COTR Semester 3!

Brussels Airport :)

Although 116 days have passed since I left Belgium, it truly feels like I just blinked and we are at the end of my 3^rd semester as a Tourism and Recreation Management Student here at the College of the Rockies!

Life has been extremely busy with assignments, mid-terms, presentations, finals, and then of course working at A&W and also working as a Game Day Assistant at the College every time our Avs play…but I wouldn’t want it any other way. Although I know that some people think I am a rather boring person (because I do not feel the urge to go to the bar every weekend to get sh*tfaced), I truly enjoy every moment I get to spend here! Being older than most of the people attending College here also comes with having completely different priorities, values, and morals which transfers into spending my time off in a way that is more valuable to me than it might appear to others. Yes, I do care a lot about my studies and my grades here as I did not walk away from everything familiar and everyone I love just only to have fun. I am interested in every course I am taking and I also want to walk away with full understanding of all the concepts being taught, so I go to each and every class (even though I sometimes am too tired to drag myself out of bed), do all my readings, and complete my assignments with a high level of precision. I know this puts a lot of stress on my shoulders, but I am truly proud of everything I do…and I know my parents and friends from Belgium are as well, so I do not care about people’s comments about me being boring at all!

Right after my birthday, a group of 4 TRMP students and our teacher Grant Unger left for Vancouver to take part in the 2015 Student Case Competition, where about 17 teams of students from all over BC competed in 4 different categories. Our team (consisting of Leo, Tony, Ashley and myself) competed against 3 other teams in the Diploma category with a Human Resources case, which was only revealed the morning off. After being able to build a 12-minute PowerPoint Presentation for 4 hours, our team had to present in front of 3 professional judges and the other teams…to find out in the end that we won in our Category (which was a first for the College of the Rockies!). 

After attending the provincial BC Tourism Industry Awards Gala where we were officially recognized for our win, having an other breakfast with tourism professionals from the province, and spending some time downtown Vancouver it was time to return to our beloved environment. Although it was an amazing experience to represent our College and meet with people who might hire us after we graduate, it was a stressful and tiring trip.

  

As part of our Event Management class, the 2^nd year TRMPies also pulled a Wine & Cheese Networking Night at the College off. This night was created from scratch and hosted by 11 students who wanted to meet with local industry professionals in order to get a better understanding of the diversity of tourism but also to get their names out regarding a future employment. Although the snow might have salted our game a little bit, the turnout was great and everyone absolutely had a lovely time! Some of us even walked away with a possible career :-)

Pins 'n Pizza

Children's Christmas Party

Apart from being a student, I also try to have some fun (only once in a while though :-D ). At the start of the year, we all went to the bowling alley to enjoy the Pins ‘n Pizza event hosted by COTR’s own Campus Life & Athletics Department. I also volunteered some hours on a Friday Night to help out with the Children’s Christmas Party held at the Gym at the College. Together with Kamilla from Denmark we supervised 130 children who decorated gingerbread cookies with icing and candy. It is needless to say that I went home with a killer of a headache that night, but being associated with the College is always a good thing for now and for the future.

With my date Tony :D

Tony and I also attended the COTR Social Club's Christmas Party at the Alexandra Hall in Cranbrook as a perfect start to the Christmas Festivities. Although Tony and I differ some years in age, I truly believe I have met my College soulmate in him. Not a single day has passed without him being able to make me smile. Thank you Tony for putting up with me! 

As a big “Thank You” the International Department organized a Christmas Lunch for all the International Students who attended the College of the Rockies this past Fall Semester. I cannot thank each and everyone I have met during the past months enough to be part of my International Family. Although we are all different, we are so alike! I love you with all my heart and I am convinced that true friendship can travel the world!

I am sure that there are many more things I could tell you about the past 116 days, but these definitely are the highlights. As of right now, I will be working again at A&W to make some money, but I will mostly take care of my own body as I might have pushed it a little too far the past couple of months. I definitely should learn how to say no, but I always aim to please everyone which makes it hard for me to know when and where to stop. Guess we all know that ‘knowing yourself’ is probably the most difficult precept.