What is the post-exchange syndrome?

Going abroad for studies or internships is a challenging and exciting experience; however, it is harder to come back home.

It’s obvious that when you are going abroad you are nervous and excited at the same time. As I have experienced, once you meet new people, explore new places, and get more responsibilities you become more independent. This independence gives you happiness and an incredible exchange or how it is worldwide well known, an unforgettable exchange experience.

What happens when you come back home and you feel like you already experienced a whole new life in the place where you studied abroad? It was your dreamed life so once you are back you start to feel sad, uncomfortable with your environment in your home country, and these could be symptoms of depression. Sometimes these symptoms can disappear in one or two months but if they don’t disappear, there can be serious consequences; you can be suffering of the post-exchange syndrome.

How do you know you are experiencing the post-exchange syndrome?

  1. You feel like an alien in your home country, your old school, with your old friends.
  2. You prefer to be chatting on Whatsapp and Facebook with the friends you left behind instead of enjoying being with your old friends.
  3. You feel like you are living an ordinary life.
  4. You want to keep traveling like you used to do it.
  5. You are not interested in anything new because you are only focused in desiring that things were just like before.

This is serious and if you feel like this, you should keep in mind that you are missing one part of your life that you already experienced. You need to establish new goals and adapt to your life in your home country. It can be the same school and same friends, but you can try new activities like swimming, dancing, meeting more people, etc.

If you feel like this is getting out of your hands, it is better to find some help with a professional. This syndrome is completely normal.

 

How to open a student bank account in Canada?

If you decided to study in Canada, one of the most important things you’ll need to sort out before you arrive is a bank account. Maybe this is one of the last things you checked before going abroad but a bank account is necessary to , make payments, avoid high commissions because of the exchange rate, do some legal and immigration paperwork, etc.

If you are coming for only one semester we highly recommend you getting an international bank account or using an app such as TransferWise to pay your rent and other services. However, if you are planning to stay in Canada for one year or more, we recommend you to open a bank account.

The first thing you should consider for opening a bank account is the bank itself, which bank you are going to choose. Consider that some banks may offer offers or rewards to students for opening an account with them. Furthermore, it is important to choose a bank that has many ATM’s near your home or school in order to avoid paying commissions for withdrawing money from a different bank institution.

Once you have chosen your bank you should choose which kind of bank account you will open: a checking or a savings account.

A checking account allows you to deposit and withdraw money as often as you like. Usually, when you open it, you’ll receive a debit card. Normally, if you are only planning to use this account for paying bills maybe this is a good option because you won’t need credit.

On the other hand, a savings account is used to collect money in the long term, as its name says, it is for savings. So, if you want to save money for traveling it may be better to open this type of account to avoid spending money in things that are not worth it. You can also check opening a high-interest saving account, which offers better interest than a regular savings account.

Check all the requirements and rewards that banks in Canada offer to students. We get this table from timeshighereducation.com that show you the plans and the fees.

Bank Account name Monthly fee Extras
BMO Student bank account Plus plan – $0
Premium plan – discounted monthly fees
Student budget calculator, mobile banking, BMO alerts
CIBC CIBC Smart for Students $0 Receive $60 when opening a new account based on criteria, unlimited transactions, bonus savings for graduates, thousands of ATMs and branches, special bank account for medical or dental students
RBC RBC Student Banking $0 25 free debits per month, receive $60 when opening a new account based on criteria, receive a rebate on RBC Royal bank credit cards, no minimum balance
Scotiabank Student Banking Advantage Plan $0 Unlimited transactions, earn rewards on debit transactions, SCENE rewards, Scotia rewards, online and mobile banking
TD Bank TD Student Checking Account $0 25 transactions per month, online and mobile banking
HSBC HSBC Canada Newcomers Programme $0 $100 student joining bonus based on criteria
National Bank Student Bank Account $0 Discounts depending on field of study, credit cards and a personal line of credit

 

As an advice, remember to check the banks that have a partnership or an agreement with your Canadian university because you’ll possibly get more benefits.

Finally, the requirements to open a bank account may change depending on the bank or the plan; however, if you decided to open it once you arrive to Canada don’t forget to bring these papers:

  • Passport
  • Letter of acceptance
  • Study permit
  • Temporary permit (IMM Form 1442, 1208, 1102)
  • Canadian or USA driver’s license
  • Canadian government identification card (if any)
  • Proof of address in Canada

We also recommend you to open an online banking account.  It is useful if you don’t have the requirements needed from the Canadian bank. One of our students used N26, you can get a free debit card that will be shipped to you.

For more tips or information about our accommodation services look for us on Facebook and Instagram as @mshomestays.

How is life as an international student in Canada?

Canada is known worldwide as a nation of cultural diversity, friendly people, and tolerant attitudes towards foreigners. However, it’s not the same reading about a country you’re going to study and being there. For this reason, we share with you some basics every international student in Canada need to know about life there.

We believe the first question that comes to your mind is; what to expect from college and student life? You must know that anywhere you go, you need to be hardworking, set goals for the short and long-term run, and keep focus.

On the other hand, student life is a huge part of your experience because university enables you to connect with friends and colleagues for life. As we can say from our experience, when you’re studying abroad you are likely enjoying a fun and active social life.

You must know that the Canadian culture is influenced by British and French traditions; however, its historical openness towards immigration means that the country is full of diversity and tolerance. Most of the time, Canadians encourage foreigners to retain and share their own cultural practices. This is one of the main reasons why people love Canada and choose to live there.

Also, Canadians love professional sports, and one of the most popular is the National Hockey League, and entertainment events such as, Cirque Du Soleil and big festival and music performances.

Being or becoming an international student in Canada comes with a number of benefits, not only for the immigration programs but also for Canada’s reputation for its educational excellence.

Are you planning to study in Canada? We can help you to find accommodation and give you advice to find your new home.