活動名稱：參與Prof.Patrick Hung的研究計畫
活動時間：2019 年 01 月 19 日至 2019 年 02 月 25 日
活動地點：加拿大安特略理工學校UOIT
有時候甚至會覺得其實如果能待在加拿大生活是一種非常棒的事情，聽了實驗室的華人同學說，其實可以考慮拿加拿大楓葉卡，永久居留證，尤其是加拿大最喜歡enginering background，加上年輕，基本上是非常容易取得的。這也讓我非常心動。Patrick教授也告訴我，趁年輕真的要好好把握機會到國外走走看看，因為年輕就是本錢，在這時候想拿居留證的話，是最簡單的！
說起來也非常有趣，他們加拿大的人是一直想來台灣住，而我卻一直想到加拿大住。甚至是Patrick都想來台灣退休了。如果有機會的話，有希望這幾年給自己一些時間能待在加拿大打工度假之類的。
上圖為來自日本學校的教授與UOIT作機器人交流。
下圖為Patrick與其他交換學生一起共餐。
活動時間：2019 年 01 月 19 日至 2019 年 02 月 25 日
活動地點：加拿大安特略理工學校UOIT
一、 參加動機
I desire to attend the overseas internship. Because of the opportunity, can improve my English skill. English communication is a tool to dig deeper in every thing you interested. In addition jumping out echo chambers can broaden my horizon. I think that Doing project with professor. I can learn about his spirit and professional ability. As a born risk-taker and snooper, I like to keep trying new things andchallenging myself.二、 住宿
I was going to take Uber to Airbnb which I rent from
Oshawa train station. Immediately, my host texted me he will come to Oshawa
train station and give me a ride to his home. I felt pretty happy because I
saved ten Canadian. I chose the high rating of airbnb. Basically, this was my
first time to come here so I think for safety reasons, choosing high rating
Airbnb is better. It was out of my expectation that my host showed me around
Oshawa downtown. He expressed every single store that I was curious for me. He
guided me the direction and the route to the UOIT. He taught me how to use
every single Appliance, like washing machine, dryer, stove, microwave, etc. let
me feel like at home.
三、 上課內容/活動過程摘要
Patrick教授要我幫忙的部分是，協助他從臺灣及大陸購買過來的一些機器人，因為絕大部分的機器人都是中文說明書，並沒有英文說明書，甚至操作介面都是中文的，所以我的工作是了解每一個機器人的使用方法及所有功能的操作方式，並製作英文簡易說明書，之後再教導他們實驗室的學生們如何操作機器人及做一些問題的排解。向其他系所的教授及當地記著作展示所有機器人的功能性及獨特性，做情境模擬，並明顯展演實際效果！並開發這些機器人額外的功能，達到我們預期的效果，藉由開發軟體使用程式語言來做編輯！
四、 參加活動心得及收穫
這趟旅程最後還是覺得非常快就結束了，雖然待在加拿大這段時間，覺得有好長一段時間可以好好體驗，但是當要準備離開的那一刻，對加拿大還是非常捨不得。剛開始來覺得非常不習慣這個天氣，尤其是剛到的時候，剛好是遇到最寒冷的天氣，真的想要馬上逃回台灣的感覺，加上對加拿大的交通非常不熟悉，任何事情都是第一次，又提了兩大行李箱一直要轉運，非常不習慣。我覺得這次最有挑戰性的地方就是，在這短短五週內，我去了好幾個地方，Oshawa. Toronto. Montreal. Quebec，當一抵達任何一個地方後，逐漸開始可以適應當地的天氣、環境、交通後，馬上又要前往下一個地點。老實說這段時間基本上都是不斷處在適應新環境當中，我覺得這趟旅程是在我到目前為止的一個人生大突破。在這段時間走過了這麼多城市後，最喜歡的就是多倫多了，我喜歡多倫多城市的繁榮，因為加拿大人是由非常多不同族群的組成，讓我感覺不到有什麼種族歧視，他們非常熱情，我喜歡這種感覺。其實到了後來，我覺得我漸漸愛上加拿大的氣候，雖然有時候真的冷，可是大部分的天氣，是讓人覺得適應的，這裡有個優點就是不像台灣的濕度這麼潮濕，生活起來非常舒服。在加拿大這段時間，遇到非常多的加拿大人，不管是在實驗室的同學們、教授們、或是在Airbnb的host、在UOIT的時候，也參加了一次華人的社團，感覺非常棒，裡面的人都非常熱情，大部分都是華人，也有些不同族群的人，但是大家非常的融洽，還遇到了一位台灣的女生，我覺的她非常的勇敢，高中畢業後，為了自己的夢想，想學動畫，但是台灣沒有這方面的領域，於是自己就隻身到加拿大的大學就讀，英文也講得非常好，如果不問她，你還以為她是born in canada。有時候甚至會覺得其實如果能待在加拿大生活是一種非常棒的事情，聽了實驗室的華人同學說，其實可以考慮拿加拿大楓葉卡，永久居留證，尤其是加拿大最喜歡enginering background，加上年輕，基本上是非常容易取得的。這也讓我非常心動。Patrick教授也告訴我，趁年輕真的要好好把握機會到國外走走看看，因為年輕就是本錢，在這時候想拿居留證的話，是最簡單的！
說起來也非常有趣，他們加拿大的人是一直想來台灣住，而我卻一直想到加拿大住。甚至是Patrick都想來台灣退休了。如果有機會的話，有希望這幾年給自己一些時間能待在加拿大打工度假之類的。
雖然在這短短的一個多月，光是住宿費、生活費、交通費，就花了不少錢，總共花費也將近10萬元，這筆錢如果拿來補習英文的話，也可以補個至少一年半的時間。即便如此，這筆錢再讓我重新抉擇的話，我還是願意讓自己走出去看看，沒有任何一點後悔。我想這個是在補習班買不到的寶貴經驗，我想真的也是給自己是個機會，像是自己的英文實習一樣，學了英文這麼久了，至少也有10年，也是個好機會，讓自己知道其實學英文是有用的，也讓自己知道，如果再好好加強自己的英文深度，能有更好的文化交流經驗，雖然自己的英文還是不好，就只能做基本的對話，但這次機會，讓我勇敢的開口，我想這是買不到的經驗了，即便自己對話會卡，但是想盡辦法詮釋自己的意思，終究讓外國人聽得懂，那對自己可是一個極大的成就感及肯定。相信這次回台灣以後，更有動機性的想把英文學好，為了是把握住下一次出國學習的精會，確保可以有更棒的交流經驗。這趟旅行，現在想起來，就好像是一場夢一樣，真的非常非常希望可以繼續待在加拿大，體驗到更棒的經驗。我相信，這一趟旅程是家人及學校給我的最棒的一個畢業旅行禮物了。
五、 費用(保險費、生活費或特殊支出)
機票兩萬七、生活費兩萬五、住宿費三萬。
六、 旅遊及生活感想
This was
my first time that experienced the long-haul Flight. I was excited and nervous
at the same time. However, the feeling of excited is more than the feeling of
