Like hundreds of university students Laura Weinbender is heading back to classes.
However, in Weinbender鈥檚 case it will require a transatlantic flight.
鈥淚 will be attending the Swedish University of Agricultural sciences (short form SLU) in Uppsala, Sweden,鈥� explained the Canora-area student.
The opportunity is one Weinbender accessed through the University of Saskatchewan which offers exchange programs to countries all over the world.
鈥淚 will be there (Sweden) for one semester taking classes that will go towards my degree,鈥� she said.
Weinbender said the opportunity was just too good to pass up.
鈥淚 actively searched foreign options,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 heard about exchange from the U of S website, and afterwards talked to people about it. Everyone I have talked to that has taken part in an exchange program has loved it, which is what sparked my interest.
鈥淚 had met with a few advisors, and the exchange coordinator about it, and then I had to apply to get accepted into the exchange program at the U of S.
鈥淎fter that I then picked three host schools that would fit with my program, then the U of S chose one of them which I then applied for.
鈥淚t was a long application process as I didn鈥檛 know I was fully accepted into the host school until beginning of June.鈥�
Weinbender said essentially there were two reasons why she decided to go.
鈥淭he first reason being that I have been to Europe before, and I have wanted to go back ever since,鈥� she said.
鈥淪econdly the agriculture industry in Europe has always intrigued me, so I am very excited to experience and learn about it firsthand.
鈥淏oth those reasons complimented each other, and the exchange program is what put both those two things together.鈥�
Being arranged through the U of S the classes Weinbender will take in Sweden will go toward her degree here.
鈥淭he classes that I am going to be taking there will be transfer credits towards my Bachelor Degree in Agribusiness.鈥� she said.
As for the semester in Sweden, Weinbender said she will focus on sustainability in her chosen field.
鈥淪LU鈥檚 mission statement is 鈥楽LU develops the understanding and sustainable use and management of biological natural resources鈥�.鈥� So, this University is very focused on the sustainability aspect of agriculture, which will allow me to look at things in a new perspective,鈥� she said.
鈥淪ome of the courses I am taking are focused on natural resources management, as well, I am hoping to get into a class involving international trade, and agricultural policy.鈥�
While Sweden is a foreign country, Weinbender is not likely to face a language barrier.
鈥淢ost people in Sweden speak English, so there will be no language barrier there, and the classes are taught in English, she noted.
Agriculture though will be different.
鈥淚 do know that there are differences in agriculture between the two countries,鈥� said Weinbender. 鈥淚 am going into this very open-minded, and I will not be surprised if my general knowledge is different than what I know or heard. I do not think that I will foresee that as a challenge, but I will see it as a learning experience.鈥�
And it is the experience Weinbender most looks forward too.
鈥淭his experience is only going to happen once in a lifetime,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 really want to be able to broaden my knowledge about, Sweden, Europe, and the world.
鈥淚 am hoping that I will grow personally since I will have to adjust to a new culture, and lifestyle.
鈥淎s well, I love meeting new people, so this is the perfect opportunity to meet people who could be lifelong friends.聽 To say the least, this new adventure is going to be filled with opportunities and experiences that I will never forget, and I am going to soak up as much as I can.鈥�
The term goes until middle of January, but Weinbender is hoping to be home early.
鈥淵our professors may be able to let you write finals early, so I am hoping to be home for Christmas,鈥� she said.
