KUALA LUMPUR: FOUR Malaysian secondary students had an opportunity of a life-changing journey of discovery and learning when they were chosen to be part of the recent Students on Ice (SOI) 2015 Arctic Expedition.
Together with more than 100 high school and university students from across Canada and around the world, they converged on Ottawa to begin a two-week expedition on board the MS Ocean Endeavour to Greenland and the Canadian High Arctic.
Through hands-on learning, the youth fostered a greater understanding and respect for the history, culture and ecological diversity of the Arctic, and the changes it faces.
Beginning in Ottawa, this vessel and land-based journey explored the communities, coasts and fiords of western Greenland before crossing the Davis Straits to Canada's High Arctic.
The expedition also passed through the eastern entrance of the Northwest Passage and included visits to Pond Inlet, Sirmilk National Park and Beechey Island.
For Nurul Izzaidah Zulkiflie, one of her memorable experiences was the first sight of the icebergs. "My feelings were indescribable. I was astonished by everything. We saw a polar bear swimming only a few hundred metres from us.
"It never crossed my mind that I would see Arctic wildlife one day. I will never forget the incredible sight of bird cliffs and the thousands of bird colonies."
Read Nurul Izzaidah and three other Malaysian students' stories as they shared their precious moments with Learning Curve's reporter ZULITA MUSTAFA in New Sunday Times, this Sunday, Oct 11.