It’s courageous to move to a new country, step into the unfamiliar and begin building a new life from scratch.
As an international student, I’ve often felt like I’m living two lives: one rooted in memories back home, and another slowly trying to grow new roots here. While finding my place and building a life away from home, I remind myself of the challenges I’ve already overcome … and how this journey, difficult as it may be, will be meaningful in the long run.
I frequently think of a quote by Lao Tzu that says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” These words remind me how far I’ve come with each small step taken to feel more comfortable here, and how important it is to keep going while allowing myself to enjoy the journey.
Finding family in unfamiliar spaces
I remember my first year, when my friends and I who lived at Lister Residence would meet up and head toward the riverfront for long walks, only to return later and watch a movie together. We would head to the nearest cafe to grab coffee and spend late-night hours at the Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering (DICE), trying to finish assignments or attend campus events together.
Over time, I realized that I found comfort in these memories because the friends I made here slowly became my new family in this new place. We supported each other through the toughest moments, had fun along the way and pushed one another to grow and reinvent ourselves.
There were still times when I deeply missed my family back home and wished they could be here to witness some of my new achievements. Being away from home made me more aware of how isolating this transition can feel, especially in the early days of settling into a new environment.
Paying it forward: from resident to mentor
That experience stayed with me and still shapes how I support others going through similar transitions. Hence … I became a Resident Assistant! In my role, I guide incoming students as they adjust to living a new life here. Being part of a role where I can help others feel at home is truly an honour.
Redefining the concept of "home"
My friend once shared a video about how international students often feel a void when deciding which place they should truly call “home”. Is it the place they now visit only for a few weeks or months during vacations, or the place where they are building their everyday lives? I found myself wondering what it really means to call a place, or even a feeling, “home.”
After a lot of pondering, I realized that it’s the little things we experience each day that slowly become part of the identity we are carving out for ourselves in this new place. It’s the new friends we meet, the professors we turn to for support, the strangers who offer us help when we need it the most, and the places we begin to visit frequently.
Finding grounding in the small moments
For me, one of those grounding experiences was attending the CAAWLS pet therapy sessions at Lister, which I visited quite often this semester. These sessions became an escape in the middle of a heavy academic workload. Spending time with the animals helped me de-stress, and connecting with their owners felt comforting — almost like talking to someone from my own family.
Events during Week of Welcome and Fall Orientation really helped me build my first connections here. I believe that putting myself out there, stepping out of my comfort zone and sharing meals with friends during the first few nights helped establish those early bonds. Eventually, it became a routine where we would gather at night to grab dinner together at the dining hall.
Joining student clubs like SPEAR and Mission Spacewalker also helped me meet people who were just as excited as I was about space and the universe. I expanded my circle and connected with people from different backgrounds. Celebrating special occasions such as Christmas and New Year’s, or even going on spontaneous late-night drives, felt incredibly homely and created a shared sense of comfort. Residence-hosted events like movie nights and board game nights further helped us meet more people living within residence. All of these experiences helped me build friendships that feel like family and allowed me to cherish the memories we created together.
Navigating student life
There are days when everything feels overwhelming: tight deadlines, long days, homesickness, building a network and surviving long, cold winters. Motivation dips, Monday blues hit harder and some days it simply comes down to getting home and cooking a warm bowl of noodles after a long day. Over time, however, I have come to realize that it’s these small, ordinary moments that quietly shape how we see our surroundings and begin to feel a sense of belonging.
Now, as academic stress catches up with everyone, including myself, I try to find comfort in the little things I do for myself. I make sure to stay present for special moments with my family back home through phone calls. Grooming, eating takeout while watching an episode of one of my favourite shows, going to the gym or simply spending time with friends reminds me that it’s okay to enjoy my own company too.
A quiet growth
So what does it really mean to call a place, or a person “home”? I’ve come to realize that it’s not something that appears all at once. It grows quietly through ordinary moments that make you feel steady, safe and seen.
I miss the moments that helped me transition into who I am today, and I also look forward to the new experiences that will continue to redefine what I call home.
YouAlberta
