Moving to Canada

By: Sven Schirmer (Germany)

Moving to Canada - what it actually means differs greatly from what I initially thought. Before moving here, my opinion about Canada was limited to my travel experiences to the U.S. and I thought the two countries were the same. I found out how wrong I was.

My first impressions of Canada as a friendly and welcoming country started with the visa process when I applied for my study permit – in person. It was further exemplified by the friendly immigration officers at the Vancouver International Airport who were more than helpful upon my arrival. The friendly welcomes continued when I arrived at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. The continuous support from my first semester all the way to my graduation this June made my stay at Vancouver Island University a very pleasant one. I wanted to live off-campus but I had no idea where to start looking; the staff at the university directed me to online resources (such as Craigslist) which helped me find my first home away from home. Before classes started in September we had a week of academic orientation which provided helpful information about living and working in Canada, getting started with university, and offered great opportunities to meet other international and Canadian students.

The options to excel at Vancouver Island University are close to unlimited. Not only did I excel academically with an incredible amount of support from professors and advisors, but also socially. Day trips to Victoria, Vancouver, and Tofino as well as activities such as kayaking, hiking and rock climbing in Nanaimo offer opportunities to meet new people and to explore where I live. My on-campus work as an Activity Assistant with International Education as well as volunteer opportunities as a Peer Helper enriched my stay at VIU as I helped to welcome new students to Canada. VIU’s Cultural Connections website and Facebook group led me to find these and more awesome trips!

Moving to Canada usually means leaving friends and family behind just to meet and befriend new great people from all over the world. It’s a unique experience you should not miss. And always remember: Enjoy the journey, and love where you learn!