Table of Contents Acknowledgements ... 2 Biographies ................ 3 Activities List ............ 36 Holiday Magic .......... 37 Basketball Game ...... 39 WEM ........................ 41 Gingerbread House .. 43 Art Gallery of AB ...... 46 MacEwan Campus .... 50 McKay School .......... 51 The Makerspace ...... 53 Edmonton City Hall .. 56 Ski/Snowboarding ... 59 Midday Music .......... 66 Carols at City Hall ..... 71 1
Acknowledgements •
ACC Library Staff
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Curt London
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Debbie Lewiski
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Diego Velasquez Rodriguez
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Dominic Sultan
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Dorte Webber
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Dr. John Corlett
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Eaman Mah
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Emilio Inda Camacho
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Enrique Rubio Martinez
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Joyanne Fredericks
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Justin Weiss
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Michelle Lalonde
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Rose Marie Matwie 2
Isis Alejandrina Ayala Ramírez Hello! My name is “Isis” Alejandrina Ayala Ramirez, and I know at this time being named Isis isn’t the greatest. But actually I think my parents made a perfect selection for me because Isis is the name of the most powerful goddess. Since I came here I have been getting a lot of funny jokes about my name. My new classmates can be so imaginative when thinking about things like that. I am 20 years old; my birthday is going to be the day when we leave Canada so as you can see my trip will be unforgettable. The reason that I decided to apply for this program was because I wanted to know a new country and Canada is a lovely one, where I’m sure I’ll get the English language skills that I’ve been looking to improve.
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Jorge Alejandro Sandoval Coss y Leon
Hi there I’m coming from Guadalajara, and I’m studying architecture. For me, I mean architects in general are important for traveling around the world; I’ve been to different parts of the world but never to Canada before. When I first heard about this opportunity I went home to check if I had all the documents that I needed to apply for this scholarship. Pressure, stress and excitement went through my body. Especially the day I realized I was being selected. I already knew about snow but I didn’t expect this kind of cold, at least there will be stories to tell people when I get back. Knowledge adventures and new friends will come back with me to Mexico. I hope that I will learn a lot about Canadian culture, their way of talking, way of living and of course learning how to survive to this cold weather. I think that the way of living and the way the city has been designed are accurate and is (a theory) and it could be implemented in Mexico or other countries in order to enhance living in society.
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Janeth Guadalupe García Hernández Hi, I’m 22 years old and I am studying Chemical Engineering at the University of Guadalajara and next week I will finish my bachelor’s degree and this makes me feel happy and afraid. I’m from San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas. It’s a beautiful state in the south of México and my town is beautiful and it’s my favorite place in México but now I live in Guadalajara, Jalisco. The thing that I miss most from my town is my mom’s food and the weather, its cold but not as much as it is in Canada. I love reading but I only have time to read when I’m on vacation. When I like a book I can’t stop reading it. I love watching Roger Federer play tennis and I love eating spicy food. Edmonton is a beautiful city, watching snow fall is amazing. Although the first week I fell down on the ice I still think the snow and the experience in Canada that is fantastic.
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Karen Guadalupe Jiménez Martinez Hi! Really I don’t know how I am going to start but I am going to start like everyone does, I’m 20 years old, I’m studying international business the best career in the world. Being in Canada is one of the best experiences that I have had, even for the 21 hours that I had to wait at the airport, yes that was crazy. But finally I’m here and I’m so surprised because all the people are so kind and gentle, I never imagined that Edmonton could be one of my favorites places in the world. I’m so happy to be here and improve my English. I love volleyball and dogs, but the thing that I love more than dogs in the world are tacos, if you haven´t eaten tacos, you have to try them. I hope to make new friends and to learn from them and hopefully they can learn from me.
