UNews - International Centre for Students

Japan Culture Day celebrated at U of L

trevor.kenney — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 19:54:35 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Asian Studies program and the Department of Modern Languages, in cooperation with the International Centre for Students, is hosting a number of events this week in celebration of Japan Culture Day.

The week begins with a pair of talks on Tuesday, March 25 in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library, and continues Thursday, March 27 with a full day of activities that include tea ceremonies, judo and karate demonstrations as well as dance demos, lectures and Japanese food.

These events are open to everyone and media are invited to attend.

Tuesday, March 25
L1170

Meiji: Japan in Transition at Home (Part I) and Abroad (Part II)
4 p.m. - The Emperor and His Poetic Subjects: Ceremony of the Imperial New Year Poetry Reading in Meiji Japan
Gideon Fujiwara (History)

4:30 p.m. - Meiji Export of Japanese Culture: Modern Japan's Display of Traditional Culture at the 1893 World Expo
Dr. John Harding (Religious Studies)

Thursday, March 27
��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall Atrium

10 to 10:35 a.m. - Tea Ceremony
Rie Nagai

10:40 to 11:10 a.m. - Bon Dance demo and mini-lesson
Minyo Dancers

11:15 to 11:40 a.m. - The Second Coming of Shinzo Abe
Dr. Trevor Harrison

11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. - Judo demo and mini-lesson
Lethbridge Kyodokan Judo Club

12:20 to 12:50 p.m. - Tea Ceremony
Masako Ohtomo

1 to 1:30 p.m. - Buddhism and Japanese Culture
Reverend Yasuo Izumi

1:35 to 2:05 p.m. - Karate demo and mini lesson
Taka Karate School

2:10 to 2:40 p.m. - The History of Japanese in Southern Alberta
Mac and Reyko Nishiyama

3:05 to 4 p.m. - Taiko demo and mini-lesson
Hibikiya

Japanese food available from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

West to headline 21st Annual International Dinner

trevor.kenney — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 17:04:51 +0000

Motivational speaker Spencer West has impacted global communities through his fundraising and advocacy work, overcoming tremendous obstacles in doing so.

Spencer West redefines possible.

On Feb. 12, 2014, West will deliver a special address, aptly named A Celebration of Redefining Possible, at the 21st annual ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge International Dinner.

At five years of age, West lost his legs from the pelvis down, and has faced enormous physical and emotional challenges throughout his life. Despite these challenges, West has made impacts at a global level, inspiring hundreds of thousands of people along the way.

Rather than giving up or turning inward, he learned that by connecting with others and working to make the world a better place, he could transform his life.

Alternating between walking on his hands and using his wheelchair, Spencer has built schools in poverty-stricken villages in Kenya and India and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money for a global clean water initiative while raising awareness of the devastating drought in Africa.

Spencer’s inspiring story and valuable life lessons have been embraced worldwide. He believes it is possible for all people to overcome their personal roadblocks, embrace their own leadership skills and become a force for positive change.

Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Andy Hakin says the annual dinner recognizes the importance of creating an international environment at the U of L for the benefit of all students, and further, for the benefit of external communities. The U of L is the institution of choice for nearly 500 international students representing 87 different countries.

“Our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ benefits from being exposed to different cultures. Creating a global environment ensures stronger students,” says Hakin. “These students enrich our community through activities they undertake and many become valuable community leaders and employees in our region, province and country after they graduate because of their backgrounds and global experience.”

In addition to West’s powerful presentation, the dinner will feature food from around the globe.

The February 12 event will be held in the Students’ Union Ballrooms at the U of L’s Lethbridge campus. Cocktails for the event will be served at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Tickets for the event are $60 and can be ordered at http://www.uleth.ca/international/dinner. For more information about the dinner, please call the International Centre for Students at 403-329-2053 or e-mail international@uleth.ca.

Crossing borders with bold Brazilian program

trevor.kenney — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:02:52 +0000

Dr. Drew Rendall's psychology lab might be considered atypical in its student makeup now, but as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge continues to push internationalization as a key strategic goal, it may soon become representative of many.

