Starting in Munich :)

Hello! My name is Isabelle, but everyone calls me Izzy. I am currently on an exchange semester from Montreal, Canada. For most of my life, I grew up in The Bahamas, a collection of islands in the North of the Caribbean that are rich in culture and beauty. Going abroad for a semester has always been a dream of mine since I was younger, and I am more than happy to be spending it in Munich this summer.

To backtrack, I was born in Ontario, Canada, and lived there for the first 7 years of my life, then moved to The Bahamas, where my family has been since. Growing up on an island in an international community, meeting new people from everywhere in the world became a norm, something I was eager to continue once I left to pursue further education. This played an important role in my decision to attend the university I go to full-time in Montreal, where all my close friends are from every corner of the world. I believe my exposure to various cultures has led me to my passion for travel, through the ability and desire to explore what every place has to offer.

I have always loved to travel. Currently, I have visited 26 countries, across 6 continents, and am eager to continue exploring new places. Immersing myself in foreign countries, eating local food, wandering down streets and talking to the people that make those environments are what I find so special. Before starting in Munich, I went to 4 new countries (Ireland, Norway, Denmark & Sweden), all of which I loved for various reasons. Dog sledding was definitely a top 5 favourite moment of all travels, a spot that I would deem very difficult to beat (10/10 recommend).

It is definitely no joke when people hear Canada and associate it with the cold. As someone who does not ski or do any outdoor sports in the winter, it is definitely a brutal time to be there. With temperatures dropping as low as -35 degrees Celsius in Montreal, bundling up is definitely the way to go. As rough as the cold is, I wouldn’t trade it for the world, as the city has so much to offer and has led me to my friends that will last a lifetime.

So far, Munich has been great. I have gone to several museums and different areas of the city, all of which I have loved. Pretzels have certainly become a common part of my diet, and taking the public transport to and from university has been something I have grown to enjoy. This city’s location has been great for travel, as it is quite central, making it incredibly convenient to hop on a flight or train to get to another country within a few hours. Just last weekend, I was in Paris visting friends, and this upcoming weekend I am going to Vienna on holiday with some other friends. As I previously mentioned, traveling is definitely a priority of mine whilst spending time in Munich, but also enjoying the lovely city is something I want to prioritize as well.

I am really looking forward to this course and what it has to offer, growing my insight on this unique city and it’s history. All classes I am taking this semester intrigue me greatly, wheher they are related to my major or not, and I look forward for what is to come!!! Till next time xxx