Moving
To Canada
Ten
Tips For Survival ~
by Thelma O’ Connor
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| Alone
in Canada: Ten tips for survival
Moving to Canada
means leaving behind family, friends, familiar food, routines and your
place in the community.
In Canada,
you have to start all over again, build a new life, make new friends and
find your place in a new community. This is a challenge all newcomers face,
but if you come here alone – with no close family or friends to help and
support you - then this challenge may seem even more daunting for you.
However, there
are a number of steps you can take to help yourself through this ‘settling-in’
period. Here are our ten tips for survival to get you started.
1. Before you
leave for Canada, try to find out some details about the community you
will be living in, if possible. By knowing about the available resources
ahead of time you will be able to make progress immediately upon your arrival
and plan activities. |
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2. Once you
arrive in your new city/town, go out and explore the local community immediately.
Your local library, community centre or place of worship is a good place
to ask about what services are available for newcomers. In most Canadian
cities there are ethno-cultural organizations that represent a wide range
of cultures. You can probably find one or more that will be right for you.
3. Develop
a new routine. Plan things to do each day. Go to the library and read the
newspaper for free, take a walk, find a favourite café to spend
time in, write a journal about your new life in Canada, go to a half-priced
movie in the afternoon. Having a routine will keep you active and help
you to feel involved in the world around you.
4. Ask yourself
“How did I make friends when I was back in my home country?” If you enjoy
sports, theatre, dancing, photography, acting, singing, hiking etc…it’s
a good idea to join a local group that offers these activities. By
joining a couple of groups you will meet new people with similar interests
and this in turn will help you to feel less isolated.
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5.
Food – you will probably miss the familiar smells and tastes of food from
home. Eating food that is unfamiliar or that you don’t enjoy often adds
to the stress you feel. Canada is a multi-cultural society and in most
larger cities and towns you can find food from all over the world. Plan
some familiar home-cooked meals you know you will enjoy.
6. Invite your
new friends or neighbours to a ‘pot luck’ meal. In Canada, ‘pot luck’ meals
are very popular because everyone who comes is supposed to bring one dish
of food to share with everybody. Sometimes pot lucks have a theme, such
as an ‘international pot luck’, where everyone brings a dish of food that
is typical of their home country. It’s a fun way to spend time with people
and is inexpensive.
7. If you need
assistance to improve your language skills, it is worthwhile taking an
English or French class for second language learners. Many communities
across Canada offer free basic language classes to newcomers, so make sure
to avail of those as soon as you arrive. |
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8. Volunteer
your time doing something you enjoy! Many organizations are only too delighted
to have a new volunteer join them. If you enjoy reading for instance, you
could volunteer to read to the blind or aged. You will make new friends
while doing something really worthwhile that you can also mention on your
resume!
9. Set goals
for yourself, these will keep you on track and help you stay motivated.
A list of goals is a good way to remind yourself what you hope to achieve
in the first few weeks and months in Canada. Make a list of short, medium
and long term goals. Don’t forget to reward yourself when you have achieved
your goals!
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If you arrive in Canada in winter you may find this difficult to cope with
due to the extremely cold weather. You will need to get used to wearing
layers of winter clothes and you may be reluctant to go outdoors in the
snow and ice! Dress in layers and venture out! Try a winter activity such
as skating. Many recreation centres have programs to teach adults how to
skate. Take some classes at a local college or university as an indoor
alternative. Having a class to attend regularly for eight or ten weeks
may make the winter seem shorter!
As a newcomer
to Canada your first few weeks and months will feel like the most exciting
and difficult time of your life. Adapting to a new country and creating
a new life for yourself can be very stressful. You can’t avoid this stress
but you can learn how to manage it. Try to laugh as much as you can – it
releases tension. Go to a funny movie. Get some fresh air and exercise
– this also helps to reduce tension.
We hope the
tips listed here will be helpful to you as you build your new life in Canada.
Good luck with your move! |
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To contact
Thelma Click Here
To see her
web site on relocating to Canada Click
Here
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