Rendall currently has graduate students from Alberta, Manitoba, Sri Lanka and Brazil assisting with his research projects, the most recent addition coming to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ by way of the Brazilian Science Without Borders (SWB) program.

"This is a real boon for us as a university," says Rendall, professor of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science. "Graduate students are kind of the heart of the research enterprise, they are the real engine of it. They collect the data and do a lot of the work, and without graduate students the research enterprise disappears."

Science Without Borders began as an initiative whereby the Brazilian government is looking to send 100,000 students to universities around the world to study in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The goal is to revolutionize the country's research and development system.

"Brazilian science has shown great improvement over the last decade but we face many challenges," says Ednei Barros dos Santos, a Brazilian PhD student who has taken advantage of the SWB program to come study under Rendall at the U of L.

"We have a very low proportion of doctors in relation to our population, and there is a low frequency of international collaboration."

Doctoral student Ednei Barros dos Santos just recently returned from a three-month field study in Argentina.

Dos Santos discovered Rendall while researching his master's degree in zoology. After reading his papers, he decided to contact Rendall to see if he was open to supervising his PhD studies. The two met while Rendall was on field study in Argentina and not long after, dos Santos applied to the SWB program for funding.

"My research focus is on song variations of the house wren. I'm going to compare the male songs of two different populations, one here in Canada and the other in Argentina," says dos Santos. "We are trying to understand what is the relation between song variation and different mating systems and migratory behaviour."

That his master's work in Brazil, where he researched language in animal species, could be so closely related to Rendall's studies some 11,000 kilometres away, speaks to the value of international collaboration.

"This program provides an incredible opportunity for Brazilian students to be exposed to scientific innovation at Canadian universities, and will help to spur growth in science and technology sectors in Brazil," says Trish Jackson, the U of L's acting manager, International Centre for Students. "The students we are hosting are a wonderful addition to the institution; they have serious academic intentions, and will certainly make an impact when they return to complete their studies in Brazil."

The SWB program initially provided study opportunities for undergraduate students, placing more than 1,200 in Canadian universities alone. The U of L has 14 students enrolled from the program, including three who began last September and 11 more since January. Currently, a second call is going out for prospective doctoral students, and it is incumbent that faculty members provide the program with details of their research opportunities so that they might be able to participate. The PhD program is one of eight graduate programs offered by the School of Graduate Studies.

"We're excited to take part in this program. It's proven to be very successful at the undergraduate level and is likely to draw exceptionally high quality students," says Dr. Matthew Letts, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science. "The program provides full support for PhD students from Brazil, including tuition, travel, book and living expenses, but potential supervisors need to enter the doctoral research opportunities they wish to provide into the CBIE (Canadian Bureau for International Education) Placement Database to be considered for participation."

That dos Santos was accepted by SWB is heartening to Rendall, given that his research is not as applicable as many of the funded students.

"Brazil is very interested in training students who can come back and contribute fairly directly to agricultural initiatives, to resource extraction initiatives and to the information systems industry, for example," says Rendall. "The thrust of what Ednei is working on doesn't have immediate and obvious implications but I think it's pretty encouraging that they are taking a fairly broad approach to this. It shows that they are also interested in training some basic scientists who will come back and contribute to science broadly, and that's exciting."

For more information on the program, contact Dr. Matthew Letts (matthew.letts@uleth.ca) or Dr. Helen Kelley (helen.kelley@uleth.ca)

GET THE FACTS

· Science Without Borders was just one of the initiatives discussed when ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ President Mike Mahon visited Brazil in May as one of 30 Canadian university presidents who took part in an educational tour

· Dos Santos is wrapping up a three-month field study of house wrens in Argentina and will be back studying at the U of L in February

· The second call for SWB doctoral students runs from Feb. 1 to May 31 for January 2014 intake. The third call runs from June 1 to Sept. 30 for May 2014 intake

· Researchers can access the SWB database at the following web address: web.cbie.ca/smi/index_e.html

Calderwood continues to travel, give back to society

trevor.kenney — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:35:46 +0000

In 1992, Denise Calderwood (MEd '93) was completing the final year of her master's degree in international education at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge when, having made friends with a number of international students, she noticed that many of them were missing the traditions and familiarity of home.

