Preparing for cold temps, finding warm feelings and discovering one’s comfort zone during study abroad in Canada
– Chloe Bean, SPC High School Student, Canada Program, January 2019
Despite the temperature in Montreal and Quebec City being below zero most days, my study abroad trip left me with a warm feeling in my heart and a bad case of the travel bug.
I was nervous to go to Canada in January. How is a Florida girl supposed to survive an actual winter? I’m usually wearing a coat if it gets below 60 degrees! For this adventure, I bought a completely new winter wardrobe and was prepared to take on the arctic weather.
On the plane ride to Montreal, I quickly bonded with the other study abroad students and felt comfortable going out of my comfort zone with them.
I had my first experience hiking an icy mountain the same day we arrived. It was then that I knew I was in for an experience of a lifetime.
Over the next week, we were immersed in the Francophone culture of Montreal and Old Quebec City. From history museum tours, to snowball fights, to authentic cuisine, and even a tour of an indigenous people’s reserve, I felt like I was at home despite being thousands of miles away from Florida.
When we came back to Tampa, the weather was in the 60s. My parents picked me up from the airport in sweaters but I was sweating through my jeans. It was so weird to me, because a week ago I would have been bundled up in this weather, but now I was a little too warm to be comfortable.
The first few days being home were strange because everything was normal. Normal had become boring, and I was already looking for my next adventure.
To anyone wondering if studying abroad is for them, IT IS! There were all kinds of personalities on the tour yet we all worked as a group to get the best experience. I’ve made new friends and strengthened preexisting friendships that will last for a lifetime. Most importantly, I’ve learned to appreciate the Florida heat!
– Chloe Bean, SPC High School Student, Canada Program, January 2019
Thank you for sharing Chloe!
Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you!
blog.spcollege.edu/international | 727-341-4735 | studyabroad@spcollege.edu
Cover photo of old Quebec City by The Photographer. Source materials for this file are available from Commons Archive: Quebec City, Canada. Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 4.0].