For nearly two years, I have been studying liberal arts and communications at the local Okanagan College in Kelowna, and it has been a massive challenge to say the least. If studying in another country isn't enough of one, studying online is even more strenuous; adjusting to a remote environment was more difficult and stressful than I had initially thought.
Being stuck inside four walls in one area can be claustrophobic and scary. Not being able to go outside and interact with everyone, for fear of catching a very real disease (sorry, conspiracy theorists) can be scarier. Couple that with a lack of useable resources and truly effective communication with both your peers and teachers, and college is a stressful time. All of these have lasting psychological effects and everyone has been affected in various ways, myself included.
I learned near the end of this semester that I am actually more nomadic and extroverted than I had realized. I have a lot of online friends that are very introverted and, as a result, have handled the pandemic situation very well compared to some people. I had quit my night job this summer thinking it would help with scheduling my college courses; turns out it did the opposite. I am currently seeking employment in several industries to aid structure and keep me grounded.
To avoid leaving this post on a particularly sour note, here are some things I have learned while studying this semester:
Time management is more important than ever. Having a clear schedule every week that not only allows for study time, but also for cooking, sleeping, working and leisure, greatly helps with easing the pressure. This is especially important if you are working; if you can, use your break times to study.
Keep in touch with your friends and family! They can listen to your concerns and perhaps suggest ways of coping with staying home. Plus it gives you a break from studying all the time! If you are living with a roommate, be sure to talk to them; they might also help.
If you can (but only if you can) be sure to go outside once in a while. Depending on when you read this, you may still have to wear a mask, and many places may still carry a mandate. Just remember that this will not last; COVID-19 is better understood now than it was earlier in the year, and as of the time of this writing a vaccine will soon roll out.
I hope this is helpful for everyone studying the next few semesters, and I wish everyone the best of luck on their courses.
Updated: Dec 7, 2020
Warning: everything stated in this article are my own, personal opinions. If you are offended by opinion pieces, perhaps you should stop reading this article and find the next big thing to get upset about. Perhaps you'll feel better afterwards...
Outrage culture has always been a vital component of discourse (the act of expressing a viewpoint) but in the past few years the culture has made it almost impossible to engage in discussion, especially on the internet. The outrage tactics of social media pushes negative opinions over positive ones (it is what sells best, after all) and while some have resulted in positive change (the Black Lives Matter movement, whatever your angle, encouraged youth activism, better understanding of human rights issues and greater participation in the recent US elections) most posts aim to do the opposite, and are oftentimes rather pointless compared to actual atrocities going on in the world, BLM notwithstanding.
There used to be a common phrase, "opinions are like assholes; everyone has them." That has largely been forgotten in recent times. It's not that people aren't allowed to have an opinion, they just forget the fact that when they expose themselves online to random strangers, the very first thing they should expect is scrutiny and ridicule. People can and WILL disagree with you, no matter what is said, although if you ARE upsetting people, chances are you might be doing at least something right...
I used to actively participate in online discussion. Now that has largely been relegated to my closest friends. I once participated in a discussion on why bestality (a subject the majority of people are offended by, in my experience) should/should not be legal, and no-one lost their collective minds. We all disagree on certain aspects, but we are still friends. What happened to agreeing to disagree? Sure, there are some communities that are fantastic at policing themselves, but the reactionary culture that has permeated has effectively muddied the waters in terms of respectful discussion. I now find it tiring. It doesn't matter how calmly you present a situation to a stranger, they'll still take it personally and level insults at you. I now find it a pathetic waste of time. That is all.
Updated: Dec 7, 2020
Firstly, I would like to apologize to everyone wishing to move out of their home countries (especially the UK and US) for not publishing this post sooner. While we are living in stressful and unprecedented times, it is not too late to research your options for moving out. I will also be updating this article with more information as it arises. While there are several ways to move to Canada, this article will mainly focus on the International Experience Canada (IEC) Working Holiday experience. The article will also touch on studying in Canada as an immigration platform, as well as sponsorships.
In October 2016, I applied for a Working Holiday visa to Canada a few short months after the UK declared it would leave the EU. While this was not the main reason why I chose to leave, it turned out to be a major motivator for my decision. Every reason for leaving a country is varied and different; I am not here to judge, but some of the information I give has been derived from personal experience.
The first step is to answer a set of questions on the cic.gc.ca website regarding eligibility to Canada. This will be different for everyone depending on the circumstances, but for the Working Holiday program, you will need to state that you plan to reside temporarily in Canada. If eligible, you should receive a code in order to start registering for a Working Holiday visa.
The next step is to fill out your information (passport, current address, etc.) in order to be entered into the pool. You will be randomly invited to complete your application process; this can take either a few hours to several months. My advice: don't give up on your chances and wait it out. If you do not get selected that year, there is always next year. You will not be charged for entering the pool, and you only need to pay once your application is complete. No harm, no foul. It costs $250 CAD to complete your application, plus additional fees for your police/medical certificate. If you arrive in Canada, you are expected to carry a minimum of $2,500 CAD; if you budget accordingly, you should have no issues.
If you do get an invite, congratulations! You will receive an email asking you to accept within 10 days of the invite. Once accepted, the application time is extended, and you will be able to gather/apply for your documents. Some documents, such as the police certificate, may not be ordered in time for the application; in that case, make it visible on your application that your police certificate is ordered and on the way. CIC will send an email to you to complete the application as soon as they receive confirmation that your police certificate is delivered. Depending on the pandemic situation, biometrics may/may not be offered to you; this was introduced in 2018, and was not offered to me at the time of my application. Depending on the industry you are working in, you may also need to apply for a medical certificate. This is important if you plan to work with children or vulnerable adults; you have proof that you are fit and healthy enough to work with those demographics.
If you receive a port of entry letter, congratulations! Your letter should be valid for exactly one year. If not, contact CIC and they should extend it for you.
The study permit takes on a similar approach; while the pool requirement is omitted, a student still needs to apply for a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), submit an acceptance letter from that DLI, and prove they can financially support themselves. [3]
The more grueling part of your move begins soon after. Where will you live? What will you take with you? For the first month of my move, I stayed at a hostel and Airbnb until I could find a job and an apartment. Before the pandemic, finding a job was significantly easier once you landed in the country; now the opposite may be coming true. While virtual interviews have long been a staple for some companies, the rise of virtual interviews during the pandemic have made it significantly more viable for potential immigrants to obtain work. [4]
Finances are crucial for surviving in another country; thankfully, Canadian banks have made it easy for newcomers to settle in. Many offer newcomer packages that include a chequing, savings and credit card account; a car or apartment may be difficult to obtain without a decent credit score, so building it up is important. Transferring your funds will also be crucial for settling in; TransferWise and CurrencyFair have received rave reviews, and they are easily the cheapest and fastest money transfer services for those living abroad. [5] There will be a lot of trial and error, but keep persevering and you will go far!
If there is any valuable information that I am missing, please let me know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and I hope this will help plan your move!
Useful links/references:
[1] All of the information regarding Working Holiday, or other immigration methods, can be found on cic.gc.ca and https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html
[2] A list of eligible countries for IEC Working Holiday, Young Professionals: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/eligibility.asp?country=all&cat=NA&#country_category_name_cont
[3] Study permit requirements: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/apply.html
[4] This page has great tips on how to nail an online interview as an immigrant: https://www.canadaupdates.com/2017/05/21/how-you-can-fix-video-interview-for-landing-a-job-in-canada-even-before-landing-in-canada/
[5] Transferwise and CurrencyFair:
[6] hostelworld.com is great for those looking to stay at a hostel before moving somewhere more permanent.