It was a simple observation, but it led her to found a new annual tradition at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ – the International Dinner.

"For many international students, eating is a great way to be hospitable and to enjoy one another's company; the students were missing that. I thought if they were able to cook for us it would make them feel more at home, like the hosts instead of always the guests. The students were quite excited about that," explains Calderwood.

The inaugural dinner was held in Southminster United Church. Under the supervision of a cooking professor from Lethbridge College, Calderwood and the students prepared about 15 ethnic dishes for approximately 200 guests. The evening included a speaker and a live auction with various donations including ethnic artwork and musical performances. The proceeds from the evening went towards an international student scholarship.

Denise Calderwood was a key contributor to the creation of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's annual International Dinner.

While the students no longer cook the dinner, Calderwood is thrilled that the evening remains an important tradition, providing an opportunity for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community to learn about and celebrate its diversity.

"Through the years, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has recognized the value of the international student community. I am very pleased with the development and growth of the International Centre for Students. We all gain from the international students who come to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ; we understand world issues differently when we have seen and discussed world views with people from other lands," says Calderwood, whose enthusiasm for learning about other cultures and peoples began when she was just a child.

"I grew up in Vancouver in a very multi-cultural community with kids from around the world frequently arriving as new immigrants to Canada. I was always interested in who they were, where they came from and their family traditions."

As a young adult, Calderwood earned a bachelor of education in special education from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia, but her childhood passion for international studies continued to burn bright. In October 1974, she set off on a Rotary International Graduate Fellowship to the American ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Beirut in Lebanon to pursue a master's in international education. Unfortunately, civil war broke out and the danger of remaining in Lebanon became too great. She was forced to abandon her studies and leave the country in June 1975. She returned to Canada to teach special education in Claresholm, Alta. She married in 1977 and kept busy with work and a growing family, but she never lost sight of her goal to complete her master's degree.

"In 1991, I applied to complete my master's at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in international education; however, my coursework from Lebanon did not transfer. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ graciously allowed me to create my program which included core courses, an internship in Malaysia, summer courses with the Summer Institute of Intercultural communication in Portland, Oregon and a thesis paper about the adjustments international students face when they go to school," explains Calderwood.

In 1993, Calderwood completed her master's and stayed on at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, volunteering 3-4 hours each day as an international student liaison. Two years later she had literally volunteered her way into a job. During her two years as an employee at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Caldwell had the opportunity to travel to Fujian Province China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore to meet with alumni and to promote the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

"I was the international student liaison from 1995-1997. I enjoyed it very much, helping the students, going to conferences and seeing what the students' lives had become after they were back in their home countries," remembers Calderwood.

She continues to have a passion for cultures and people the world over. She has travelled for pleasure, volunteer work and further studies to 42 different countries and plans to volunteer at a small school in Angola in the near future.

As to why she continues to travel the world Calderwood simply says, "I love to do that, so I do."

GET THE FACTS

· From January to April 1992, Calderwood and her children lived in Kuala Lumpur where she interned as an academic advisor at the Canadian Education Centre, which was set up to attract international students to Canadian Universities

· She has been a part of the production and filming of seven documentary films

· Calderwood's extensive volunteer work includes time with the Mother Tongue Literacy program in Kenya and an orphanage in Mexico

· Calderwood never tires of learning and plans to begin an undergraduate degree in Canadian history

This story first appeared in the April 2012 issue of the Legend. To view the entire issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Grasping an opportunity

trevor.kenney — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:12:00 +0000

Senthooran Thangarajah has found a second home to his native Sri Lanka, one he intends to make his permanent home in years to come. Considering he never knew that Canada or the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge were viable options for his overseas studies until meeting Charlene Janes of the International Centre for Students (ICS) – it's amazing how far he's come.

