ATT International Students!! WELCOME TO CANADA!

Harder than it looks!

Coming to university is big adjustment for everyone, but for international students it can be even more difficult. Starting a new chapter in your life, entering a new country, leaving behind the familiar and starting over in a new place with new people can be a little daunting even for the most well adjusted among us. When I first arrived in Canada I was totally at the mercy of my cab driver and his GPS for finding my way to York.

Thankfully things have changed a little since I first came to York! For the last couple of years The City of Toronto has been running a WELCOME Booth for all international students attending Post Secondary Educational Institutions in Toronto. You might be thinking, "What happens at this Welcome Booth?"

Someone's there to welcome
YOU!

Well if you enter Canada through either Terminal 1 or 3 (which are the main terminals for international arrivals at the Pearson International Airport), you'll find that there is a welcome booth. At this booth
you'll be greeted with a warm welcome to Canada and support as soon as you arrive. You'll get:

• A welcome package with some AWESOME stuff!
• A free call home
• Some info and support related to your campus, destination, public transportation and housing/ accommodation and
• Receive a $20.00 SIM Card for your mobile device courtesy of Rogers Communications. 

Does that sound appealing to you?!? I know I would have really appreciated having this service to welcome me to Canada. So the question that I can tell is on the tip of your tongue is "When do these booths open?"

York's President at the Opening
of the 1st Welcome Booth!

Well these booths will be open in Terminal's 1 and 3 in the international arrivals areas from August 15th to September 8th 2013 from 7am to 11pm.

So if you're coming to Canada over the course of those dates and within those times be sure to stop by
and pick up your welcome package and call home...to let them know that you're already making new friends!!

If you want more info about this service check out this link!

Once you're in Canada and you leave the airport, the welcome doesn't stop there. Once you make it York's Campus, the welcome continues at Frosh Week. This week is specifically designed to welcome incoming students to University life and given you a chance to meet people and make friends before your first day of class. Wanna know more about Social Orientation/ Frosh Week/ O-Week? Check out this link!

As if that's not enough of a welcome to Canada and York...there's also our international student office, info.

Orientation...DO IT!!

York International that has their own welcome and orientation events open for all international students, check out their website for more

If you've got questions about the welcome booths, or frosh week, feel free to comment below I'd love to answer any questions you might have!

Don't forget that your support continues on during the school year, so if you ever need any questions answered or directions stop by the Vari Hall Booth and talk to the RED Zone!

As always remember to take it one day at a time and catch me in the Zone!

Nicole

Just landed and feeling a little lost? York University and The Pearson Airport will be there to welcome you to CANADA!

Entering University is an intimidating and scary experience even for the most "prepared" high school graduate. Moving to a new country, leaving behind friends, family and the familiar is another equally intimidating and scary experience. Doing BOTH at the same time can be an extremely overwhelming experience.

Ms. International
Like Pitbull :P

As an international student I did just that. I left behind my home, my culture, my friends and my family to move to Canada for University. Honestly, it was the BEST and most challenging experience of my life. When I first got here I had to deal with the harsh reality that my mom wasn't there to cook and clean for me. I was on my own. There were some growing pains, (like doing LAUNDRY) but eventually I was able to settle in and find my niche. 

For many international students their first glimpse of Canada will be at the Lester B. Pearson International Airport. I can still remember entering the MASSIVE airport and being amazed by how many people were buzzing around.

After clearing customs and collecting my luggage I walked out into the outer waiting area. In movies when people enter this area they are greeted warmly by family and friends excited to see them, this was NOT my experience!! When I walked out into the greeting area I was met by no one, worst of all I had no idea where I was supposed to go. 

I am VERY happy to report that things have changed and International Students are welcomed as soo as they set foot on Canadian soil!!!

Welcome to your home away from home!

The Pearson Airport and The City of Toronto in conjunction with local post-secondary institutions unveiled a "Student Welcome Program" last year which focused on providing International students with a warm welcome to Canada and support as soon as they arrive! The program was such a huge success last year that they have decided to host the program again this year.

What does this "Welcome" look like?
The City of Toronto will set up 'welcome' booths next to the main information booths in both Terminal 1 and 3 of the Pearson International Airport.

At these booths, new International Students will be offered:
-A warm greeting from a current International Student attending an institution in the GTA
-A welcome package
-A free phone call home
-Accommodation and Transportation Support

Does this sound like something you'd be interested in?

Want to know WHEN these booths will be open??
Hours of Operation:
-August 11th- 17th: 7:00am-12 noon and 6:00pm-11:00pm
-August 18th -September 3rd: 7:00am-11:00pm
-September 3rd -10th: 7:00am-12 noon and 6:00pm-11:00pm

If you're looking for more information feel free to check out this link!

If you're an International Student and you have the opportunity to experience this service, let me know what it's like! I'd LOVE to hear about it!