookstore, the university's own bar, but also a large number of administrative contact points.
The sense of community and identification with the university are also very pronounced. Almost all students wear MUN clothing and attend the university team's competitions and tournaments.
During the semester, I took four courses, which sounds relatively few compared to Germany, but if you consider that all courses take place 2-3 times a week, it's a manageable amount of work for a semester abroad. It should also be noted that not only one exam is written at the end of the semester, but several quizzes, assignments, presentations and also exams have to be written or handed in continuously during the semester. The courses are also very practice-oriented.
2.2 Life on campus: Burton's Pond Apartments
During my time at MUN, I lived on campus as I mentioned before. I opted for the Burton's Pond Apartments. These are small apartments, each consisting of four individual rooms that share a common kitchen/living room area and a bathroom. The rooms are very small, but perfectly adequate for a semester. One thing to note, however, is that the apartments do not have any equipment when you move in; neither plates nor a shower curtain. I was lucky enough to be able to take over used items from previous students, but otherwise most everyday items can be purchased for little money. Many events were planned within the hall of residence, such as movie nights, a running group, a batik workshop and, towards the end of the semester, a farewell evening with a meal together and a visit to the karaoke bar. I got to know most of my friends in my hall of residence, who were mainly other exchange students. Living on campus was a new experience for me, which I would definitely recommend to anyone. On the one hand, the distances to the courses are short (especially in winter or in bad weather, which is unfortunately relatively often the case at St. John's) and you can spontaneously meet up with friends or do something.
2.3 Life and leisure
First of all: I didn't get bored for a single minute during the semester. St. John's has its own charm and downtown in particular, with its famous Jellybean Row Houses, is well worth seeing. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from the MUN to the city center, but there are also buses (which are not always very reliable). In the immediate vicinity of the city center there is a beautiful little harbor and Signal Hill, which offers a good view over the city. There are also numerous restaurants and the famous George Street is also worth a visit. This street is lined with a multitude of bars and pubs and you should definitely do the screech-in. This involves kissing a codfish, drinking a rum and repeating a sentence in Newfoundland (which is not the same as English) to become an official Newfoundlander. Canadian culture definitely includes going to an ice hockey game and cheering on the basketball team. A trip to the zipline near St. John's is also a must, as it is the longest in North America and offers a fantastic view of the beautiful landscape.
Newfoundland is also a paradise for outdoor and hiking enthusiasts. There are numerous national parks and there is also a lake and forests right behind the university. Most weekends I rented a car with other exchange students, explored the island and stayed in Airbnbs. What took some getting used to was the weather. September was still very nice and sunny, but from October onwards it rained and stormed a lot and the first snow fell at the beginning of November.
The cost of living is higher than in Germany. This is mainly due to the fact that Newfoundland is an island, which is why fruit and vegetables in particular are significantly more expensive. However, Wal-Mart, Dollarama and Sobey's (there is a 10% discount for MUN students on Tuesdays) offer cheaper shopping.
3. Conclusion
I can only warmly recommend studying at MUN, because my semester abroad was (and will certainly remain) the best semester of my studies. Whenever I told people that I was spending a semester abroad in Newfoundland, most people just looked at me with a frown, as only a few people know the island off the east coast of Canada. This is exactly what
makes the place and the people there so special. Newfoundlanders are probably the warmest, most helpful and funniest people I have ever met. But I also made friends with the other international students that I'm sure will last a lifetime. I not only learned a lot from my courses, but also from studying alone in another country and being on my own. I was also definitely able to improve my English. I learned so much, did activities, played sports, met people, had interesting conversations and ate foreign food like never before in my life and I will probably never forget my time in Newfoundland. If you have the opportunity, I recommend traveling before your semester abroad to see more of the amazing Canada.
If you are interested and have any questions regarding the application or the stay abroad itself, feel free to contact me at any time. My e-mail address is vanessa.wuertz@gmail.com.