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I’ve always believed maps hold much more than roads; they hold intention and meaning. As an urban planning student specializing in urban design at the University of Waterloo in Canada, I’ve spent the past four years studying how spaces shape people, and how people shape the planet consequently. My upcoming exchange in Dundee, Scotland, is more than an academic semester; it’s an opportunity for me to practice sustainable travel and evolve as a responsible global citizen.
This will be my first time in Europe. As a kid, I envisioned myself travelling Europe through books, films, and stories I’d hear from relatives and friends. I learned to explore through imagination without leaving my room. But now I’ve been given a chance to explore Europe first-hand. A chance to write my own stories and create my own films.
However, I recognize that international travel leaves a trace. I’ve learned to consider not only the distance I travel, but the impact I leave behind. That’s why I’ve committed to tracking my carbon footprint throughout the journey using carbon footprint calculators to ensure I limit my carbon emissions. Additionally, I’ll prioritize train travel using apps like TrainPal, which shows how much carbon emissions I’ve reduced choosing train over other travel modes. If flying becomes necessary, I’ll opt for sustainable budget airlines, like EasyJet, which, according to Sustainability Magazine, ranks among the top 10 most sustainable airlines globally.
I will be traveling light as I plan to shop secondhand in Dundee for essentials, walk as much as I can, reuse containers, and cook with local ingredients. These are everyday choices that echo the values of UN Sustainable Development Goals 11, 12 , and 13. Small actions won’t fix everything, but no actions will fix nothing.
In Dundee, I plan to enroll in environmental modules that explore remote sensing, sustainability, and green urbanism. These are lenses I’ll be able to apply when I return to Toronto, Canada. I want to weave threads between Canada’s vastness and Scotland’s intimacy. They are both so rich in greenery, and there is no better time than now to preserve their landscapes for the future. I’m fascinated by how Scotland preserves its natural terrains and integrates them into urban form. Whilst Canada presents its unique planning challenges, I believe the knowledge I gain about the Scottish landscape and their environmental preservation methods will help me bring fresh insight into how we grow and protect our own cities in Canada.
Sustainability, to me, is personal. My parents, both of whom are immigrants, made sure I knew that what we waste doesn’t disappear…it just ends up somewhere else. I’ve lived with that awareness my whole life, and it has shaped how I move through the world.
My semester abroad isn’t just about academics or travel, it’s about alignment. Aligning what I believe with how I live. Aligning curiosity with caution. Aligning planning with preservation. Most importantly, aligning my footprints in the right direction on the map, with meaning and intention.
