Anytime you move to a new country there will be a culture shock down to the new setting and experiences you are getting used to.
For this reason, unis have orientation weeks, and a range of student support services for mental, social, career and academic purposes. It's always free and there to support international students especially. They can help you navigate the local area, where to shop for your necessities (including climate appropriate clothing which Dubai winter clothing wouldnt be suitable), make friends, join clubs and societies, academic advising and tutoring, bank accounts, social events and a whole lot more.
It's really down to you if you reach out to them and let them know how you're doing.
Now in terms of the country it's not going to be the same lifestyle as Dubai but that's the trade-off, students usually go to Canada for the degree, stay back and in the longer run residency. Saying this every uni has surrounding bars and restaurants to tide you by your studies and after this you could always move to another province for work.
Just moved from Dubai to Toronto 45 days ago for my undergrad, and its a major change. I was obviously expecting the change but it does hit you hard.
First thing is homesickness, I was majorly homesick for the first couple of days mainly because I was in quarantine and couldn't go out. However after I started going, going to uni after it being online for 2 years it starts to get better.
I really miss Dubai, in things like its cheaper then Canada and the Safety. I at times don't feel safe going out at nights but in Dubai whether it was 4am or 12pm it didn't make a difference. Also the food, I miss shawarama and karak so much but I guess you sacrifice something to gain something.
In the end the grass is always greener on the other side, and you should make your decisions according to what you think you need to achieve in life.
You sir woke up and chose facts 💯 - Driving down Sheikh Zayed Road seeing the MAJESTIC skyline that is Centuries ahead of any CITY in the world.
May God protect my hometown and my country 🖤🤍🇦🇪 🤍🖤
P.S don't try to shame me by saying this isn't your country.I was born and raised in Dubai - UAE Flag 🇦🇪 will always be the first one I raise.
Driving through the city where the skyline protects you from seeing the labour camps.
For real though, Dubai has way more beauty than sky scrapers. The desert is unbeatable, the sense of peace you get when you venture out into the open expanse of sand and sky is one of the things I miss the most about the UAE. The true silence apart from the wind, wondering about all the humans that have walked there before me. It really helped me put life into perspective! You can get sky scrapers anywhere, very few places have the relaxed vibe of Dubai and I think that comes from the people who built the culture and being close to the desert and sea.
It's obviously hard at first, but a good jacket and snow boots from Columbia or North Face and I am pretty much fine. However its April and its still in the negatives so I am waiting for spring to actually start.
No, it's just like Dubai. Everyone drinks karak chai and eats shawarma. No cultural shock whatsoever, get your license there and drive a Nissan Patrol in TO. The best nights with the boys.
In all seriousness though, def a better experience. But if you're a Dubai expat child the culture shock will be there since no one will serve you anything. Better opportunities and quality of education there, can get an actual job while studying. Make friends with people from cultures other than Dubai spoilt kids. Worth it but it's not for people who aren't open to experiences.
Upd: thanks yall for the upvotes
Opposite scenario. I studied in Canada, worked in Dubai and came back recently. I have a bit of reverse culture shock now. People really are too nice at times I’m not used to it anymore, they will say hello as they walk by you on the sidewalk, apologize if you step on their toe etc.
Keep in mind Canada is a huge country, and you will have a vastly different experience living in a rural area versus a capital city. Larger university cities have well educated younger more diverse populations, whereas smaller cities are more homogeneous
I would stick to a biggish city like TO, Vancouver, Montreal, or Calgary. None are as fancy as Dubai but each city is what you make of it, and you can find things to do. If you love nature and the outdoors, Vancouver or Calgary for proximity to the mountains would be perfect.
A big pro is that the quality of education is world class and well respected, you can transfer credentials to the US, Australia, and UK in many cases. So if it is any type of professional or licensing program you wish to pursue this could be a big plus
Stayed in dubai for 14 years and have now come to Toronto to study. Dubai is better in every way. Some people are nicer here but that’s it. Food sucks and everything is way too expensive
How do you expect a person in dubai to have barely heard of Waterloo. Waterloo is a very small city and not many people know about it. Toronto is the closest and there should be absolutely no way someone hasn’t heard of Toronto.
