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Blogs
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Being one of OLC's classic storytelling tools, blogs are crafted by SFU Community members which include the everyday student as well as expert voices. This is where we share touching stories, resourceful advice, and insightful knowledge with each other. In keeping with the OLC vision, the following blogs are created by and for students, so why not contribute to the OLC today?
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INTERNATIONAL
The holidays are a time for fun and festivities, but the feeling of being homesick can also creep in during this time. Here are some steps to help you through it!
Have you landed an International Co-op work-term and begun preparing for your semester abroad? Surely, you have done your research and are aware of the cultural differences and nuances between where you are going, and your home country? If you haven’t, have no fear! This article is meant to help you understand the basic tips and tricks to adjust to the cultural differences in your new workplace, making your transition much easier.
Nancy applied as an English instructor in South Korea with the intention of just adding another bulletpoint to their resume. However, the experiences they have gained from teaching and living abroad has made their co-op so much more meaningful than what can be written on paper. Read Nancy's story to learn more about Teach and Learn in Korea.
Third year Business student, Corina Inigo, shares about her co-op experience with Teach and Learn in Korea (TaLK). She discusses what TaLK is all about and also shares personal anecdotes from her teaching experience.
As an international student Ha Na had the reality of high tuition, no work experience and challenges in finding employment. She decided co-op was the solution to learn professional work search skills and gain related employment while attending university. She shares her challenges and successes along the way.
Bachelor of Sciences graduand Charity Mudhikwa hit the ground running when she came to Canada in 2018 for university, dedicating her undergraduate degree helping SFU students and the community at large.
A profile on international student and third year psychology major, Rainy Yumeng Jiang, and how community engagement and volunteering has helped her adjust to Canadian culture.
Looking to maximize your time abroad and integrate with locals, but nervous to take the first few steps? Read on to learn how Kendra broke through their personal barriers, and the advice they have for future travellers to make the most of their work term overseas.
Learning how to effectively communicate in a new work environment can be difficult enough, but add a language barrier and things get even more complicated. Here are Julia's top tips for overcoming language barriers in the workplace.
Still not sure if co-op is for you? Chetachi explains why co-op was such a valuable experience for her and what it was like to work in the corporate world during her Economics co-op work term.
“Gosh Roop! Are you really an international student? But you do not speak with an accent. Wow, I would have never guessed that.” Through anecdotes and introspection, Roop shares a compelling narrative of the struggles of why International students face challenges due to language barriers and biases.
As an undergraduate student, Spencer Chen excelled with a GPA of 4.21 and received numerous merit-based scholarships and awards. She also sought diverse research and community service opportunities to make meaningful contributions to the SFU community.
Who doesn’t love travelling? Summer is just around the corner and with that comes the time to make our travel plans a reality. Have you ever thought about travelling as a way to boost your career?
Mario Fong travelled to Hong Kong to join the HSBC trainee program through International Co-op. Dropping everything to live in a new country provided him with personal and professional experiences he won't soon forget.
Since its launch in 2005, the Students for Development (SFD) program has been supporting Canadian university students' participation in internships in developing countries and emerging economies. Isabel went on the SFD program in Summer 2011 where she worked with ICO (Instituto de Capacitacion del Oriente) in Bolivia.
Being an international student at SFU is not easy as there aren't many opportunities to meet other students. The Global Student Centre welcomes all, hosting events that bring students together to celebrate diversity and create intercultural awareness.
"There's a phrase in Israel, "buckle up your elbows" which means that it's time to hustle. This is exactly what brought me to the place where I'm writing to you right now." -- read Kim's story and learn how you can achieve anything with enough courage and motivation.
Coming to a new country thousands of miles from where you grew up and from everything you know is no easy journey. In this award-winning story, SFU Business student Ali Najaf reflects on the past four years since arriving in Canada from Pakistan in 2012, sharing both his challenges and truimphs.
Jacky is a fourth year Business Student who spent his co-op in Beijing China. Read his interview to discover what his co-op abroad was like. Jacky covers preparing for the work term, work life, and living abroad.
Are you an international student that feels like there is a wall that stops you from moving forward? Are you trying to improve your language level, but feel embarrassed communicating in English? You're not the only one. But there are people who are reaching their goals. Find your inspiration and become one of them.
Changing Times: Stories to Inspire Hope and Resilience
Working from home is a common reality for many Co-op students in the past year. Working from home while working for a Health Authority in the thick of the pandemic is a tremendous experience Kaylla went through last year. Take a look at how she learned to stay productive in these uncertain times.
The Latest
In the summer of 2008, Yat worked 40 hours a week while going to school with a full course load. Managing time was essential to getting things done, but everyone has struggles with time management. Read more to find out the lessons Yat learned while reading the book, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko
“Help, Learn, & Discover” is an organization that gives university students the opportunity to volunteer abroad and build homes for the poor in Ecuador, while gaining useful work experience – particularly for biology and pre-medical students. There are three programs you.. can choose from
While my dad and I get along really well, we don't talk a whole lot - besides the fact that we live in different cities, I'm pretty sure we share a dislike of small talk. I think we share a lot in common actually, and understand each other quite well. So, despite our infrequent chit chats, my dad's been a big influence on a lot of things in my life, not the least of which being my career development.
I and the whole staff at work attended a training last week on a "narrative" method of career counselling led by Mark Franklin, the practice leader of a company called Career Cycles. It's inspired me to write a bit about narrative therapy in general, especially as it applies to career development.
There were a lot of messages that I grew up with, whether it be from my parents, peers, or the all-encompassing influence of the media. One of the ones that sticks with me most to this day, and I'm not sure where it comes from, has to do with self-sacrifice.
