Rafael Fujita is a doctoral student from Brazil who is a visiting student through the UBC Go Global Program, funding from Emerging Leaders of the Americas Program (ELAP – EduCanada), and scholarship from the CAPES Foundation, an agency under the Ministry of Education of Brazil. He arrived in January 2022 and is returning to Brazil in February 2023. We asked him to tell us about his impressions about coming to visit the Clinical Exercise Physiology Lab (CEPL) at UBC. Here is what he said:
First impression about Vancouver?
“What universe am I landing on now? Is this real? Snow…can I step on it?”
First impression about UBC?
“Wait, what? Is this a university? Really??”
This may seem like a joke, but it truly represents how I felt (and still feeling everyday while walking on campus or just taking the bus to UBC).
The environment and buildings that I see on campus and in the city give me a better comprehension of why Canada is ranked as one of the top countries to live in. I can also tell that the standard of education remains consistently high in Canada. I am very impressed that UBC students are pursuing their education with so much dedication! Literally EVERYWHERE on campus, we can see students doing their ‘job’: studying (hard!).
No wonder, “tuum est” (It’s yours, and it’s up to you) is the perfect logo for UBC. The environment and opportunities available here in UBC are astonishing! Students are provided with the support they need to pursue their dreams, to learn, and improve as individuals. My grandmother used to tell me to “gambate” (do your best) all the time, and I have been putting her words into action throughout my time in UBC. With the best resources here, whether it is the environment, facilities, or lab mates, it just makes my “do your best” even better… words cannot truly describe how happy I am to be here!
Speaking about this city – Vancouver, the safety, convenience of public transportation, and multi-culturalism are the top three things that catch my attention. Vancouver is a dream city, we are close to the ocean, the mountains, and the nature. I remembered there was a time where I went snowboarding on the mountains, returned to the city, and swam in the ocean on the same day. That was crazy! I think it will take me years to digest all the beautiful sceneries I have seen in Canada.
I am completely grateful for the opportunity to visit UBC, Kristin’s lab, and Canada. I am also thankful for theCEPL team for their support and everything I have learnt during my time in UBC. My experience here has had a huge impact on my life as a student, a future researcher, and as an individual. To this day, I am still amazed by the wildness of this city, and I am excited to say that I have lived all my childhood dreams during my past year in Canada. I am sad that my time here is coming to an end, but I am very happy for everything!