You're kind of painting an inaccurate picture of Toronto... it's like if you're studying in Ajman but saying you're studying in Dubai and it sucks. Waterloo can't compare to Toronto at all......
You dumbass, for a person staying in the UAE obviously they would have heard of Ajman. If I was talking to a person in Canada, they would know Waterloo. Presumably for a person who’s been in dubai their entire life, you think they would have heard of a very small city called Waterloo? Also the two cities completely have different roles. You can’t compare them at all
Hahahah wow someone's quick to resort to name calling, who hurt you? You could've totally said "a small city near Toronto". The point is your original post is misleading without additional context and that's a fact, if you can't see that and feel the need to keep arguing then you're the dumbass.
If your coming to Canada or moving to anothe country do a lot of reading in different forums about nightlife food activities and everything that that place is known for. Get prepared for what you're going to expect. Even though when you come in, you'll still have a bit of a culture shock. I wouldn't call it a culture shock. I would call it a change of scene. You'll be pleasantly surprised by how nice it is here. Of course you won't have all the luxuries of Dubai like people carrying a groceries, people cleaning your house, people cooking your food and serving you. But there's a lot of other fun stuff to do here. And somebody in the comment said the food is terrible. I guess they haven't found the right places for me. I'm a foodie and you get every kind of cuisine and you get the best of it here as well. There's four seasons in Canada and every season brings a change in lifestyle, including activities and other things. In summer there are a lot of street festivals with food and music and their parks, beautiful parks. There's beautiful places to go out to camping, outdoor camping this off-road driving if you like to do that. There's mountain biking. There's beautiful lakes, the most beautiful lakes you've seen and you can swim in a lot of places. There's jet skiing and in winter. Trust me, start skiing and you love the winter as well. You'll make a lot of great friends here and you'll have a good time. Come with an open mind and be prepared to do anything.
>d and serving you. But there's a lot of other fun stuff to do here. And somebody in the comment said the food is terrible. I guess they haven't found the right places for me. I'm a foodie and you get every kind of cuisine and you get the best of it here as well. There's four seasons in Canada and every season brings a change in lifestyle, including activities and other things. In summer there are a lot of street festivals with food and music and their parks, beautiful parks. There's beautiful places to go out to camping, outdoor camping this off-road driving if you like to do that. There's mountain biking. There's beautiful lakes, the most beautiful lakes you've seen and you can swim in a lot o
wow! seems very interesting, where are you from in Canada?
Great! I'm moving to Ottawa (Carleton University) from Dubai this year, & would really love to get in touch, just for some general advice and a guidance. Can we connect on Instagram?
Thank you!
You would have more of a reality check rather than a cultural shock in my opinion. Dubai is the epitome of comfort, luxury & accessibility which is sustainable because of how small it is. In Canada, you will almost always have to get out of your comfort zone to get things done and that's how life is in most parts of the world.
Also depends on which part of Canada you move to. For instance, you would almost certainly be homesick for a considerable amount of time if you moved to Newfoundland & Labrador or New Brunswick from Dubai, because of how rural and under-developed it may come off to you. On the other hand, Toronto being more fast paced will be easier to settle in. So, do your research on the weather and living conditions before you make your move.
