Here is the current line-up of Cultural Assistants. If you want to talk to a CA, try phoning the CA / Student Lounge at 604-822-3255.

Abriel	Abriel Chan loves singing, eating, volleyball, table tennis, piano, and rugby. He likes to eat steak and potatoes and listens to any music that sounds good. He looks up to Steve Nash because he continuously aims to achieve higher goals in athletic performance and charity work. His message to students is to “Work hard and play harder!“ back to top
Anne	Anne Stroemer or “Anna banana” as she’s most affectionately called by her friends is studying Linguistics. Her hobbies include skiing, traveling, and theater acting. Her favorite food is the Schnitzel (obviously, since she’s German) and anything involving chocolate. Her favorite Canadian is Jim Carey because she thinks he is hilarious and a talented actor. Her message is, “Vancouver is a beautiful and exciting place to be; enjoy every sunny day and make the best of the rainy ones!“ back to top
Ayesha	Ayesha Kanani or “Ayesh” is studying Psychology. She likes doing crafts, drawing, painting, running, hiking, attempting to play instruments (but failing miserably), going to concerts, watching movies and collecting records. She listens to Blues music and her favorite band is The Black Keys. Her message to students is, “Have fun! ELI has so many great activities set up that will allow you to explore Vancouver and meet new people. Don’t miss out! I’m looking forward to meeting you all so please come and say hi!“ back to top
Clarissa	Clarissa Chang or Chang, Rissa or Claire Bear is studying Psychology with a minor is Law and Society. She likes eating every kind of food and is always looking to trying new things. Clarissa loves to dance especially to Run DMC! Her other hobbies include eating, singing, being silly and laughing with her friends and family. Her message to students is: “Hi everyone! Welcome to ELI! The scariest part is approaching someone to say hi, but once you get that part out of the way, only good things can come! =)” back to top
Claudia	Claudia Chung or “CC” likes singing, baking, reading, taking pictures of everyday life, blogging about random things and running. Her message is, “Welcome to Vancouver! I hope you all enjoy your stay here and at UBC. You will all get to meet a lot of different people from around the world. Make new friends, practice speaking English and most importantly, HAVE FUN! Don’t be shy and talk to me or to the other CAs anytime !“ back to top
Clement	Clement Leung is studying Food Market Analysis and his favourite food is hot pot, anything noodles related and tacos! Clement enjoys listening to 80s rock and is a self-proclaimed metal head that loves to explore all genres of music (recently got into classical music). He is a music enthusiast and is passionate about playing the guitar. Clement also enjoys travelling, swimming, watching movies and drinking coffee. His message to students is: “Welcome to Vancouver! For me, Vancouver is the multicultural centre of the world. People from all over to world can come gather and share their own piece of culture here. Despite being in a completely foreign city, you’ll definitely be able to adapt with ease and feel that the city is quite like a home away from home! UBC is undoubtedly a world class school and I guarantee that you will have a memorable stay here. Just kick back and enjoy your time in one of the most amazing cities in the world!” back to top
Dan	Dan Inoue is studying Asian Studies. His hobbies include art (mainly drawing), photography, movies and TV, bicycling, working out at the gym, running, all racket sports, basketball, volleyball, and American football! His message is, “Hey guys! I think it’s great that you guys chose the ELI here at UBC. Vancouver is truly one of the best places to experience diverse cultures and to meet awesome people from literally everywhere! By working hard at the ELI, not only will you be proficient in English, but you will be able to converse, connect and develop amazing friendships with all these phenomenal people. I think the key things to remember while you’re here are to get out there, grab all opportunities, be confident, speak English and have a blast.“ back to top
Elaine	Elaine Wong or “Ellen” is studying Sociology, English Literature. She likes hot yoga, blogging, teaching English, singing, reading, volunteering, and treasure seeking. Her message is, “It’s all about the experience! You’ll never know until you try.“ back to top
Elise	Elise Hirschi is studying Interdisciplinary Studies in Public and Global Health and Spanish. Her favorite food is Ceviche, sushi and most other types of raw seafood. Elise likes to listen to a wide range of music including alternative rock, indie rock and rock from Mexico, Spain and the Caribbean. Her hobbies include bike riding, hiking, whitewater rafting, snowshoeing, urban gardening, farming, Karaoke and volunteering at local art shows. Her message is “All you need is love”. back to top
Jason	Jason Wong or “JJ” is studying Biochemistry. He likes learning various languages (sign language included!), eating out with good friends, teaching English, volunteering, shopping, watching Youtube videos, going out to random cafes and reading. He likes Ramen and listens to classical and pop music. His message is, “I hope you have a great time here in Vancouver~! If anything ever comes up, feel free to come to me and ask for help! “ back to top
Jon	Jon Anthony G. Austrom or “Johnny A” is studying Marketing and International Business. He loves outdoor activities such as skiing in Whistler, surfing (or more accurately put, learning to surf) in Tofino, hiking and camping. He also loves to eat, and half the fun is cooking a nice meal with friends. Whenever he gets a chance in between classes, he shoots some hoops, hits the gym and finishes it off with a nice sauna and steam. He is always looking to explore new places and meet new people, so if you enjoy any of the things he mentioned you should hang out with him! His message is, “Vancouver is an incredibly beautiful place. The cultural diversity that this world-class city has to offer is just one of the many aspects that make it such an exciting place to live! While your studies are important, what you can learn outside the classroom is equally valuable, so be sure to take advantage of everything the ELI has to offer! I hope to share with you some of things that I love to do in this great city to help make your experience here at UBC memorable.“ back to top
