3 Arriving
Congratulations, you’ve landed in your city! This chapter will focus on your first days getting set up, and what to expect in terms of cultural transitions. First, in the video below we introduce our storytellers Heejin, Joe, Ishita, and Stephanie as they share their “arriving” stories. Please note: If you’re in a location where you can’t view our videos, or prefer to find the content in an alternative format, all chapter video transcripts can be found here in Appendix B.
Arriving at the Airport
If you are entering Canada by air, you might want to get a sense of how far the airport will be from your place of accommodation. Most online mapping platforms will allow you to estimate this distance and to compare different modes of transportation (e.g. public buses, underground subways, or trains; taxis or cabs; or ride sharing services such as Uber or Lyft).
If you are travelling by public transportation to your residence, remember to have a modest amount of Canadian cash (dollar bills or coins), just in case you are unable to purchase tickets or passes by credit card. Also note that some buses or trains might not accept cash when you board – in this case, look for automated teller machines at stations or stops where you can buy a ticket or pass beforehand.
In late summer and early fall, some colleges and universities might have a presence at the airport in the form of a welcome booth. The staff at these booths can offer you information to help you navigate the airport, transportation system, and the city more broadly. And if you ever find yourself lost, look for an information booth (often marked with the symbol “i”) which are mostly found in high-traffic areas or in the arrivals terminal after you leave the customs and luggage areas.
You might also see SIM or prepaid phone cards available for purchase at stores at the airport from a limited number of phone service providers. However, we recommend that you wait before signing up for a plan with monthly (or recurring) fees because airports often have free Wi-Fi that you can use to quickly connect with friends and family. You can always set up a phone plan after reviewing the options from different service providers and making an informed (and unrushed) decision that’s best for your needs and budget.
Listen to Michelle’s “Arriving” story and her advice for planning your arrival
In the audio clip above, Michelle offers some advice about timing your arrival in Canada, based on her own experience. Listen and/or read the conversation below:
Michelle: So it was pretty smooth except for the jet lag part – because I remember the second day, I was just so out. I was just not Michelle. I was not Michelle because I was just, it was just so painful to not sleep, but then you kind of need sleep, but then you’re not doing it because you need to make that adjustment quickly!
Vurjeet: Especially with like, I don’t know if you came before school, but if you were coming like kind of close to when school was starting that would be even harder with jet lag and having to deal with the timezone difference and stuff.
Michelle: Yeah, I think I mean, for future reference, if I have to give advice to incoming freshmen or first years from, like, outside of Ontario or outside of Canada, it’s definitely to plan, you know, a few days before school starts. Because I came like a day and a half before school officially started. That was, I guess it was really hectic. So if you’re planning to come to Canada, it’s better to have like four or five days just so that you can adjust yourself.
Vurjeet: Oh totally. I mean, even as a domestic student coming from Saskatchewan, which is only two provinces over, I’ve like been – one thing that I’ve learned – I’m in third year now – but one thing that I learned from first year was I need buffer periods. And that’s not even, that’s with like a one, two hour timezone difference you know? So I can’t even imagine what it’s like for international students, you know, having to make that transition already is difficult enough. Having to make that transition along with the environmental changes and the time changes. Also, cultural, cultural changes. It must have been a lot!
Getting set up: Bank accounts, additional documentation, and phone plans
Banking in Canada
If you haven’t already, one task you’ll want to cross off your to-do list soon is setting up a bank account with a Canadian banking institution. This will allow you to make several important transactions; for example, the ability to pay your college or university tuition fees, or to provide cheques to your landlord for first and last months’ rent for your accommodation lease. You also must have a bank account to receive wages from your employer if you take on a part-time job during your studies.
As an international student, you may be eligible for certain incentives from your bank – ask about these options so that you receive benefits or reduced charges. To figure out the best banking plan or institution for you, check out this resource from the Canadian Bankers Association that provides advice specifically for newcomers to Canada: https://cba.ca/newcomers-to-canada
You will also want to consider getting a Social Insurance Number (SIN), which is a 9-digit number that you require in order to work in Canada or to have access to government programs and benefits. You will also need a SIN if you want to file an income tax return in Canada. You can apply for a SIN online, by mail, or in-person at a Service Canada office. Learn more details here: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/apply.html
Planning to work during your studies? Know your rights
If you are an international student with full-time registration status and a valid study permit, you may be eligible to work both on-campus and off-campus with certain conditions. Learn more about the full eligibility requirements here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work.html
If you are unsure about your eligibility to work, check with the staff at your learning institution – there will be international student or immigration advisors who can help you with your questions.
