Student Life in Canada

My name is Patrick, and I am a 20-year-old from Peru who came to Canada to study at College of the Rockies (COTR) in Cranbrook, British Columbia.

How was it? In one world I can say that it was magic.

I think that I had the best days of my life these last four months in Canada. It was a wonderful experience full of adventures, amazing people, trips, laughs, challenges, feelings, and experiences that I will never forget.

So when did this experience start? It started that first day when I arrived in Canada and I saw snow for first time in my life. There was lots of snow! In the airport my very nice host family and a member of the COTR International Office were waiting for me. They welcomed me to Canada with big smiles and very good energies.

Throughout my stay in Canada my host family was really nice to me. They took me to see new places around Cranbrook and they introduced me to nice people who later became my friends. Also they helped me with English by talking with me every day and correcting me whenever that was necessary.

Also, the International Office staff were really friendly with me too. They were available to help me with everything that I needed, always with the best energy and a big smile. I spent a lot of time in the International Office and it was not just for the nice people, also the International Office has a very pleasant atmosphere. You can sit and talk with your friends, use the computer if you need, eat varieties of chocolates and sweets for free, and use the international telephone for free! Thanks to this welcoming atmosphere, all the international students including me, who are far from home, had a place where we can feel like home and where we can spend a rewarding time.

Furthermore, the International Office organizes the best activities for international students. Personally I tried to do every activity that they planned because they were always fun and also inexpensive. Through these activities I could meet more people and integrate faster in a group.

A normal student probably spends about half of their time at the college, and I am glad to say that it is a wonderful place to spend half of the time! The structure is very modern and the educational services are really helpful and effective. The classes are very nice and productive at the same time, the small class size and the approachable instructors are perfect for the learning and the students can feel the personalized instruction. Also the teachers use technology to support the students’ learning.

I was very lucky to be selected for the Emerging Leaders of the Americas Program (ELAP) scholarship, with the support of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada. Therefore, I was in Canada for only four months, and I feel that was not enough because Canada is an amazing country, but also a large one. I leave Canada with the feeling that I am missing something because although I did many things I know that there are still more things that I can do. I am planning to work hard and come back someday, but until then I will never forget my magical experience in Canada and at College of the Rockies.