Orientation Week
VIU‘s orientation week took place over four days at the end of August.
It was particularly important to register in advance for the international orientation week called "RockVIU." Each day, we received emails about the upcoming events, so nobody missed out on anything.
Day 1 – Online Introduction
The first day of our orientation week began online. We received helpful information on topics like housing, setting up our university accounts, and the various services offered by the university.
Day 2 – First Day on Campus
The second day focused on getting oriented on campus, giving us the opportunity to really get to know VIU for the first time. The campus is situated on a hill, which becomes apparent from the many staircases. Thanks to this location, the cafeteria offers a stunning view of Nanaimo, the ocean, and the surrounding mountains. Coffee lovers also have a perk here: there‘s a Starbucks on campus!
To help us familiarize ourselves with the campus, a scavenger hunt was organized. Using an app, we had to find various checkpoints, which led us through places like the library, the cafeteria, and the bookstore. We also had the chance to register for the campus gym for free.
After the scavenger hunt, there was an official introduction at the university theater. Here, VIU was presented in greater detail, and we got an overview of the various services and opportunities available to us.
To wrap up the day, we exchanged phone numbers and arranged to meet up at a pub in the evening.
Day 3 – Meeting the Faculty and Campus Fair
While the previous day welcomed all international students together, the third day was focused on specific study programs. This gave us the chance to make initial connections with our future professors. It quickly became clear that the professors here strive for more personal connections with students, leading to very friendly and open conversations.
The same day, a campus fair was held. There was free pizza, drinks, and lots of goodies. Organizations like BC Transit, U-Ride, Evolve, university clubs, the Mariners sports teams, VIUSU, and Costco were present. Here, you could pick up freebies, discounts, and information about whale watching or other activities in Nanaimo.
Day 4 – Final Day with Breakfast and Presentations
The fourth and final day of the orientation week started with a group breakfast. This was a great opportunity to network and enjoy the beautiful weather on the cafeteria terrace, which offers a view of the ocean.
Afterward, we attended various presentations. One covered the history of Nanaimo, followed by a session on leadership and what it means to be a leader.
In the evening, there was a movie night. However, since the weather was so nice, we decided to skip it and head to a lake instead.
Important Notes
If you‘re only staying at VIU for one semester, some of the information presented might not be relevant to you and can feel a bit overwhelming at first.
VIU‘s orientation week is quite different from those at German universities. Instead of many parties like in Germany, the focus here is much more structured. It‘s about receiving important information, getting familiar with the campus, and making connections.
Additionally, there are quite a few international students from Germany at VIU. For this reason, I recommend consciously reaching out to students from other countries to build a diverse network. For example, our friend group met a Canadian student, and that same evening, we went to a lake together and planned several activities for the following days.