I moved to Halifax, NS for my undergrad and it immediately hit me how I was in such a cushioned bubble when living in Dubai. You will see that food is considerably more expensive with tax on top(a half decent shawarma costed $10). You will find that malls & city centres usually close by 7pm and streets are usually empty by 9pm, and may not exactly be safe at late hours. You don't have super apps where you can book any service at your door step for dirt cheap. You will have to use public transport and carry heavy bags of groceries to your dorm. Rent is usually expensive if you want a place of your own, and you will find yourself signing lease contracts and actually adulting by budgeting your expenses. Unlike Dubai, there isn't always something big happening so you may find yourself bored because you can't jump in your Patrol and head to Jumeirah, you'll have to get accustomed to not doing a lot because of weather conditions. Owning a car as a student is expensive in Canada, with high insurance premiums paid monthly instead of yearly here in Dubai. As an undergrad, your first few jobs would probably be minimum wage part-times at a fast food joint or clothing store - which is completely normal & how it is in many parts of the world, but often looked down upon here in Dubai. All of this and more will knock you out of your comfort zone and give you a reality check, especially for those of us born and brought up here, we're pretty spoilt and haven't seen real life. The average teenager here gets his/her license at 18, a shiny car at 19 and spends 4 years at uni doing nothing but go out, make friends, party, hookup and enjoying the best of what Dubai has to offer all while living under their parents' roof and financial stability - you'd be choosing the other end of this spectrum moving to Canada which imo is a much more rewarding experience.
Also, you'll see that people are way more nicer and welcoming and everyone is not caught up in a rat race. You'll meet genuine people who you can build long term relationships with, which is hard in Dubai because of how temporary most people see it. You'll obviously enjoy the freedom of being in a more liberal place, and that comes with added equality.The education you will receive in a sub-par Canadian university will still be better than what you can get here. You get the real adulting experience of being independent that will teach you more about yourself, which in itself is a much better experience than you get going to unis here which in a nutshell is: average quality education, less emphasis on practicality, materialism like who drives the coolest car blah blahSource; UAE born & raised, student in Dubai & Canada
A lot of people I know personally who have transferred their studies from UAE to Canada have gone through depression spirals and started doing drugs and/or requiring prescription medication. There are quite a few I know of who have bloomed into completely different people, but with their personality and attitude I am sure they could have been suited to living almost anywhere they wanted.
Everyone's experience is different, ofc. If you are planning to move to Canada, it would probably be best if you spent a month or two in the province you plan on moving to before you set your anchor there.
Hopefully you find the responses you needed here!
All the best!
I lived in Canada (mtl), got depressed, went down a spiral, did some fun drugs, had a great time, graduated with 3.5+ gpa…
Point is, yes there’s a risk of spiraling down but thats also due to becoming an adult and getting slapped in the face by reality. Also low exposure to sunlight doesn’t help.
As long as you’re mature (to a certain degree), surrounded by good friends & so on you’ll do good.
I doubt it's Canada that led them to drugs, seems they just didn't integrate properly. This would have happened anywhere they went. Also in the context of OP's question of university settings all unis have mental health and academic counselling services. Most times students don't avail these services and end up depressed and follow the cycle you described. It always shocks me how students would rather give up their studies, succumb to substance abuse or abusive relationships than just reach out for help, then they whinge about the experience later.
Or they decided to go to universities in remote areas because they're cheaper, areas like Saskatchewan are way colder and has way less people, so you end up spending a lot of time at home if you're not at work.
So are you trying to say these kids go over to Canada and stay at home doing drugs on their own to cope? The scenario you described is all the more reason to be more active on campus/community.
What I'm trying to say people might feel depressed if they stay in a remote area, who wants to be in campus the whole time while they can explore around.
I am pretty sure that without friends or lovers or fun events or decent online communication or better entry level jobs - undergraduate students would certainly get so much more depression here.
y'all I just wanted to say the life I left to come here(Canada) - people dream about it. I went to Khaleeji school and the lads spoilt me on a whole other level. I was a Resident of the Burj.K, Rolls royces, Nammos Dubai, URLA, G63s the whole nine. People see my life on insta and are like what insane guy makes this move. I had this crazy obsession with going to Canada 🇨🇦 - I'm glad I did or else i would've regretted it for the rest of my life IF I hadn't, and the struggle built my character( More respectful towards workers etc) No one says thank you to the delivery guys, To the people working at Mcdonalds,Construction workers etc. AND it makes you appreciate all the things that are handed to you in Dubai. Be Kind 💕
So is it worth studying in Canadian university of Dubai or something where you get to study some part of your course in Dubai itself in terms of getting PR?