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Laura Patricia Evangelista Martinez Hello there! If you are reading this right now it means that you are a lucky person. I am 20 years old and at this moment I don’t have any idea about what to say, I am a talkative person, but in the moment when I need to write something about me, I have writer’s block. Well, right now I am studying International Business at the University of Guadalajara. If you are living in Canada, especially in Edmonton… congratulations because it is a magical place, this was one of the most amazing experiences and at the same time I was practicing English. I remember that I was learning German and French at the same time it was a crazy thing to do it left me confused. I am a person who enjoys life, I love to appreciate the landscapes wherever I stay, I think that the best events are in the little things that nature gives us, especially all the things that happen in space and the things we can see in the sky. 7
Lilia Fernanda Quevedo Lopez Hello everyone! I am 20 years old and I’m pursuing an accounting career in Guadalajara. As everybody knows I love singing, dancing, playing basketball, dogs, summer and I love my family ☺ Eat, drink, sleep and repeat is my favorite phrase and also YOLO ha-‐ha. I am so excited and I appreciate this opportunity so much being here in Edmonton first of all the opportunity to travel and practice English as a second language, I met a lot of new handsome friends and I loved to spend the month with them, with our adventures in the town, LRT and always getting up late to class. Oops! Also I have the opportunity to meet people from other countries and learn a little bit more about their cultures and traditions. This trip made me a better person in a professional and personal way; because it is the first time that I traveled without my family it gave me more independence. It’s not my first time out of Mexico, but it’s my first time that I saw snow and I LOVED IT! I hope everyone remembers me as friendly and beautiful woman (ha-‐ha), because I will always remember each person that I came with on this amazing trip! Thank you and my best wishes to everyone!! XOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOX XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO 8
Luis Raymundo Garcia Sanchez Hello my name is Raymundo Sanchez and I’m a finance student who was born in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. I’m 19 years old, but I think age is just a number, your acts and your behavior
defines
your
maturity. I came to Canada because I wanted to learn the English language and speak English as well as possible. Also I wanted to show confidence English
with
when native
speaking English
speakers. With that in mind I want to proudly tell people that I’m proud to be Mexican. Just like every human being, I want to achieve my goals with patience, perseverance, and determination. I really enjoy being in Canada and experiencing everything that Canada has to offer. The city of Edmonton, McEwan and the snow are going to be in my heart and mind forever. 9
Mauricio Manuel Ramirez Hamden Hi my name is Mauricio Ramirez, I’m studying Financial Administration in Guadalajara’s University in Guadalajara Jalisco Mexico, and at this moment I’m finishing the 4th semester of my career. I’m 23 years old and I’m so glad for being accepted in this program to come to Canada. Actually I have never been to another country before, although I’ve traveled to other cities in my country, I’ve never had the opportunity to talk and learn the English language. There is a lot of things that I could say about me, I really like to meet new people, and make new friends, I think that this life has many things to learn about it, so I'm trying to learn all that I can. I like to listen to music, and I love watching movies too. I also enjoy meeting up with friends this always makes me happy. 10
Ricardo Daniel Velázquez Ruiz Hello, I am 21 years old, and I’m currently pursuing a career in Biochemical Engineering. First, I want to thank you for reading these lines. I think my mentality is to find the light in the dark. This chance to be in Canada is invaluable for me. To be honest, I don’t deserve this; I am not the best student, or the best person. But I appreciate this trip with everything in my soul. Time is precious; it never comes back, so for that, I try to do everything in the best way possible, giving the best of me, not only for me but for my family and my people too. This chance is the beginning of one age, my professional age. I really want to dominate the English language, not only for its current importance, but also for its culture and my personal determination. I have a dream, that this is the right path. My personal description is easy: a simple man with simple rules, nothing else. I like walking around with my colleagues, reading poetry or reading academic articles while I drink black coffee. However I like the sound of my little sister’s laugh, I love listening to the sound of the birds in my home and love my family, who are always in my mind. Finally, I feel proud to be part of the Universidad de Guadalajara, my alma mater. Non omnnis moriar…. 11
Roberto Antonio Ramirez Gonzalez Hello! If you’re reading this it’s because you’re a friend of my classmates, my family or you’re such a lucky guy or girl that will be here soon! I am a 21 year-‐ old guy, from Guadalajara, with a bachelor’s in Industrial Design at the University of Guadalajara. Half a part of my life is studying, working, etc. and the other half is having fun on the weekends and spending time with friends. One of my favorite things to do is visiting small towns in my country, knowing multicultural people and the funniest thing for me is trying traditional food. You never know if you’re going to try the best thing you have ever eaten or if you’ll fall sick because of a diarrhea. When the university informed me that I was going to have the opportunity to come to Canada, I did not sleep all night long thinking about how it is going to live in another country. Each time that something good happens to you, you think a strange power will take it off you. Fortunately I’m here right now and I do not regret anything. Now that I’m in Canada it is so difficult to be stand outside because I always want to be indoor, I’m like a hen, in the sunset I go directly to sleep. 12
Rosa Eugenia García Gómez I think there is no age limit for learning. In this adventure with a group of students I’m the oldest. I’m 44 years old –well, thanks to a Debbie, our dear teacher, we have an agreement that I’m 25 years old. I’m very glad to participate with many brilliant women and men in the group. I studied Communication Science twenty years ago. After I studied a Social Science Masters degree with a major in Social Communication. When I was 19 years old –middle aged to my classmates-‐, I took a recorder and I created my first journalist work. After I had to conduct a couple of programs on the radio. The last seven years I was dedicated to journalist formation. All of those experiences prepared me for this opportunity to stay in Canada, at this wonderful MacEwan University. I want to know other countries and meet new people. This program represents an excellent opportunity for that. Here I have the chance to meet new people, their culture and their ability to resolve their lives. Their goals are the same as the Mexican people: be happy and respect this planet with love.
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Ruben Gomez Venegas Hi, I’m 21 years old. My Name is Ruben. I’m studying Mechatronics Engineering. Everybody calls me Ruben XD. I was born in Ameca city. It is a big beautiful city. I moved to the town of “El Cabezon” which is known as “waiting demon”. I study at the Universidad de Guadalajara in the campus CUvalles. It’s really beautiful, full of trees. I like doing competitive things on the weekend like playing games on the computer. I also like to eat. I like playing soccer and Video games, especially, Halo, Gears of War, God of War, and any war games. I watch people playing a game called “Yu-‐gi-‐oh” daily. It is really addicting. The people in Canada are very courteous, and beautiful. I arrived in Canada and it was my first time. I saw snow it was incredible.
