Being a culinology student at Taylor’s University has opened up many life-changing opportunities for me, including the chance to participate in a semester exchange programme. With the assistance of the Global Mobility Office (GMO) and the guidance of my lecturer from the culinology programme, I secured a scholarship for the exchange. The Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) programme provided me with CAD 10,200, which covered most of my expenses in Ottawa, Canada. This allowed me to study at the University of Ottawa (uOttawa) where I gained invaluable life lessons. None of this would have been possible without the support of Taylor’s University and its culinology programme.

I arrived in Ottawa on the 27th of August, greeted by the breathtaking sights of the city. The vibrant fall colours and the stunning European-style architecture left me in awe. The following day, I embarked on a thirty-minute walk to campus, taking in the picturesque scenery of the park and the river along the way. As I explored the campus, its beauty continued to captivate me. It was during this exploration that I met a new friend from Mauritius. Together, we navigated our way to classes and after, ventured into the city centre, visiting iconic landmarks like Parliament Hill. Despite the jet lag from the 12-hour time difference from Malaysia, the sheer excitement and sense of adventure kept me going.

101 Week stands out as the most memorable aspect of my exchange programme. A welcoming week for new students, it was filled with opportunities to meet new friends and engage in fun activities together. We were organised into groups, and I chose to join the Sociology and Anthropology group. Throughout the week, we shared breakfast, attended club fairs, went bowling, and played board games. The week culminated with the university-hosted welcoming party known as 101 Fest.

Once 101 Week concluded, classes commenced. I enrolled in five modules: Introduction to Leisure, Sociology Big Questions, Public Speaking, Social and Cultural Anthropology, and Sociology of Food and Eating. Here's a brief overview of each module:

• Introduction to Leisure provided insights into leisure and its growth in Canada, particularly within the tourism industry.
• Sociology Big Questions delved into fundamental sociological principles, including Marxism. This module focused heavily on research, and I was honoured when my research paper was selected by the professor as an exemplary model for the class, which comprised over 150 students.
• Public Speaking honed my confidence and public speaking skills. Through practical assessments, I learned effective techniques for addressing an audience.
• Social and Cultural Anthropology introduced me to the methodology of ethnography. Each week, we explored various topics and phenomena relevant to human existence. The term concluded with a mini ethnography project, where we conducted interviews and observations on a chosen topic.
• Sociology of Food and Eating examined food as a societal construct. It emphasised how our food choices reflect our identities and explored the profound influence of food in society.