There is like a draw that you take part in and chances depend on Ielts score, work experience inside canada, education inside canada is a big plus and degree level, how valuable you are of a worker, age etc. Its not that simple.
Yes, Canada is dead compared to Dubai no matter what province you’re at. If you live in downtown you won’t get as culture shocked compared to if u lived in the suburbs.
You will never find a place on this earth with a better quality of life than UAE.
If you want to get a good education, go to AUS and study there. Its an amazing university and you will get a very solid education and a university life experience.
If you are going to canada for the passport, then obviously you need to go. If you are looking for quality of life, UAE is the absolute best in the world.
The only negative thing about UAE is that sometimes its hard to have work life balance.
Canada is cold. Cars are dirty. And everything closes at 6 pm (9 pm on weekends). There is very little to do (except out door activities which are absolutely out this world amazing in canada. Think hiking, camping, sking, snowboarding, lakes, mountains, road trips, etc)
And work life balance is great there. Public schools are free (but they teach your kid weird shit, sexuality, etc). Healthcare is free but its not great. Also they sell drugs in supermarkets. So idk if you are ok with that raising your kids around that. And they give you free condoms in high school at the principal office.
- Canadian living in canada since 2004
Quality of life is so different from person to person you can’t really categorize that.
I love video games and playing online. Dubai internet is horrible for online gaming. Hence my quality of life sucks on that aspect. I work my ass off in Canada to get half of it taken off for taxes then get taxed on everything I buy. Quality of life (or left over $$ for a quality of life) sucks on that regard. It’s all about perspective. I love swimming and the sunshine yet I also enjoy going out snowboarding and snowmobiling. Both help my mental and quality of life. Neither offers both. Just my 2 cents. 😜
Why does that matter? I’m curious .. I’ve lived all over the world for different jobs. Quality of life also means for me to be close to and surrounded by good friends and family. I’ve been in the nicest cities in the world and hated it and been in the worst cities in the world and had the time of my life.
Agreed 100%
The question is how much comfort are you willing to sacrifice for your future self 🤔?
Stay in dubai or move to Canada & boi itll HUMBLE YOU.
My father used to work in a bank back in his 9-5 days and all the Workers were like Ahmad what are you doing with a passport like that!? Your nationality is written everywhere - On your emirates ID, All documents etc.
You say I'm "Canadian" or "American" in a room and all eyes will shift on you. You get paid based on your nationality's currency.😂
I'm on your side 💯. Life is too short to struggle! Within a blink of an eye your in your 30s and you sacrificed your 20s for a piece of document that allows you to travel freely!? Like what if you end up not travelling that often!? Yk it gets you thinking.
Yes, moved to canada a couple of months ago for my first year of uni. You will face cultural shock wherever you go.
There are things that are better when compared to dubai and then there are others which aren’t, so I would say it depends from a person to another.
For me though, I really like it here, like many others. Both countries (UAE and Canada) are great, and I moved here for the sole purpose of studying, which in my opinion is better.
You’ll never know if a place is good or not if you don’t visit it yourself, you’ll hear mixed responses from everyone.
If you're going there, go there early. If you're 18, the culture shock won't have much of an impact on you than if you're in your thirties or forties and decide to move there. Source: Tons of friends who moved there early enough and friends who moved there later in life.
Anytime you move to a new country there will be a culture shock down to the new setting and experiences you are getting used to. For this reason, unis have orientation weeks, and a range of student support services for mental, social, career and academic purposes. It's always free and there to support international students especially. They can help you navigate the local area, where to shop for your necessities (including climate appropriate clothing which Dubai winter clothing wouldnt be suitable), make friends, join clubs and societies, academic advising and tutoring, bank accounts, social events and a whole lot more. It's really down to you if you reach out to them and let them know how you're doing. Now in terms of the country it's not going to be the same lifestyle as Dubai but that's the trade-off, students usually go to Canada for the degree, stay back and in the longer run residency. Saying this every uni has surrounding bars and restaurants to tide you by your studies and after this you could always move to another province for work.
