Yvonne Eibler

On December 29, 2023, I headed to the airport in Vienna, excited to begin my semester abroad at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Canada. We were three students from FH JOANNEUM starting an exciting journey to Canada together. We decided to spend New Year’s Eve in Calgary, far away from home. Starting 2024 in the city that would be our home for the next few months was a great choice. We watched beautiful fireworks light up the sky, were surrounded by hundreds of people, and the incredible atmosphere made this evening unforgettable.

Before moving into our residence at Mount Royal University, we spent some time exploring Calgary and getting a taste of the Canadian lifestyle. When I first arrived, I expected lots of snow, as Canada, and especially the province of Alberta, is known for it. Surprisingly, there was no snow, and the temperature was mild, around one degree Celsius. Little did I know that during the semester, I would encounter heavy snowfall and experience temperatures colder than I could have imagined.  On January 2, we finally moved into our student residence. I shared an apartment with three other girls – one fellow student from FH JOANNEUM and two Canadian students. My first impressions of Calgary, Canada and Mount Royal University were overwhelmingly positive. The people were friendly and helpful, the campus was beautiful, and the Canadian landscape was breathtaking.

Our first day included an orientation where we met other exchange students. It was on this day that we formed a friends group that remained close throughout the entire semester. Meeting students from all over the world and learning about their cultures was one of the most interesting parts of the experience. After orientation, it was time to attend our first classes and meet our professors and fellow students. I was excited yet a little nervous, unsure of what to expect from this new academic environment. However, my worries quickly disappeared as the professors were welcoming and curious about Austrian culture. My classmates were equally friendly and eager to learn more about where I came from. My class schedule allowed for enough time to explore Canada and spend time with friends. In general, it was the small, everyday activities that made Mount Royal University feel like home and turned my friends into a second family.

One of my favorite memories from the semester was attending the Crowchild Classics, an ice hockey game between Mount Royal University (MRU) and the University of Calgary (U of C). This event was especially thrilling because it took place at the Scotiabank Saddledome, where the Calgary Flames, Calgary’s national hockey team, play. The stadium was packed, with MRU students filling one side and U of C students occupying the other. The energy was incredible, with everyone cheering, celebrating, and creating an unforgettable atmosphere. The game itself was intense, and in the end, Mount Royal University claimed victory, which was such a euphoric moment. Afterward, there was an afterparty at a nearby club where the excitement from the game carried on into the night. It was such an amazing feeling to experience that team spirit and support for our university.

Traveling was also a huge part of this semester. Two places every Canadian insisted we visit were Banff and Lake Louise, both of which are must-see destinations. Banff is a beautiful small city in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and is a famous place for skiing. It is located within Banff National Park, Canada’s oldest national park. If you are lucky, you might even spot a bear or a moose in the wild. During our semester break we decided to take a trip to New York city. The idea that we could just hop over to NYC within a few hours was both surreal and exciting. While there, we even took a day trip to Yale University, which had always been a dream of mine to visit, especially because of its iconic presence in so many movies and TV shows.

As I already mentioned earlier, we were about to experience heavy snowfall and cold temperatures throughout the whole semester. One particularly unforgettable moment was when the temperature dropped to a staggering minus 36 degrees Celsius during the day and even minus 40 degrees Celsius at night. Stepping outside in that extreme cold was surreal, my eyelashes even froze, which was both fascinating and strange.

Time flew by, and suddenly it was April, marking the end of our semester at Mount Royal University. Saying goodbye to all the people I had met was difficult, especially since I didn’t know when I would see some of them again. Leaving Calgary felt bittersweet – one eye crying and the other laughing – because after this semester I had planned a five-week adventure across Canada and the United States. Looking back, choosing to spend my semester abroad at Mount Royal University in Calgary was one of the best decisions I ever made. The university provided exceptional support, ensuring that all exchange students had the best experience possible. I met so many incredible people who I now call friends, and I had the opportunity to immerse in the Canadian culture and also got to know a little bit about the indigenous people in Alberta, which I found fascinating. My time on campus was everything I hoped for, and I loved the team spirit and sense of community that made the experience so special.