Day Two: A Fresh Start and Full Stomachs! #4

The students started Day Two with a great breakfast together. Blueberry and chocolate chip muffins were very popular and quickly found new homes on many plates! With cereal, eggs, yogurt, fresh fruit and many other options also available, students fueled up well for the busy day ahead. With full bellies, we packed our bags and got ready to visit The University of British Columbia (UBC).

Learning With a View at UBC! #5

Our first big stop of the day was the UBC, one of Canada’s top universities. UBC is known for its beautiful campus, strong research programs, and focus on caring for the environment. It truly feels like a small city of its own! Students were in awe of the incredible views where the campus meets the ocean and mountains. Many stopped to take photos, admire the scenery, and enjoy the moment. Near the entrance, students also enjoyed a fun echo activity shouting together and hearing their voices bounce back. Laughter filled the area as everyone joined in, turning learning into a joyful experience. On campus, students also learned about biodiversity, sustainability, and ways universities work to protect nature.

From City Streets to New Homes! #6

After leaving UBC, we headed to Gastown and downtown Vancouver. Students enjoyed seeing the famous steam clock, walking through the area, and doing more souvenir shopping! With so many choices, excitement was high. Later, students traveled to Surrey for an orientation to prepare for meeting their host families. At first, everyone looked a little nervous but that feeling didn’t last long. As students introduced themselves, confidence grew and smiles appeared. Soon, conversations were flowing as students met the families, they will stay with for the next three (3) nights. As the day came to an end, it was clear that students were becoming more confident using English. We are looking forward to tomorrow’s activities, which promise to be a day of cultural exchange and real life use of English!

Students explored Downtown Vancouver this afternoon, with amazing views of the sea at the Waterfront, and some shopping in the famous Gastown. Students spent their time exploring and buying souvenirs for family and friends. We then returned to the bus and travelled to Regent Christian Academy. We were introduced to the staff at the school before host families arrived.

Our students were matched with their families, and left to begin their all-English home stay. Tomorrow will be another busy day, this time with classes and a cultural exchange festival with Regent Academy students!

After a good nights sleep and a big breakfast (sorry no rice!), we visited the University of British Columbia, one of the best universities in Canada, with around 60,000 students – almost the population of Miki City! We made three groups and had a tour of a part of the university, we were able to see research centres, archaeology exhibits, libraries and learning centres. Students were amazed at the size of the campus. One 2-1 student said – “This isn’t a university, it’s a city! It has four Starbucks!” We then ate at the university cafeteria, where students could try food from different countries from around the world, including Mexico, France and Korea. Students were able to try fruits and vegetables they’d never seen before! We will soon depart for Downtown Vancouver, our last sightseeing destination before students meet their home stay families.

It’s the end of the day! After a long day of travelling, sightseeing and trying local foods, everyone is ready to sleep. After Granville Island we went to the famous Stanley Park, well known for its nature and traditional totem poles. After arriving to the hotel, we enjoyed a course dinner at a local Chinese restaurant all together. We left happy with our stomachs full and excited for our day tomorrow, visiting the University of British Colombia and Downtown Vancouver. Class 2-1 will also meet their host families. Tomorrow will be another exciting day!

After a long flight, class 2-1 has finally arrived in Canada. We collected our bags and joined our tour group representative on the bus. We are now beginning our afternoon of sightseeing around some of Vancouver’s most famous sights and locations. We’ve started at Granville Island, famous for its Public Market, famous for artisan foods and handmade gifts and souvenirs. Class 2-1 have enjoyed some free-time to do shopping for souvenirs and try some local foods – all using English!