Ever since seeing the episode of The Simpsons where Bart is shipped off to France (and child labour) as an exchange student by Principal Skinner I've wanted to live and study in a another country. In highschool I thought it would be a good idea to go to France for a semester, but my parents didn't agree and I eventually decided I was having too much fun where I was to leave. Instead, I was able to wrangle the cash and parental support needed to take a one month summer course in Europe. It was fun, but not quite the same as an exchange. It was more like living with your teacher and class mates in various budget hotels for a month than an exchange. I didn't get the experience of adjusting to a different educational system or emersing oneself in a foreign culture.
In university I still want to take part in an exchange program, though at this level I can't just sit in a class and hope to catch two or three words of some language I don't speak. Accordingly, continental Europe is out, and Britain is in. Plus, as an English major, it just plain makes sense to go where most of the writers of the works I study lived, worked and died. York University has several exchange agreements with British universities, most notably The University of York which, from what I understand, is one of the better schools in the country.
Again though, I'm not quite sure if I want to give up a year of my life here. I'll probably apply for the exchange in the fall, then decide what to do after I get an offer (assuming I do). If I have a lot of fun next year and really begin to fall into the academics I probably wont want to leave. That's why I've been looking for summer exchange programs. I found one at the University of Westminster in London. I don't know anything about the educational quality of Westminster, but it couldn't be better located in central London for a short trip. And short it is, at only three weeks, it almost doesn't seem worth flying all the way there, let alone making any serious effort at learning. The other program I found isn't in Britain, but it is in a centre of English literature. NYU's summer classes are open to all students and the residence and meal rates for the six week program are actually more affordable than if I were to stay in res at York for the summer. However, affordable the tuition is not. At $4000 US for one course I could pay nearly my entire tuition for a year at home.
What to do? What to do?
Keep on Tranglin,
Anthony
18 comments:
thats sounds like it would life changing. if you can afford it..why not?
let me just say you have the most wonderful selection of songs to choose from on your page..i could sit here all day.
There is a fine News Publication named The Internationalitarian, is there not?
Long time no see, it would be life changing, but sometimes a life change seems less important than continuing to enjoy the good life you already have. Thanks for the songs compliment. I like to think I have decent taste in music.
Nick, yes there is.
what about teacher's college?
just a suggestion, though i have no clue about what school is like there for anything not music-related.
Julia
GO GO GO GO!!!!! You know I am a huge proponent of travel. If you can add education to the mix, even better.
What to do? What to do?
Easiest damn problem I've had to solve all year! I have two suggestions:
(1) Come to Japan and study English literature. I promise you, you'll be one of the top students in no time.
(2) Go to Australia to study English lit. The tuition is very affordable, and we speak more better English than them thar Americans.
See! Problem solved.
And that's coming from a Lawyer.
You never can trust a lawyer.
My advice is stay exactly where you are, and do not permit even the tiniest hint of change. It's the only way to keep the world turning, ya know.
Julia, that is a possibility, but choices are fairly limited because of Ontario's strict teaching regulations, also it could end up costing way more than an exchange. For example, if I go to York in England the year after next, rather than paying the international tution of about $19,000 I'd pay just the tuition I would normally pay at home but if I went to a foreign Teaching program I'd have to pay whatever the international tuition is. Plus the practicums you do during the program are a pretty good chance to make connections to possible employers and I plan on working here. All that and I'm not completely sure I want to be a teacher.
Becca, if the summer program and the exchange were at the same school and I had the money to do both I'd probably consider it, but three weeks at Westminster wouldn't be any indication of what a year at York would be like. If I could do four or more weeks in London I probably wouldn't consider New York, but as it stands, NYU just seems like the best option if I don't want to go away for a full year.
Brooke, don't worry, I'm going, it just depends on where and when.
Kallun, If my school had an exchange program with a Japanese school that taught English Lit at the same level and an English school I'd probably consider it... actually maybe I should look that up.
Nick, You really have nothing to add do you?
Loz, duely noted.
Your face has nothing to add to your looks.
His face is okay. It's the damn hat that's gotta go.
Why are you so racist against hats, Ubie? I think maybe you secretly desire his hat and that is why you insult it continually.
York University didn't let me in because they thought I was too crazy to cope. Seriously. But with your hat, you're a shoo-in.
I don't hate hats.
I hate THAT hat, and only when it's worn unseasonally.
anthony, i know i havent been around for a while but i have noticed here and there that you dont actually seem happy..and you seem kinda lost. maybe this is the perfect oppertunity to figure out your life. maybe the "good" life you have now might just be a copout becasue its easy and your used to it. get your ass out of canada and be something frickin awesome!
(sorry for ranting but you and nick are both brilliant men and your just wasting away being fucking lazy when you both could be doing so much more)
dammit
Just think about Grad School holmes. Pick at least five schools, find someone that would be a cool mentor and look for some juicy research, then your options become endless. Keep your grades up and you'll be shovelin donkey manure and getting lost in translation daily.
i don't think anthony's still wearing the hat. it's not the hat that bothers me, it's this bloody song that starts everytime i come here, and causes my kneecaps to fall into my ankles. or as jane austen would say, ancles.
Nick, you must be thinking of yourself.
Ubie, my face thanks you.
Nick, you want it so bad. The hat, that is.
Owl, you should have applied to the York University in Canada, I'm fairly certain they only let in people who are too crazy to cope.
Ubie, I had this whole idea of a photoshoot of me doing summer things in that hat, but then I realized how much easier it would be to just imagine it.
imhere, You're partially right, accepting my life now is something of a copout, but any choice would be a copout at some level. You're also right that I'm not very happy, but at least I'm looking forward to my future as positive and have my life on track, which is a lot more than I can say for myself in the last 8 years. The reason I'm not running off now is that I think I've never given my life as it occurs naturally a chance at satisfying me and it I'm begining to realize that I'm fully capable of a happy, fulfilling life even if it might seem mediocre.
cheyenne, to be honest, grad school really doesn't appeal to me. Maybe if I had an interest or talent in a more practical or even usefully theoretical field it would. Doing research in an English Dept. seems infuriatingly boring to me. Don't get me wrong, I have immense respect for my profs, but there is absolutely no way I could do what they do. I don't even plan on taking any English fourth year or independant courses since finding out I didn't need to to get an honours degree where I am. I guess the creation of new knowledge in the field really just doesn't appeal to me.
Loz, I don't think I've ever heard that before. What does that mean, that the music startles you? If so, I'll keep your complaint in mind but there are actually a couple of people who may be addicted to the music and could strangle me because they are local.
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