Jonathan	Jonathan Tang is studying Linguistics/Speech Science. He likes inline skating a.k.a. rollerblading, improving his longboard riding skills around campus, staying busy with campus involvement, talking about vowels and consonants (yes, he is a real Linguistics geek), procrastinating on homework. His message is, “This is one of my favourite movie quotes and I think it’s really applicable to everyone in all aspects of life, There are no limitations. What you believe, you will achieve. With that said, I look forward to helping you achieve your goals at the ELI.“ back to top
Joy	Joy Kwa likes reading, eating, baking, listening to music, making new friends, web designing and watching TV. Her message is, “Hi everyone, welcome to beautiful Vancouver! It’s a gorgeous city and UBC is an absolutely amazing campus. Get ready for a ton of FUN, new experiences and new friends (like me!)“ back to top
Kanaiya	Kanaiya Mutua or Papa K is studying Political Science. His favourite foods include Ethiopian, Indian, Italian, SE Asian and anything with tasty spices! He enjoys listening to rock music and any catchy top 40 songs (yes, you too..admit it!). Kanaiya’s loves playing ultimate Frisbee and soccer. He enjoys being outside when it’s sunny, picnicking with friends, hiking and taking in exciting things in Vancouver! Kanaiya’s message to students is: “Have fun! Speak often! Challenge yourselves to step out of your comfort zone daily and remember: we are here for you and want the best for you!” back to top
Karin	Karin Olafson is studying English Literature. She loves to eat desserts and enjoys listening to folk and 80s rock music. Karin’s hobbies include road biking, hiking and trail running. Her message to students is: “You’ve made a great choice coming to Vancouver! I am excited to get to know you and show you this city.” back to top
Kita	Makita Desilets is studying Sociology & Modern European Studies. She likes dancing, singing, silly faces, eating, and fashion. Her message is, “Do something that scares you everyday, and don’t forget to SMILE!!!“ back to top
My	My Le or Mymeo is studying Marketing and International Business. She likes to eat exotic and spicy foods! My enjoys listening to classical violin and piano, pop and country music. Her hobbies include dancing (ballroom and latin dance), backpacking and smiling. My has a recipe for students:3 cups of “Do not be afraid to make mistakes” 5 table spoons of “Open up yourself to new experiences” 2 barrels of “Live. Love. Laugh!” and… 4 quarts of “Reach out to us, your beloved CAs!” back to top
Nathan	Nathan Batara is studying Anthropology. He likes board sports, rock climbing and music jams. His message is, “Some of the things planned around Vancouver makes me want to be an ELI student myself. Take advantage of the awesome opportunities to experience the culture and the people. I look forward to meeting all of you and having a great summer!“ back to top
Neil	Niel Chah is studying Political Science and English language. He likes reading, writing (prose and poetry), painting, and some sports (soccer and running) among others. His message is, “I hope you come to enjoy your time in Vancouver, especially at UBC’s English Language Institute. As a student myself, I think enjoying what you learn is an important part of education, more so when language fluency is at stake. But learning shouldn’t be confined to just what goes on in the classroom. I would like to challenge you to reach out to your fellow students and teachers so that you may develop friendships, learn about different cultures, and make the most of your experience here. I am sure you’ll come to enjoy it!“ back to top
Rachel	Rachel Kwok is studying English Literature. She likes eating & photographing food, traveling, reading, writing, cooking, baking, laughing, shopping, procrastinating.. the list goes on. Her message is, “Hello all! Welcome to the ELI! Vancouver is a great place to be and to practice English. It is filled with exciting locations, vibrant restaurants and unique shops for us to explore. Please feel free to approach anyone of us if you have any concerns and we’ll try our best to assist !“ back to top
Rodrigo	Rodrigo Cuadra or Rod/Roddy is studying Finance/International Business at UBC. He likes to eat sushi and listen to hip hop. Rodrigo’s favourite Canadian Jarome Iginla and enjoys playing baseball, working out and playing NHL 2012 (video game). His message is “Give yourselves a pat on the back for choosing Vancouver as the city that will not only be the location where you develop your English language skills, but also the place you call home. It will be an experience of a lifetime. Arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with its white capped mountains, vast waters that seems to go on forever, and fresh greenery that makes the arid regions of the world envious, Vancouver is one of a kind. With many activities to choose from for any kind of person, such as cycling, walking, running, snowboarding, skiing, golfing, swimming, as well as numerous sites to visit such as museums, galleries, and well-known landmarks, it will be difficult for any of you to wake up one day and not find something to do. Take it in, enjoy it, live it, and good luck!” back to top
Stephen	Stephen Wong or Steve/Stevo is studying pharmacology in the Faculty of Science. His favourite food includes blueberries, sushi, steak, and lasagna. Stephen loves to play hockey and is a big Vancouver Canucks fan. Stephen also enjoys playing soccer and other sports. Stephen’s favourite Canadian is Steve Nash, as he’s a great ambassador for the country and contributes a large amount to the community… and he has the same name. His message is, “Hi ELI students! Welcome to Vancouver, one of the most beautiful cities to live in and one of the most culturally diverse in the world. I hope you enjoy your stay here and experience many things beyond learning English. Feel free to talk to me whenever!” back to top