"I'd started my schooling in Malaysia in a two-plus-two program, so I'd always planned to finish elsewhere but I thought the United States was my only option," says Thangarajah, who just completed his final semester in the Faculty of Management (finance).

Janes was at a Canadian post-secondary education fair in Malaysia when she met Thangarajah and presented the U of L as an option. With prodding from a supportive sister, he took the leap and has never looked back. Ready to convocate this spring, Thangarajah turned a co-op placement into a job with ATB Financial, has immersed himself in Canadian culture, will soon apply for an international work visa and has his sights set on becoming a permanent Canadian resident down the road.

Senthooran Thangarajah turned a co-op placement into the start of a rewarding career.

His success was not without its challenges but through those difficulties, he discovered a culture of support at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and an internal strength that has led to boundless opportunity.

Thangarajah struggled with his first few classes. He eventually dropped Writing 1000, contemplated dropping a Management course in which he was languishing and performed poorly on his first two midterms. It was eye opening for a student used to success.

"I think the schooling I did in Malaysia was much easier," says Thangarajah. "I would sit up for the whole night just before the exam and come home with A's pretty easy, but that wasn't the case here. I had to work a lot harder.

"There it was just about the textbook, there is not much in terms of extra-curricular activities. Here, it's a much bigger school, there's a lot more extra-curricular activity, a lot harder work and much more real-time experience."

He discussed his difficulties with Janes and she spoke with some of Thangarajah's professors about the challenges he was facing in adapting to a new style of learning. He eventually turned his poor midterms into A's and began to gain confidence. Thangarajah also started to meet people on campus and it opened up his student experience.

His best decision may have been to attend an ICS information session where he learned about the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's co-op programs. He applied at ATB Financial, earned a co-op placement and is now a personal banking specialist.

When he returned to full-time studies at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, he came back with a greater sense of confidence – but there was one obstacle he still needed to conquer.

"My first challenge was to take Writing 1000 again because I had dropped it the first time," he says. "When I passed that class, that was where I really got motivated and felt that I could succeed at ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

Thangarajah sees the future as limitless, and credits the U of L and his second home for opening his eyes to the possibilities.

"I feel people are a lot more open-minded here than what I see back home in Sri Lanka," he says. "There are a lot more opportunities to explore here, and if you get into the right path, there's definitely opportunities to achieve."

GET THE FACTS

· One of his greatest worries moving to Lethbridge was dealing with the weather. The average daily temperature in Sri Lanka ranges from 28 to 31 degrees Celsius

· Thangarajah's parents were unable to support him financially beyond his first two semesters, after which he paid for the rest of his education

· His work at ATB Financial includes everything except mortgage lending, which he is now pursuing. He plans to then move into investment banking

This story first appeared in the January edition of the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Exchange hits 30-year milestone

trevor.kenney — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:58:34 +0000

There are many barriers to running a successful exchange program, challenges far beyond the obvious cultural differences and language issues that exist between two nations. It is even more impressive then to recognize the 30-year relationship between Japan's Hokkai Gakuen ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, one that has seen participation by both faculty and students.

"It is an important achievement for a university to have such a long-standing partnership that has affected so many students, faculty and staff in a positive manner," says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge president Dr. Michael Mahon. "The U of L should be proud of this friendship and the goodwill it has promoted between two cultures and two nations, much less two universities."

The first faculty exchange between the two universities took place in 1981, followed five years later by the start of a student exchange program. Designed to promote cross-cultural understanding between the two nations, the exchange relationship has succeeded on many levels.

Trish Jackson, director of the International Centre for Students, says each exchange offers a unique experience for those taking part.

"We have faculty members coming from all different kinds of backgrounds at Hokkai Gakuen ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," she says. "They come here for one semester to teach common content as part of a Japanese Culture class. Likewise, we will send faculty members from all of our departments to teach their students about Canadian culture. You get a different flavour every time you have a different faculty member because they have their own way of looking at their culture through their own discipline and background."

