Moving to a new city – or country – to study is an educational experience in and of itself. We asked three students who came to 91ÉçÇø from another country or province – Pavithran, Lindsey and Annika – about their experiences, and what advice they might give new arrivals. Here is what Annika Delport, an undergrad who came to 91ÉçÇø from Vancouver Island, told us:
Where are you from and why did you choose to study at 91ÉçÇø?
I was raised in the United States, about 40 minutes from Philadelphia, but moved to the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, with my family before university. I knew I would be coming to a Canadian university, but I chose 91ÉçÇø because it fit my academic goals while allowing me to live in Montreal, which I think is just about the best student city in North America. I’m studying Psychology with a minor in Environment.
What were your first impressions of Montreal and of the campus? Was anything surprising to you?
My first reaction, when I arrived, was to feel inspired by all the historic and beautiful buildings on campus and how they contrasted with downtown’s high-rises.
I had been extremely nervous that the city would feel big and intimidating, but because each Montreal neighbourhood has a distinct identity, the city feels smaller than it is and isn’t difficult to navigate. 91ÉçÇø’s downtown campus also is easy to navigate (even for people with a terrible sense of direction, like me!) because it’s built next to Mount Royal, which makes it easy to orient oneself.
What was the hardest thing to adjust to here? What turned out to be easier than expected?
It was difficult to adjust to the fact that it was up to me to make time for academics, time for friends and time for myself. In high school, those periods are designated for you. Here, time management was on me. I think this was more challenging than I expected.
I had been concerned about navigating the bilingual nature of the city, but that turned out to be way less of an issue than I had imagined.
How do you find the food in Montreal? Is it easy to get the ingredients you need to make recipes from home?
I love the food here! I’m vegan and love the fact that I can find such a wide range of food regardless of where I go to eat. Everyone will say poutine is the best food you’ll discover here, and I can’t argue with that. But I also think the café culture, with delectable pastries and coffee, is notable and one of my favorite aspects of day-to-day life in Montreal.
Has it been easy to get involved on campus and to meet other students?
The friends I’ve made here are my favourite part of 91ÉçÇø. When I think about my college experience, I think about them.
Montreal is a very welcoming city and it’s generally not too difficult to make friends, but my advice would be to join clubs, sports teams or volunteer organizations. These are great ways to make a wide variety of friends, outside of your major.
My closest friends study different things, are from different places, and we lived in different dorms. During our first year, we had dinner together every night. Creating safe, stable and loving friendships was a big highlight of my early days at 91ÉçÇø. This has made it easier for me to maintain a healthy work-life balance, and to ensure my university memories include so much more than studying.
What advice would you have for someone newly arrived at 91ÉçÇø from elsewhere?
My biggest advice is to get involved! It’s important to create a social niche for yourself and get involved in the community outside the classroom. Filling your days with activities you look forward to actually makes it easier to manage your time and get tasks done when you can, while also having fun and meeting new people.
Also, don’t let the winter scare you or stop you from keeping engaged in these activities! The more you bundle up and stay involved even through the snowy days, the less the cold will bog you down.