International students may choose to have a part-time job during their studies for a variety of reasons – to earn extra income for covering cost-of-living expenses; to participate in a required internship as part of their academic program; or to make friends and build their networks. Whatever your reasons may be, it’s important to know about your rights as an employee:
- Learn about workplace rights in Ontario here at https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/atwork/workplacerights_fs.php
- Find information about working in Ontario in additional languages such as French, Arabic, Chinese, Tami, and more at https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/multi/index.php
- Are you under the age of 25? Check out the Government of Ontario’s page for workers under the age of 25, which has videos, tips, and other resources: https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/atwork/youngworkers.php
If you are concerned about the working conditions at your job, make sure to speak with a trusted mentor, friend, or advisor who can direct you to the appropriate on-campus office (e.g. student union or international office) to discuss your concerns and options.
Phone plans
Another priority for many international students is setting up a phone plan so that they can make and receive calls, browse online content, and stream music or videos. Here are some tips for finding a budget-friendly phone plan:
- Bring an unlocked phone with you; this will lower the cost of your overall plan as you will not be paying for a brand-new device within your monthly fees
- “Shop around” and compare plans offered by different phone providers before making your final decision; if you find cheaper options for comparable plans, ask providers if they will price-match
- Get recommendations from your friends about their phone plans and if they are satisfied with their providers’ signal strength, streaming quality, and customer service
- Also note that if you are living on (or spending a lot of time at) your campus, Wi-Fi will likely be widely available, so you might not require robust data capacity
Driving in Ontario
Finally, if you currently drive a vehicle and plan to drive while living in Ontario, you may be eligible to trade your current license for an Ontario driver’s license. Check in with your local Service Ontario office for more details at https://www.ontario.ca/locations/serviceontario
If you are a new driver, you will have to participate in Ontario’s graduated licensing program; learn more about Ontario’s graduated licensing program at https://www.ontario.ca/page/drivers-licence
Getting your bearings
Your first few days will likely feel like a blur of memories and experiences.
You might experience some pressure to get many things done, but also be patient with yourself as you’re adjusting to new time zones, travel routes, and temperatures. If you’re traveling from a far distance, you might want to factor in jet lag and catch up on sleep whenever possible. Also set aside some time for relaxing or even engaging in some tourist attractions or activities to get a better sense of your new location.
As an international student, you will also have to figure out unfamiliar systems and establish new routines to help your first few weeks and months go as smoothly as possible. Here are some additional tasks and activities to ease that transition:
- Visit a few grocery stores near you and take note of their prices, hours, and products
- If you will be commuting to your campus, time how long it takes so you can factor this into your time management and scheduling
- If you haven’t set up your home internet yet, many coffee stops and restaurants in your area might offer free Wi-Fi
- If you are considering purchasing an internet plan for your home, learn more about internet services in Canada at https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/internet/
- Change your weather app settings! For Canadian weather forecasts, temperatures are measured and explained in degrees Celsius.
- Weather tip: Take particular note of the wording “Feels like” in the weather forecast, especially during the winter months. This temperature refers to the sudden drop in outdoor temperature when it becomes windy.
- Not sure how to budget for your new expenses and purchases (e.g. clothing, textbooks, rent, groceries, entertainment)? Use a Financial Calculator to create a sustainable plan – check out U of T’s Financial Planning Calculator as an example at https://planningcalc.utoronto.ca/financialPlanner/#/
- And, this is a good time to preview some of your academic requirements, your courses, readings, etc. Check out your course schedule, if you have one, and maybe try to locate and visit the relevant classrooms, preview any course outlines and syllabi, visit the campus bookstore and library. These are good ways to start getting into the mindset of school, an important part of academic resourcefulness.
