Student Life at SAIT Polytechnic Calgary, Canada
As a student considering post-secondary education, there are a lot of hard choices and life-changing decisions to be made. These choices are stressful and sometimes overwhelming, even more for international students. Unlike domestic students, there are many different variables international students must consider before studying here in Canada like the language barrier and culture shock. SAIT offers a wide variety of support to help these students prepare and transition to student life at SAIT in beautiful Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
What Can Students Expect When Arriving at SAIT
International students arriving to SAIT will immediately notice the beautiful views of downtown Calgary as well as the spectacular Rocky Mountains in the distance. From the time these students arrive at SAIT, they are joined by fellow students arriving from every corner of the world. Some of their first interactions with their peers come during International Student Orientation where students are invited to take part in activities, events, tours, and welcome workshops. We immediately encourage participation and interactions between students to help with culture shock and to meet future friends.
Events and Activities
Although coming to college is initially about learning and gaining an education, there is much more to your college experience than textbooks and tests. Studying at SAIT offers the chance to graduate from an exceptional polytechnic college as well as provides a wide variety of extra-curricular activities to get you involved. To kick off this semester, we took students to the Rocky Mountains for a Horseback Riding Trip! For some students, it was their first time on a horse… but these can be the experiences that create memories for a lifetime. We also took students to the beautiful Banff National Park in the Rocky Mountains where students had the opportunity to go hiking, browse through downtown stores and shops, and end the day soaking in the famous Banff Hot Springs. Please go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/saitinternational/ for pictures and a small taste of some of the events this semester. In addition to these field trips, we provide as many activities as possible throughout the year including a pumpkin carving contest, snowboard/skiing trips, shopping mall trips, and much more!
Celebrating Cultures on Campus
We not only encourage international students to attend SAIT, we acknowledge them and celebrate the diversity of cultures and traditions here on campus. SAIT is a highly multicultural institution and we celebrate internationalism throughout the year with events like International Education Week and International Awareness Day. Students are encouraged to participate and to get involved in these different celebrations as their traditions and cultures are unique and the SAIT community benefits from these international experiences.
Why SAIT and Calgary
If you’re looking for a college education as well as an experience of a lifetime, here are some reasons to consider coming to SAIT Polytechnic. If sports and athletics interest you, SAIT is the place to be! SAIT is proud to host athletic sports teams in the prestigious ACAC – Alberta College Athletic Conference. These teams include hockey, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and cross-country running.
Living in Calgary: Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the city of Calgary boasts spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains to the west with beautiful bike and walking paths throughout the city. Calgary is home to the spectacular Bow River that winds through the city and can be seen throughout a vibrant downtown core that lights up at night and begs you for new experiences. Calgary hosts many different events throughout the year, but the main attraction is the World Famous Calgary Stampede – the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth! If you’re attracted to live music, amusement rides, fireworks, bull riding and horse racing, the Calgary Stampede is for you!
SAIT encourages international students to get involved and experience as much as possible during the few years they attend school here. We realize the more activities and events these students can experience, the more they will benefit and enjoy their college years. College is aimed at learning and gaining an education, but part of learning is experiencing the fun side of college and these experiences can be the most memorable and best times of your life. Check us out at: www.sait.ca/international.
We encourage international students here at SAIT to write articles based on their experiences at SAIT and in Calgary, Canada. To read these articles, please go to http://saitlife.wordpress.com/.