Columbia International College

The Euphoric First Day @ a New School, In a New Country.

Everything is new and exciting. So, you are new to Canada. So, you are new to Columbia International College.

So, you are fascinated by the new culture, the new school, the new uniform, the new academic structure.

So, you take in the sights of Toronto & you are awed by Niagara Falls.

So, you are enjoying the pizzas, the poutine, the meat and potatoes, the maple syrup … and that cup of Tim Hortons.

But, slowly, the sweetness of maple syrup and novelty of it all started to lose its appeal.

Down the Rabbit Hole – Arrival @ Culture Shock

The excitement is long gone, and as you look around, differences are slowly emerging around you. You start to experience homesickness and loneliness. You start asking questions about your school, your new friends, your surroundings…and you may be frustrated and angry as some of these questions may yield no answers.

What are these feelings? These uncomfortable and queasy emotions that seemed to weigh down on you as you attempt to make sense of all that is happening. Welcome to Culture Shock – a condition common to international students. Culture Shock is a reaction that you experience when you find yourself in a new culture and environment, far removed from values and belief that are common to your home country.

Moving to a new country, studying abroad, experiencing language barriers and facing new challenges in an alien environment may be an exciting prospect for some, and a scary one for others. When you move to a new place, you will face a lot of changes and experience a lot of differences.

This experience can be exciting, challenging and rewarding, but it can also be nerve whacking and overwhelming. You may feel a myriad of emotions that ranged from happiness and excitement to frustration and sadness. At times, you may even be tempted to just throw in the towel and go home!

But here’s the good news; culture shock is only temporary. With some work, it will go away.

Method of ‘No Method’ to Culture Shock

Elements to the ‘No Method’:

• Make Friends: Getting to know more people and opening up different channels of communication is a healthy way to understand your new surroundings and share in your new experiences.
• Find time to develop a Hobby - be it reading, visiting the Bookstore or indulging in a new sport.
• Make sure to include some form of regular physical activity into your routine. It is very healthy, and it allows you to observe a sense of routine that will help to relieve loneliness and combat homesickness.
• Keep in regular contact with your family and friends from back home: it will boost your morale and assurance to know that there are many who are rooting for you, and supporting you.
• Also, at Columbia International College, there are counselors in the Guidance and University Placement Office that you can talk to. You can also approach the International Liaison Counselors at Room 163; they are very helpful in assisting with the students’ transition into CIC and Canada.

An Adjusted Confidence

Remember, you are not alone in this. Understand that this is an excellent way in experience life, and know that you will reap the rewards of a study abroad experience sooner than you think possible! Adjusting to a new culture, a new country, a new school with new faces and a foreign language may seem difficult, but do keep everything in perspective and have an open mind to all the differences around you.

You will find that life as an international student is a wonderful time where you will grow as a person, and introduce into your life, new perspectives, new ways of thinking and opportunities to foster life-long friendships and relationships with people across the globe.