nervous. So it is fine. Just a little bit nervous. I took a long flight by
myself after all. That was a weight off my mind to step by step. I will have
new life experience in the five weeks. At the same time. Since first time I
went abroad, I believe when you go overseas not only culture or knowledge both
will shock you. They will change you or give you different opinions. However,
this still was my first time to adapt the jet lag. Because there is a same time
zone in China in my first time trip. It was really awful that hard to fall
asleep in the plane. I tried to do that but it was best situation that fell
asleep for couple hours. For have a perfect condition when I arrived at
Toronto, I put myself into Canada time zone as long as I take on the plane.
Otherwise. If you can, you can come over here couple days early to adapt the
jet lag, weather. On the other hand, you
can have no stressful to familiar with the place. Also, your body will feel not
much tired compared with you arrived at here and you have to go to school next
day. Finally, I think most important thing is about the flight ticket price.
Choose the cheapest one is better.
When you
take a Flight to Toronto. If you stay over in Vancouver, please make more time
to transfer. It is pressed for time that you transfer in only one or two hours.
I think three hours is just right. Because of arrivals. For sure, you need to
have an immigration. That must take you a lot of time. Even you have to take
out your luggages in Vancouver and check-in luggages once again. When I arrived
at Vancouver, there were a lot of passengers were going to transfer. And also
Vancouver international airport is very huge. That let me spend a bunch of
time. Because of that I almost missed the flight to Toronto. I got the flight
until the airport final called. It was so thrilling. Unfortunately, when I
arrive at Toronto Pearson International Airport, I waited my luggages for
around 3 hours. Because I was too late to check in luggages in Vancouver
International Airport. My luggages
totally missed the same flight with me. It were transported in next flight to
Toronto. That’s reason why I had waited my luggages for three hours.
All in
all, that must be not a good idea if you choose a flight transfer in Vancouver in
a short time.
I planned to take UP express to
Union Station for Toronto Pearson International Airport. The reason is my
arrival time too late. Moreover, My plans delayed for three hours because of my
luggages. UP express is really a good transition and fast. It just took 25
minutes to downtown totally. Especially, I had two heavy luggages. By the way,
please don’t choose the bus to downtown. It will take you too much time, even
you have no idea where your luggages need to put. It definitely not convenience.
So please don’t do that.
On the
other hand, you need to watch out if you use presto cards to take UP express.It
completely different compare with the transition in Taiwan and Canada. There is
not gates in Canada train station. You will come to platform unconsciously,
even you do not realize you are at platform. There are just some columns on the
side obviously. You have to tap two times when you get on and get off. To be
honest, I usually forgot to tap it in or tap it off. There is a risk of your presto
card probably be locked. At the worst, the ticket officer find you steal a ride
then you have to pay one hundred Canadian. Do not take any chances. The gain
cannot cover the loss.