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Sofia Diaz Infante Romo Hi! My name is Sofia. I was born in Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, Mexico. I’m 21 years old and I am a medical student at the University of Guadalajara CUAltos. I’m in my 6th semester right now and I’m planning on doing a specialization after my medical degree. I’m not quite sure in what area yet. As a curious, adventurer and outgoing kind of person I am always trying new things and looking for exciting experiences. When I saw the advertisement for this program I instantly applied it and I was so excited when I was selected for be in it. Then I started thinking about what to wear when I get to Canada, because they say it’s a super cold place, but I’m surviving! It’s not that bad, actually the snow can be super fun. This was my first time seeing it snow and I loved it. There are a lot of things I like about Canada. I love the fact that there are so many people from all over the world and Canadians are so kind and nice. If you ask me to say something about myself, I will say that I’m a girl who can’t keep calm and be quiet, I really enjoy listening to music, dancing, doing extreme sports, playing games, hanging out with friends, meeting new people, watching movies, visiting new places, trying new food and helping people to solve problems. Maybe that’s the reason why I chose being a medical doctor. I think it matches with my personality because I enjoy reading science and learning, talking to people, dealing with them and doing something good for them. I’m in love with medicine. 15
Taikan Yee Hernandez Hello world, my name is Taikan everyone calls me “Chino” I am 23 years old and studying Mechatronic Engineering, I like mathematics and to learn about new technology, so my career is perfect for me. The last year I tried twice to get a scholarship to perfect the English language and I was not selected and I had to wait another semester to try once more. But for this semester this scholarship was not offered and I was sad because this was my last opportunity to apply for a scholarship. But after I knew about other the scholarships to go to perfect the English language I applied once more, when I knew that I won the scholarship I couldn't believe it and now here I am or better told … I arrived J. I like to walk long distances and run sometimes, I love learning new things and put them into practice, I am a very fun person. I like all kinds of music especially Rock, my favorite groups are Guns and Roses, AC/DC, Stone Sour, Pop Evil and Seether. This was my first time outside of Mexico the first thing that I thought about Canada was.... its so far away and maybe I will see the snow. When I saw the snow I was frozen… happy but frozen, it was fantastic.
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Nedelka Elizabeth Gonzalez Robles Hi! My name is Nede. I am 24 years old. In July I completed a medical degree and now I work in research about people who are exposed to pollution. I’m happy to be in Edmonton, because it is an excellent opportunity to develop myself as a person and also to strengthen my knowledge in the English language. Besides that I have met people from my country and people from Canada, and we exchanged stories about our culture. My hobby is reading and I love it. I think is the best way to meet all kinds of experiences from history, romance, action and comedy. Besides that imagination has no boundaries and I think that each page has an adventure. My favorite author is Jane Austen. My favorite book is pride and prejudice and I love the movie too. Music is my other passion. I love classical music and I listen to it all the time, especially when I study. I think that is very relaxing. I love to dance, I am very bad dancer but I love it. My experience in Edmonton has been very fun and I have learned so much. I want to return in the near future. 17
Zaira Jaqueline Valera Berumen Hello everybody, my name is Zaira Jaqueline Valera Berumen, a 20-‐ year-‐old student of International Relations at the University of Guadalajara, and I’m so fortunate to be selected to enjoy this great experience in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I’m originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and I live with my father, my dog and two birds. I speak three languages including English, Portuguese and Spanish. I love music, Geography and History and my biggest passion is to travel and know different cultures and places. This is the first time that I came to Canada and I don’t know how to explain what it means to me now. Originally, I applied to the program because it seemed to be a big opportunity to travel, to know some places and practice my English but now I must say that the people, the streets and the snow in Edmonton are amazing and I’ll never forget them.
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Diego Velázquez Rodríguez Greetings, stranger! My name’s Diego and I am a 20-‐year-‐old MED student. I still have three years left to become a physician, and pretty much all my time is invested in school. But in my free time I love to go out with my friends to have drinks and catch up on whatever has been going on in our lives. After school I’d like to get into a residence to get a specialization, but I’m still deciding on which one I want, so far I can’t choose one. As you probably know, because you’ve been reading a lot of my classmates biographies by the time you reach mine, I’ve come to Canada as part of an intensive English course to improve my English. As soon as I found out about this scholarship, two days before the scholarship’s deadline (God bless Facebook), I took this chance and applied without thinking twice. I mean, it’s practically a month-‐long all-‐ expenses-‐paid trip. To be honest, I’ve always wanted to come to Canada, because of all the snow and the cold weather; we don’t have these things in Mexico. I had never been outside of my country before, so this trip has been really exciting for me. I can’t wait to get immersed in Canadian culture even more, because so far it has lived up to my expectations, from the landscapes and weather, to the culture and the manners all Canadians seem to have, they really fulfill their stereotype, no offense intended. We all put a lot of effort into this book, so I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I’m sure I’ll enjoy my experience. 19
Ada Carmen Quintero Pérez Hi! I’m 22 years old and I’m studying veterinary medicine. Animals can teach us many things we cannot appreciate. They are so grateful and there is so much anybody can learn from them. I live in a little town called Cuquio, which is quiet and peaceful. My friends and family live there and there are great landscapes, which you can see by taking bike trips. I applied to CIDI Canada 2015 scholarship because English is a language that is needed if you want to develop in the world. Also, I wanted to have the opportunity to visit such a beautiful country like Canada. Everyone makes life what they want, but it's important to contribute to society, to have the opportunity to enjoy life, to travel and experience. I’ve always thought that you are a reflection of the people that you’ve met in your life and the places you’ve known. I love playing soccer and my favourite book is The Little Prince. I enjoy learning new things and participating in anything that has to do with giving something back to society.
