My personal experiences in Canada and at Fanshawe
The only constant in life is the opposite of
constant and that is change. It can't get truer
than this in the life of students who always
seem to be on the move.
Today's interconnected world poses a lot of opportunities and challenges for students. One big step a student takes is when he decides to move to another country for the purpose of education. I am one of those students: I came from India to study Corporate Communications and Public Relations at Fanshawe. I am so glad to share some firsthand experiences here and offer insights about being an international student.
I was on cloud nine the day when I got my Canadian student visa. It was always my dream to study in a country like Canada and this dream had come true. There were so many things that I was looking forward to and I believed my life was going to change in a big way.
When I finally landed in Canada, I first noticed its strange beauty. Unlike in India, the roads were long and wide, and neat and tidy. There were far fewer people and I was enjoying my newfound freedom to walk in uncrowded roads — even the stores were spacious enough to have a comfortable stroll. Technologically, Canada was definitely far more advanced and superior. Fanshawe is huge and I felt lost for a few days as I was unable to figure out where my classes were. The infrastructure is state-of-the-art and there were all the facilities available that you will find in a top international university.
My classes began on September 3 and the faculty were well-qualified and knowledgeable about their subjects. They made us students feel extremely comfortable and relaxed on our first day. As our classes continued, it seemed evident that the professors demonstrated high standards of teaching. They were committed to their purpose and were quite effective in presenting the subject matter. It was striking to notice some significant differences in the style of teaching here from what it was back home in India. The classes were much more interactive and professors encouraged learning by using creative ways such as group discussions, presentations and even games. They also kept us on our toes and started giving us assignments and presentations to do in the first week. Initially, it overwhelmed us, but as we got into the groove of things, we felt better and gained more confidence.
Now I would like to share my general observations about the people and culture here. Since it was my first time travelling outside of India, I was unsure about how Canadians would treat Indians, and I wondered if I would be able to connect with the locals. My experience is that I have never, ever come across people more polite and humble than Canadians. They are warm and friendly people who welcome you with smiling faces. Whenever I enter a store, I find the customer service to be outstanding. Apart from that, the people here are equipped with extremely good etiquette and manners. For example, in class, the students respect the professor and automatically the entire class goes silent when the lecture begins. Of course, during breaks, they chat and talk, but they resume paying attention to the professor once the break is over. The professor doesn't need to be strict or force the class to listen to him; the class is mature enough to understand the value of the professor's time.
Canadians also refrain from making offensive or obscene gestures, and I have hardly seen any Canadian raising his or her voice or getting angry at someone. At the same, they are assertive enough to be straightforward and not beat around the bush.
I feel most Canadians are open-minded and think realistically, not idealistically. They don't get easily carried away by emotions and are practical about life, and they adhere strictly to their laws and stay within its bounds. Punctuality is a virtue which is highly valued and it can either make or break a deal. If you are talented in any way, it is recognized and appreciated. You can make use of your talent in the right direction and not end up fighting a losing battle.
After all these positive qualities about Canadians, still I can sense the gap between the locals and international students. Yes, most of the Canadians are courteous and welcoming, but to a limited extent. I have witnessed so many international students after having spent more than a year in Canada who still don't have any close Canadian friends. Whenever I roam around the college, most of what I see is that Indian students mingle with Indians, Chinese students with Chinese, Nigerian students with Nigerians and Canadian students with Canadians. I understand that there are cultural differences, but it is imperative to ignore them. Instead, one should focus on the good qualities about the other culture and try to enrich oneself by learning from them.
International students come from different backgrounds and it takes time for us to adjust to the new culture in Canada. The locals need to empathize with our circumstances and not have reservations about extending their friendliness to a personal level. And, on the other side, I believe the onus has to be on the international students as well to adapt to the local culture here and bring about a positive change in themselves, especially those who have spent a considerable time here. They should not be reluctant in taking the initiative and putting forth their thoughts.
It is natural yearning for humans to build emotional connections with people, and what's more amazing than creating an effective bond with people from different cultures? It will foster personal growth and cultivate affinity. And more importantly, the bond will be heart-touching, long-lasting and more meaningful than just clichéd fondness.
There is really so much to explore about different cultures and we could all benefit from this diversity. So, I encourage international students to make the most of your time in Canada.