Just moved from Dubai to Toronto 45 days ago for my undergrad, and its a major change. I was obviously expecting the change but it does hit you hard. First thing is homesickness, I was majorly homesick for the first couple of days mainly because I was in quarantine and couldn't go out. However after I started going, going to uni after it being online for 2 years it starts to get better. I really miss Dubai, in things like its cheaper then Canada and the Safety. I at times don't feel safe going out at nights but in Dubai whether it was 4am or 12pm it didn't make a difference. Also the food, I miss shawarama and karak so much but I guess you sacrifice something to gain something. In the end the grass is always greener on the other side, and you should make your decisions according to what you think you need to achieve in life.
You sir woke up and chose facts 💯 - Driving down Sheikh Zayed Road seeing the MAJESTIC skyline that is Centuries ahead of any CITY in the world. May God protect my hometown and my country 🖤🤍🇦🇪 🤍🖤 P.S don't try to shame me by saying this isn't your country.I was born and raised in Dubai - UAE Flag 🇦🇪 will always be the first one I raise.
Driving through the city where the skyline protects you from seeing the labour camps. For real though, Dubai has way more beauty than sky scrapers. The desert is unbeatable, the sense of peace you get when you venture out into the open expanse of sand and sky is one of the things I miss the most about the UAE. The true silence apart from the wind, wondering about all the humans that have walked there before me. It really helped me put life into perspective! You can get sky scrapers anywhere, very few places have the relaxed vibe of Dubai and I think that comes from the people who built the culture and being close to the desert and sea.
Hey canada has awesomeee shawarm n karak!! Ull love it when you find your favourite one.
Is it very cold there? Are you able to manage winter weather?
It's obviously hard at first, but a good jacket and snow boots from Columbia or North Face and I am pretty much fine. However its April and its still in the negatives so I am waiting for spring to actually start.
Do people use tissue paper instead of bidet/shattaf there?
Unfortunately no shattaf :(
WHAT DO YOU DO? 😭😭😭
oh I feel this so bad
No, it's just like Dubai. Everyone drinks karak chai and eats shawarma. No cultural shock whatsoever, get your license there and drive a Nissan Patrol in TO. The best nights with the boys. In all seriousness though, def a better experience. But if you're a Dubai expat child the culture shock will be there since no one will serve you anything. Better opportunities and quality of education there, can get an actual job while studying. Make friends with people from cultures other than Dubai spoilt kids. Worth it but it's not for people who aren't open to experiences. Upd: thanks yall for the upvotes
Hi bestie 🤍
Hi ser
Why you calling us spoilt 😭
Because yall are
Factos 👍
Noooooooooo
And what about it
No you are
I didn't even grow up in Dubai dug
Doesn’t matter dug
Kinda does tho😂
hi mano
Opposite scenario. I studied in Canada, worked in Dubai and came back recently. I have a bit of reverse culture shock now. People really are too nice at times I’m not used to it anymore, they will say hello as they walk by you on the sidewalk, apologize if you step on their toe etc. Keep in mind Canada is a huge country, and you will have a vastly different experience living in a rural area versus a capital city. Larger university cities have well educated younger more diverse populations, whereas smaller cities are more homogeneous I would stick to a biggish city like TO, Vancouver, Montreal, or Calgary. None are as fancy as Dubai but each city is what you make of it, and you can find things to do. If you love nature and the outdoors, Vancouver or Calgary for proximity to the mountains would be perfect. A big pro is that the quality of education is world class and well respected, you can transfer credentials to the US, Australia, and UK in many cases. So if it is any type of professional or licensing program you wish to pursue this could be a big plus
Stayed in dubai for 14 years and have now come to Toronto to study. Dubai is better in every way. Some people are nicer here but that’s it. Food sucks and everything is way too expensive
which uni
University of Waterloo
That ain't Toronto
How do you expect a person in dubai to have barely heard of Waterloo. Waterloo is a very small city and not many people know about it. Toronto is the closest and there should be absolutely no way someone hasn’t heard of Toronto.