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Alejandro Leonel Vázquez González Hi, My name is Alejandro; I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco. I’m 21 years old. I study Education at Guadalajara University. I like to play soccer, and to do other things like researching about important themes in Education. My favourite soccer team is Chivas. This is my first time out of Mexico and it’s been very important for me, because when I was in Mexico I used to wish I could go a country where I could practice another language like English. This experience has been full of surprises because I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of people from Mexico and Canada, and even some from other countries from all around the world. I think, after this experience I’ll have learned a lot of things about Canada and its culture. I like to listen to music, but I’d rather read books and learn more about other languages. I would love to learn German and Russian. Mexican food is my favourite, but I don’t like spicy food. I like to drink soda but not beer or wine. Finally, I want to thank all the people of Edmonton, my friends and my family for everything. Thank you very much, I love you all!
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Anaisa Rosario Flores Molina Hi, I am 19 years old; I am from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. I study Multimedia Communication Engineering at the Centro Universitario de la Costa, and the thing I like most about my career is photography. I love taking photos, especially portraits. The reason I applied for this program is because I wanted to practice speaking English and this opportunity will bring me more confidence to speak in English. This is my first time in Canada. Edmonton is a beautiful city and I love the people that live there. They are really kind and respectful.
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Mariana González Romero I’m 21 years old and I’m studying Computer Engineering at CUCEI, actually I’m in my 4th semester and I´m a Hobbit, my height its only 158 cm. I really love to travel and I love animals, I have 3 dogs, 1 hedgehog and 1 hamster. I only know 2 languages, Spanish (obviously) and English but actually I really want to learn Germany and French. In my free time I love to go outside with my family or my boyfriend, we go to the cinema or walking to the park and enjoying nature. My hobbies are dancing, singing and stealing unfortunate souls. Canada is my first trip outside of Mexico, and it’s AMAZING!!! I really wanted to see snow and beavers. My dad and brother were in Canada before me and they gave me an idea of what it would be like in Canada, and yes it’s very cold, beautiful and the people there are very kind. Canada rules and you would enjoy it very much if you visited here;)
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Estefanía Loustaunau Ramírez I
am 20 years old. I’m from Puerto Vallarta so I’m used to the heat and VERY high temperatures, coming here in the winter was a big change but I loved it anyways, the snow is very cool. I am a medical student currently finishing my second year, I still have 4 years left to cry while I study but I really like my career. I love playing sports, specially soccer, flag football, basketball, softball and volleyball. I love to play videogames, I have an Xbox 360 but I also play on my computer. I am also a space nerd; I love to read astronomy books written by Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan, they’re so cool. I was really excited to come to Canada because it’s a great country and it’s always fun to get out of the routine, I hope I’ll gain beautiful experiences with new friends and improve my English.
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Isaac de Jesús Hernández Macías Hi, I’m 21 years old, I’ m from a town called Ayotlán but I live in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. I’m studying Communications and Electronic Engineering at the University of Guadalajara. I’m a person who loves to discover how nature works. That’s why everything I do is for making the world a better place and respecting Mother Nature. I’m the younger and tallest son in my family, I love eating, making friends, dancing, swimming, solving mathematics problems and helping the people. Because you don’t know when you will need help. For a time I worked for a special department in the Army of Mexico dedicated to security systems. The day when I knew that I would be going to travel to Canada was probably one of the best days of my life. Because I love the way that Canadian people live, they are very friendly and respect the rules. Canada has amazing places and extreme weather but I love it. My family must be scared because one of the things that I love is traveling and this is my first time outside of my country and they and your money know that I can’t stop doing something when I like it. If you reading this means that you have a friend in Mexico that will be waiting for you with open arms. You can follow me on: Facebook.com/Isaac.hzm Instagram.com/isaachzm I love you all Canadian People.
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Jorge Jonathan Oswaldo Garza García Hi, I am 22 years old; I am studying engineering in Nanotechnology at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico. I’m from Jalisco, a beautiful state in Mexico. Actually I am in the last semester of my career so I would like to study here in Canada and get a master’s degree, when I saw the opportunity to come to Canada I took it because I wanted to improve my English and know new cultures in this country. In my free time I enjoy doing things in the lab, watching movies, reading, playing soccer and video games. This is my first time here in Canada and out of my country so it is a new experience for me, I love Canadian people, they are so kind and always answer any question I have with a smile, I really enjoy the weather because it is so different from my country.
