Studying in British Columbia: A Life-Changing Experience for International Students

The article describes the experience of an international student studying in British Columbia, Canada. It highlights the quality of life, education, and opportunities available in the province. The author shares personal experiences of overcoming challenges and adapting to a new culture. The article also discusses the importance of diversity in the classroom and the benefits of international students for the educational community.

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Geography of British Columbia
Canada is considered one of the top locations across the world for higher studies. Every
year, hundreds and thousands of students arrive here to get a world-class education and earn a
degree from a reputed Canadian University. International Students love the different lifestyle and
the option of getting jobs on and off campus while studying. The country has become a
multilingual country and offers excellent exposure for the students (Kashetti).
As a student, I was always keen to go abroad for higher education. Thus, when I
completed my graduate studies in my home country, India I began to explore the ventures
abroad. I compared studying in the US, Canada, and Australia and I settled for British
Columbia(BC) in Canada. I even looked at the options I had in my home country. The reason
behind was the higher global ranking it enjoys for the quality of life and education. The
universities are the top-ranked in Canada and offer progressive education. I felt excited at the
thought of going to a quality university and study with different students from all across the
world. What attracted me was the extraordinary quality of life and education in one of the most
peaceful provinces of Canada.
Moreover, the weather is much milder (British Columbia Council). I came across an
article that reported how the Chadian educators are building academic cooperation with India
and investing money in collaborative education projects between the two countries. They offer
generous fellowships to attract the bright minds form the Indian universities who wish to study

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abroad. The University of British Columbia is among the top eight colleges in Canada (Prakash).
All those aspects encouraged me to look for higher education in Canada.
As stated by Jingzhou (1), India (12%) ranks second after China (33%) in terms of the
number of students coming to Canada. This is followed by South Korea, France, and Saudi
Arabia. It is the Chinese students that make for the significant group of international students in
Canada. Thus, after looking at the pros and cons, I decided to go to British Columbia for higher
studies. The tuition fees were affordable and the course offered was a lot better. So, I applied to
a prominent university in Vancouver, BC and was lucky to get accepted there. I think it was
because of my good academic record and impressive application. I was lucky enough to get some
scholarship too.
Higher Education institutions believe in adding diversity to their student bodies as well as
provide quality education. The educational administration feels that nothing could be a better
educator than the diversity within the classrooms for personal growth and to encourage critical
thinking. It is the only spaces where students can come across students from other lands and
community, and interact with them freely to overcome any serotypes (Geary 528). International
students enrich the educational community of countries like the US and Canada. I was aware of
my position as an international student from India. When I landed in BC, after a long flight, I
was both excited and tired. It was the first time I saw snow. My student mentor at the airport
received me. His warm smile and hug lifted my spirits and filled me with energy. Initially, I
stayed with my host family who were really nice to me. They took me around and showed met
my universality and the city. As my English was not very fluent, they were patient with me, and
gradually I felt more comfortable.

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I got all the help I could at the International Office, and the staff went out of the way to
arrange for shared accommodation with another student who was from India. There was a
pleasant feel around the people and in the atmosphere. One could use the laptop, printer, and
phone whenever they wanted and for free. Another free goody were varieties of chocolates and
endless cups of hot coffee. Those first memories as an international student are still fresh in my
mind. During the college orientation, I met other students who were as recited and nervous as
me. After interaction them, I felt that deep down we were all the same.
Once we settled down to our study schedule and the clause began, I must admit that the
initial weeks were a bit difficult. The post-secondary student population in the Western countries
is made of a significant number of immigrant and international students. Emerging data from
these countries report that although international minority students are confident of their
academic abilities, they carry weaker study skills (da Silva et al. 546). The infrastructure was
very modern, and although the mode of instruction was similar, the assignments given were very
different. Each student was on his own and had to put in his very own efforts. There was nothing
to memorize here but the application of mind and study skills. What helped was the productive
atmosphere, approachable instructors and the small class size. I felt no discomfort in calling my
professor any time whenever I was stuck. I could not imagine doing that back in India. It was not
just me, but I saw that each of the students in my class enjoyed a personalized instruction and
attention from the professors.
Canada is the seventh most popular destination in the world to attract international
students. While international students add to the diversity in the classrooms, they face challenges
when integrating and getting used to the Canadian academic environment (Jingzhou 1). Thus, it
was reasonable for me to face intimal problems of adjustment and overcoming challenges. I felt

