A New Life at McGill: Adapting to Montreal’s Challenges and Charms
The air was crisp and cool as I stepped out of Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport, my breath visible in the early autumn chill. I hugged my coat tighter around me and took a deep breath. I was finally here. Montreal. McGill University. The place I had dreamed of for so long, fought so hard to reach. But standing there, staring at the unfamiliar skyline and hearing the swirl of French and English around me, I realized that this was just the beginning.
Winning my study permit had been a battle but with the help of an immigration attorney I was here. Now, I had to face the daunting task of adapting to life in a new country, far from everything I had ever known.
First Impressions of Montreal
I had read about Montreal before I arrived. I knew that it was a bilingual city, that winters were brutal, and that McGill had a reputation for academic excellence. But knowing something and experiencing it are two very different things.
Back home in Macau, the streets were narrow and bustling, filled with the sounds of vendors calling out, tourists shuffling in and out of casinos, and the constant clatter of cooking from street stalls. The air was humid, often thick with the scent of sea salt and fried noodles. Here, in Montreal, the streets felt broader, quieter, and somehow more orderly. The smell in the air was different too — cleaner, crisper, with a hint of coffee and pastries from the many cafés on every corner.
The first thing I noticed was the cold. It was only September, but already the breeze felt sharper than anything I had ever experienced in Macau. I had been warned about Canadian winters, but standing there, shivering despite my layers, I wondered how I would survive when the real cold came. People walked by in light jackets, seemingly impervious to the chill, while I felt like an outsider, overwhelmed by my new surroundings.
McGill and Academic Life
Stepping onto McGill’s campus for the first time was surreal. The Redpath Library, with its towering columns, looked like something out of a movie. Students hurried between classes, some chatting in French, others in English, their backpacks slung casually over their shoulders. I felt a pang of nervousness. Would I fit in here? Would I be able to keep up?
The academic system at McGill was a far cry from what I was used to in Macau. Back home, classes were structured, almost rigid, with professors holding a clear authority over their students. Here, at McGill, things felt more collaborative. Professors encouraged open discussion, and students weren’t afraid to challenge ideas. It was invigorating, but also intimidating.
I remember my first day in the biomedical sciences program. The lecture hall was massive, filled with students from all over the world. I found a seat near the middle, trying to blend in, but the sheer size of the room made me feel small. The professor started speaking, diving into complex material right away, and I realized just how fast-paced everything was. In Macau, education had been more methodical, slower, ensuring that everyone was on the same page. But here? It felt like I had to hit the ground running or risk being left behind.
The language barrier was also a challenge. While I had learned English in school, it was different from actually using it every day, especially in an academic setting. The scientific vocabulary was familiar, but casual conversations with my peers were sometimes difficult. On top of that, there was French. Montreal’s bilingual nature was beautiful but overwhelming. Signs were in both languages, and I quickly learned that ordering a coffee might be easier if I at least tried to speak French. At first, it felt like my brain was constantly in overdrive, switching between languages and trying to keep up with the fast pace of conversations.
Making Friends and Finding Community
It wasn’t long before I began to feel the weight of loneliness. Back in Macau, I had always been surrounded by my family. Even when things were tough, there was comfort in knowing they were just a short walk away. Here, I was an ocean away from everything familiar. My parents had poured everything into helping me get to McGill, but now that I was here, I felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility. I couldn’t let them down. But at the same time, I couldn’t shake the feeling of isolation.
Making friends in a new country isn’t easy. At first, I was shy, unsure of myself, hesitant to approach people. But slowly, I found my way. McGill’s international student community was a lifeline. I met students from all over the world — China, India, Brazil, and even a few from other parts of Canada who, like me, were adjusting to life in Montreal. We bonded over our shared experiences of culture shock, of missing home, of the challenges of navigating a new academic system.
One of my first friends was Aisha, a student from Pakistan who lived in the same dormitory as me. We were both studying in the sciences, and we spent late nights poring over textbooks, quizzing each other, and sharing stories about home. Through her, I realized that I wasn’t alone in feeling overwhelmed. She, too, had faced the pressure of leaving her family behind to pursue a dream. And together, we found strength in each other’s determination.
The Food: A Taste of Home and Beyond
One of the hardest adjustments was the food. In Macau, meals were communal, filled with rich flavors and familiar smells. I missed the taste of congee in the morning, the comfort of a warm bowl of noodles, and the joy of sharing meals with my family. In Montreal, the food was different — good, but different. I discovered poutine, a Quebecois dish made of fries, cheese curds, and gravy, and while it was tasty, it was far from the flavors of home.
But Montreal’s Chinatown became a refuge. It was a short walk from campus, and there, I found restaurants that reminded me of Macau. The first time I tasted a bowl of wonton soup that was almost as good as my mother’s, I nearly cried. It was a small taste of home in a foreign land, and it brought a sense of comfort I hadn’t realized I was missing.
Coping with the Weather
As fall turned to winter, I faced one of my greatest challenges yet: the Canadian winter. I had never seen snow before arriving in Montreal, and at first, it was magical. The first snowfall was a wonder — soft flakes drifting lazily from the sky, coating the city in a blanket of white. But the magic quickly wore off as temperatures plummeted. The wind cut through my coat like a knife, and I found myself slipping on icy sidewalks more times than I could count.
I had to learn how to layer clothes properly, how to navigate snowstorms, and how to deal with the sheer cold. In Macau, the winters were mild, barely requiring more than a sweater. Here, even with my thickest coat, I felt the chill seep into my bones. But over time, I adapted. I learned that thermal socks were a lifesaver, that a good cup of hot chocolate could warm both body and soul, and that surviving a Montreal winter was a rite of passage.
Finding My Place
By the time spring arrived, I had begun to feel more at home in Montreal. The snow melted, flowers bloomed, and the city came alive in new ways. I had found my rhythm at McGill, balancing my academic workload with moments of relaxation. I had navigated the ups and downs of my first year, from the loneliness of being far from home to the joy of making new friends and discovering new parts of myself.
I realized that adapting to life in Montreal wasn’t just about learning how to survive the cold or understanding the nuances of a new academic system. It was about growth. It was about learning to embrace discomfort, to push through challenges, and to find beauty in the unfamiliar.
As I sat in the library one evening, studying for my final exams, I thought about how far I had come. From the narrow streets of Macau to the sprawling campus of McGill, my journey had been anything but easy. But as I looked out the window at the bustling city, I realized I had found a new place to call home. And with every new experience, every challenge I overcame, I was one step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a cancer researcher.