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Milagros Monserrat Medina Jiménez My name is Milagros but everybody calls me Mily, I was born in Tepic, Nayarit but I was raised in Tuxpan, Nayarit, near of the beach where the weather is so hot and there’s a lot of seafood. I moved to Guadalajara 3 years ago to go to university. I’m a Med Student actually, people always say medicine it’s hard but totally worth it. In my short experience I’ve seen a lot of things and heard so many stories that may change the way you see life. I’m a huge fan of staying at home, watching movies or series and reading books, I prefer novels or historic novels but I can read anything. Lately I’ve been thinking about getting a life, because of my strong relationship with Netflix, I always have something to watch, all types of movies, especially comedy, thriller and romantic movies. Since I live alone I have to cook for myself, by the way I’m pretty good at cooking, and I like to do it, even more when I’m stressed or maybe sad, it’s good therapy for me. I’m crazy about seafood, tacos and Italian food. I think my heart is made for traveling, I love traveling and I’ve visited the US several times, I had the opportunity to go to the old continent, I went to France and England, and of course I explore Mexico when I can. Canada is what I expected, so cold and friendly like everybody says it is. This trip was not in my plans; everything changes so quickly that sometimes I don’t believe it. I see here in Canada a chance to improve my English skills, to make some friends, learn about Canadian culture and enjoy the view and the snow. All I can say at this moment is I’m in love with Canada. 27
Tannia Edisa Flores Raffta Hi, I’m 23 years old and I studying Industrial Design, I love cars and want to do a master’s degree in car design in Italy or Germany. I’m from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and that is the 3rd most important city in my country. I really like traveling to different parts of the world; and I visited France, Italy, Belgium, Luxemburg, Switzerland, and The United States of America. My first impression of Edmonton was, that it was a place that was very cold, but being here you realize that you can survive that cold. The city is small compared to Guadalajara, but it’s a really nice city. I was surprised because the people here are friendly. I applied for this winter course, because I wanted to perfect my English, because English is important for my degree because I need to use and understand computer software and books that are in English. I also need to understand people from different parts of the world; and I want to meet Canada. Studying in McEwan University is a really nice experience for a student like me, who comes from another country. You meet new people from different cultures and experiences, and that is important to understand why cultures are characterized by their behaviors.
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Daniela Melisa Rodríguez Martínez Hello! My name is Daniela Melisa Rodríguez Martínez. Actually I live in Guadalajara, Jalisco, but I grew up in a small town called Morelos in Tomatlán Jalisco. I’m in the 3rd year of a Biomedical Engineering career at the University of Guadalajara. Something interesting about me is that I know how to make fresh “Tortillas” and cook Mexican dishes like Pozole, Tamales and Tacos. I like to spend time in nature, at the ranch “Rancho” where the cows are. I like to read the biographies of people from other centuries especially of saints. It’s my first time out of my country and the first time here in the beautiful country of Canada. I applied for this program to improve my English level, especially because Canada is a country where English is the first language. When I received the news that I was coming to Canada I was so excited and happy. But then I got scared because I remembered that I could freeze from the cold. I hope to spend a lovely month together with the beautiful Canadian people. I want to learn a lot of things about this multicultural country.
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Edgar Mauricio Loza Ramírez I am 19 years old and currently am a physics student at the University of Guadalajara. I was born in Guadalajara, Mexico on March 11th 1996. I was also in the army, fighting in the ‘friend zone’ for a while. I do not have many hobbies. I just like to sing and enjoy nature. I keep on practicing singing even when my mother tells me to stop; otherwise I will live on my own. I applied for this program because I thought it could be an incredible opportunity to improve my English and, come on, everyone wants to visit Canada! What a beautiful country! I have two brothers. I am the eldest. As a physicist, the English language is essential for me to publish scientific articles (most people stop reading when I write that I love math). I have been to the United States of America a couple of times before visiting Canada. I have studied English for three years and this is the culmination of my learning: being able to spend a complete month between natives. I always had bad luck in my life. For example up until now I have never found more than a 5-‐dollar bill on the street! In addition to my bad luck with money, cats tend to hate me at the exact moment they see me. It is instantaneous, like a natural hatred. My luck changed suddenly when I knew I was coming to Canada. The sun rose above my head, it stopped raining and it started snowing! Nowadays, cats do not hate me anymore, I do not fight in the ‘friend zone’ and I will return home after leaving because of my talent for singing. God bless you Canada! 30
Emmanuel Hernández Morán Hello I am 19 years old, I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México, but I have lived in Ciudad Guzmán since 2003. I am studying Telematics Engineering at Centro Universitario del Sur also known as CUSur. I live with my parents and my sister. My brother used to live with us, but he had to move out of the city to work. I like listening to music, watching movies, and playing with my dog. I always thought that the USA would be my first country to visit because the other scholarships were to study English in the USA. I applied twice since I started University but unfortunately I was not selected. I applied for this program because I wanted to improve my English skills, and to know another country. This is a perfect situation; talking with native speakers, knowing another culture, trying new food, and new beers of course! I had never heard about Edmonton, but since the first time I saw the city, the buildings, the river (the view is amazing from MacEwan University!) I fell in love with it. It is a beautiful city but the weather isn’t good for me, however I liked to watch snowing in the city. I hope to have a chance to come back another time.
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Enrique Rubio Martínez What up! I’m a senior student in International Relations. This is my first time in Canada and so far it’s been great. This is my third international trip sponsored by the University of Guadalajara, and I was really looking forward to it. I’ve been to Barbados and Brazil before, the former for a summer program and the latter as an exchange student. I’ve also been a speaker at International Congresses, so I’ve had the chance to visit some South American countries. Those experiences were really cool and I know this trip will be as much fun and interesting. Coming in winter is great, as I am able to get the full Canadian experience, like snowball fights, skiing and snowboarding. Canada’s an awesome country and everyone’s really nice here. I know it’s kind of a Canadian stereotype, but I’m glad it’s true. I hope you will enjoy what you’re about to see and read in this book. Hasta la vista, baby!
