I had the opportunity to participate in Lakehead's Dual Degree program and attend Rennes School of Business (RSB) in France. My eight months in Rennes allowed me to experience French culture while learning in English. The city of Rennes is located in Northwestern France and has a great local and national transportation system, so I saw many local tourist sites and travelled to other countries, and Paris is 1.5 hours away. Regional Sites I would recommend to anyone going to Rennes are Mont Saint Michel, Cap Frehel, St Malo, and Dinard.

Experiencing living a whole year in France was definitely something else. The person I am today would be a stranger to Aaisha the year before I went to France. I have learned a lot through this experience both academically and personally. It has been a year that has brought me memories and connections from around the world that I will cherish for life.

Spending one semester abroad in the UK is definitely a wonderful experience. I was studying at Swansea University. There are different educational system and culture there, compared with Canada. But it’s good to learn about various things in different institutions and countries. The sightseeing there was fabulous too. When I wanted to take a break from studying, I always took a walk on the beach. It healed me when I was tired. I also have got a few great friends with different backgrounds there.

I attended York St. John University in England while pursuing my Honours Bachelor of Commerce in my third year. I loved being away; Europe and the surrounding areas are so much more travel friendly than North America and I managed to visit 3 countries in 4 days! Everyone was very helpful while I was planning my exchange and provided constant support, even when I was away. I look forward to returning to England one day and seeing all the friends I made when I was away!

I had an amazing opportunity to study abroad in Sweden through the North2North program. My semester in Sweden was filled with unforgettable memories. Initially nervous, I quickly felt at home at Stockholm University, immersing myself in Swedish culture.

Meeting people from around the world was a highlight, and exploring Sweden's famous spots with my new friends, such as Gamla Stan, Drottningholm Palace, and holiday night markets, was a blast. I even took a side trip to Italy, experiencing places like Verona and immersing myself in Italian culture for a week.

Having the opportunity to take summer courses at Rennes School of Business completely opened my eyes to new opportunities! Learning about luxury and first hand seeing where these types of businesses began in Paris was incredible. It is an extremely well-organized program and is conducive to easily making new friends and exploring France. I have made memories that will last a lifetime and enhanced my understanding of cross-cultural collaboration and made professional connections that have undoubtedly increased the value of my degree!

I’m so excited that I had the opportunity to study abroad for 1 month in Siena, Italy during the summer! The city is so beautiful, and the historic buildings are very different from what it’s like living in Thunder Bay. The food was amazing, and there was an amazing nearby pasta place that we liked to stop by after class. There was always something to do and lots to explore. I spent some time hiking, we did a day trip in Florence, and I even visited some family friends for a weekend in France!

Studying abroad in Greece left me with nothing but a new infatuation of Greek culture, travelling, and a lifetime of friendships. After landing in Thessaloniki, I was greeted by ACT staff who helped me get to the school to pick up my keys. Throughout my time in Greece, there were excursions planned on the weekends (for a small fee) which included accommodations, transportation and guides. This was an amazing way to meet friends and travel around to beautiful sites.

"My name is Bailey Giroux, and I attended the north2north program at Stockholm University in Sweden. When I was first introduced to the North2North program through Lakehead's international office, I was immediately interested and excited by the opportunity to further my studies in an international Northern country. I was born and raised in the North and love my Northern community, so I was interested in seeing how other Northern countries operated and potentially bringing new knowledge and innovative solutions to problems back home in Canada.

Studying abroad for a semester at Nord was truly an unforgettable experience. From the foreign foods to the amazing landscape, it was nothing short of amazing. Being an outdoorsy person, Nord was the perfect school for me and allowed me to gain a new appreciation to Arctic culture. On campus, there was a warehouse in which any student could borrow outdoor equipment such as tents or skis for free. They had loads of opportunities to meet other international students such as games, clubs, committees and events.