For me, the past year in Canada has been a rollercoaster. To begin with, it was difficult due to a variety of factors such as cultural shock, financial stress, rising rent and food prices, homesickness, and, of course, the depression brought on by the Canadian winter. All of these events have had a significant impact on my mental breakdown.
Second, it took me some time after moving in to realize how tough it was to fit into a culture other than my own. Although I wouldn’t characterize it as discrimination in and of itself, accepting that I am no longer in the majority but rather the minority has been difficult.
Third, as a new student, I found it difficult to adjust to the academic culture of college because of the way things were done and taught, particularly academic writing and working on assignments.
Finally, domestic students enrolled in any degree program in Canada currently pay
tuition fees ranging from $4,000 to $6,000 per year. It is very obvious that many
international students struggle to make ends meet when compared to the staggering $18,000 that an international student must spend for the same degree. Furthermore, only a few scholarships are available for international students, as opposed to domestic students, who already pay lower fees and are still eligible for scholarships.
Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that many Canadian institutions are pleased to welcome the annual billion-dollar inflow of international students.