So you just recently landed from abroad to pursue your study? Congratulations if you’ve made it this far! We think you need to keep on reading all these essentials to help you survive your study in a different country.
1. Take it down a notch
Being new to everything around you -school, place to live, surroundings, culture, people, can feel overwhelming. You’re not the only one, chances are your classmates feel the same, too. Give everybody some time to open up and get comfortable and go with the flow when it comes to making a new friendship.
2. Introduce yourself to a stranger.
Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you or anyone in your class, or the one that you spot on your online class! It always works as a great icebreaker and releases some tension between two unknown people. Try not to feel scared or disheartened if a few people are not taking the initiative to talk to you or introduce themselves. Some people are born shy! If you are a typical outgoing person, you may take the initiative to speak up. And before you know it, you have a new friend already.
3. Speak to your professors
If you realize in the first few weeks of class that the teaching and learning method in the school is completely different from your home country, nothing to worry about. If you feel too shy to ask your classmates any questions, why don’t you speak to your professors directly? Open communication by letting them know that you are not accustomed to this style of learning and you need a few suggestions to help you cope. You’ll be surprised at how helpful they can be.
4. Join clubs
Take this opportunity to join clubs or participate in extracurricular activities, or better yet, be involved in some voluntary works. This is another way to make new friends and truly learn about the culture of the new country.
5. Get to know as many people as possible
Remember, a connection is an asset. Not only will friends help in your personal life, but also your professional life. You are just starting your life in a new country and the best thing about it is to make as many friends as possible, those who may also mutually benefiting from each other’s professional life someday shortly.
6. Be open to new ideas
You need to admit that one of the reasons why you decided to study in a new country is to gain a global perspective and growing yourself. Then we don’t see why you should hold back from being open to new ideas and new ways of doing things. It’s great to wake up every day feeling excited about something.
7. Be global
Try and learn what people in your new country do, how they do it, why they do it, also if you are studying in a multicultural city like Toronto, try and learn what people from countries other than Canada do. Chances are, you’ll love all the cultural differences that keep you grounded.
8. Stay fit
Work out regularly to keep you and your mind in shape. Go to the gym or join a sports club, indoors or outdoors both sound amazing. Any form of exercise is a good stress buster and who knows, you might just make a few new connections there as well.
9. Have patience
Give everything some time because things won’t just happen overnight. Your vaccine certificate from back home needs to be uploaded to local public health before your second shot? Follow the procedure. Going busing everywhere because you are required to take a long road just to get a driver’s license? Be patient and follow every step of the way. Everything will gradually fall into place until you’ll realize exactly why you embarked on this wonderful journey in the first place.