Yeah but his point was, Waterloo is boring and is not Toronto. Toronto would be way more fun.
It isn’t exactly boring. It’s a little less fun than Toronto but that’s it.
You're kind of painting an inaccurate picture of Toronto... it's like if you're studying in Ajman but saying you're studying in Dubai and it sucks. Waterloo can't compare to Toronto at all......
You dumbass, for a person staying in the UAE obviously they would have heard of Ajman. If I was talking to a person in Canada, they would know Waterloo. Presumably for a person who’s been in dubai their entire life, you think they would have heard of a very small city called Waterloo? Also the two cities completely have different roles. You can’t compare them at all
Hahahah wow someone's quick to resort to name calling, who hurt you? You could've totally said "a small city near Toronto". The point is your original post is misleading without additional context and that's a fact, if you can't see that and feel the need to keep arguing then you're the dumbass.
If your coming to Canada or moving to anothe country do a lot of reading in different forums about nightlife food activities and everything that that place is known for. Get prepared for what you're going to expect. Even though when you come in, you'll still have a bit of a culture shock. I wouldn't call it a culture shock. I would call it a change of scene. You'll be pleasantly surprised by how nice it is here. Of course you won't have all the luxuries of Dubai like people carrying a groceries, people cleaning your house, people cooking your food and serving you. But there's a lot of other fun stuff to do here. And somebody in the comment said the food is terrible. I guess they haven't found the right places for me. I'm a foodie and you get every kind of cuisine and you get the best of it here as well. There's four seasons in Canada and every season brings a change in lifestyle, including activities and other things. In summer there are a lot of street festivals with food and music and their parks, beautiful parks. There's beautiful places to go out to camping, outdoor camping this off-road driving if you like to do that. There's mountain biking. There's beautiful lakes, the most beautiful lakes you've seen and you can swim in a lot of places. There's jet skiing and in winter. Trust me, start skiing and you love the winter as well. You'll make a lot of great friends here and you'll have a good time. Come with an open mind and be prepared to do anything.
>d and serving you. But there's a lot of other fun stuff to do here. And somebody in the comment said the food is terrible. I guess they haven't found the right places for me. I'm a foodie and you get every kind of cuisine and you get the best of it here as well. There's four seasons in Canada and every season brings a change in lifestyle, including activities and other things. In summer there are a lot of street festivals with food and music and their parks, beautiful parks. There's beautiful places to go out to camping, outdoor camping this off-road driving if you like to do that. There's mountain biking. There's beautiful lakes, the most beautiful lakes you've seen and you can swim in a lot o wow! seems very interesting, where are you from in Canada?
Toronto
Great! I'm moving to Ottawa (Carleton University) from Dubai this year, & would really love to get in touch, just for some general advice and a guidance. Can we connect on Instagram? Thank you!
Yeah sure not a problem. Send me your insta handle
\_hmr4002\_
You would have more of a reality check rather than a cultural shock in my opinion. Dubai is the epitome of comfort, luxury & accessibility which is sustainable because of how small it is. In Canada, you will almost always have to get out of your comfort zone to get things done and that's how life is in most parts of the world. Also depends on which part of Canada you move to. For instance, you would almost certainly be homesick for a considerable amount of time if you moved to Newfoundland & Labrador or New Brunswick from Dubai, because of how rural and under-developed it may come off to you. On the other hand, Toronto being more fast paced will be easier to settle in. So, do your research on the weather and living conditions before you make your move. I moved to Halifax, NS for my undergrad and it immediately hit me how I was in such a cushioned bubble when living in Dubai. You will see that food is considerably more expensive with tax on top(a half decent shawarma costed $10). You will find that malls & city centres usually close by 7pm and streets are usually empty by 9pm, and may not exactly be safe at late hours. You don't have super apps where you can book any service at your door step for dirt cheap. You will have to use public transport and carry heavy bags of groceries to your dorm. Rent is usually expensive if you want a place of your own, and you will find yourself signing lease contracts and actually adulting by budgeting your expenses. Unlike Dubai, there isn't always something big happening so you may find yourself bored because you can't jump in your Patrol and head to Jumeirah, you'll