ARRIVAL & ADAPTATION

In this section, you will learn:

• What your first days may feel like (and why it’s normal)

• How to deal with jet lag, homesickness, and culture shock

• How to build trust with your host family and feel settled

“Your first days in Canada will feel exciting, confusing, emotional, and honestly… a little weird. And that’s okay.”

When you first arrive in Canada, things might feel strange. You suddenly find yourself in a house you’ve never seen before, with people you don’t know, in a country you’ve only seen online.

And the next morning, you might wake up thinking:

• “Where am I even right now?”

• “Is this a hotel? A dorm? A random house?”

• “Who are these people I’m living with?”

If this happens to you GREAT NEWS you’re normal. Almost every international student goes through this phase.

This section is exactly for that: your first emotional wave.

The Arrival Phase 🛬✨

“Wait… this is actually happening.”

Right after landing, you might feel:

• Excited: A new life is starting

• Curious: What will my life here look like?

• Overwhelmed: Everything is new

• Homesick: I already miss my family

In the survey, most students said they felt the exact same mix. So whatever you feel someone else already lived it.

The First-Night Shock

“This house feels unfamiliar… and so do the people.”

Your first night with your host family might feel… off.

Because suddenly:

• The house is unfamiliar

• The family is unfamiliar

• The food smells unfamiliar

• The rules are unfamiliar

Some students described it like this:

“The first night I felt like I was in a hotel or a stranger’s house.”

This feeling is temporary  it fades faster than you think.

But here’s how to survive the first 48 hours:

Don’t unpack your whole suitcase on Day 1 🚫🧳

Sounds weird, but trust me:

Unpacking everything immediately can make you feel even more overwhelmed. There might be things missing in the house, or you might not feel ready to fully “settle” yet.

Also, in rare cases, there can be unexpected changes for example, a host family situation might not work out and you may need to change host homes. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s good to be prepared just in case.

So just take out the basics for the first few days, and unpack slowly.

Real student tip tested & approved.

Try your best to sleep the first night 😴

Jet lag hits everyone differently. Some students crash right away, some stay awake for hours.

If you manage to sleep properly that first night, jetlag disappears much faster. Use your carry-on clothes if that’s where your pajamas are. (Another reason why a good carry-on matters!)

Stay connected with your family especially during the first month 📱❤️

FaceTiming or texting your family will help you emotionally. But avoid calling them every hour, because it can make homesickness worse.

The perfect balance:

• First 1–2 months → talk more often

• After that → slowly reduce

• If seeing their faces makes you emotional → totally normal

Remember: Being far away doesn’t mean being alone.Your family is still with you just through a screen. 

Building Trust With Your Host Family 🤝🏠💛

“Communication = safety + comfort.”

Your host family will feel more comfortable when you communicate well.And YOU will feel more comfortable too.

Real, practical advice:

✔ Message them after school

✔ Tell them if you’re going to the mall or Starbucks

✔ Send a quick selfie if you’re out with friends

✔ Join family dinners

✔ Say yes to movie nights or family outings

✔ Be open and kind it goes a long way

These small actions build trust. And when your host feels safe, you feel safe.

Orientation Week (“no one knows anyone” week)

During the first days of school, teachers usually do icebreakers, games, and welcome activities.

Good news:

• You won’t be the only new student

• No one knows each other yet

• Everyone is equally lost

• Everyone wants to make friends

• Teachers are super relaxed and supportive

So you don’t need to be nervous this week actually helps A LOT.

Brain Overload Is Normal 🧠🤯

The first few days your brain will be like:

“ENGLISH. ENGLISH. ENGLISH. ENGLISH.”

It’s exhausting and VERY normal.

Your English doesn’t need to be perfect. No one expects you to speak like a native. No one makes fun of accents here. (Seriously this is Canada.)

Important tip: If you have friends who speak your language (Spanish, Turkish, German, etc.)

 →When you’re in a mixed group, speak English out of respect and to improve faster.

Homesickness Happens To Everyone 🏠💔➡️❤️

Sometimes, at Starbucks or somewhere else, you might see:

a family together laughing eating hugging,

And your heart will drop a little. It’s normal. It doesn’t mean you’re weak. It doesn’t mean you’re alone. And it doesn’t mean you won’t be okay.

Every student who lived through this says the same thing:

“The sadness goes away faster than you expect.”

The Adaptation Phase 🌱

“One morning you’ll wake up… and everything will just feel okay.”

You’ll notice it slowly:

• The house doesn’t feel strange anymore

• English sounds normal

• You have favorite teachers

• You understand the school system

• You know bus routes without checking your phone

• You have friends

• You know where to get your favorite snacks

And that’s the moment Canada will start feeling like a second home.

Final Words 📝✨

You’re not supposed to be perfect. You’re supposed to be brave enough to try. And that’s already amazing.

Emotional Support: Mini Survival Guide 💙🫂✨

“Some days will be harder… but you won’t face them alone.”

This section is short, but it contains the most powerful tips real strategies international students use to feel better on difficult days.

Bad days don’t mean a bad year. 🌧️➡️🌈

Everyone has moments where they think:“Did I make the right choice by coming here?”

This feeling passes. Almost every student said:“The first weeks are the hardest. After that, everything gets easier.”

Call someone who feels like home. 📞❤️🏠

Family, your best friend, a cousin, anyone. One short FaceTime can calm you down instantly.

Just remember: calling too often can make homesickness worse. Balance is everything.

Go outside, even if you don’t feel like it. 🌿🚶‍♀️☀️

Take a walk. Go to the beach. Sit in the sun for five minutes.

Fresh air + movement = instant mood boost. BC weather can be grey, but going outside still helps a LOT.

Find your “comfort place.” 🧸🏡

A cafe, a library, a bench by the ocean, or a quiet corner at school anywhere you feel safe and calm.

This will become your emotional safe zone on tough days.

Write down your small wins. 📝✨

Making a new friend, talking to a teacher, finding your bus alone, saying a sentence correctly…

All of these are real achievements.

Write them down → See your progress → Believe in yourself.

Talk to someone. 🗣️💬

Your host mom, Host dad, A teacher, A counselor, A classmate

People in Canada genuinely want to help.Talking about your feelings doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human.

Real Student Tips 🎓💬✨

“The first days are the hardest. But then you slowly start to feel like you belong.”

“Talk to people, even if your English isn’t perfect. No one judges you.”

“If you feel sad, go outside. BC nature helps more than you think.”

“Good communication with your host family makes everything easier.”

“Missing your family means you love them nothing to be ashamed of.”

“One day you’ll realize you’re much stronger than you thought.”

Final Reminder 🔔

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep going. And you’re already doing amazing.