International students find a taste of home at TMU
These three international students explored the city and TMU to find foods that remind them of home. Check out the video above to see where they got some roti, biryani and coxinha. (Toronto Metropolitan University/YouTube)
Every year, international students travel thousands of kilometres to live and study in Toronto. The experience can be exciting but also nerve-racking as school stress takes over and homesickness kicks in.
Luckily for the international students at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), the comforts of home are at their fingertips whether it’s a quick bite at the World Food Market (external link) or a conversation in their mother tongue with a friend or professor, or even playing cricket on campus.
We caught up with three international students to learn about why they chose TMU and where they get food that reminds them of home.
Roger Castelo, Professional Communications ’24
Whenever second-year professional communication student Roger Castelo misses his friends and family, he goes to Samba Brazil Eatery to order coxinha, a fried-dough treat stuffed with shredded chicken meat. Castelo also loves going to samba dancing classes on campus and Brazilian-funk themed parties with his friends.
“I chose TMU because it's in a big city with opportunities to work and study at the same time,” he said. Another plus was their first Pride, in Toronto, last year. “When I came out in Brazil, I was 18. I was still figuring everything out, and then I came here. Pride was so much fun and I loved connecting with so many new people during the event.”
As a student ambassador in the International Student Support (ISS) office at TMU, Castelo helps with events and marketing initiatives. ISS is a supportive space on campus that welcomes international students to campus and helps create a sense of belonging and community for all students who are new to Canada. It meant a lot to him to connect with another Brazilian student in one of his classes. “It's always great to see Brazilian people and just speak in your mother tongue,” Castelo says.
Faheel Haider, Mechanical Engineering ’23
Faheel Haider, a third-year mechanical engineering student from Pakistan, also feels connected to his culture because South Asian food is accessible on campus. “There's an Indian or Pakistani restaurant around every block here.”
He chose to study at TMU because family living in Toronto always cited the university as having a top notch engineering program and being in an urban environment was important to him. “I was born in a city called Karachi, a big bustling city of over 15 million people. So I've always been a city person and needed to be in a city in a busy environment.”
He’s also enjoyed a Bollywood night at the campus pub, "I absolutely loved it. You know, it felt like my high school parties back home."
Nicholas Lum, Nursing ’24
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, third-year student Nicholas Lum chose TMU because the nursing program has great connections with the downtown hospital network. He knew he wanted to attend the university after experiencing the hustle and bustle of Yonge and Dundas Square on a trip to visit his godparents in North York.
As for feeling at home in Toronto, while Lum had to ask his parents to bring him his favourite spices from Trinidad, he has found a favourite local Caribbean restaurant, Lena’s Roti & Doubles. “I love the doubles there!”
Are you an international student looking to come to TMU? Learn more about the university.
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