Italo Del Castillo is an expat from Peru, studying for a degree in business administration in Victoria, the capital of the province of British Columbia or British Columbia. With a love for sports, he shares his experience being a student again and what Canadian life looks like.
Could you please tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm currently taking a diploma in British Columbia, known to have the warmest climate in Canada. As a result, I can have the opportunity to volunteer at important sports events worldwide, giving me more confidence to speak in English as I'm putting it into practice. Not only that, but I previously studied Translation and Interpretation in Peru.
How is life for a student expat in Canada?
It is the best experience ever made in my life. You can find people from different backgrounds willing to provide support and make plans and activities across the country. However, it is sometimes difficult to deal with the local cost of living when coming from countries where the monthly salary does not go above $1,200 or $1,500. You may need to spend a considerable amount of money during the first months of your stay.
How hard was the process of issuing documents for a visa in Canada?
It depends on the home country of every person. What I can now say is everyone must submit their application through the Government of Canada's website and submit the corresponding documentation, particularly providing evidence of the career they want to study (e.g., work experience, previous university or college transcripts, and diplomas) as well as showing up you have enough funds during your stay of what you are going to study and writing a letter for the purpose of studying, highlighting your personal and professional achievements.
Which advice would you give to international students interested in moving to Canada?
The use of English in your everyday life is very important. In this case, start putting more emphasis on English at the same time you are either studying or working in your home country so that you will get more familiar with the local language spoken and can talk easily. However, it would be better if you have some proficiency in French as well, depending on which region you go to. Most importantly, do your own research on the place you are going to study in terms of the number of jobs in your field, housing prices, weather, and services. Everyone may get a different consideration when choosing a province or territory to live in.
How are immigrants seen in the country?
Yet it is not spoken much about South America. Most people are getting interested in knowing more about our countries thanks to the history involved and kindness offered to foreigners any time. Generally, many governmental support programs and organizations exist for international students to have a standard life level.
Racism cases do not happen in Canada, in my opinion, since it is a multicultural country, and every individual is treated just like the rest of Canadians, regardless of their condition and personal choice. Linked to what I said, Canada's economic outlook is expected to increase in the following years, and labor will become more demanding. That is why I can consider that Canada is convinced that immigration is the right choice to make up for such demand and will be the key to expanding its population.
Why have you decided to go to Canada?
I want to meet new goals on a personal level and put into practice its official languages – English and French – after having studied them for many years, with the possibility of inserting myself more and more in the international environment. Moreover, the great diversity and inclusion of this country make for a very enriching experience.
What were the challenges in choosing to study abroad?
Mainly, the cost of living will always be the relevant factor before deciding to immigrate because it can be high compared to other cities or countries in Latin America. However, the government regulations as an international student allow you to have a satisfying lifestyle in the long term because it offers a great facility to work part-time during your studies and full time during the vacations, which are usually between the months of April to September and from the end of December to the fortnight of January.
What are your plans for after your studies?
Canada is a country open to opportunity, and demographic and economic growth is expected in the coming years. In this sense, I want to make a change in the sporting aspect of this country if I had the opportunity to do so. In my opinion, not much is said about South America, and my intention is to convey and make people feel that our continent will always be willing to help and participate in the national sport respecting the principles and values of Canadian society. We have already demonstrated resounding success in international rugby, cycling, chess, tennis, surfing, football and motorsports. In Canada, we can also do the same. Otherwise, I will continue under the same objective in my country of origin or some other destination that offers me a new opportunity through the knowledge obtained from my education abroad.