It was
freezing until I got off the plane. Really no exaggeration. I wish I can take
another flights and back to Taiwan immediately. That was exactly lucky for me.
The whether when I arrived at Toronto is the most coldest in the whole year my
friends said. There was snowstorm then so very awful. Once I put my hand in the
air without gloves, not to 30 seconds and forested. The youth hostel which I
booked before I come here. There is near form Union Station. It just around
nine hundred meters far way. I thought I could go there from Union Station by
walk. I was too naive. The whole road was covered by snow because of the snow
storm. Even I couldn’t pull my luggages on the ground. It was otherwise that
the young hostel is a bargain. If you arrived at Toronto too late, same with
me. You can choose the youth hostel. They also offer you breakfast for free. I
definitely enjoyed the breakfast. It was pretty nice.
I
planned to take VIA trains to Oshawa from Union Station. I just want to say
that the Transits of Toronto is really complicated for the person who first
time come to Toronto. There are VIA Rails, GO Trains, GO Bus, TTC Subway. Many
kinds of Transportation in there. Fortunately, there was a nice staff found me
felt puzzled and came here said: Hey, are you ok? He was really kind for me and
he do gave me a big favor as well. He guided me to get GO Trains, even took me
to the platform and he left until the train arrived. I really appreciated his
help. And also, he told me that taking VIA Rails is more expensive than GO
Trains. Because VIA Rails is long-distance trains. I suddenly realized that
presto card can not be used to take VIA Rails until the stuff told me.
七、 生活小祕方
從其心得部分內容可以得知，某些地方，很可能不是我們所想像的那樣。但是勇於嘗試是一種非常棒的經驗，相信從這個部分讓我了解到許多非常有趣的小細節。另一部分，我覺得很重要的是如果想大大降低自己在加拿大的生活費開銷，No Frills及Walmart是一個非常好的選擇，因為如果每次都吃外食的話，就像在台灣每天吃大餐一樣，想之，長期下來肯定是一筆非常可觀的費用。
八、 給未來想參加交流計畫通學之建議
請把握像這樣的交流機會，很多人想有這種交流機會，求之不得。出國看看可以好好讓自己開開眼界，讓自己走向更國際觀一些。事前做好規劃非常重要，把在國外的每一天過得非常充實，雖然會覺得很累，但是當你回頭看，你會覺得一切都是值得的。也請記得好好把握每一個能學習的機會，會有你意想不到的收穫！
九、 其他
2/24號和實驗室的一位同學Dariem，在多倫多吃最後一頓飯，我們在Bar裡面吃飯，這是我第一次在Bar裡面吃飯，完全讓我顛覆Bar的刻板印象，因為印象中的Bar是感覺裡面非常亂，然後食物或是酒都非常貴，但完全不然，Dariem挑選的這家Bar在多倫多算是非常便宜的一家餐廳，一道主餐都滿便宜的，大概6塊左右，東西也非常好吃，我點的是類似墨西哥料理，墨西哥餅的那種感覺，裡面包燉牛肉，可以直接另外包生菜和蕃茄醬料，搭起來真的非常美味，而且他們的燉牛肉，不輸台灣的燉牛肉，非常的嫩也非常入味。剛好Ryerson University在Bar旁邊旁邊。我們又去那參觀了一下，學校的建築和裝潢都很特別，有種非常現代化學校的感覺，但這間學校已經創立了有非常悠久的歷史了。所以還是非常令人瞠目結舌，非常嚮往。令人印象深刻的就是他們每個樓層都有自己的名稱，像是太陽、森林、海洋，非常可愛。這是待在加拿大的最後一天了，想帶點東西回去，於是我們去了shopper drug mart，有一點像是台灣屈臣氏，藥妝店的概念，因為聽說加拿大的Fish
oil或是保健食品之類的非常便宜，於是就是想買一點回去給家人吃。後來用網路比了價錢後，發現Walmart更便宜，所以又特地從downtown跑到scarborough的Walmart買保健食品。還是覺得Walmart在外國就是完勝，但是對一般民眾來說是如此沒有錯。不過Costco在大包裝上還是無人能敵，如果需求量的話，還是選擇Costco價錢會更漂亮。然而，Walmart已經贏了大部分的量販店或超市了，而且應有盡有。也買了一些加拿大有名的楓糖，玻璃罐裝的楓葉造型非常有質感。我們還到了Dollarama買了楓葉餅乾、一瓶只有在加拿大、美國買得到的Dr. Pepper汽水，Dollarama像是大創一樣，大部分的價錢都是1塊加幣，非常便宜，如果想省錢的人都會這裡買東西。聽說楓葉餅乾也受外國人愛戴！
十、 活動照片
下圖為Patrick與其他交換學生一起共餐。
上圖為Patrick帶我們到他們家附近美麗的冰湖。
下圖為與當地學生及機器人合影。
下圖為與當地學生及機器人合影。
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