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If you have ever made the first move to a new country, you’ll understand that a whole world shifts beneath your feet. When I moved to Canada from my home country of France, I didn’t know then that I was also moving toward a new life, one filled with foreign language stumbles, new friends, opportunities, and a different culture that would shape me in ways I didn’t expect.
☀️ Summer: A Leap of Faith
I arrived in this new city, Toronto, mid-June, full of excitement and a little fear. Unlike many international students who arrive with school plans, I came by myself with no job lined up and no student visa, just a working visa as I knew I needed a change. I applied for jobs when I arrived and was lucky to be bilingual and it helped me to get one by August 1. It was my first time navigating life in a different country. Everything felt new: the systems, the local culture, the people. I opened my first bank account and bought a transit pass using tokens (Presto didn’t exist yet). It was my first step into adulthood. This was a big deal, a stepping stone into something unknown. It was a radical change into independence, it was challenging, scary and amazing all at the same time.
One of my brothers’ birthdays is in July, and I had always baked his cake so that year, I was on the phone with him while he blew out the candles. These things may seem small, but in a new culture and a foreign country, they hit you in the heart.
🎤 Have you ever been away from your loved ones for celebrations? How did you live it?
🍂 Autumn: New Rhythms
The city changed with the season, and I did too. I was in awe of the beautiful leaves and their colours, the crisp air, the celebration of Thanksgiving (even though I don’t remember what I did that year). I started routines such as weekend brunches with new people, long walks, phone calls to my family from pay phones as I refused to own a cell phone. I also started dating my now-husband. This new place started to feel like a new home. It was the first place where I thought, maybe I belong here, for a little while at least. A lot of my social life grew from those early connections. I met people from different backgrounds, and that helped build a personal support network.
More than anything, it built my confidence.
❄️ Winter: Deep Freeze, Deeper Bonds
My new friends and I made the most of our first Canadian winter: learning to layer up, warming up over potlucks, skating (or trying), or just staying in. I got super lucky that my first Christmas abroad was planned with a visit from my dad and brother. I had only been dating my boyfriend a few months and yet we went on a trip together to a beautiful destination. We finished the cold season with a bang: a spontaneous trip to Cuba in February. I discovered a new culture, his, and saw a different side of life outside both Canada and France. It helped me appreciate how different countries shape people in unique ways.
🌸 Spring: Change in the Air
Spring arrived with a feeling of renewal. I celebrated my first birthday away from my French family and moved in with my boyfriend that very same day. Another moment that reminded me of my own country, our traditions, and how I have building something entirely new. There’s a long way between missing your family and creating new memories, but every moment matters.
I started calling our place home and it felt so nice and unreal yet sad also. Building home away from home has a cost and your heart will be forever divided and torn between 2 places.
🏠 The Push and Pull of Belonging
There is a tension in settling abroad. You are caught between your past and your present. Missing Mother’s Day or Father’s Day in a foreign country wasn’t easy. I felt like I was missing everything: family meals, laughter, even the fights. But I was also growing. I had understood how stepping out of my comfort zone was the best way to grow.
There were challenges: the language barrier (although I spoke English, it was not always smooth and easy depending on the topics), dealing with health insurance, and navigating a lot of red tape. I learned that avoiding the French crowd here (I wanted to really work on my English) is not the right approach, meeting other French people, going through the same, become your lifeline and the right person at the right time can make a big difference. I discovered that there’s no one-size-fits-all guide to moving to a different language, different countries, or foreign countries. Every journey is unique.
The most important thing? I decided to stay. I applied for another work visa to give love a chance and to keep building this life. Settling abroad isn’t always a great time, but it’s a great option to learn who you are.
I met someone during this trip: not just my husband, but myself.
I share these stories not because I think my experience is universal, but because maybe you are wondering what it’s really like to move to a different country and keeping your culture, it is not just decorating your home with Eiffel Tower-themed pillows and calling it "the French lifestyle." This is what building a life abroad really looks like, messy, emotional, and beautiful. It takes a lot of work, a little time, and a belief that there are plenty of opportunities out there.
If you missed the beginning of this story, you can read about why I came to Canada in my first post: The courage to move abroad.
🎤 What was the biggest challenge you faced when moving to a new city or country? Let’s talk in the comments!
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