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I am in my 18th year with Go Global and have loved watching it grow over the past decade. I am a BA graduate from UBC Okanagan and an MEd graduate from UBC Vancouver and spent part of that degree in Copenhagen. I’ve recently completed my PhD with a focus in overseas short-term programs. I have a serious love of traveling, reading, and lifelong learning.

I have learned an incredible amount while abroad and I’ve taken quite a few solo adventures. I highly recommend traveling alone at least once as it squashes fears and will boost your confidence to continue exploring. I fully believe that studying overseas is what you make it, so go abroad with an open mind and say yes to experiences no matter how scary they might sound at first. Introduce yourself to new people and don’t hide in your dorm room!

As a frequent traveller and dual-citizen of Canada and the United Kingdom, I am well aware of some of the unique challenges and obstacles that students may encounter both when considering whether to go and while on exchange. Having completed three degrees (B.A., B.Ed., and MBA), I know how easy it is to find reasons to talk yourself out of an exchange and am passionate about encouraging students to take advantage of the opportunity to go on exchange while they can (speaking from experience of someone who did not take the opportunity to go abroad and regrets it on regular occasion).

My goal as your Go Global Advisor is to help you have the best exchange experience possible while ensuring you meet all requirements for graduation. No matter where you decide to Go Global, it is a life-changing decision that you will never regret in life!

When I’m not head deep in work or study, my passions include travel, playing & watching football (soccer), supporting my three favourite football teams (Liverpool, Preston North End, and the Vancouver Whitecaps), and continued learning/development.

Having completed my BA in International Relations at UBC Okanagan, I had the incredible opportunity to go on exchange to the University of Copenhagen through Go Global. My journey at the Global Engagement Office started as an Ambassador, where I discovered how much I enjoy helping students get excited about studying abroad.

Now, as an Associate Advisor, I am passionate about encouraging students to take full advantage of the opportunity to study abroad. Having navigated the excitement, stress, and endless questions that come with preparing for exchange first-hand, I know just how transformative the journey can be. I look forward to supporting students through the application process and helping them feel confident and inspired for what lies ahead.

Traveling is one of my favorite things to do (and my passport agrees). So far, I’ve checked off Australia, Russia, Thailand, Taiwan, Belgium, the UK, Mexico, and Japan from my travel list (with many more pins to come).  I once spent half a year in Melbourne on a working holiday visa, and later packed my bags (and my courage) to move solo from Hong Kong to Kelowna, Canada, for my MEd degree. Since then, I’ve been happily embracing Canadian life—yes, even the snow.

I began working at the Global Engagement Office in 2021 as a representative, and I currently serve as an Associate Advisor. My role involves advising inbound exchange students. Moving to a new place can be both thrilling and nerve-wracking, but don’t worry—you don’t have to do it alone! I’m here to help make your UBC adventure a little smoother.

Outside of work, you’ll find me golfing, paddleboarding, or camping in the summer, and snowboarding in the winter.

In the second half of my third year I went on exchange to Korea University, in Seoul South Korea for one semester. Throughout my time, I was able to meet many people from all over the world and experienced the country in a completely different way than as a tourist. Having visited Korea before, I had already traveled and seen the country. This time, I wanted to see what the day-to-day lifestyle was like and meet as many people as I could.

From watching live baseball games, to performing in a band and many other things in between I’ve made many unforgettable memories from my time in Korea. Many of the Korean students were interested in going abroad themselves, so I also got to tell them about what life is like in Canada. I also got the chance to study topics that interested me but were not offered at UBCO, which influenced my career goals and plans for after I graduate. I loved living abroad so much that I’m considering doing a graduate degree abroad!

The photo is from a Pokémon event in Jamsil, themed around the Pokémon ditto. The entire area was covered in the Pokémon, from the Lotte mall all the way to Seok chon lake. It’s a very nice area with a giant mall right next to a lake that I highly recommend visiting if you get the chance! Going on exchange is exciting, but the process can be complicated. Talking to the ambassadors helped me relax and look forward to the semester, and I hope I can do the same for the next group of students, so feel free to reach out if you have anything you want to talk about!

Hello, all future GoGlobalers! I’m Fern, a 4th year Microbiology student  and I got the privilege of studying at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark for my exchange program. I studied there for the second semester of my third year and had arguably the best 6 months of my life!

This photo was taken outside my residence with my trusty bike (which I rode everywhere, it took some getting used to haha). Along with the biking University in Copenhagen was a complete 180 from school in Canada. I got to take unique courses like Nordic Mythology and Danish Culture Studies, classes I never would have gotten to experience at home.

The exchange community in Copenhagen is huge. I had around 200 other exchange students in my courses alone, which made it so easy to make friends from all over the world. Living in Europe also came with major travel perks, I checked 13 countries off my bucket list while still making it back in time for class during the week.

Living in a European country also has major travel perks, I got to check 13 new countries off my bucket list while making it home for classes during the week.

I’m excited to be a GoGlobal ambassador because I think everyone should get a chance to experience life in another country, especially if you are like me and grew up in Kelowna.

