Leonhard studied abroad in Canada

Leonhard from Vienna in Austria spent his exchange on Vancouver Island in Canada.

Why Vancouver Island in Canada?

Because I love doing sports and exploring nature and Vancouver Island is an absolute paradise for nature lovers and people who just want to get out in the wilderness. I lived in Qualicum Beach a small town on the easter coastline of Vancouver Island. It was a huge difference compared to my hometown Vienna, but I quickly fell in love with the beautiful landscapes and nature.

What was school like?

I had the chance to be part of a special program called ROAMS (River, Ocean and Mountain School). So we didn’t spend much time in the classroom doing normal classes like math, English or biology. When my other colleagues sat in class, we summited mountains, went Kayaking or Canoeing on remote lakes, went rock climbing. But it wasn’t only about the activities, we also got to learn so much about the world we live on and how we can preserve it’s beauty for future generations.

What did you do in your spare time?

I spent much time in nature hiking, did a lot of cooking and I met with friends at the mall or in town. It is important to note that public transport in many areas is not comparable to European levels, so it was sometimes a bit hard to get around on my own.

How was it to live with my host family?

I luckily got a very nice and kind family, they were not very strict at all, so I had a lot of freedom. The only problem was that they were a bit unorganized sometimes, but I had my own room where I could keep everything tidy.

What’s your best memory?

Surfing in Tofino was one of the coolest things I’ve done. We stayed three days on a campground right at the shore. It almost felt like being on Hawaii, just a bit colder. Surfing is a wonderful sport, and I really want to do it again when I am back in Europe at some point.

Can you recommend an exchange year in Canada?

Yes, absolutely. Canada is full of nice people and beautiful nature. I experienced so any different things that made me grow as a person. Just consider that Vancouver Island differs a lot from big cities in Europe, so sometimes there is just not going on in small towns.

What did you learn on your exchange year?

I learned so many important things. The most valuable skill I learned is to be way more independent, I made my own breakfast or lunch, made my own laundry or I had to organize all my activities all on my own. Our teacher also taught us cool stuff like how to make bear caches, self-rescue if you flip your Kayak/canoe or what plants we can eat in nature.

My top advice?

Realize that you have the chances to do so many great things in the free time on your exchange year. You will probably never have more time in your life so try not to just sit around in your room at your host family’s house!

Why did you choose STS

I chose STS as my agency because my parents were impressed how they handled my sister’s exchange also on Vancouver Island. So it only made sense that I would also go with STS. We only knew that I could attend my special program, because STS recommended it to me based on my interests. In addition communication is always clear and direct, and STS really takes good care of the organization, if it’s the flight, insurance or picking your host family.

How will your exchange year affect your future?

I really learned to appreciate the beautiful earth that we live on and that we will have to protect it or the stunning nature that I experienced will slowly burn down. So my perspective on everything that we are doing completely changed and I really learned to respect our earth much more.

Find out more

• Read more student stories from Canada
• Read more about a high school exchange in Canada
• See all our high school exchange destinations