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homesick and was not very good with my English speaking skills. Initially, I did feel
embarrassed when instructors when the instructors asked me questions that I did not understand.
I felt frustrated to catch up with the rest of the class. I had to get used to learning rhythms and
study hard for the finals and keep up my grades or I would lose my scholarship for the next
semester.
Currently, Canada attracts about three thousand Indian students to its colleges. It is far
less when compared to other countries such as the United States and Australia (Prakash). The
country is making an effort to understand how Indians think of higher education in Canada.
Perhaps the collaboration between the two countries and their universities can help bring them
closer on the educational front, and that could benefit both the countries.
Nevertheless, I remained positive and felt lucky to study in one of the top university in
BC and with the scholarship. As I became friends with students of other community, I felt more
at home and accepted. I went along with the Chinese students to celebrate their New year and
even befriended a couple of students from the US. Now that my English speaking skills had
improved tremendously, I felt a lot more confident. I highly appreciate my college environment,
the professors, my student community that played a significant role in my personal development.
No matter what country you are from, the students do face the culture shock. There is a period of
homesickness, isolation, and depression that the newcomers go through. It is the individual
perception and past experiences that help the international students to get over the initial culture
shock (Jingzhou 4).
Summer is just great in Vancouver, and I feel that the more I live in the country, the more
I have grown to love the city. It is fun to explore the city either on your own or with a group of
friends. As I love to run, I often ran around the Sea Wall and English Bay. The multi-cultural

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aspect of Vancouver is what has made me more aware and tolerant of other cultures and getting
familiar with their customs. I enjoyed dining out in Vancouver and trying out new cuisines, and
gradually my Indian taste buds became more adjusting. Another skill I developed was cooking
and not just Indian cuisine but Mexican and Korean food too during the cultural week in the
college. So, today, I am confident of not just my academic and literacy skills, but also social
skills in life that are just as invaluable.
If I had to describe my experience of studying in Vancouver, BC in just a few words, I
would say simply out of the word and an eye-opener. Although I love my home country, I feel
that I would enjoy a good life here once I get a job and settle down. Based on the new study from
the University of British Columbia, the community of international university students shows
that migration plans are indeed complex for them once they complete their education. The
concept of home influences their decision to stay or go back home. The more welcomed and
connected students feel to their host country, the more likely are they to stay(Allen). And surely,
I feel strongly connected to the city and feel welcomed and comfortable here. The whole
experience has made me become more confident and open-minded. Today, I can feel more freely
with an individual from any country or community.
It was indeed a wonderful experience to study in BC, and I feel enriched for life because
of those adventures, meeting amazing people and overcoming the challenges. I would suggest
other international students give thought to BC if planning to study abroad. There is no doubt
that Vancouver is indeed one of the best cities to get higher education and settle in.

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Works Cited
Allen, Cory. “Canada: International Students Concept of Home Shapes Post-Graduation Plans.”
The University of British Columbia, 16 Feb. 2017, news.ubc.ca/2017/02/16/international-
students-concept-of-home-shapes-post-graduation-plans/. Accessed 22 Oct. 2018.
British Columbia Council. “Why Study in BC.” British Columbia Council for International
Education, 2 Jul. 2018, studyinbc.com/why-study-in-bc/. Accessed 22 Oct. 2018
da Silva, Tricia L. .., et al. “Predictors of Post-Secondary Academic Outcomes among Local-
Born, Immigrant, and International Students in Canada: A Retrospective Analysis.”
Canadian Journal of Education, vol. 40, no. 4, Oct. 2017, pp. 543–575.
Geary, Danielle. “How Do We Get People to Interact? International Students and the American
Experience.” Journal of International Students, vol. 6, no. 2, Apr. 2016, pp. 527–541.
Jingzhou Liu. “Internationalization of Higher Education: Experiences of Intercultural Adaptation
of International Students in Canada.” Antistasis, vol. 6, no. 2, Sept. 2016, pp. 1–11.
Kashetti, Krishna. “Top 10 Reasons to Choose Canada for Higher education.” wemakescholars,
18 Oct. 2015, www.wemakescholars.com/blog/canada-for-higher-education/. Accessed
22 Oct. 2018
Prakash, Pooja. “51 Canadian Scholarships for Indian Students.” braingainmag, 15 Sep. 2009,
www.braingainmag.com/51-canadian-scholarships-for-indian-students.htm. Accessed 22
Oct. 2018