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Erick Alán Avilés Gutiérrez Hey peeps, I am a 23 year old Mexican guy and I am a MED student in Guadalajara, Jalisco. I chose this career because I like to help people, I love to know the causes of diseases, and how small changes in our bodies manifest into something that disturbs our physical and mental health. When I finish I want to become a general surgeon because I think it is a specialty that requires practice and knowledge and keeps you evolving in your techniques, it requires a large amount of knowledge in anatomy that I am still working on, but today it’s what I want to become. I applied for the scholarship to Canada because it was an opportunity to travel and get to know a different culture and a different atmosphere with the advantage of improving my English skills. I also got to know people from different parts of the world, also I wanted to experience all the winter activities like skiing, ice-‐skating, watching snow, getting frostbite, losing my toes, etc. The day we got here was the first day it snowed so it was a really good welcome from Edmonton, I was so excited and it was a perfect first time, just like it should be ♥. In my free time I like to watch TV series, go to the movies, read terror fiction books, going to bars, hanging out with my friends and talking to my family. I really hope to get more experiences like this, because I am having such a great time and that is what life is all about, having good experiences. 33
María Fernanda Castro Camarillo Hi everybody! I’m 21 years old, my name is Maria Fernanda, but I like to be called Fer or Mafer. I’m studying medicine at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico, but right now I’m not sure what kind of doctor I want to be, all I know is that I want to help everyone who comes to see me; that’s why I like my career, because you have to be strong and soft at the same time. I was born in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur and I’m pretty sure that you’ve heard about this place where you can always find a party and beautiful beaches to visit. I think I’m a shy person at first, but it’s just the first impression because even though you don’t believe it, I like to make friends and meet new people. Also, I really love the piano, four months ago I started to go to classes, now I’m a beginner but I hope one day I’ll be good. I like to draw, too. I like photography, I’m not as good as I want to be but I really enjoy it. By the way, I like to go out for walks, it doesn’t matter where, but I find very interesting little details that almost everyone misses. In my free time I like to listen to music and watch movies. I love dogs; especially Chihuahuas and I have four. I also love Sushi and Pozole, and the most important thing I really love to have is Ice cream. This is my first time in Canada, I came here because I want to improve my English and the best way to do it is being in a place where everybody uses this language. Canada is really beautiful, and I like this weather. Also, people here are very gentle and kind, so I hope to come here again in the future. 34
Guadalupe Paulina Barragán García Hello! I am 24 years old and I am in my 7th semester studying Veterinarian Medicine at the University of Guadalajara. Currently I am working in Boeringer Ingelheim testing birds with prototypes of drugs. I have been living with my boyfriend Jorge Valadez for a year and a half with our three little dogs Greta, Layla, and Hanna, I love them all! I like watching movies, traveling, baking and playing basketball. I spent 6 years with the Association of Scouts of Mexico; at that time I traveled and met many people from other States of the Mexican Republic and from different countries around the world. I love animals especially calves, because they’re noble, playful and loving. I would like to work with them in the maternal area. When I found out I was going to visit Canada, I did not think twice about it and I began to collect the necessary documentation. My family and boyfriend supported my decision to go to Canada. This is my first time in Canada. I was really excited to see the snow and to get familiar with Edmonton, Canadians and food because I heard great things about Canada and it is great there! You must visit it! I hope to take good memories back with me to Mexico because Canada is a beautiful country full of friendly people. I love it! 35
Activities List 1. Holiday Magic 2. MacEwan Griffin’s Basketball Game 3. West Edmonton Mall 4. Gingerbread House Decoration 5. Art Gallery of Alberta 6. MacEwan University Campus 7. McKay Avenue School 8. Edmonton Public Library Makerspace 9. Edmonton City Hall 10. Skiing and Snowboarding 11. MacEwan Midday Music 12. Carols at City Hall
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HOLIDAY MAGIC: EDMONTON CITY HALL On December 8th in the morning we went to Edmonton City Hall to see a beautiful show there, named “Holiday Magic”. The event started at 10:30 am with a presentation of Christmas carols by “Glenora” elementary school, and continued with a presentation at 11:00 o’clock from “Hillview” elementary school.
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When the choirs had finished at 11:50 am, we saw a performance from the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. The group sang, danced, acted and made a good interpretation of Ukrainian traditions and celebrations, displaying some traditional dances and clothing. The show lasted approximately 20 minutes and during that time the audience was very excited and happy. The Ukrainian Shumka performers had amazing voices and their performance was the best thing of the day.
Finally, we listened to other Christmas carols, interpreted by other student groups. Although many of them looked very nervous and shy, their singing was great, and the ending was warm and sweet. 38
GRIFFINS BASKETBALL GAME It was Friday November 27th when the basketball game started at 6:00 o’clock. Griffins from MacEwan versus Canada West. People were excited to go to the game and enjoyed it. All the people thought that men would play the game but surprisingly women played it. The game was very interesting, even when MacEwan’s team showed a better rhythm and coordination, the players took the game very serious and did the best that they could.
