Liz's First Days of School in Canada

I was in my second year of middle school when I left South Korea. Korea's educational curriculum is quite different, which runs on a 6-3-3-4 system: six years of elementary school, three years of middle school, three years of high school and at least four years of post-secondary studies. Our school year ran on an opposing cycle, from March to July and September to February. I was well into my second semester of classes when I arrived in Canada.

For those unfamiliar with Korea's reputation, by many measures, the country is regarded as the most educated in the world while boasting some of the highest literacy, science and math performance rates. 70% of young Korean adults have some form of post-secondary education compared to 47% across other OECD countries, driven by a culture that measures student performance primarily through standardized testing. I vividly remember the intensity of those years and many of those tests, even as a young middle schooler.

The decision to leave Korea was significant because I knew this choice would lead to both new opportunities and trying hardships. During those initial conversations about moving to Canada, our broker suggested I repeat grade 8. Why? Because my English simply wasn't strong enough. While I wasn't entirely excited about extending my time in school, I trusted my parents' judgement.

I'll always remember my first day of school in Canada. The initial drive to the school took about 10 minutes, which felt more like an eternity. My commute to the school would eventually become a 90 minute bus-ride after leaving the homestay family and moving to downtown (If you missed this story, read it here).

One of the first things I noticed as we approached the building was its humble stature compared to the behemoth middle schools you'd find all across Korea. The difference in scale is attributed to the fact that middle schools back home housed over 2,000 students for only three grades. In comparison, my new school had a population of less than ? of its Korean counterpart for five grade levels.

Many don't know that as an international student, attending a smaller private school can often be more affordable than attending a public alternative. It comes as a surprise to many learning that public school for students from abroad can cost a pretty penny.

I still remember my surroundings when walking into that building. There was a clock in the middle of the wall, a vending machine down the hall, and a nearby door to the school's administration office. At the time, the atmosphere felt eerily quiet and daunting.

Shortly after my broker introduced me to the staff at the office, they proceeded to page for "Ms. N" on the loudspeaker. Suddenly, I felt my heart begin to race with anxious energy having no idea what to expect from this foreign country, foreign school and foreign environment. It was so much to take in, a tremendous amount of exposure to a new culture with minimal context to help temper my expectations for what would come next.

After a few minutes, Ms. N appeared at the doorway. At first glance, I assumed she was probably in her 30s, sporting short, curly blonde hair and impressively large glasses. My first impression of her was a stark difference from what my teachers looked like back home in Korea.

Her aura was unfamiliar and intimidating. Without knowing much about Ms. N, I was immediately fearful of her presence.

Instead of an introduction, she turned towards the window that separated the office from the hallway and called upon a student named Naomi to come join our awkward encounter. While I couldn't understand what words she was conveying to Naomi, my guess was that she asked her student to help me find my classroom.

Back then, I went by my Korean name ?? (pronounced Ah-ruem). While I take great pride in this identity, I noticed at the time that my name, pronounced in a foreign language, was challenging for my Canadian peers.

During my first day of school, I quickly realized that most people wouldn't bother learning how to pronounce my name. Eventually, I stopped correcting them altogether.

While the first week of classes was marred with nervous and apprehensive energy, I managed to find a silver lining. That silver lining came in the form of two students who would later become my lifelong friends - Naomi and Toni.

Naomi, the student Ms. N called upon, kindly ushered me toward the classroom where my new journey as a young Canadian newcomer would unfold. In this classroom, I crossed paths with Toni, who noticed my presence and greeted me immediately.

While I didn't have a strong enough grip on the English language at the time to express my gratitude, I hoped my smile conveyed how deeply thankful I was for their presence and friendship.

In sum, my first day of school was a whirlwind of emotions. I felt anxious about my language barrier, relieved to meet friendly faces, and frustrated during the many instances I couldn't properly communicate. I tried to read people's faces and body language while listening for and concentrating on the few English words I recognized. This lack of understanding would be an ongoing struggle I would continue to grapple with for many months and years to come.

I hopped onto the public transit bus as the day finally drew to a close, heading back to our new home. A bubbling concoction of apprehension and relief swirled within me. I had a lot to unpack.

This was only the beginning of my journey as an international student in a foreign land. Despite a rocky start, I was determined to learn, adapt and make the most out of every opportunity to ensure the decision to travel half a world away would be worthwhile.

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