From your country to Canada — what changes
Lesson 1 of 9 in Country-of-Origin Orientation · 25 minutes
Ten honest snapshots — one for each of the most common source countries — of the first thing newcomers say feels different. Find yours, then read at least two others to widen the picture.
What you'll learn
- Identify three concrete differences between your home country and Canada
- Recognise that 'culture shock' is normal — and predictable
- Spot the cultural difference that surprises newcomers from a country other than yours
From the lesson
We asked recent newcomers from ten countries: 'What was the biggest practical change?' Their answers are below. Find your country first. Then read at least two others — one of them will surprise you.
Stories from other countries
India — From voice: Priya, software tester from Bengaluru, settled in Mississauga ON. Biggest change: How quiet the streets are. Bengaluru never sleeps. Auto-rickshaws, vendors, the temple bell at 5 a.m. In Mississauga my first morning was so silent I thought my ears were broken. The quiet is wonderful — but it took two weeks to feel friendly instead of lonely. Tip: Spend the first weekend at a busy farmers' market or a community plaza. Quiet is the rule; the small…