Home residence

By Khushi Nanda; transcribed by Oliver Quezada and the AMS Team

What’s something that you’re glad you brought with you to Orchard?

My family pictures. Being an international student and moving so far away from your family feels disorienting and uncomfortable in some ways. Having those personal items around made me feel at comfort during this transitional phase of university.

What’s something that you wish you DIDN’T bring with you to Orchard?

Something that I wish I didn’t bring to Orchard is half of my wardrobe. I have so many clothes like winter jackets, winter coats, winter sweaters, and just-in-case outfits which don’t get used.

What’s something you heard/read about Orchard that is true?

Their beautiful views! It’s so pretty. I just love the fact that after such a long day I get to see out a million dollar view. I’m just very grateful to be here.

What’s something you heard/read about Orchard that is NOT true?

Something that I heard about Orchard that isn’t true will have to be that it isn’t that unsocial. You will just have to make a conversation with people, reach out to them and it kind of flows from there. You will have a great community. It is just a matter of reaching out.

Final advice for folks moving into Orchard? 

My final advice for people moving into Orchard will have to be making the most out of your residence events. They are really fun they are really interactive and you feel a lot more belonging to the Orchard Commons. It might look a bit uncomfortable at the beginning or it might sound a bit intimidating, but eventually if you reach out to people, say hi to them, they are really friendly. These events help you to build on those connections that can lead on to your life. So don’t hesitate. Attend those events and you will be good. You will feel at home here.

About AMS Residence Reviews

Every April, the AMS (UBC Vancouver’s student union) interviews first year students just before they move out of residence. We then post these interviews on the AMS social media and website so that incoming first years can learn about residence life from a fellow student.

Home residence

By Hayne Cho; transcribed by Oliver Quezada and the AMS Team

What’s something that you’re glad you brought with you to Totem?

My coffee machine. I’ve saved a lot of money making my own drinks here in my room instead of going out to cafés on campus.

What’s something that you wish you DIDN’T bring with you to Totem?

Something that I don’t think I needed to bring to Totem Park is my TV, because of how big an appliance it is. I don’t really end up using it because I don’t have time. Other large appliances that I would I need are all here on residence.

What’s something you heard/read about Totem that is true?

Something I found was actually true about Totem Park is just how social of an environment it is. I found that it’s really easy to talk to people in the dining hall where everyone’s just really open to meeting new people and starting different conversations.

What’s something you heard/read about Totem that is NOT true?

I heard that the old Totem buildings and the new Totem buildings are comparatively super different. While I can agree with that, at the end of the day the old Totem buildings are still pretty nice and very renovated. It’s still super enjoyable to be here.

Final advice for folks moving into Totem? 

You need to take advantage of being here on residence. I think a lot of people end up taking it for granted, but it is such an amazing opportunity to talk to new people and make new experiences. Say yes to as many things that you can.

About AMS Residence Reviews

Every April, the AMS (UBC Vancouver’s student union) interviews first year students just before they move out of residence. We then post these interviews on the AMS social media and website so that incoming first years can learn about residence life from a fellow student.

Home residence

By Anaya Mundamattam; transcribed by Oliver Quezada and the AMS Team

What’s something that you’re glad you brought with you to Vanier?

One thing that I am really glad I brought to 1st year residence is an extension cord. As an international student, a lot of my plugs didn’t fit the Canadian plugs. The rooms don’t have a lot of plugs, so it’s just a really useful thing to have. So I could plug in my kettle and charge my laptop at the same time.

What’s something that you wish you DIDN’T bring with you to Vanier?

One thing I wish I didn’t bring was a lot of clothes. I thought I would be using all of them. Now that I’m at the end of the year and I’m packing up, they ended up just being a hassle. Vanier doesn’t have a lot of storage. I ended up buying some plastic bins to store my extra clothes. Be mindful of the clothes you’re bringing and be selective.

What’s something you heard/read about Vanier that is true?

I was on Reddit a lot when I was researching Vanier. Something I heard about Vanier that is true is it was a lot easier to make friends and talk to people because the buildings are a lot smaller. So that’s something to look forward to.

What’s something you heard/read about Vanier that is NOT true?

I heard that Vanier is really old and hellish to live in, but it really isn’t that bad. I stayed completely warm throughout the year. Honestly, I was expecting a lot worse. Vanier can be pretty nice. If you have maintenance issues, the front desk gets back to you as soon as possible and it’s usually fixed in less than a day or two.” 

Final advice for folks moving into Vanier? 

I actually got this from a friend: it’s really scary in the first couple of days to go to the dining hall on your own, but I would recommend you go and do it. For every single meal, I sat with a new group of people and introduced myself. It ended up being a really good experience because I met so many different people. Some of those people you end up staying friends with and some just become people that you know or wave at from a distance. But it was just a really good experience overall.

About AMS Residence Reviews

Every April, the AMS (UBC Vancouver’s student union) interviews first year students just before they move out of residence. We then post these interviews on the AMS social media and website so that incoming first years can learn about residence life from a fellow student.