“Getting here” maps from our storytellers
During our storytelling workshop, we asked Heejin, Joe, Ishita, and Stephanie about their “getting here” story. They each drew a map to represent this journey and its significance. You may have noticed their maps in the “Arriving” video above, and you’ll see them again more closely in the chapters that follow.
What would your “getting here” map look like? Consider picking up a pencil and paper and drawing your own: what places, people, choices, and significant moments would you include in your map to represent your journey, so far, as an international student?
Is it culture shock – or culture change?
Let’s apply this model of culture shock to the example of an international student from Senegal – named Fatima – who has recently resettled in Ottawa, Ontario. First is an initial honeymoon period, where Fatima has positive and fun interactions with the language(s), activities, and food in her surroundings. Then there is a crisis (or “shock”) period that follows, characterized by feelings of homesickness, frustration, and regret. After this, a phase of adjustment follows, where Fatima becomes more confident in understanding the cultural norms of her learning environments. Finally, Fatima reaches a stage of acceptance (also called “adaptation”), where after a few months, the prior challenges have lessened.
It’s possible that you have experienced the above stages before or expect that your first semester in Canada will look similar. However, there are some limitations to this model worth noting; first, it assumes that all newcomers go through all the same phases, and it only describes these stages in terms of a person’s emotional reactions (not including shifts in their identity or skills that they are gaining).
Models such as these can also be too simple or predictive – for example, you might find your first few months to have both “ups” and “downs” at the same time. It’s important, then, to think about your own personal transitions, needs, and strategies as you adjust to the cultural differences, both in your life and at school.
The 5 Rs of Culture Change
We recommend familiarizing yourself with the 5 Rs of Culture Change, which is a fluid and non-linear approach to thinking about how your first few months in Canada could go. This model is by Kate Berardo[2]1, who talks about five different dimensions of cultural adjustment. Some of these shifts might be more obvious to you than others (e.g. learning the layout and street names of your city), but you might find that it will take additional time, effort, and energy to find your rhythm in others.
Let’s once again use Fatima as an example, applying this model to her first few months living in Ottawa. Find a text-only version of the “5 Rs of Culture Change” example in Appendix A.
You might agree that Fatima’s experiences did not simply change positively over time (as suggested in the “culture shock” model), but were more complex and required on-going reflections and adjustments. Some of her uncertainties are still unresolved or remain ambiguous.
As you learn more about the obvious and subtle cultural differences of your new environment, we encourage you to be patient and self-compassionate with your progress. If you find that your transition isn’t as smooth as you’d expected, talk to a trusted friend about it, or book an appointment with a student advisor. Attend orientation events if you’re able to and consider enrolling in a study group that is organized by your course or department. We will talk about more of these strategies and resources in the “Adjusting” chapter.
Take a moment to reflect
- Previously, Joe talked about feeling like a “stranger” (or “visitor”) instead of a resident of Toronto. What language feels right for you as someone new to your Ontarian city? Does the category of “international student” feel like an identity, a community, or a legal status to you?
- Ishita talked about the concerns she had about making new friends but also was worried about her family back home. How will you establish new relationships and still maintain your existing connections?
- In a prior video, Stephanie shared that her feelings about identity have grown much more complex since moving to Canada. For example, she sees herself as more than just an “international student”. How do you expect your roles to change as a student navigating a new educational environment? Which of your current roles might shift depending on your new experiences and routines?
The next chapter: Orienting
In the next chapter, “Orienting”, we’ll learn about strategies to get to know your new campus and community. Click here to turn to the next chapter “Orienting”.
- Lysgaard, Sverre. 1955. “Adjustment in a Foreign Society: Norwegian Fulbright Grantees Visiting the United States.” International Social Science Bulletin 7:45–51. ↵
- Berardo, K. (2012). “Framework: The 5Rs of Culture Change,” in K. Berardo and D. K. Deardorff (Eds.) Building cultural competence: innovative activities and models, (pp. 193-199). Stylus. ↵
A kiosk setup at the airport to welcome arriving international students. Your college or university may have a designated booth. Pearson International airport in Toronto also offers their Airport Welcome Desk so check for these places when you arrive.
When your internal clock becomes misaligned with local time at your destination. It can interrupt your sleep patterns for a while, especially if you have traveled across time zones.
A device that has no ties to a phone plan carrier.
