Kia ora and bonjour! Exchange is officially over, and I am counting down the days before I go home.
As I did not have to sit any final exams, I was able to enjoy Montréal stress-free as soon as I finished classes and handed in my last assignments. I ran around the city, trying to say my goodbyes to friends and favourite places. I was hopping from one metro station to another. Luckily, I had a discounted OPUS card that allowed me to use unlimited public transit for four months. Because of this, I was able to get out of the McGill bubble, explore outside of the downtown area, and get to know more of the local spots. Before I left Montréal, I made sure to visit Verdun Beach, catch the sunrise at the Oratory, and hike up Mont Royal.
Travelling, doing day trips, and sightseeing are a big part of exchange. Montréal’s proximity to other big cities made it easy to travel, and I took advantage of that. Whenever I could, I took the bus or the train. For instance, I rode a bus to Québec City and an Amtrak train to Boston. When I wasn’t walking 20,000 steps, I was figuring out how to get from one place to another in each city I visited. I am very fond of public transit and slow travel and value the journey as much as the destination.
This exchange experience has been an amazing ride, and I do not have any regrets. Whether it was going on a road trip with friends or solo travelling, I learned a lot about myself and life outside of university and class. I have loved seeing the seasons change and experiencing a white Christmas, but I am excited for a good old Aotearoa summer. It has been so nice sharing this experience with you! I hope to bring this newfound adventurous spirit back home. Ka kite anō and bonne journée! 🤍