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MacEwan’s team had many points and they always scored about 10 points more than the visitors in every quarter. All the people saw that MacEwan team was one step ahead. Throughout the game the substitutes supported the players on the court enthusiastically. It seemed like everything was in their favor. There was one player who played very well, number 15. She controlled the game and the MacEwan team. As expected, the people watching the game got excited every time the Griffins made a good move on the court. On the other hand, when the visitors scored the complete arena fell silent. Every break between the quarters, the Griffins’ mascot went into the audience and danced and took a few pictures. During the game people were supporting their team, the majority of the team members’ families were there. The score in the third quarter was 37 -‐ 26 and the final score was 74 -‐ 50. Everyone enjoyed a great game. We especially experienced what it is like to be part of a competition in Edmonton. 40
WEST EDMONTON MALL
We went to WEM on black Friday; it was difficult to go there because it was the first time we took an Edmonton bus. We found a lot of things to do; like the Water Park, Galaxyland, the show of seals and a variety of stores that we could find there.
We were so fascinated with all the activities but we also wanted to buy some presents for our families in Mexico so we started souvenir shopping. Lilia’s favorite store was Kate Spade and Raymundo’s favorite store was Lululemon. We ate hamburgers and chicken at the food court.
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We went to Galaxyland and we had a lot of fun although one of the main attractions at Galaxyland was closed.
We went to the Waterpark and swam all day and we were really excited because we went there for free
We also saw a beautiful Lamborghini there.
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GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATION The MacEwan International office and Mex&Can gathered together to exchange typical traditions on a special afternoon, Canadians taught us about the gingerbread house and gingerbread cookies decoration tradition and we taught them about our piñatas elaboration tradition. We were given heart and star shaped cookies and various material to work with, such as white, red, blue, yellow and pink frosting, chocolate chips, m&m’s, and green and red candy sprinkles. 43
During the cookie decoration we shared hot chocolate, coffee, and delicious sweets. This activity allowed our imagination to run wild and gave us the opportunity to do it just how we wanted it. Some cookies were pretty good and others were to die for, literally.
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Art Gallery Of Alberta
The visit to Art Gallery of Alberta was like the Mexican Muralist painter and lithographer Jose Clemente Orozco once said "a painting should not be a comment but the fact it self; not a reflection, but the light itself and not an Interpretation, but an interpretation of the same thing. " 46
What makes a work significant is the depth of feeling with which it is made, so that when our group member capture this image, our being was imbued with this feeling and we can relive the climax for which it was magically designed in the artist's work. Â
Edmonton artists and different places like Ukraine, managed to delight us with their artists magnificent talent and made us vibrate with works that express more than our eyes could see.
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In the gallery we admired works of landscapes to works focused on the current view of sub-realistic society and discovered who they really are without a mask that is in between, making even grotesque representations in some works. It shows that society is always looking for solutions to their problems seeking the impossible or even trying to redeem himself through religions. This image displays that there are problems for people providing aid or they are looking for ways to support them often because they are a reflection of society itself that is raised and manipulated either through family, friends and even marketing. 48 Â Â
The section dedicated to the 40's in Germany, just to be seen and could not be effectively described through words. The beautiful works and the meaning of the Architecture of the gallery left us in awe. With many comments and internal reflection of how we consume things from a standard perspective. This inspired us to reinforce the important internal things in us showing that we need to have the strength to risk working to create a better world.
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MacEwan University Campus We think the MacEwan University campus buildings are really beautiful and so big; the space is amazing we were astonished when we first saw them; it is great to walk through it. It is well equipped, the classrooms are awesome. The natural light in parts of it is beautiful, there are restaurants there so everyone can eat if they’re hungry, we loved the store that sells university clothes and supplies, and some of us bought things from there and loved it.
There is easy access between the buildings from the residence to the university; we liked the bridge on the third floor that connects the buildings. We would love to study here in the future. The tour guide was helpful and the people that work there are attentive and well informed.
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McKay Avenue School
On November 30th we visited the first free Public School built in Edmonton and the first Alberta Legislative Assembly, McKay Avenue School. Mathew McCauley, Malcolm Groat and William Rowland built McKay Avenue School for the residents of Edmonton; the cost of school operation was borne by the local residents. Restoration of the 1881 Schoolhouse was a major project undertaken by the Edmonton Public School Board to mark it´s centenary in 1982. Some of the exterior fabric and most of the interior of the building was restored using its original materials. The building is now the Edmonton Public School Archives and Museum, the museum highlights the history of Edmonton Public Schools and Alberta’s early political story as an archive where historically significant documents are preserved for future generations.
