"Where in the World?!" Co-op Photo Contest, 2021

Brielle Chenier, Mechatronics Engineering, on her work term in Seattle, Washington, USA. - "This picture was taken on the plane close to Seattle and I was very happy to see mountains again after being away from them for over a year. Throughout my work term, I enjoyed spending a lot of my time away from work hiking with friends and enjoying nature."

Ghayas Salha, Chemical Engineering, on his work term in Morocco. - "This picture was taken in the north of Morocco. In this street (called Marqala), we can see Spain from the other side while walking on the Moroccan shore. It was a rainy, calm Sunday morning. This street is usually very busy, but I was lucky enough to walk there alone meditating and thinking about how small this world really is."

Mai Anh Le, Statistics Mathematics, on her work term in Vietnam. - "Before the start of my coop I took a cross-country road trip with my parents. We discovered the western part of my country, a place where I’ve never been to in my entire life. We visited the Cajuput Forest, home to many endangered stork species, birds, and plants. The view of a thousand storks taking off at dawn was breathtaking, so much that I couldn’t move to take a picture. Instead, I took a picture of the bamboo bridge, which led through the entire forest. As an international student I travel 16,000 miles back and forth every year, but this is the first time I discovered how much I don’t know about my own country - a hidden gem only 300 miles from my home."

Ravpreet Singh Sethi, Mechatronics Engineering, on his work term in Kuwait. - "2020 was a tough year for me as I had been away from my family for a really long time. I went home in Fall 2020 and enjoyed my study term from there. My Winter 2021 term too went really well thanks to my supportive family and supervisor. This photo was taken one early morning in February when my dad woke us all up at 4 am wanting go see the sunrise. My mom made some sandwiches for all of us and decided to have breakfast there. My sister and I were so sleepy that we slept in the car till we reached the beach but once there, we were awestruck. It was such a beautiful view and all of us just sat there for 2 hours enjoying the sun in the cold weather. This photo is really special to me as it reminds me of that lovely morning we had and the moments we cherished. My work term too was really hectic the week before and hence this change was really great for the weekend. Now that I am back in Canada, I look back at that time and hope to be home soon."

Tim (Bowen) Nie, Mathematics, on his work term in Jiangxi, China. - "Mount Lu (or Lushan National Park), is one of the most popular tourist spots in Jiangxi, China. This photo was taken at the trail near the tourist service center, and an elderly worker with a shoulder pole was carrying all the garbage collected from the mountains to the disposal center. Due to the special conditions in the mountainous area and the shortage of mechanical garbage collecting tools, these workers can only collect garbage and clean the sightseeing area by hand. Their cleaning job is very risky, because if their ropes failed to support them, then they will face severe injury or even death. Therefore, I decided to take a photo of his back, to commemorate their dedication and sacrifice."

Cris Shi, Environmental Engineering, on her work term in Shanghai, China. - "I was working in Shanghai during my 2021 Fall work term. The hustle and bustle of large and modern city can bring you excitement, but also sometimes can make you feel tired. During a holiday, I visited a small town called Qingyuan. I took this photo in an ancient house which belongs to a friend of my parents. We arrived at noon so the sun shone through the roof just perfectly. Away from the busy city, the light can have shape and everything seems to slow down. I can put myself into the nature, slow down and feel free."

Chuxi Xiong, Science and Business, on her work term in Anyi, China. - "During my international work term, I was stressed as I was extremely busy and it felt like there was too much work to do. I felt frustrated and lost my optimism towards the work. My friend suggested to go to this countryside village called Anyi which is about 2 hours from my workplace. I found these interesting herds of cattle and sheep. They were not afraid of people and cars, and they did not try to avoid us but kept walking firmly. This reminded me of the geese in Waterloo :) These animals inspired me to face my difficulties and solve them step by step. Besides, the air in the countryside was cool and fresh, which refreshed my mind. This trip made me stay positive and become ready for any challenges."

Ayman Mahin Gostar, Environment and Business, on his work term in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. - "I had to take an aerial shot of the roof of one of my employer’s clients for our marketing collateral. While on the rooftop, I began to gaze upon the of spectacular view of the city from where I stood. This photo brought me joy for two main reasons. The first is that it made me realize how much I enjoyed my job this term as it involved making many new discoveries and exploring, something which was greatly limited during the pandemic. Second, while taking this photo, I noticed the blue sky, the ocean, the beautifully designed buildings, as well as the roads. It truly fascinated me how all these spectacular achievements were built in such a short time on top of a dry desert. It made me appreciate how people are truly talented in achieving the impossible and can make such great progress when they set their minds to it. It also made me fall in love with the city I grew up in even more as I stood from above, watching life in the city advance."