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Gwangju Abroad
Pushing Myself Adjusting to Canada
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
September 2020
GWANGJU ABROAD
Written and photographed by Kim Dohyung
I
still remember the time in October 2016 when I arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport. I had two main goals to achieve during my stay in Toronto. One of them was to study what I wanted to learn about, which was aircraft, and the other was to learn how to adapt to a new environment. I was so excited thinking about all the fun I would have in Toronto, but at the same time, I doubtfully asked myself if I would be able to accomplish my goals alone. I was smiling on the outside, but inside I was full of anxiety. Living in a different country was harder than I had expected. Since I was a newcomer and knew nobody in Toronto, I had to begin to settle in all by myself. Starting from getting a place to stay and opening a bank account, nothing was easy for me. Moreover, my English was not good enough to feel comfortable when talking to Canadians, which made my situation even worse. Therefore, I had to ask people I knew for help to solve problems that were never a problem before, but slowly, things came together and problems got solved. In addition, I was having a hard time emotionally due to being apart from my family and friends. At the beginning of my stay, my life was full of loneliness and homesickness caused by the fact that I could not see those close to me. It was the first time that staying alone in a strange environment made me feel vulnerable. However, I tried to overcome these feelings that weakened my will to study, and I tried not to forget the goals I wanted to achieve for my future. I focused more on school activities like group study and working out. Eventually, I managed to make good friends and had great times that made unforgettable memories. I encountered new problems in a new environment, but I pushed myself to get by and enjoyed the moment.
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