ROWENA KAY MASCARENHAS
The writer is a social impact leader and writer based in Washington DC
A large number of students from Goa and across India travel to the US and Canada to pursue further studies. Many of them will be unfamiliar with the culture, climate and conditions in these two countries.
To them, I would say this: Protect your visa, protect your money and protect your health. Your degree will follow. Here are some tips which would help students adjust to life in these countries.
1. WORK
In the US, F-1 students can generally work on campus for up to 20 hours a week while classes are in session. Off-campus employment has much tighter restrictions and usually requires authorisation. In Canada, eligible international students may currently work off campus for up to 24 hours a week during the academic term. But these rules keep changing, so keep in touch with your university’s International Students Office. Do not depend only on what an agent, friend, cousin or WhatsApp group tells you.
2. SUPPORT
Within your first two weeks, find three people: one senior Indian who is not trying to sell you anything, one local student in your class, and one professor or TA who knows your name. The first will tell you how things actually work. The second will help you understand the country you have moved to. The third may become invaluable when you need academic help, a recommendation or some guidance.
3. HEALTH
Healthcare in North America is expensive, particularly in the US. Understand your student health insurance: what it covers, where you can go, and what constitutes an emergency. Some insurance policies do not cover dental and vision. Locate the campus clinic in your first week. Save its number on your phone. Carry basic medicines you normally use, where legally permitted, and prescriptions for anything important.
4. MONEY
Open a proper local student bank account. Understand debit cards, credit cards, interest and credit scores. My own rule for a first-year student: if you cannot pay the card off, stop using it. Avoid informal money-transfer arrangements/hawala. Compare bank transfers, forex cards and legitimate remittance services. Learn to cook at least five meals before leaving Goa. You will save a small fortune if you also bring a couple of small cooking vessels and spices to get you through the first semester, till you locate the nearest Indian store.
5. LAW
This is important. “Do you know who my father is?” will not improve the situation. It may considerably worsen it. If you drive, a STOP sign means stop, including on a quiet residential street at midnight when you think that nobody is watching. Don't drink and drive. Don't shoplift. Don't get into fights at pubs or parties. A police record can have consequences for your immigration status, future employment and career.
6. RELATIONSHIPS
Learn the boundaries of the culture you have entered. Friendliness is not necessarily romantic interest, and dating does not imply consent. Respect people's personal space and boundaries, and expect the same respect for your own. If someone says no, it means no.
7. EVENTS
Join campus clubs, visit museums and galleries, and attend public events. Many are free. It is one of the easiest ways to meet people and discover the place you have come all this way to live in.
8. WEATHER
If you are going somewhere that gets very cold, do not underestimate the weather. A Goan sweater is not a Canadian winter coat! Buy proper winter clothing locally in the US or Canada, there are thrift stores where students can find affordable clothing. Things to buy include a warm coat, thermal innerwear, waterproof shoes or boots, gloves and something to cover your head. Learn to walk on ice and check weather alerts before stepping out.
9. ACTIVITIES
A childhood around Goa's beaches does not prepare you for every ocean, river or lake. Water temperatures can be dangerously cold and currents unfamiliar. Obey warning signs, don't swim alone, and don't enter the water after drinking alcohol. If you're camping or hiking, check the weather before you leave, take storm, tornado and hurricane alerts seriously, stay on marked trails (bears are a big danger), and let someone know where you're going. And remember that your phone may not always have a signal.
10. ASSISTANCE
Find out which Indian Embassy or Consulate covers the area where you are studying, register with the mission where that facility is available, and save its emergency contact details. Don't wait for a crisis before discovering who your consular officials are.
11. BACKUP
Keep copies of everything, be it passport, visa, study permit, insurance documents, lease, tuition receipts, employment authorisation, emergency contacts and relevant details.
12. SERVICE
Study hard, certainly. Volunteer, help at a food programme, teach an evening class, or give a few hours to a local nonprofit. You will meet people you would never meet on campus and understand the society around you better. Before taking up a regular volunteer role, check with your International Students Office that it is permitted under your visa or study conditions.
And don't be embarrassed by your accent. You don't need to sound American or Canadian to belong there. Speak clearly, ask people to repeat themselves when necessary, and let them ask the same of you.
DISCLAIMER: These tips are based on what I have learned from living in North America and are shared to help students navigate a new environment. They are not legal, immigration, financial or medical advice. Rules and circumstances vary and can change, so please verify important information with your university and the relevant official authorities.
