Canada Summer Trip
Last summer, I was walking through the beautiful streets during a summer school program in London.
This year, as a 16-year-old high school student from Taiwan, I decided to cross the Atlantic for my second summer school, this time to explore Canada’s largest city while studying at the University of Toronto.
While London felt traditional and rich in history, Toronto greeted me with vibrant energy and modern skyscrapers and a totally different experience.
My weekdays were packed with public speaking and communication courses. We spent hours practicing vocal projection, and learning how to capture an audience's attention without relying on cold and unemotional scripts. We also did a lot of activities instead of taking lectures the whole day, we did debates, group activities and even did a TED talk! During the lectures, I really got some new skills of public speaking. From how to start a speech that can catch people's eyes immediately to how to win a debate with clever usage of words.
When weekends start, campus life transforms into exploration. We ventured out into Toronto's distinct neighborhoods, trying different foods, and catching views from the base of the CN Tower. Seeing a city from a totally different culture is really a part that truly makes my trip divine. I also went to the world famous Niagara Falls. We took a boat ride and the fall was so close that I couldn't stand straight on the deck because the wind was so strong.
As I explore more and more of Toronto, I was amazed by the diversity that this city has. My dorm was very close to China town, where I experienced a mix of Asian and American culture. The absolute highlight of the trip, however, was our yacht party on Lake Ontario. Going along the harbor with music playing, watching the skyline light up against the water, felt like something straight out of a coming of age movie.
How can you not talk about great food when you travel to a great country?
When talking about Canada, most people will have an image
of maple syrup pop up in their mind. Actually, there's a dish that people seldom talk about but is actually a must try in Canada, Poutines. I first tried it when I was in a Bluejays baseball game, I fell in love with it immediately. It's fries with cheese covered with thick and tasty gravy, every bite gives you a whole new feeling and you feel like you could never have enough. If you are a seafood fan, go to St. Lawrence Market, the lobster roll and Clam chowder will make your day.
If you are not a great fan of salty bites, Canada is still prepared to fill your stomach.
With candy bars like Coffee crisps (whose only factory is in Toronto), Timbits and Caramilk bar, you will understand that Canada isn't a country that only eats maple syrup. But a paradise filled with food for every food lover.
Other than the exciting activities, food, and lectures, a big part of summer schools are the friends you met there. Since it's an international program, I get to meet students from different cultures and countries and really create great friendships. Since we all live in the same dorm, our dorm is like a mini United Nations, bringing together teens like me from Europe, Latin America and Asia. Whether we were helping each other rehearse our TED talks, getting lost in Toronto’s neighborhoods together, or taking photos on campus, these shared moments created a deep bond. I might never forget them even in my future path.
I returned home to Taiwan with so much more than just souvenirs. I brought back unforgettable memories and a bunch of incredible friends scattered across the world, making Toronto a summer I’ll be talking about for years.
Comments