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For exchange students arriving at Queen’s for the winter term, it’s the beginning of a new learning experience.

On Thursday, Jan. 5, an orientation session was hosted by the Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC) for exchange students from the Faculty of Arts and Science to provide some basic information about life at Queen’s and in Kingston, such as the resources that are available from the many campus partners.

In a Queen’s tradition, the students also received tricolour scarves and mittens donated by the Campus Bookstore as they face the Canadian winter.

Ella Jansen has returned to Canada from the Netherlands after visiting Vancouver and Calgary two years ago. She was drawn to Queen’s by the broad range of courses available.

She’s looking to explore and discover more about Canada through the exchange.

“At University College Utrecht I am already in an international environment but there are a lot of Europeans there and a lot of Dutch people,” she says. “I feel like we don’t have a lot of Canadians there, or North Americans, so I would like to explore these cultures and get more stories from these students, so an even more international view.”

Kim Yeung arrives from Australia and says she is a bit concerned about the winter weather. While her hometown Canberra can dip to about the freezing point, she says she can’t imagine what temperatures of -25 C or -30 C will be like.

She arrives at Queen’s on the recommendation of a friend who studied in Sweden and met a fellow exchange student from Queen’s.

She says she’s excited by the prospects the university offers, both inside and outside the classroom

“I definitely know there are a lot of social events at Queen’s but there is also a really strong sporting community and when I heard about the free gym I thought that was great,” she says. “I walked around campus (Wednesday) and there’s some really good facilities.”

QUIC is currently offering extended hours, including this Saturday and Sunday, from 1-7 pm. All newly-arriving international students are invited to a welcome to the QUIC social on Sunday, Jan. 8, 5:30-7 pm, where light supper will be served.

For a full schedule of events and more information, visit the .