Discover how to quickly feel at home in Canada from day one!

It is not uncommon to feel lonely, confused, and even a little scared when you start living in a new city or even in a new country. It takes time to learn the routines, rhythms, and peculiarities of your new home, but you’ll get there sooner than you think if you follow our advice. Here are some suggestions to live like a local and feel at home from day one!

Take some things with you that remind you of home

Pack a few things in your suitcase to make your room feel like home from the moment you unpack. Even simple things like your bedding or a candle you love will make your new homestay feel cozier. And if you decorate the walls with photos of friends and family, you’ll feel like you’re not so far away. You’ll start to feel like you’re part of your new city when you feel at home in your new home.

Speak the language

From the very beginning, communicate with others in their mother tongue, regardless of your proficiency level. Although it may initially pose a challenge, it will serve as a beneficial routine, fostering self-assurance and enhancing your everyday linguistic abilities. Often, individuals value new members who strive to speak their dialect; thus, they will react favorably and endeavor to make you feel included in the group. Learn more about our English language and obtain the confidence necessary to advance your fluency level!

Master the slang

Wherever you go, you’ll hear expressions and colloquial terms that you haven’t learned in class. Pay attention to the terms people use and adopt them into your vocabulary. Soon you’ll say them naturally and feel, and be treated, like one of the locals.

Do what the locals do

Is everyone biking in your new city? Get a bike! Get your transport card as soon as possible, so you can explore and navigate the city easily with the rest of the city’s residents. Let you host family help you to have a sense of belonging, and the opportunity to build lasting friendships with them. Homestay also provides an affordable alternative to other housing options, making it an attractive choice for students looking to minimize costs while still enjoying a high-quality living experience.

Dine where they dine

When looking for new places to eat or trendy cafes that serve your coffee just the way you like it, observe where the locals go. Avoid the big chains that are already where you live and explore the less crowded streets or quieter parts of the city to maximize your chances of finding a hidden gem. Away from the main streets, you’ll find locals’ favorite cafes and family restaurants serving good regional cuisine. There’s nothing more local than eating the food that has nourished the city for generations!

Explore and be a tourist

Don’t forget to explore the city as a visitor. When you arrive, throw away your map and visit the most iconic places on your own, it will help you orient yourself. If you spend a day or two visiting parks, museums, shopping areas, or theater districts, you’ll get a good idea of what your new city is like. Once you’re done and know where the places you’re interested in are, you can explore the city more thoroughly. Click here and let us take you on a virtual tour of Mississauga and London.

Organize your money

Money makes the world go round, so one of the first crucial items on your to-do list is to organize currency and banks.

Step 1: Arrive with cash in the local currency so you don’t find yourself without money in case cards are not accepted somewhere.

Step 2: Bring a debit travel card or a credit card from your country that allows you to make transactions or withdraw money from ATMs abroad.

Step 3: Once you have an address or have secured a job, open a local bank account in the country’s currency, so you’ll save money on currency exchange fees every time you make a transaction.

Equally important is to understand how tipping works in your new city. Do you need to tip? And if so, how much and in what situations? Remember that in Canada, for example, it’s essential to give very generous tips in almost all services.

Make local friends.

It’s likely that your neighbors or the people you meet at your local café or workplace have lived in this city or country their whole lives. If you make an effort to make friends with the locals, you’ll not only feel more comfortable in your new city but you’ll also open up all kinds of doors. They’ll offer you countless good tips, tell you where the best bars and restaurants are, and give you all kinds of recommendations on places to visit, street food stalls, etc. As you absorb all this knowledge about the place, you’ll begin to feel like a local before you know it.

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At LLI, we recognize the value of feeling at ease and self-assured in your new surroundings. We are committed to empowering you to thrive in your new environment, achieving both your academic goals and personal happiness.

Our arsenal of insider tips and tricks guarantees a seamless transition, allowing you to hit the ground running and integrate into your new community with ease. Our time-honored techniques will have you feeling like a local in no time, adapting effortlessly to the beat, routine, and peculiarities of your new abode.

No longer must loneliness or disorientation impede your ability to fully immerse yourself in this exhilarating new chapter of your life. Our unwavering support and guidance will lead you through the labyrinth of uncertainty and into a world of contentment, camaraderie, and triumph.

So why wait? Step forward with confidence and let us guide you to your fullest potential, both academically and socially, in your new home.

💬 Phone / WhatsApp: +1 (519) 439-3350

✉️ Email: info@llinstitute.com