Hello guys!

Somehow today represents my two month anniversary of studying at UBC in Canada and I can’t believe just how fast it’s gone. Since I last wrote I’ve been to Banff, Victoria, Seattle, joined a sorority, had fun at frat parties and had an abundance of more amazing memories, which secures to me that choosing to study in Canada has been the best decision of my life. Not only is the way of life less stressful here (and the academics have been easier – Durham works us extremely hard!) but I am just overall a much happier person because of my experiences and the people that I have met here.

So starting off with the sorority, I joined Kappa Alpha Theta in October and I am due to be initiated on Saturday! This sorority has provided me with much more than just the opportunity to go to a frat party every week (trust me, it’s just like the movies), but it has allowed me to meet and connect with over a hundred amazingly talented young women. They inspire me to be a better person every single day and they are truly so kind and loving.

One sorority girl, Kayleigh, invited me round her family’s house for Canadian thanksgiving which was one of the highlights of my exchange so far. Filled up with turkey, mashed potato, pizza dip and pumpkin pie whilst watching baseball and hockey (aka ice hockey for the English folk!) I have never felt more Canadian. Her and her family’s generosity was so appreciated.

Through the sorority I have also been able to go on an abundance of ice cream dates at the most amazing ice cream shop in this world which has made me seriously consider opening my own hipster one in London when I finish university. Their malted chocolate honeycomb ice cream is the best thing I’ve ever tasted and my eating of it has become a little too regular thing.

And now onto travelling. I promised myself that I would take every opportunity that I was given to travel in my short time in Canada so I have had some truly incredible trips! Highlights including meeting the royal family in Victoria where my friend Cynthia (Australian) and I also had ice cream for dinner. Mine was maple syrup flavoured, another thing which was sickeningly Canadian.

I also spent the weekend in Banff with over 10 other exchange students which is an experience that I will never ever forget. Being able to see glaciers and to be confronted by torrential snow whilst hiking up a mountain for five hours is something which I look back on in awe. The beauty of Banff is beyond description and I am so excited to be going to Jasper National Park next weekend to experience the beauty of Canada once again!

I also have been to Seattle for the day where I ate a lot of free cheese (there is an amazing cheese place by Pike Place Market), went to the first ever Starbucks (and proceeded to get my most instagram likes ever on a photograph I posted of it. My insta is BeautyByKat08, shameless plug I’m sorry) and went up the Space Needle. A lot of the people who I went to Banff with came to Seattle so it was incredible to spend even more time with people who I feel so close to.

And that’s what I’ve been up to in the last month or so! I wish I could describe just how amazing my experience here has been but Canada is beyond words. I have posted a lot of videos on my YouTube channel, BeautyByKat08, especially vlogs from my travelling so you should definitely keep up to date with them. Here’s a few:

Thanks for reading!

Lots of love,

Katherine

xoxo