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The museum provides many rooms like: *Alberta Room. - Board-room *Reading Room. - Board-room *Inspector’s Room. - Theatre style *North-West Territories Room. - Combination of boardroom and round-table styles *Third Floor Assembly Hall. - Theatre style *Theatre Room. - Theatre seats with a small stage
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The Makerspace It is a place that is within the Edmonton Public Library; within that site we can find a variety of tools to make our own creations: 3D printer The makerspace contains four 3D printers. In this space you can create three-dimensional models using a computer program in which a specialist creates a design based on a specific customers preferences and taste. The models are "realistic" but not perfect, they are close enough to generate an approximate reality. The cost ranges from $ 1 dollar to $ 40 dollars depending on the model printing size, as well as time. The materials used for the models are a polymer. Visual arts This site also has a green wall approximately 3 m high and 5 m wide and can be used for editing photos, videos and even streaming digital broadcasts. Printing Another tool that can be found, is a printing press, it is quite advanced, it can print an entire book at standard size and extension in about 3 minutes; further printing can group, cut and paste all in the same process. The cost of the book is based on the size and margins ranging from $ 4 to $ 20 dollars. 53 Â Â
Recording studio A very special and very musical place that provides sponsorship to local artists or the general public for very affordable costs. The area can be used for music but also for podcast exercises or activities that require type of technology. Entertainment In this area, is a section in which anyone can bring and create with the help of tools "lego" (parts and manuals) a small robot with a remote control which will program commands for its movement. Beside this, there is a small table where people can develop a small synthesizer, playing musical pieces where you can create different sounds.
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The last area makerspace entertainment contains video games; It consists of 2 consoles (PlayStation 4 and Xbox one) there is also a wide range of games that can be used for approximately 20 minutes. To make use of this space, you must go and speak to the manager of the Makerspace FrontDesk.
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EDMONTON CITY HALL
It was December 4th, it was supposed to be a normal day at school but this time we were going to have a special day, the plan? Visit Edmonton City Hall! A place in the middle of the city in front of a big beautiful square where several important buildings are located. Some people in our group were wondering what a City Hall was, some other wondering what could be inside and the rest were comparing with the ones in Mexico. At the end everybody was surprised and satisfied with the building and design once inside of it. From my point of view something interesting about the building was the big area in front of it, it is a fountain in summer but an ice-skating rink in winter, this makes people feel part of the building and the city. 56
You can notice it because the place is clean, welltaken care of and there are people walking around. From the entrance of the building we could see six columns, which represent the twelve areas in Edmonton, two each, and behind them a big glass building, also with columns, an ancient stone, some of them still with fossilization, covered this one. Due to the division of the columns and the height at the entrance, it creates an effect with light and shadows, which, from my point of view, makes the building feel friendly and warm. When we got inside there were two great women named Jackie and Ann waiting for us to provide us with a tour of the building, they started explaining the history of the building. We had the opportunity to see every area inside.
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Recycled materials, large heights, a friendlyguided tour, nice architecture design and good memories were some of the things we all found and took away from that day.
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Skiing and Snowboarding A picture is worth a thousand words …
Now that you have seen our performance in these pictures, we will tell you a little bit about how it went. 59
To begin with we should tell you, this was our first time doing skiing. The good thing for us was that we had instructors who taught us how to do it, actually they were really polite and patience with us, and it is possible that we have found many people who were born for this, and another ones who should continue looking for another activity to spend their free time. Ski is not a sport for everyone, so if it’s your first time doing it you have to remember some things: • • •
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You will fall down… a lot. It is hard to get up, and this can be embarrassing, but keep trying. There will be six-‐year-‐olds skiing circles around you, and this is infuriating. Also they might be better than you, so don’t feel bad about it. You will be both bored and terrified, and not very often in between.
The good news is that after the second time you fall you will lose all your fear and instead of it you will enjoy this amazing sport and you will gain beautiful memories. We were divided into two groups, the ones who wanted to ski, and the bold ones who wanted to snowboard. As we told you before, this was our first time, so everyone had different opinions about their experience, so we decided to share the thoughts of our University group, and then you can have an idea about how we felt at that moment.
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To conclude, it was a unique and amazing experience for each and everyone one of us, actually some people came two days after to do it again because they really liked it. Also none of us were acquainted with this kind of activity, but everyone enjoyed it and we experienced a really great moment together that we will remember.
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MACEWAN MIDDAY MUSIC
On
November
27th
the
MacEwan
University
Conservatory of Music and the Students Association of MacEwan University (SAMU) gave us the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful and semi-private concert. The concert was in the cafeteria and the concert players who participated in it were so talented. They played an exclusive repertoire using a cello, a guitar and a flute.
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We had a great experience because while we were eating and taking a break we enjoyed listening to the concert. It was a good day. It was a nice break. We had never seen this type of concert in a university cafeteria. One of the most interesting things we observed was that the musicians had a small box where you could give donations to support student scholarships at the conservatory. We think that it was great that they have a specific cause and it’s very nice that the students might have financial support to achieve their dreams of becoming professional musicians. 67  Â
We think music is a universal language that everyone understands. All the musical instruments in the concert transmitted that feeling, from the beginning until the end. In our personal opinion some of us have limited musical abilities but to get to enjoy this concert for free was an unforgettable and valuable experience.
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Here are some pictures of us that show how wonderful our experience was.
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Carols are typical songs that are sung around the world during Christmas season. In Edmonton, Alberta, Canada it is a tradition to sing these kinds of songs to celebrate with family and friends. During this season music is so important for people around the world because it helps us to change our feelings; it keeps us united to celebrate with music, happiness and fun. This celebration includes all types of cultures, ages, religions and being part of this experience is an unforgettable memory. The Carols were presented by EKOSingers with the Little Dickens Choir of Holyrood School and the Studio B Saxophone Quartet on December 6th 2015 at Edmonton city hall. During this presentation the public heard a lot of Christmas songs like Jingle Bells, We Three Kings, Silent Night, Believe, Can you hear the angels and Angel’s Gloria.
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