This semester, Dr. Osamu Seto, a physicist, is the Hokkai Gakuen visiting professor. At 36 years old, single, well traveled internationally and at ease with the English language, he's brought an entirely new perspective to the exchange. He's wont to rent a car and take a day trip to Waterton and has no problem being thrust into new situations, such as an interview or being recognized at Convocation for the exchange's 30-year anniversary.

Dr. Osamu Seto is visiting the U of L from Hokkai Gakuen ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as part of this year's faculty exchange.

"I did not know that I was going to have to go on stage," laughs Seto. His intrepid spirit led him to Lethbridge when his department supervisor at Hokkai Gakuen said he was looking for exchange candidates.

"I didn't have anything stopping me so I decided to do it," he says. "It has been very enjoyable."

The student aspect of the relationship involves one student per year coming to the U of L and taking a semester of English for Academic Purposes, followed by one semester of undergraduate studies. Every two years, a group of 15 to 20 students comes for a summer program, the focus being to learn English. A group of business students also makes the trip every few years, studying English but with specific business related content. Likewise, the U of L sends a group of 15-20 students to Hokkai Gakuen every two years for a summer cultural program.

Dr. Ed Jurkowski of the Faculty of Fine Arts music department took part in one such exchange.

"There were obviously many experiences and memories that the students will forever carry with them," he says in a commemorative book celebrating the exchange. "However, the most far-reaching were the homestay opportunities the students had. Each student spoke at length about how much these relationships allowed them to understand Japanese culture on a far deeper level than as a simple observer."

It is those observations that keep the relationship between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Hokkai Gakuen alive and thriving, and speak to the value of the program.

"This is the type of interaction that encourages our students to become global citizens," concludes Mahon.

This story first appeared in the November issue of the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Exchange hits 30-year milestone

trevor.kenney — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:44:59 +0000

Trish Jackson, director of the International Centre for Students, says each exchange offers a unique experience for those taking part.

Dr. Osamu Seto is visiting the U of L from Hokkai Gakuen ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as part of this year's faculty exchange.

"I didn't have anything stopping me so I decided to do it," he says. "It has been very enjoyable."

Dr. Ed Jurkowski of the Faculty of Fine Arts music department took part in one such exchange.

It is those observations that keep the relationship between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Hokkai Gakuen alive and thriving, and speak to the value of the program.

"This is the type of interaction that encourages our students to become global citizens," concludes Mahon.

This story first appeared in the November issue of the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Study opportunities abound

trevor.kenney — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:45:30 +0000

Two students with distinctly different backgrounds, fields of study and career goals shared a common experience this summer – one that speaks to the internship opportunities available at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Courtney Lockhart is a fourth-year political science major who grew up in Lethbridge and sees herself as a future Canadian Foreign Service Officer or human rights activist. Joshua Seerattan is a fourth-year international management major who hails from Edmonton and aspires to work in international trade. This past summer they both took advantage of a 10-week internship program at the Washington Center in Washington, D.C.

"I had an overwhelmingly rewarding summer in D.C.," says Lockhart, who had an internship with Global Centurion, a small, non-profit organization dedicated to fighting modern day slavery and human trafficking.
"I am definitely a more well rounded student after this experience. I gained professional skills that can't be taught in the classroom, and I learned how to transfer my classroom skills to relevant research and a work environment."

Fourth-year student Courtney Lockhart is shown here at the Lincoln Memorial. She was in Washington as part of the Washington Center internship program.

Seerattan's internship found him at the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of International Trade. He was tasked to design questions for a trade exam to be administered to SBA counselors. The goal was to improve their knowledge in facilitating the export of U.S. small business goods and services.

"My work was directly related to my major because it was all about international business," says Seerattan. "The course work I did at the U of L gave me a good understanding of what they wanted and I'd already studied almost all of the material I needed to create the exam."

The Washington Center (TWC) was created in 1975 by William and Sheila Burke as an organization that would provide college students from all backgrounds and income levels with an opportunity to take their classroom learning into a professional internship setting. It is currently the largest academic internship program in the world.

