How 6 international students found home away from home in Toronto

It’s no secret that Toronto is often praised for its multiculturalism, which is the reason why many international students would choose to settle in the city to strengthen their connection to home. Our team of International Student Ambassadors at TMU are no exception! 

Beyond the expected initial homesickness, not only have we now all found a piece of home away from home in Toronto, but we’re also enjoying being able to explore a myriad of other cultures for the first time ever — all thanks to living and learning in the heart of the city. If you’re curious about our respective journeys from six different countries, read on below!

1. What did you miss most about home when first coming to Toronto?

Jennifer from Vietnam: Food: my mom's hearty home-cooked meals, street food stalls in the nooks and crannies of Hanoi, even the cheap lunch at my high school cafeteria. I’m a firm believer that food is at the core of our cultures. Out of necessity, I started to test out Viet restaurants in Toronto. While they’re nowhere on the same level as those back home, they really help fill the void in me.

Jennifer (far left) and fellow Vietnamese students at TMU in a 2019 meet up.

Faheel from Pakistan: People! I came during COVID so it was very odd to see empty streets and no nightlife. I've always lived in large, crowded cities so the change was huge for me. As restrictions eased and eased, I slowly got to witness Toronto life through frequent festivals and street performances.

Nick from Trinidad & Tobago: I missed my friends and going out to parties with them the most. It was definitely a big change moving from living on an island to a big city. But it was honestly nice and refreshing to make new friends and meet people from all over the world after coming here.

2.What are some culture shocks you had?

Riley from China: About 2-3 months after I first arrived in Canada, it was spring and started to rain a lot. One day, there was some pretty light rain, and I was using an umbrella. But no one else was using it! Every person on the street was looking at me weird with my umbrella. They were just walking in the rain with only a hat on or nothing at all. 

Isioma from Nigeria: The sales tax on every product! One time, I was about to buy a pair of shoes. I already looked at the price tag and was good with it, but then at check-out, I heard the cost after tax and immediately went: “Wait!!!” That was when they explained to me the added sales tax. Although, eventually, I had no other options and still bought the shoes.

Giuli from Mexico: The safe walkability of the city. Back where I’m from, you’d have to drive everywhere... I guess people could walk, but no one ever really does. So the fact that 99% of my time now can be spent safely walking from one end of the city to the other is really shocking! Another thing, kind of a small one, but… tap water is drinkable here!

3.How have you been able to find your community on TMU campus?

Isioma: Our Black student groups have been really crucial in helping me find community. They always host events like game nights, meet and greets, Black students’ wellness… just to name a few, to bring us together. Also, when I was in first year, I volunteered for a student leader position, where I met my very first friends in Toronto who were fellow student leaders as well!

Isioma (in blue) as the host of a Black History Month event on campus.

Giuli: The Latin American society on campus (OLAS (external link) ) has been nothing but welcoming to me and taught me so much about life on campus and in Toronto. I’d also recommend going to as many international student events as possible, because that’s how I've met both people from all over the world and those who only live an hour away from me in Mexico.

4.When can you feel the closest to your culture in the city?

Faheel: I've always connected to my culture through arts and food. There are countless Pakistani and Indian restaurants in the downtown area, with a dedicated neighbourhood located on the east side of the city called Little India-Pakistan. You'll also often find events celebrating cultural festivals here, such as Eid, Diwali and independence day! For instance, I was fasting during Ramadan and attended an iftar hosted by TMU’s Muslim Student Association (external link) .

Faheel’s lunch in Little India-Pakistan, a 20-minute streetcar ride from campus.

Nick: I'd say there’s a huge Trinidadian and Caribbean population in Toronto. Every summer, there is Caribana – which is basically the city’s version of Carnival. Add in soca parties and the various Trini food places, the connection is very much present. I've also coincidentally met a handful of Trinis on campus and around Toronto at the beaches or pubs. You often can just tell that they're your people!

A Toronto Caribbean Carnival, or Caribana, that Nick attended in the summer.

Riley: The first time I felt close to my own culture was when my high school played a Chinese song during break time — it shocked me for a while. Additionally, on Chinese New Year that year, they sent good wishes to us Chinese students. Finally, Chinatown always brings me the feeling of going home, even if it’s older than the actual landscape of China today.

5.When was one moment you were introduced to another culture for the first time in Toronto? 

Giuli: My first friend in Toronto was from Panama. Then she introduced me to her first friend in Toronto who was from El Salvador. Then she introduced me to her friends who were from Peru. Then they introduced me to some of their friends who are from Haiti. It's like a never ending cycle of meeting people from all over! 

Giuli (top left) and friends from TMU OLAS dressing up for Halloween.

Jennifer: Upon landing in Toronto four years ago, I first lived with a Filipino-Canadian host family. Naturally, I was eating a lot of Filipino dishes everyday. We would also often sit down over the similarities and differences in our cultures, both of which are Southeast Asian. I was a big fan of Filipino steamed rice cakes, and I also really appreciated that they regularly cooked for me their delicious version of Vietnamese pho!

Isioma: When I made my first group of Indian friends, they taught me some words in their language. The highlight of learning about their culture had to be when my friend's mother made naan and butter chicken. It was really good food! Naan is now my go-to dish at a South Asian restaurant that I was introduced to.