Hi. It's me, Dave - I was one of the smiley, energetic people handing out popcorn last night when you came up to visit SFU for our open house, "Info Eve." Congratulations, by the way! It's a pretty cool experience to be offered acceptance to any university, let alone the top Canadian comprehensive school as ranked by Macleans. So, you've got good reason to feel proud of yourselves. I really could see that on a lot of your and your parents' faces last night. Way to go!
Will your resume catch the attention of an employer? Marcia Shimizu, a SFU Co-op Coordinator reviews three key points to consider when creating your résumé.
A routine is one of those things in life that can be either a huge relief or a giant burden. I know that I tend to oscillate between those two feelings, generally dependant on whether or not I have an established routine in my life at the time. I think that for the most part, we’re creatures of habit.
Leif Stroman shares his amazing high-tech co-op experience, working in Whistler for Recon Instruments. As the only software engineer for Recon's new Transcent goggles, he was able to influence major product decisions from start to finish (which included plenty of mid-air and mountain-top testing!)
What would a co-op placement be like if part of your job was to interview Canucks players and write reports of their games? Take a peek at Elizabeth's co-op and what it was like to be a Canucks insider.
In addition to doing research about the company and job role, as well as preparing great answers, portfolios of work and achievements are becoming an increasingly important part of the interview process.
In this blog article, David Lindskoog shares the messages about entrepreneurship that he got from a panel event, “Starting Your Own Business.”
How many times and how many ways have you heard the word “fit” thrown around? I don’t know if a three letter word has ever had such wide ranging implications. Grammatically speaking, it’s an adjective, a verb, and a noun. Generally speaking, though, I’m pretty confident we can think of “fit” as referring to the compatibility of one thing with another.
Unlike just any festival, Durga Puja is likened to "Disneyland, the Olympics, Christmas and an art gallery all in one." Join Martyna, Silvia, Lindsay and Christine in their celebration of Durga Puja, an annual Hindu festival in Kolkata. As they weave through busy streets and celebrate festivities, the girls share their exciting experience with us in this blog entry.
This time I’d like to highlight Swarna’s personal experience in volunteering. It’s apparent from the previous article how passionate Swarna is in helping others. In addition to working for UGM, Swarna also volunteers for the organization.For instance, she has volunteered for the UGM drop-in centre in New Westminster, BC. Swarna explains that the New Westminster Drop-in centre has a different demographic of people compared to the downtown east side location.
I am sure you have heard of the concept of taking a holistic approach to health. I first learned about this concept when I took an elective course in Kinesiology at SFU during my undergraduate degree. A holistic approach to health examines the physical, social, emotional and mental needs of a person to determine one’s overall wellness.
Do you want to hear directly from Career Peers about their thoughts on volunteering as a Career Peer? This article showcases reflections from Career Peers on their experience.
The year is winding down and we take a moment to reminiscence about this year's top 10 best articles. It wasn't easy choosing the top 10 as there were several articles we liked, but here are the articles we thought were best.
As Kayla returns home from Botswana, there is much to reflect upon the differences between cultures and the way of living. Read what Kalya has to say and how International Co-op has brought her to an epiphany.
If there’s someone who knows about the terrifying journey that is the work search, it is Marissa Nahanee. She was a panellist at the Indigenous Peoples Career Stories event on March 3, 2011. Marissa has worked on many world class events, including the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Torch relay and visits by Princes Charles and Edward. But Marissa’s job did not just happen to her – she had to work for it.
SFU Kinesiology student Kayla Donnawell is in Botswana, Africa volunteering with the Students Without Borders program (SWB). In this final article, the winds guide Kayla to South Africa where she explores Capetown and Durban before heading home.
If there’s someone who knows about the terrifying journey that is the work search, it is Marissa Nahanee. She worked on many world class events, including the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Torch relay and visits by Princes Charles and Edward. But Marissa’s job did not just happen to her - she had to work for it.
Transitions! Sleeping to waking, travelling from home to work and back again and switching from task to task are some of the more common everyday transitions that people experience. Most aren’t life-changing and take place on a regular basis, so we tend not to think about them when they occur.
SFU Kinesiology student Kayla Donnawell is in Botswana, Africa volunteering with the Students Without Borders program (SWB). In this article, the eighth in the series, Kayla explores Namibia and gets stuck several times in the sand dunes.
Ever wonder what exactly makes a good impression when it comes to business? With my new job under my belt, I’ve networked and met several influential individuals. Upon introducing myself, shaking hands and getting to know these people, I have come to realize that there is a certain business etiquette that everyone that hopes to make a good impression should know.
Transitions! Sleeping to waking, travelling from home to work and back again and switching from task to task are some of the more common every day transitions that people experience. Most aren’t life-changing and take place on a regular basis, so we tend not to think about them when they occur.
SFU Kinesiology student Kayla Donnawell is in Botswana, Africa volunteering with the Students Without Borders program (SWB). In this article, the seventh in the series, Kayla shares her weekend travels around Botswana.
SFU Kinesiology student Kayla Donnawell is in Botswana, Africa volunteering with the Students Without Borders program (SWB). In this article, the sixth in the series, Kayla discusses the reality of HIV/AIDS in Botswana.
Kristen Ryan worked as a taxpayer services agent for Canada Revenue Agency. Read more about what a typical day looked like during her co-op term.
I’m going to share a secret with you, internet: I’m a big Kate Beckinsale fan, and have been since the first Underworld movie came out in 2003. So, when I found out that the 4th Underworld movie - New Dawn – was being filmed at SFU , and that Kate was in a starring role, I got pretty excited (as many of my coworkers can confirm).