Beyond the internship work, students are able to take evening classes and are a part of the TWC International Affairs program. For Lockhart, the experience was invaluable, reaffirming her desire to work in a Canadian embassy setting but also opening her eyes to whole new areas of interest.

"I have now become passionate about human trafficking issues, human rights and specifically women's rights and issues," she says. "I would really love to spend some of my career working directly with these issues as an activist for non-governmental organizations. I also developed some interest in law school."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's International Centre for Students (ICS), as well as the Arts & Science Co-Op office, was able to facilitate both Lockhart's and Seerattan's journey after the students expressed an interest in the TWC program. It is one of multiple co-op and internship opportunities available at the U of L.

"My experience in D.C. was something that I could not get anywhere else," says Seerattan. "I'd advise any student to make sure they did an internship somewhere before they graduated. There are so many opportunities available out there and people on campus who will help you make it happen. Don't be lazy, do some research and find an internship that fits you – it's well worth it."

This story first appeared in the September issue of the Legend. To view the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Finding success a long way from home

trevor.kenney — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:49:20 +0000

To say Emmanuel Ofoegbunam (BMgt '11) had a plan when he first left Nigeria for post-secondary studies would vastly underrate his intrepid spirit.

Now 25, a recent U of L grad and a junior accountant at Calgary's Edon Management, Ofoegbunam's philosophy is rooted in taking on challenges and adventures. It led him first to Malaysia to begin his education, then brought him across the world to Canada and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Alumnus Emmanuel Ofoegbunam is already working as a junior accountant.

"You can just read about something or some place but I want to feel it, to experience it so that I can tell the story in my own way," says Ofoegbunam, who graduated with a bachelor of management degree in accounting and finance.

His people, from the Igbo tribe, are known for their business acumen, and as Ofoegbunam says, "We work for ourselves, we can get it done."

So it was with that attitude and unfailing support from his parents that he left his hometown of Onitsha for Binary ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ College of Management & Entrepreneurship in Kuala Lumpur.

"When I left home to go to Malaysia, that was the most challenging part," says Ofoegbunam. "When I finished my studies, as much as I'm very close to my parents, sometimes you have to give up something to achieve greater things. They've been with me, they've supported me every way possible with advice, moral support, financial support – you name it."

Setting his sights on Canada, Ofoegbunam was accepted to three schools but the U of L quickly won out.

"The most important thing was the turnaround time for replies from the International Centre for Students office and the Registrar's office," he says. "The cycle time was one day maximum for phone calls or e-mails. It really made me feel like I was in a one-on-one relationship with the people in Lethbridge."

That didn't change when he arrived on campus in April 2007 when he was confronted with, among other things, windy -2C weather and a daunting list of tasks in a completely foreign country.

"It wasn't anything what I expected . . . it's better than what I expected," says Ofoegbunam, thanks largely to the assistance of ICS and specifically International Liaison Officer Charlene Janes.

"I asked her the first week I was here, "Do you treat everybody like this?" She was not just a lady sitting behind a desk getting her job done. She talked to me, gave me advice like a son and that blew me away. She was so helpful from day one."

The cultural challenges Ofoegbunam faced were many, let alone a weather cycle he had never imagined (both Nigeria and Malaysia average temperatures in the 28C range). Janes helped him get settled, find an apartment, register for classes and meet the people in the Faculty of Management who would set him on his path. When he again had questions on what major to focus on following his second year, she facilitated meetings with the professors who would best serve his needs. It was those conversations, what Ofoegbunam calls "out of boundary" talks where his professors related their experience that really pointed him towards his career.

He completed his studies in December 2010 and two weeks later, was employed.

"Now that I live in Calgary, I really see it. If you're a student, Lethbridge is the place for you," he says. "There are less distractions, which is good because am I here to just have fun or to study and the answer for me was simple and straightforward. This was the environment that helped me do better with my studies."