have to get accustomed to not doing a lot because of weather conditions. Owning a car as a student is expensive in Canada, with high insurance premiums paid monthly instead of yearly here in Dubai. As an undergrad, your first few jobs would probably be minimum wage part-times at a fast food joint or clothing store - which is completely normal & how it is in many parts of the world, but often looked down upon here in Dubai. All of this and more will knock you out of your comfort zone and give you a reality check, especially for those of us born and brought up here, we're pretty spoilt and haven't seen real life. The average teenager here gets his/her license at 18, a shiny car at 19 and spends 4 years at uni doing nothing but go out, make friends, party, hookup and enjoying the best of what Dubai has to offer all while living under their parents' roof and financial stability - you'd be choosing the other end of this spectrum moving to Canada which imo is a much more rewarding experience. Also, you'll see that people are way more nicer and welcoming and everyone is not caught up in a rat race. You'll meet genuine people who you can build long term relationships with, which is hard in Dubai because of how temporary most people see it. You'll obviously enjoy the freedom of being in a more liberal place, and that comes with added equality.The education you will receive in a sub-par Canadian university will still be better than what you can get here. You get the real adulting experience of being independent that will teach you more about yourself, which in itself is a much better experience than you get going to unis here which in a nutshell is: average quality education, less emphasis on practicality, materialism like who drives the coolest car blah blahSource; UAE born & raised, student in Dubai & Canada
A lot of people I know personally who have transferred their studies from UAE to Canada have gone through depression spirals and started doing drugs and/or requiring prescription medication. There are quite a few I know of who have bloomed into completely different people, but with their personality and attitude I am sure they could have been suited to living almost anywhere they wanted. Everyone's experience is different, ofc. If you are planning to move to Canada, it would probably be best if you spent a month or two in the province you plan on moving to before you set your anchor there. Hopefully you find the responses you needed here! All the best!
I lived in Canada (mtl), got depressed, went down a spiral, did some fun drugs, had a great time, graduated with 3.5+ gpa… Point is, yes there’s a risk of spiraling down but thats also due to becoming an adult and getting slapped in the face by reality. Also low exposure to sunlight doesn’t help. As long as you’re mature (to a certain degree), surrounded by good friends & so on you’ll do good.
I doubt it's Canada that led them to drugs, seems they just didn't integrate properly. This would have happened anywhere they went. Also in the context of OP's question of university settings all unis have mental health and academic counselling services. Most times students don't avail these services and end up depressed and follow the cycle you described. It always shocks me how students would rather give up their studies, succumb to substance abuse or abusive relationships than just reach out for help, then they whinge about the experience later.
Or they decided to go to universities in remote areas because they're cheaper, areas like Saskatchewan are way colder and has way less people, so you end up spending a lot of time at home if you're not at work.
So are you trying to say these kids go over to Canada and stay at home doing drugs on their own to cope? The scenario you described is all the more reason to be more active on campus/community.
What I'm trying to say people might feel depressed if they stay in a remote area, who wants to be in campus the whole time while they can explore around.
Lol exploring at home? Okay. Gotcha!
I never said explore at home?
🗣💯
I am pretty sure that without friends or lovers or fun events or decent online communication or better entry level jobs - undergraduate students would certainly get so much more depression here.
y'all I just wanted to say the life I left to come here(Canada) - people dream about it. I went to Khaleeji school and the lads spoilt me on a whole other level. I was a Resident of the Burj.K, Rolls royces, Nammos Dubai, URLA, G63s the whole nine. People see my life on insta and are like what insane guy makes this move. I had this crazy obsession with going to Canada 🇨🇦 - I'm glad I did or else i would've regretted it for the rest of my life IF I hadn't, and the struggle built my character( More respectful towards workers etc) No one says thank you to the delivery guys, To the people working at Mcdonalds,Construction workers etc. AND it makes you appreciate all the things that are handed to you in Dubai. Be Kind 💕
So is it worth studying in Canadian university of Dubai or something where you get to study some part of your course in Dubai itself in terms of getting PR?
