Dalhousie Exchange Society (DalEx)

Our society has two primary functions: 1. to support and integrate incoming exchange students 2. to inform and prepare outgoing exchange students These goals are meaningful to us as the founders. During our exchange semesters this winter, 7 of us met for a group trip in Portugal and Morocco. It came up in conversation how much we didn't know before going, and what we would have done differently given more information. Additionally, during our exchanges we tended towards making friends with other exchange students, rather than fully integrating into the school and city culture. Ultimately, we have experienced both of the issues that our society intends to solve and we want to help. In terms of goal 1, we intend on creating informative materials and host information sessions for different aspects of the exchange process. We will provide support on pre departure tasks such as obtaining a visa, the nomination process, housing, banking, phone plans, packing list, etc. We will also hold sessions on advice we have for during the exchange — where to travel and how to do so, dealing with co-op applications, what to expect from school, etc. In addition to information sessions, we will exist as a resource for students to come to with questions. I remember having a lot of questions when dealing with the process myself, and there is nobody better to go to for information than a group who has already experienced it themselves. In terms of goal 2, we want incoming exchange students to experience Dal and Halifax the way we do as domestic students — not just as tourists passing through. From our own time abroad, we know how easy it is to stay within the exchange student bubble and miss out on what actually makes a place special. We plan to host events and activities that plug incoming students directly into Dal student life and Halifax culture — whether that means showing them the best spots in the city, bringing them out to local events, or simply including them in the things we already do as students. The goal is integration, not just orientation.