GET THE FACTS

· Ofoegbunam's parents planned to come to Canada for Spring Convocation but were forced to stay behind when his grandmother passed away. "I would have appreciated if they were here with me today but I know they are with me in spirit."

· Ofoegbunam had never seen snow before moving to Lethbridge. "I didn't just see it, I felt it," he says, adding with a laugh. "The wind, God forbid, it's bad. When it gets cold, the wind adds to it and it gets to minus-1 million, at least that's what it feels like."

· Summing up his educational experience at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Ofoegbunam says, "It wasn't good, it was perfect."

This story first appeared in the Legend. To view the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Experiencing as much as possible

trevor.kenney — Mon, 16 May 2011 20:26:03 +0000

International exchange student Radek Eryk Bachorz might not yet know where he's going to end up, but it's safe to say it'll be an interesting ride getting there.

The 26-year-old native of Poland is completing his fourth year of study at the U of L, turning what was initially a one-year exchange opportunity into an entirely new life with no apparent boundaries.

"I'm trying to keep the broad perspective on everything," says Bachorz when asked about his career aspirations. "Having a narrow goal isn't the best for me, it's about having wide horizons and looking for something that will really be satisfying, not necessarily profitable at first, but will put a smile on my face and make me happy to go to work every day."

Polish exchange student Radek Eryk Bachorz has made the most of his opportunities at the U of L.

Currently studying international management with minors in supply chain management and social responsibility, Bachorz actually already has a master's degree. He completed his master's in Investment and Corporate Financial Strategies in August 2010 from Poznan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Economics in Poland, a degree supplemented by his exchange work here at the U of L.

But Bachorz's experience is about so much more than the classroom, something he only discovered after finishing his master's and took another look at his education.

"After completing my degree, I got really involved in student life last year," says Bachorz. "I totally changed my way of attending school, where I realize it's not only about getting good marks, it's also about extra-curricular activities."

His involvement with the Faculty of Management's JDC West business case competition was the impetus.

"My co-captains, Jill Morrison and Travis Letwin, put me in this different world and opened my eyes on new opportunities," he says. "I really wanted to give something back to the Alberta community, but there were too many things taking up my time, and I was really determined to finish my degree back in Europe. Last fall I decided to focus a bit less on being outstanding academically to try and get more involved in non-academic activities."

He volunteered for YWCA Lethbridge and the Humane Society, helped out the Management International Programs Office as a mentor in their buddy program, participated in the International Centre for Students (ICS) Cultural Expo and was keen to assist at various faculty functions such as Management Preview Day. This past spring he spent a week hustling change outside the Students' Union as one of the 5 Days for the Homeless participants and gladly had his head shaved (for the fourth straight year) as a supporter of the Head Shave for Cancer initiative.

"When I had the opportunity to take less of a course load, I knew this is what I wanted to do," says Bachorz. "It's not just about the GPA, it's also about getting
involved and participating in the student life."

He credits the U of L culture for helping him thrive in his new country, and gives thanks to both the ICS (especially Charlene Janes) and the International Exchange program in the Faculty of Management (specifically Andrea Amelinckx, Rhonda Crow and Gizelle Tiponut) for helping in his transition.

"Honestly, after the first semester, I was so impressed with how approachable everybody was," he says. "It's a very practical atmosphere here, so many small groups, you can really go to your prof or any faculty or staff member and you'll be treated as a valuable student, not just one of a thousand.

"After just a few semesters I found you would be called by name in the hallways and that was very surprising to me. I had never seen anything like that before. You are really treated as a person here, not just someone known by their Student ID number, who is coming to get a degree and leaving the university unnoticed."

When exactly he'll finish his degree, he's not sure. Right now he's looking to secure a job on campus to stay in Lethbridge for the summer. Beyond that, he will continue to learn and look to make an impact, wherever that may lead him.

"Education is the best investment," says Bachorz. "I have learned so many valuable things from people I've met. The relationships you make are invaluable. You guys in Canada are so supportive. It is great to be given such an amazing opportunity to live and study here."

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

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