As the flight was nearing Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, a dream was coming true for a dozen of students. After two years of hard work and determination, history-in-the-making was visible from an aerial view of the city of Toronto. This was a new chapter in a story that has yet to be completed. In August 2009, University of Waterloo inaugurated its satellite campus in the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, with fewer than 25 students initially enrolling in Chemical and Civil Engineering. The Dubai campus has a 2 + 2 mechanism. The students complete the first two years in Dubai and the remainder of their terms in Canada. For most of us, it was a new experience as the class size was fewer than 15 and for some courses, 8. The ultimate objective was to complete the 2B term in due time and proceed to Canada; this was often the motivation and the compulsion, as that was all that mattered. Upon completion of the 2B academic term and the subsequent co-op term, the countdown had begun for us to board our flight and join our colleagues here at Waterloo.
And here we are, living the dream (well at least for the initial weeks of the study term)! This has been a one-of-a-kind experience, to witness and understand different cultures, to meet new people and snow. Summers in UAE and neighboring countries raise the mercury up to 45°C and higher. Winters are at 10-20°C and sometimes lower. Experiencing Canadian winters was something we all were looking forward to, although sadly, it hasn’t been that cold yet this year (or at least that’s what we are told). Adapting into a new environment brings new challenges which are not easy, but the excitement of being here and essentially achieving the primary goal was enough to help us overcome those phases. We also had the full support of the UW administration that cooperated with us at every step possible.
Canada is different form UAE and each one of the 12 of us have our own views on that. For some, it’s the university’s atmosphere and the thousands of students with big class sizes and great hangout spots. It takes time to socialize and to get to know people, and to remember the names of your classmates. The libraries are always full, which gives me the impression that there are no slackers! And walking to different buildings for different lectures is something we’re getting used to. The Engineering faculty and EngSoc have also done their parts in organizing events and sessions in order to welcome and prepare us for the hectic term ahead! I, in particular, am a regular at the CnD due to some delicious croissants and morning coffee. All in all, this has been a dream come true and a new beginning. There’s still a long way to go and history to make.
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