Personal Development
I know that my life is going down a different course now than before I went on my exchange- I would say that it was life-changing! ... Constantly meeting new people, problem solving, getting yourself places with no car- it was a very fun challenge!
Cambridge was a very sweet and small town, but at first, it didn't appear like there was very much to do and I had a lot of free time due to a very low course load. I had to find ways to get involved in my local community, such as attending life drawing classes, and contributing to university clubs.
Professional Development
My professional development was vastly improved by attending this exchange. I made some great network connections, learned so much about the architectural profession in a Canadian context and found my confidence grow as a result. Ultimately, it has made me realise that living and working overseas as an architect will absolutely be possible in my future.
Budget
I spent over $25000. My rent was $700CAD a month, but I was also still paying rent for my apartment in Brisbane. This made up the biggest part of my costs. The university fees were $600, but included benefits such as healthcare, gym memberships and public transport. My food costs were low because I cooked my own meals, and I would mostly do free activities such as hiking or sightseeing if I travelled. I did spend a bit of money on clothing- I decided to do a lot of my shopping for the Canadian climate in Canada!
The funding meant that I had the capacity to travel, and not be stressed about my living costs. Because I had to continue paying rent in Brisbane, the funding was the only reason I could afford to go on the exchange at all. The funding I recieved was extremely beneficial.
Advice/Top Tips
Even if you end up in a very small town, there are always things to do. Find a local class that you're interested in, join as many clubs as you can, and don't stress about how much activities cost. Hire that car to go see that waterfall! I penny pinched a lot- to the point where I think I missed out on certain experiences because I was worried that I would waste money! But it's worth it, especially if you know you won't be going back there for a long time.