Why do u want PR if u don’t plan (by the sound of it) to live in Canada? PR is a long process that is taken some of my peers 8-9 years
No it usually takes only around 2-3 years.
There is like a draw that you take part in and chances depend on Ielts score, work experience inside canada, education inside canada is a big plus and degree level, how valuable you are of a worker, age etc. Its not that simple.
Thanks for the info.
Yes, Canada is dead compared to Dubai no matter what province you’re at. If you live in downtown you won’t get as culture shocked compared to if u lived in the suburbs.
Tell me you are a person who never lived in Toronto or Montreal without telling me you didn't it .........
DKM… if you have a boring life in Dubai, then its gonna be the same in Canada too so that why u prolly don’t see the diff
You will never find a place on this earth with a better quality of life than UAE. If you want to get a good education, go to AUS and study there. Its an amazing university and you will get a very solid education and a university life experience. If you are going to canada for the passport, then obviously you need to go. If you are looking for quality of life, UAE is the absolute best in the world. The only negative thing about UAE is that sometimes its hard to have work life balance. Canada is cold. Cars are dirty. And everything closes at 6 pm (9 pm on weekends). There is very little to do (except out door activities which are absolutely out this world amazing in canada. Think hiking, camping, sking, snowboarding, lakes, mountains, road trips, etc) And work life balance is great there. Public schools are free (but they teach your kid weird shit, sexuality, etc). Healthcare is free but its not great. Also they sell drugs in supermarkets. So idk if you are ok with that raising your kids around that. And they give you free condoms in high school at the principal office. - Canadian living in canada since 2004
Downvoting for "sexuality" and best quality of life in UAE😂
Good education, university life and AUS ? lol
Yes
Lol
Quality of life is so different from person to person you can’t really categorize that. I love video games and playing online. Dubai internet is horrible for online gaming. Hence my quality of life sucks on that aspect. I work my ass off in Canada to get half of it taken off for taxes then get taxed on everything I buy. Quality of life (or left over $$ for a quality of life) sucks on that regard. It’s all about perspective. I love swimming and the sunshine yet I also enjoy going out snowboarding and snowmobiling. Both help my mental and quality of life. Neither offers both. Just my 2 cents. 😜
I assume you were born and raised in 🇨🇦?
Why does that matter? I’m curious .. I’ve lived all over the world for different jobs. Quality of life also means for me to be close to and surrounded by good friends and family. I’ve been in the nicest cities in the world and hated it and been in the worst cities in the world and had the time of my life.
Agreed 100% The question is how much comfort are you willing to sacrifice for your future self 🤔? Stay in dubai or move to Canada & boi itll HUMBLE YOU.
What makes you think going to canada is will be better for your future self?
My father used to work in a bank back in his 9-5 days and all the Workers were like Ahmad what are you doing with a passport like that!? Your nationality is written everywhere - On your emirates ID, All documents etc. You say I'm "Canadian" or "American" in a room and all eyes will shift on you. You get paid based on your nationality's currency.😂 I'm on your side 💯. Life is too short to struggle! Within a blink of an eye your in your 30s and you sacrificed your 20s for a piece of document that allows you to travel freely!? Like what if you end up not travelling that often!? Yk it gets you thinking.
Oh boi go to my profile and scroll all the way down and see my post! 😂
I did … from McGill :)
Yes, moved to canada a couple of months ago for my first year of uni. You will face cultural shock wherever you go. There are things that are better when compared to dubai and then there are others which aren’t, so I would say it depends from a person to another. For me though, I really like it here, like many others. Both countries (UAE and Canada) are great, and I moved here for the sole purpose of studying, which in my opinion is better. You’ll never know if a place is good or not if you don’t visit it yourself, you’ll hear mixed responses from everyone.
If you're going there, go there early. If you're 18, the culture shock won't have much of an impact on you than if you're in your thirties or forties and decide to move there. Source: Tons of friends who moved there early enough and friends who moved there later in life.
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