A WORD (OR TWO HUNDRED) FROM THE EDITOR

In the days before social media, people would ask family and friends for information on everything from what an international student could expect in terms of welcome at a Canadian university to where she would source desi vegetarian food from.

Even today, when information is easily available online, people still reach out for reassurance.

A friend in Dubai called to say her daughter was coming to Toronto as an international student. Could we please watch over her? Another friend in Bangalore, and a third in Jaipur, both had sons moving to Canada. One to Montreal and the other to Kingston. Could we please keep an eye on them? Though both are not exactly in our neighbourhood, in pre-COVID days I’d have rushed to tell them that their offspring were welcome to stay with us on weekends or during breaks and that we’d drive over periodically for a chat and a meal with uncle-aunty. As this was not easily doable, I quelled doubts and fears as best as I could.

I tell our friends in different parts of the world that their children are coming to some of the best educational institutions on the planet, that they are in good hands. I share success stories of international students – many of whom we have profiled in Desi News over the years.

I point them to the popular comic strip Between Friends, the internationally syndicated comic strip written by Canadian Sandra Bell-Lundy. In one recent storyline, Savreen, a student of Indian origin, joins a company as an intern, rises quickly through a series of promotions and then leaves to join a startup in a senior capacity.

However, I am only too aware of the struggles many international students face. Working at restaurants or family-run businesses, harried, burning the candle at both ends to make ends meet. Exploited in a multitude of ways. Recent media reports have highlighted their plight, but had these friends seen those reports? Were they aware of the not-so-positive student experiences or did it fall upon me to enlighten them? Would I come across as unhelpful, or worse, as discouraging?

I think of the young girl on our flight to Toronto from Delhi a few months ago. Her arms full of chudaa or wedding bangles and the henna still bright on her hands, she spent much of the time looking at video clips of her recent wedding. She would study hard, she said, get a work permit, and then sponsor her husband so he could join her in Canada. It would take a few years, but she was full of enthusiasm. And hope. I had wished her all the very best, but told her to reach out for help, should the need arise.

With that image fresh in my mind, I tell our friends that we are here for their kids. And that there are also several organizations that help and support students and take up their cause. In our cover feature this month, Sandeep Panesar highlights the experience of international students and the organizations working to help them.

Happy Dusserah!

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Happy Halloween!

Shagorika Easwar