north2north stories: A memorable exchange semester in Canada

Greetings from shiny Saskatoon!

My name is Ivan and this exchange semester at University of Saskatchewan was without a doubt one of the most memorable experiences of my life, and I can genuinely recommend it to anyone considering studying abroad in Canada. Saskatchewan might not always be the first place people think of when imagining Canada, but that is exactly what makes it such a hidden gem. The university itself is located in the small and cozy city of Saskatoon, which quickly became my home away from home for 4 months.

One of the first things that surprised me was how similar Canada felt to Finland in many ways. People are calm, polite, and easygoing, nature is always close, and everyday life feels safe. At the same time, Canada has its own unique charm and atmosphere that makes the experience feel exciting and new. Saskatoon, however, is a relatively small, quiet, and relaxed city, which made daily life very comfortable. What I especially loved was how sunny the city was during winter. There is probably a reason why the city sign says “Welcome to Shiny Saskatoon” — even in the middle of winter, the bright blue skies and sunshine made the cold weather feel much more enjoyable.

The university community was honestly one of the highlights of the entire exchange. Both the staff and local students at University of Saskatchewan were incredibly warm and welcoming toward exchange students. It was extremely easy to socialize, join activities, and make new friends. People genuinely wanted international students to feel included, which created a very open and friendly atmosphere from day one. The university itself is large, historic, and offers a huge variety of different study fields and courses.

Saskatchewan as a province is strongly connected to agriculture and farming, which is reflected in the university’s strengths and research as well. At the same time, there are excellent opportunities to study everything from politics and law to business, health sciences, and engineering.

Another great thing about Saskatchewan is its location in the middle of Canada, which makes travelling around the country surprisingly convenient. Some of the absolute highlights of the exchange were the trips we took together with other exchange students. These trips not only allowed us to experience different parts of Canada, but also brought our group much closer together and created unforgettable memories. Like many exchange experiences, the semester also came with a few unexpected twists and meaningful personal connections – including a relationship I definitely did not see coming.

During the semester, we visited places such as Banff National Park and the breathtaking Canadian Rockies. We also travelled to amazing cities like Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City. From mountain views to big city adventures, Canada offered something completely different in every destination.

All in all, my exchange in Saskatchewan was the perfect combination of high-quality studies, friendly people, unforgettable travel experiences, and genuine Canadian atmosphere. If you are looking for a place where it is easy to feel at home while still experiencing something completely new, this is definitely a destination worth considering.

Written by Ivan Kirov