Preparing for your transition
From University of Lethbridge
Being an international student is not easy, regardless of the country that you come from or the country that you are going to. The feeling of being away from your family, entering into a new environment, or having to face a new culture can be scary and can create a lot of anxiety.
However, studying in a new country does not need to be a difficult experience. As a recently graduated international student from the University of Lethbridge I can say with confidence that going to a new school can be quite invigorating, it just depends on your attitude towards change and your eagerness to meet people at your new school. I will use examples from my own experiences at the U of L to explain.
Through personal experience I have learned that there is no exact formula that will help you prepare for your travel to Canada. Getting a study permit, deciding the right dates for your travel and packing all of your favorite items in only two suitcases is the easy part. The University of Lethbridge provides all new international students with a pre-departure guide that will direct you in a step-by-step process on how to get everything in order before you come to Canada.
The difficult part is to mentally prepare to be amazed and to consciously recognize that you will be away from your family and friends for a while; and unfortunately there is nothing you can do to prepare for that. At the same time, as an international student you must consider the fact that the possibilities for differences between your home country and Canada are infinite.
The food will be unusual, the culture will appear strange, the language will sound unfamiliar, even the taste of water will appear bizarre at first. However do not let any of these differences discourage you from wanting to experience new things, because hanging on to what is familiar might not be the best attitude to have when you first come to a new country.
What eased my own transition to a new country and a new school was meeting other new international students who were going through the same adjustment process as I was. The best place to do so at University of Lethbridge is through the New International Student Orientation where, in addition to learning about cultural and academic differences, you can participate in fun games and even get a tour of the city.
Another important aspect of adjusting to a new environment is to feel comfortable in asking questions. If there is anything that you have doubts about, having somebody you can trust and who can give you the right answers might save you from having a stressful time.
As a new international student at the University of Lethbridge you can contact other international students even before coming to Canada through the Global Ambassador program. After attending the New International Student Orientation, international students are welcomed to join a peer-support group called S.P.E.A.R. This group is lead by experienced students that will provide guidance and mentorship during your first semester at the university, as well as organize fun activities and events.
Most importantly, the group leaders from the S.P.E.A.R. program will point you in the right direction whenever you need to know where to find the right service to solve any of your academic or social difficulties.
Overall, the University of Lethbridge offers all the necessary tools before and after your arrival on campus in order to make your transition as smooth as possible. However having the right attitude for traveling to a new country is entirely up to you.
An open mind to new experiences and excitement for meeting new people is what will really determine whether your adjustment period to a new country and a new school will be quick and fun, or slow and scary.
Yevgen Fedotov, International Student Advisor, University of Lethbridge (B.A. 2008)