What I have provided is a generalized observation about Canada and it may not be the same for every individual. Canadians score exceedingly high on the good quality list, but there are bound to be minor differences everywhere. You can easily overcome them by being open to challenges and overpowering them. This will strengthen your reputation and trust, thus drawing people towards you. Be rest assured to get blessed in Canada.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Today's interconnected world poses a lot of opportunities and challenges for students. One big step a student takes is when he decides to move to another country for the purpose of education. I am one of those students: I came from India to study Corporate Communications and Public Relations at Fanshawe. I am so glad to share some firsthand experiences here and offer insights about being an international student.
I was on cloud nine the day when I got my Canadian student visa. It was always my dream to study in a country like Canada and this dream had come true. There were so many things that I was looking forward to and I believed my life was going to change in a big way.
When I finally landed in Canada, I first noticed its strange beauty. Unlike in India, the roads were long and wide, and neat and tidy. There were far fewer people and I was enjoying my newfound freedom to walk in uncrowded roads — even the stores were spacious enough to have a comfortable stroll. Technologically, Canada was definitely far more advanced and superior. Fanshawe is huge and I felt lost for a few days as I was unable to figure out where my classes were. The infrastructure is state-of-the-art and there were all the facilities available that you will find in a top international university.
My classes began on September 3 and the faculty were well-qualified and knowledgeable about their subjects. They made us students feel extremely comfortable and relaxed on our first day. As our classes continued, it seemed evident that the professors demonstrated high standards of teaching. They were committed to their purpose and were quite effective in presenting the subject matter. It was striking to notice some significant differences in the style of teaching here from what it was back home in India. The classes were much more interactive and professors encouraged learning by using creative ways such as group discussions, presentations and even games. They also kept us on our toes and started giving us assignments and presentations to do in the first week. Initially, it overwhelmed us, but as we got into the groove of things, we felt better and gained more confidence.
Now I would like to share my general observations about the people and culture here. Since it was my first time travelling outside of India, I was unsure about how Canadians would treat Indians, and I wondered if I would be able to connect with the locals. My experience is that I have never, ever come across people more polite and humble than Canadians. They are warm and friendly people who welcome you with smiling faces. Whenever I enter a store, I find the customer service to be outstanding. Apart from that, the people here are equipped with extremely good etiquette and manners. For example, in class, the students respect the professor and automatically the entire class goes silent when the lecture begins. Of course, during breaks, they chat and talk, but they resume paying attention to the professor once the break is over. The professor doesn't need to be strict or force the class to listen to him; the class is mature enough to understand the value of the professor's time.
Canadians also refrain from making offensive or obscene gestures, and I have hardly seen any Canadian raising his or her voice or getting angry at someone. At the same, they are assertive enough to be straightforward and not beat around the bush.
I feel most Canadians are open-minded and think realistically, not idealistically. They don't get easily carried away by emotions and are practical about life, and they adhere strictly to their laws and stay within its bounds. Punctuality is a virtue which is highly valued and it can either make or break a deal. If you are talented in any way, it is recognized and appreciated. You can make use of your talent in the right direction and not end up fighting a losing battle.
After all these positive qualities about Canadians, still I can sense the gap between the locals and international students. Yes, most of the Canadians are courteous and welcoming, but to a limited extent. I have witnessed so many international students after having spent more than a year in Canada who still don't have any close Canadian friends. Whenever I roam around the college, most of what I see is that Indian students mingle with Indians, Chinese students with Chinese, Nigerian students with Nigerians and Canadian students with Canadians. I understand that there are cultural differences, but it is imperative to ignore them. Instead, one should focus on the good qualities about the other culture and try to enrich oneself by learning from them.
International students come from different backgrounds and it takes time for us to adjust to the new culture in Canada. The locals need to empathize with our circumstances and not have reservations about extending their friendliness to a personal level. And, on the other side, I believe the onus has to be on the international students as well to adapt to the local culture here and bring about a positive change in themselves, especially those who have spent a considerable time here. They should not be reluctant in taking the initiative and putting forth their thoughts.
It is natural yearning for humans to build emotional connections with people, and what's more amazing than creating an effective bond with people from different cultures? It will foster personal growth and cultivate affinity. And more importantly, the bond will be heart-touching, long-lasting and more meaningful than just clichéd fondness.
There is really so much to explore about different cultures and we could all benefit from this diversity. So, I encourage international students to make the most of your time in Canada.
What I have provided is a generalized observation about Canada and it may not be the same for every individual. Canadians score exceedingly high on the good quality list, but there are bound to be minor differences everywhere. You can easily overcome them by being open to challenges and overpowering them. This will strengthen your reputation and trust, thus drawing people towards you. Be rest assured to get blessed in Canada.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
