It is often said that man is a social animal which is true because no one can survive alone for long and a person always needs people around to be able to talk, share, and enjoy life. This is the reason why it becomes difficult for anyone to live in a place where there is no one to interact with or share emotions, feelings, and opinions. A situation like this could be very dangerous as it could lead to serious consequences. Many students who move to various foreign countries like Canada face this and find it difficult to adjust to the new surroundings and culture as everything for them is unfamiliar in a new country. To be able to settle easily you must consider the country you want to go to considering all the aspects and then prepare yourself so that you do not face homesickness or loneliness in a foreign land. Canada is a land of diverse cultures as people of different cultures live there, therefore it is the best place for anyone to live comfortably. Let’s see how you can easily adjust to Canadian culture.
Major adjustment issues that an international student faces in Canada:
Language Barrier: Not being able to speak in the native language in any place causes a lot of practical problems as well as social problems as one is not able to express well. If you are not well versed in the local language, you will not be able to make friends there which will make you feel lonely as there will be no one with whom you can share your thoughts, ideas, sorrows, and happiness. If this situation lasts long then there are chances that you become homesick and depressed.
Cultural Shock: When you are in a culturally different country, it is obvious that you will keep on getting cultural shocks now and then because what is normal there is completely abnormal or inappropriate for you, for example, the way people dress up in one culture could be just the opposite in the other. Most people in India prefer dressing conservatively, however, in Western countries it is the opposite.
How to Cope-up with these issues:
- Improve English Language Skills
As you have decided to go to Canada, you must know that it is important to clear any of the English proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL. The reason for having this as an important criterion is that when you reach Canada, you can communicate in one of the local languages which makes it easy for you to study, work, or live there. This clearly shows that knowing the native language is extremely important. You should make sure that you are a good speaker of the language when you move and you should continue to learn and polish your skills even when you are in Canada to excel in whatever you do or just for survival.
- Be Polite & Respectful
Politeness is an important part of Canadian culture and is certainly a very significant human trait. You must be polite always when you talk or interact with anyone, anywhere to ensure that nobody gets offended by you. It is also needed that you respect every person and every activity as it is of value to them. In no scenario you should be disrespectful or make fun of others as it could lead to more enemies than friends in a foreign land.
- Make Efforts to Talk to People of Different Cultures
It is considered very normal to talk to people of the same culture when you are in a new country but it is always beneficial to make friends with people of different cultures because it helps you to learn more about their culture which will give you better exposure and make you more flexible and adjusting. You will be able to share accommodation with a person of any culture easily. To do this you must start with small talks about general things so that they also feel comfortable talking to you and have no issues being your acquaintances. Do not be intrusive and talk about personal things as it makes people uncomfortable.
- Stay Connected to the Family & Friends at Home Country
It is always helpful to keep connected to people back home so that you do not feel left out suddenly. By doing so you can share all the new experiences with your close ones which will not make you feel lonely. Also, knowing that you have people who love you and wish you well the time gives mental strength you to keep working towards your goals.
- Find Communities of Home Country
There are various communities of different cultures and countries in Canada that you can be part of. These keep organizing events and celebrating your festivals, therefore if you are a member of any of them then you do not miss home that much. They will make Canada a home away from home for you.
- Locate Familiar Places and Things
If you are in a place where nothing is as it was for you before this then you miss each small thing of the home country which is heart-wrenching at times. Hence, you must look for places and things that are from your home country, for example, a restaurant that serves food from your country or a grocery store that sells things that are used in your country. When you can buy the same food and other consumer durables then the foreign land starts looking less foreign.
- Be Patient & Progress Slowly
Nothing good can happen overnight in this world, therefore you need to be patient and give time to yourself to adapt to the new place. You should progress slowly, taking one step at a time so make sure you learn better and grow as a person while you are focusing on your core purpose in the new country. Do not be in a hurry as this will not take you anywhere.
- Contact the Counselor if Needed
Lastly, you might face issues even after you have tried a lot from your end, in such cases do not be shy to take professional help. Do contact a good counselor who could guide you regularly to help you cope with the specific challenges you are facing in specific. There are a lot of such services available in Canada which are quite good, you can pick any one that suits you.