Having received a Lonely Planet guide to Canada a few years prior, I finally got to put it to use in the penultimate semester of my Urban Planning degree when I decided that I couldn't miss out on the fantastic opportunity to go on exchange. I had always been interested in going to Canada as it struck me as a natural wonderland. Having studied French all through high school and university, I decided on McGill University in Montreal where I would be able to practise my French in a vibrant bilingual city whilst still studying Urban Planning in English.

Arriving in Montreal in the middle of winter with temperatures well below zero was a bit of a shock to the system but made the experience all the more unique. I quickly learned that weather is something we take for granted in Australia!! Having said that, there was nothing more enjoyable than getting rugged up and walking to uni in the snow. The city looked absolutely spectacular in winter, covered in snow and decked out in twinkling Christmas lights. At that time of year it was possible to partake in a plethora of winter activities such as ice-skating, skiing, ice hockey and even ice-climbing which were all run by clubs at the university and therefore catered to student budgets! I will never forget the end-of-winter celebrations when the snow had finally melted and the city suddenly came to life.

Living in a student residence made it easy to make friends at McGill. But if you do get the opportunity, there are other ways of making friends - by joining clubs and attending social events. I made many friends simply by talking to people around me in lectures because once they heard my accent, they were usually all too keen to find out where I was from and in turn were more than happy to share with me their own background and local knowledge. Some of the friends that I made through lectures and living in student residence were kind enough to allow me to stay with their families on trips to New York, Vancouver and Northern Ontario along with local "Montrealers" introducing me to Quebec culture.

The biggest challenge of my trip was when I broke my wrist snowboarding, a month into my exchange. Unfortunately it was my writing hand which made studying a little more difficult than anticipated, not to mention it ended my snowboarding career then and there! However, the university was extremely helpful in assisting me in anyway possible by extending deadlines, arranging note-takers and allowing me to type my exams. Fortunately I had taken out local health insurance and given the Canadian health system is free, I didn't have to pay a cent for all my medical treatment.

Having been in a number of job interviews since my exchange, prospective employers have regularly questioned me about my experience abroad which they undoubtedly hold in high regards. Certainly studying urban planning in Montreal taught me a lot about not only the Canadian Planning System but also about their close neighbour, the United States. From my experience I have learned that it is invaluable to have a different perspective on the same theme as it teaches you to think outside the square.

My advice for students interested in exchange is firstly to attend information sessions and speak to recently returned exchange students or students currently on exchange from other universities. The next thing is to plan early - it takes a while to complete the application and to apply for student visas, and such like. The next thing is to be flexible about universities and subjects because you may not get your first preference. Start saving early and investigate all scholarships and grants that are available to you- youth allowance was my saviour overseas. Although it may seem like a lot of organising and financial burden to begin with, it is definitely worth it.

By far the best thing about exchange is making friends from all around the world. There is no better way to learn about different countries and their cultures. I still regularly e-mail the friends I made on exchange and intend on visiting them again in the near future. In fact, many of them are now quite keen to partake in an exchange to Melbourne University. Finally my biggest regret was not being able to spend a whole year abroad. I advise anyone that has the option to apply for a year - it will be the best year of your life!