If I haven’t sold you on exchange yet, shoot me a message or come see me at GoGlobal events and I’d be more than happy to chat about  how you can make it work for you! Hej Hej! (That means bye in Danish 😊 )

I completed my third year of my BA Psychology undergraduate at the University of Aberdeen in the North-Eastern region of Scotland. While living in Aberdeen, the sunniest city in the UK, I travelled around Scotland and a good portion of Europe, seeing art and historical sights that I had once only imagined. I immersed myself in a city and culture foreign to my upbringing, creating a life for myself so far from the place I once called home, and made friends that I will hold close to my heart for years to come.

Go Global gave me the chance to travel around Europe while continuing to gain a higher education. I earned a full year’s worth of credits while crossing off dozens of bucket list activities and destinations. Not only was I able to continue my degree in a foreign country, but I learned valuable life skills like navigating unfamiliar cities and public transit, all of which were (obviously) in different languages. I will hold my memories of travelling Europe close to my heart, from seeing the Seljalandsfoss waterfall in Iceland, boat tours in Dubrovnik and Split, hiking in Annecy, strolling the rainy streets of Prague, to staying up past sunrise with complete strangers (at least they were at the time) in Florence. Travel was not only a means to see the world, but quickly became a means of connection and friendship over a shared love of change.

This photo of me was taken by friends I had met while solo travelling in France on the top of Mont Blanc in France! I travelled solo throughout a good portion of Europe, but I quickly learned that while I would travel to a city or site alone, I would never be alone for long.

I am an English and Cultural Studies Major. I studied abroad for my third year in two different countries! I did Term 1 in England at the University of East Anglia and Term 2 in Australia at Macquarie University. Studying abroad helped me to feel more confident in myself and my choices. Having to navigate different visas, countries, and the many other elements of exchange made me trust myself much more. I was able to go on a number of wonderful adventures and met so many people. My time in Australia even led to an internship there, allowing me to stay for a total of seven months.

I met one of my best friends during my first term, another exchange student who was from Australia and happened to go to the same university I was attending for my second term! She welcomed me to Sydney and helped Australia feel more like home. Throughout each experience I met people who are now some of my best friends and who have helped me grow and change as a person. They’ve introduced me to new experiences that I would have never otherwise tried (like bungee jumping).

I travelled all over the UK, Australia, and New Zealand both by myself and with others. I was able to hike, scuba dive, and explore new places, meeting different people along the way who were interested in the same things. Following my second exchange I was able to spend a few months working at a ski resort in Australia as an intern following my exchange. It was an incredible experience and I was lucky enough to get to snowboard during one of Australia’s highest snowfalls in the past few years. My Go Global experience has opened my eyes to so many opportunities.

I studied abroad with Go Global for the entirety of my 3rd year of Bsc. Computer Science (August ’24 to June ’25) at the Universiteit of Leiden in the Netherlands. It is a 40 minute train ride South of Amsterdam, and known as the ‘little Amsterdam’ due to the architecture and canals. You can fully immerse yourself in the beauty that is the Netherlands in this little city: riding your bike to school, enjoying cafes and bakeries, going out to the student pubs with friends. Although the Netherlands is small, it has a lot of history (I took 2 history classes that only scratched the surface, and were so interesting!), beautiful canals, and it is very easy to hop on a train (or bus) to explore the country. Traveling beyond the Netherlands is also easy, and I knew many students who would take an overnight bus or train and wake up in a new country the next morning. During the winter, I was one of those students, and took an overnight bus from Amsterdam Zuid to Strasbourg, France. The experience was something I will never forget, and I recommend to anyone with the Euro-Traveller itch!

The picture is of me at the Japanese blossom trees, which bloom in mid March to early April in the Kersenbloesempark in Amstelveen (just South of Amsterdam). There are 400 cherry blossom trees, which were a gift from the Japan Women’s Club in the year 2000, celebrating the 400-year friendship between Japan and the Netherlands. I went with a friend that day for a picnic and to soak up the sun. As soon as the sun comes out, you will never see a Dutchie indoors. You will see thousands of people flooding the parks, strolling along the canals, sitting on a terrasje (patio) with a drink, or even pulling their furniture outside so they can nap in the sun. It’s very common to see furniture on the street, so that they can all sit outside, drinking and enjoying the weather.

Please please please don’t hesitate to approach me to ask questions if you are interested in doing an exchange in the Netherlands, I met the best people, tried many new and different experiences, and had the best time of my life!

In my third year, I studied abroad at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, one of Europe’s top business schools. The academic environment was fast-paced and globally focused, and my courses in business strategy and management gave me fresh insight into how business is taught and approached in a European context.

Living in Milan was a big shift from Kelowna. The city moves quickly, with a strong professional culture, and adapting to that pace was a valuable learning experience. I had to navigate daily life in another language, manage academics alongside new challenges, and embrace a completely different way of living. I also took the opportunity to travel to 12 countries, which added even more depth to the experience.

One of the highlights was the international community at Bocconi. I met people from all over the world, and those connections made through classes, travel, and day-to-day life were just as impactful as the academics themselves. The exchange broadened my perspective and pushed me to grow in ways that extend far beyond the classroom.

If you’re considering going on exchange, especially to Bocconi or anywhere in Italy, I’d be glad to share more about the experience and how to make it a reality.