Canada, as Canadian schoolchildren are proudly taught, is the second-biggest country on earth — only Russia occupies more territory. Yet when it comes to people, Canada trails behind many European countries such as Finland and Iceland, one-thirtieth its size. Over 80 per cent of Canada’s land is uninhabited, and most Canadians live clustered in a handful of large cities close to the U.S. border.

Dear Juan,

I don’t know where to start from, but I can say my experience in Canada has been mixed. I have created memories and faced challenges as a foreign student. I’m sure some of my experiences will be of your help now that you’ve decided to move to Canada for your studies.

When I made the decision to study at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, it was a huge step for me. Arriving in Vancouver, Canada for the first time, I was ecstatic, nervous, energetic, and cold. There is no doubt that Canada and India are poles apart, but knowing about these differences before you start your journey could help you to get over the difficulties faced by foreign students in Canada and help you develop the right mindset before you move to the unknown territory.

The weather was literally the first thing that hit me as I stepped out of the airport with my luggage. Canada’s average summer temperature is around 20°C and its average winter temperature is well below 0°C. You can probably imagine how big of a change this is for anyone coming from a tropical, humid country like India. In order to be more prepared, I’d suggest that you look up the temperature range online for the city you will be moving to, and ask anyone you know who has lived there for more insight.

Another important aspect I noticed during my first few weeks here is the diversity of cultures. People from all around the world have come to study, work, and settle here, and it’s amazing how people from many different countries can be seen on campus as well! You will get to interact with people from a great range of backgrounds, native languages, religions, and cultural traditions. It may take some time to get used to their accents, clothing style, or lifestyle, but it is important to embrace diversity as you will be in a new country. Never assume anything about anyone according to their culture and religion, and most importantly, be respectful and don’t judge!

With such a great diversity in cultures, it makes sense to have an assortment of food! Canadian cities are peppered with restaurants and café’s serving food from all around the world – from Lebanese to Japanese to Mexican! Don’t hesitate to try all the variety of cuisines offered, as you never know what new type of food you will develop a taste for. And if you are vegetarian, like me, then fret not! There are numerous vegetarian options as well, so have an open mind, take some friends and explore the city. If you decide to cook at home, you might fancy a trip to the grocery store. Some foods or brands may seem unfamiliar to you, and for me, I was frankly appalled at the choices available! Just make sure to read the labels, as some processed foods have multiple additives that may not suit your diet.

There are countless options for prospective students in Canada to pursue a part-time job while studying. Many universities have a Work-Study-Work-Learn (WSWL) program, in which the university itself offers students jobs on campus. For example, students can be assistants or technicians in a chemistry or biology lab under current PhD students, or they can take up roles as librarians, or even tour guides for the prospective students coming to visit the university. The WSWL program is competitive and offers competitive salaries. You can find out more about open positions in the WSWL program through your faculty or academic advisor.

Finally, I’d say it takes more than just a few weeks to get used to a new place. However, with friends and family by your side, and with a determined and open mind, it is definitely possible to adjust to the changes quickly.

Love,

Mark

A. The establishment of the Canadian federation in 1867 was not accompanied by the creation of a special flag for the country. The imperial Union Jack and other British flags were considered sufficient, although a coat of arms (in the form of a heraldic shield) was granted by Queen Victoria in 1868. The Canadian shield was composed of the arms of the four original provinces—Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. In 1892 this shield became a badge on the British Red Ensign, which served as a special civil ensign (later called the Canadian Red Ensign) for Canadian vessels.

B. On land, that defaced ensign was used, without authorization, as an unofficial national flag combining Canadian patriotism and loyalty to Britain. Perhaps in imitation of the stars added to the United States flag whenever a new state joined the Union, Canadians routinely added official provincial shields to the arms of Canada. Flags with those shields were often decorated as well with the imperial crown, a wreath of maple leaves, and/or a beaver. The Union Jack continued to fly on land. A major change in symbols took place in 1921 when Canada was granted a distinctive new coat of arms; it quartered the symbols of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France with three green maple leaves on a silver background. That shield replaced 1868 original in Canadian ensigns three years later. In 1957 a revised artistic version incorporated red maple leaves instead of the green ’to show the maturity of the country’.

C. Agitation for a distinctive Canadian flag increased following World War II. While the Canadian Red Ensign was recognized for use on government buildings and as a national flag abroad, many felt that it did not properly identify the distinctive local culture and traditions. A heated debate took place in 1964 following the promise of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson that Canada would acquire its own national flag prior to the centennial of confederation in 1967. Months of public and parliamentary debate resulted in approval (December 1964) of the new Maple Leaf Flag, which became official by royal proclamation on February 15, 1965, and is now broadly supported by the Canadian population.

D. The maple leaf had been a national symbol since at least 1868, and its red colour has been described as a symbol of Canadian sacrifice during World War I. Pearson’s original flag proposal showed three red maple leaves on a white field with narrow blue vertical stripes at either end. Several individuals have been credited with suggestions that resulted in the final design, which broadened the stripes and changed them to red to emphasize the national colours (red and white). A single maple leaf gave a distinctive and easily recognizable central symbol.

E. Not given in any of the given paragraphs.

States offer children free public school education until they complete 12th grade. After that, they have to pay for tuition. Prime Minister Trudeau recently announced his proposal to make community college free for many students. Should students be able to get free education after high school? He said that he would propose a government program to make college tuition free for millions of students, an ambitious plan that would expand educational opportunities across Canada. His advisers acknowledged that the program’s goals would not be achieved quickly. However, the decision has drawn considerable criticism as well.

Mitchell G.L, professor of mathematics, University of British Columbia, said, ’If there is no fees for college education, which is almost necessary to acquire a respective job, many more students would be attending college. College is too expensive for a lot of people which forces them to either take out student loans which will only pile up, or skip the four-year deal and maybe just settle for a two year one. In Europe, I know many countries offer free college education because they see the youth’s drive for education as a benefit for their country, not just a way to make a ton of money. Also by not having to pay for college, some students who are academically fit but not financially sound would still be able to get into prestigious schools.’

On the contrary, Nicholas Johnson, a Winnipeg-based banker termed cost of college education as a tricky subject. He added that making college completely free for everyone would be quite a challenge. Private colleges are essentially no different than any other business. If they could no longer charge tuition, they would have no incentive to continue running. That being said, having the government pay for the upkeep of every college would cost a fortune. He said, ’I don’t even want to know how high taxes would have to get to pay for this. One possible solution I can think of is placing tuition caps on private colleges. I do believe that in the long run, a better-educated labour force would certainly benefit the country.’ He furthered that on the other hand, there is a need for trade workers, which I can see turning into a deficit in the future. High schools should expand students’ access to vocational training to help our economy from the bottom-up.

Ryan Clark, a business analyst and a child of three states, ’It seems to me that everyone is looking at the benefits of a free college education, but not the costs. Of course, it would be great to have free college-level education. I agree there probably are great minds that are being wasted because they can’t afford to go to college. But before we get too carried away we need to stop and think about who will pay for this. First, our government is already in debt. Paying for everyone’s college is not going to help. Second, to raise money for this new cost the government will need to raise taxes. It will impose these raised taxes on the upper-class people like it usually does. But it is the aspiration to get into the upper-class due to which these people are trying to get into colleges. Are people really going to be better off with free college? Norway has free college but they also have a 55% income tax rate. Is that really what we want?’