Bachelor of Arts of Early Modern and Modern History, Minor in Islamic Studies / Canada / 01/09/2017 - 30/04/2018 / McGill University / CA-2017-R1812-m

McTavish Street on McGill’s main campus, where most administrative buildings are situated. In the foreground on the lefthand side with the tower is the University’s .

Final Report Semester Abroad Global Exchange Program at the McGill University in

1. Please give some advice on the living, working and studying conditions which might be helpful for future exchange students. • Personal and academic interest in the host country - During my stay abroad I volunteered for AIESEC, an international student organization that strives to promote intercultural exchange and understanding through volunteering opportunities and internships. As there are countless clubs and organizations on campus, it is a great idea to become involved in at least one of them. Other well-known clubs at McGill include the Outdoor Club or the Ski and Snowboard Club. I was able to learn a great deal from my work there, quickly form close friendships.

1 - Academically I used my time abroad to follow my interests, which is why I took classes in French, history, political science as well as islamic studies. Since I am considering a Master’s program in political science, it was a great opportunity to attend lectures of esteemed professors at McGill.

The McGill downtown campus, in the back Mont Royal, in the foreground the first buildings of Montreal’s Central Business district.

• Preparation and organization of your stay a b r o a d ( d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g , v i s a , information on flights, health insurance, accommodation search, language, visits to authorities, transportation system, behaviors in the foreign culture, politics etc.) - It is smart to start with visa and housing applications right away. For Montreal/ you need one visa from the Canadian authorities as well as an authorization from the Quebecois authorities. Especially the latter can be quite a hustle since you have to send the documents with the postal services. - By now a couple of cheap airlines offer their services for transatlantic flights (Finnair, WOWAir, Transat…). Depending on the offer, it might still The view from my room’s window. be cheaper to go with one of the In the back you can see the park established airlines (Lufthansa, to the north of Mont Royal.

2 AirCanada…) since they offer usually better deals on luggage. - The public transportation in Montreal is very good. You will be able to get anywhere by Bus and Metro, if not (especially later in the night) you can rely on Uber. For public transportation the best deal is the monthly/ 6-months student pass on an OPUS card (reusable chip card). To get a valid student OPUS card you can go directly to the headquarter of public transportation at the Rue Berri station or order it online through McGill’s Minerva. - McGill provides student health insurance through Blue Cross, which is actually pretty good. You can always get private insurance and be exempted from the Blue Cross coverage.

• Practical advice where to find useful information etc. - Concerning housing your best bet is to repeatedly browse kijiji.ca and various facebook groups containing words like “Montreal” + “Colocation/Housing/Flatshare/Room” etc. Within McGill’s Facebook community there is a group called “McGill Housing” which is probably the best way to find an apartment within the “McGill Ghetto” (right next to campus) or the Plateau (a little farther away from campus). McGill also offers housing for international students. Many of my friends have used the latter offer and were very happy with their choice. The dorms were very decent.

• What did you like or dislike about your The Northern Lights as seen on my host country and your host institution flight from Montreal to Saskatchewan. or host university? - M c G i l l w a s a n a m a z i n g experience. Prestigious and heavily funded, it provides a w o r l d c l a s s s t u d y i n g atmosphere. Professors and classes were conducted in a great manner. The campus is very centrally located and beautiful. - One has to keep in mind that it is a north american college, meaning that attendance and assignments are constantly due, checked, and part of the final grade. This can be a nuisance,

3 but also helps to keep track of all the material covered in class. The reading load can be, depending on your classes, sufficating, but you quickly get the hang of scanning through texts, mostly registering the important parts while skipping less important themes.

• Characterization of the host country, institution or university, the city or the area. - Montreal is an amazing city. Its bilingual environment paired with the charme of colonial times is, to the best of my knowledge, unique in North America. You can get great French pastry due to the strong European influence while enjoying every little advantage North American culture has to offer, including free refills at most restaurants. Although I always expected this to be a myth, Canadians are very friendly. - The downside is definitely the climate. The temperature went down to - 40° C over New Year’s and for quite some time after. Do not bother to buy a winter jacket in Europe, they will not keep you warm enough.

• A special impression, a personal experience, a funny anecdote etc. - Canada’s warm and open approach to a diverse society has left a lasting mark on me. Especially the many discussions with my Uber- drivers, of which most had a migrational background, were deciding. Montreal is home to a large North African expat community, of which numerous people had first moved to Europe. Engaging them why they have left Europe for Canada many cited the Canadian culture of the embrace of diversity.

During winter, McGill constructed a public ice hockey field on its grounds - maybe the most Canadian thing ever.

4 2. Please write a report with a focus on the realization of your academic goals. This summary report of your stay abroad should consist of the following three sections:

A. General impression of the host institution or the host university

The moment that I arrived in Montreal I was at awe with McGill University. The beautiful campus in the middle of the city’s central business district lays at the base of Mont Royal. Its historic buildings are filled with bright minds and excellent study conditions. The student services are easy to reach and usually very helpful. As I engaged in multiple extra-curricular organisations such as AIESEC and the young transatlantic Initiative I was able to quickly build a network of friends that accompanied me throughout my stay abroad. My course load was spread broad, as I was taking classes in the departments of History, Islamic Studies, Political Science as well as French. Although some of the fields are covered in my program in Freiburg, I used the opportunity to explore fields in which I am considering to study in my Masters’ degree. Especially McGill’s Islamic Studies and the Political Science program enjoy a great amount of prestige throughout North America and draw well-known professors to the school. The classes were challenging, yet reaffirmed my interest in the fields. Although I am not completely fond of the mandatory attendance paired with constant assignments, I can see how it helps to keep track of your grade and class performance. The academic year is paced much faster, since there is barely any time in between the fall and winter semester, to which German students have to get used to at first. I am still in touch with teachers and students from McGill and plan to return, at least for visits.

McGill’s sports field and upper reservoir always reminded me of the Hogwarts’ flying ground. During the colder months it becomes a giant snow field.

B. Content and purpose of your academic exchange

5 As I was fairly unrestricted to pick my classes, I took classes in Islamic studies, political science, French and History. The combination was on the one hand very helpful regarding to my aspired masters’ degree. I had not taken any political science classes in Freiburg, wherefore these insights were interesting and reaffirmed my interest in the topic. While my history class focussed on the development of Montreal throughout the early modern period, I was able to understand the current state of the city with its two distinct social groups - the anglo- and the francophone communities. Additionally my French improved and I could pick up many quebecois sayings. Although they might not be very helpful during my next trip to France, they will undoubtly stay on my mind and double as great conversation starters. I am certain that my stay abroad has further formed my character. For my future prospects it has already helped me, as I began interning directly after my stay abroad. My time in Canada was repeatedly noted and used as a topic, in interviews as well as throughout my internships.

Quebec City - Quebec’s capital and central hub of the North American francophone community - while ice floes are passing our ferry on the St. Laurent stream.

C. Criticism and recommendations

I would absolutely encourage anyone who thinks about going abroad. Canada has a very welcoming culture which makes you feel like home immediately. Quebec’s unique environment, historically as well as phonetically, produces a beautiful mosaic of people from around the world. The cities history is on display especially in Old Town, yet the more modern quarters are right around the corner. McGill University is an outstanding academic institution which seeks to support any of its students and offers interesting and challenging classes. To any future outgoinng I would recommend to read through as many experience reports as you can find, to avoid making the same mistakes others already have

6 made. Also leave expectations ad home. Your stay abroad will be amazing, no matter where you are heading - although McGill is amazing choice and opportunity.

Alberta’s backcountry with its breathtaking view and challenging weather. Canada’s nature is one of a kind.

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