YouAlberta
I happened to make the biggest decision of my life in the smallest of timeframes. I recently decided to travel from India to Canada in order to commence my second year of undergraduate studies at the Alberta School of Business in Fall 2021. I hope my story will help other international students who are planning to travel in the coming weeks in order to begin or resume their studies at U of A. The week I spent travelling to Canada undoubtedly made me a better, braver human being who now has the will to take big leaps of faith if and when the situation demands.
On June 25, I was fully vaccinated and my immigraton medical exam was valid until July 9. Canada soon announced easing of restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers starting on July 6. This was the moment of truth; I knew I had just a short window to travel to Canada. Due to the backlog of applications that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been facing with regards to processing study permits, I chose temporary discomfort in order to put to rest my anxiety about not being able to travel to Edmonton, and to take control of my future. I chose to book six different flights from New Delhi to Edmonton, travel continuously for a week, get four consecutive negative COVID-19 test results, pack for the next four years of my life within four days, and hopefully make it to the University of Alberta.
This was my first time travelling outside India, and what an adventure I had! I visited five countries, spent nights at different airports, got lost in a country where nobody could understand me, had wonderful conversations with locals, got help from a kind couple, made a Serbian and a Polish friend, ate croissants and bagels for the first time, met some lovely strangers, and above all, let the fear of failure go.
A timeline of my trip
Becase of all of the travel restrictions and requirements, I had not the slightest clue about whether I would make it from India to Edmonton. All I had was my family's support and a desire to end the anxiety that started with COVID-19 more than a year ago.
10 pm June 29
Left my home for Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. The excitement of travelling abroad for the first time took over my fear of flying and I just let it all go! I still couldn't believe it was happening.
3:25 am June 30
After being questioned and interviewed at New Delhi airport, I finally boarded my first-ever international flight from New Delhi to Doha (Qatar) via Qatar Airways. It was exciting and scary at the same time. The smooth take off of the airplane from the ground brought extreme joy to me. I had begun what was about to be the epic story of making it to Canada.
5 am- 7:35am June 30
Landed in Doha. The beauty of Hamad International Airport left me in complete awe. I took a few pictures, freshened up, and started towards the boarding gate of my next flight to Athens, Greece.
12:30 pm June 30 - 8:30am July 1
I arrived in Greece! I was super excited and happy to have made it so far without any troubles. I now had a 20 hour layover at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport. My plans were to try some Greek yoghurt with homemade pancakes, explore the airport, and take lots of pictures. And that’s exactly what I did!
8:30 am - 9:05am July 1
Dozed off on my flight from Athens to Belgrade (Serbia).
9:30 am July 1
Landed in Belgrade, got through immigration, exchanged 200 USD for 19,700 RSD (Serbian Dinars), and finally stepped outside Nikola Tesla Airport and entered the city. I had an AirBnB booked in Vilovskog, Beograd during my layover.
My plans? Explore Belgrade and make the most of this time.
10 am July 1- 5pm July 5
I got lost in Belgrade soon after leaving the airport. I couldn't connect with my family for about five hours and it was so exciting and adventurous (not for my family, though). Once I had reached my AirBnB, I settled down and made a plan for exploring the city. The next four days, I visited almost every major attraction in Belgrade, ate burritos and churros, had lots of lovely conversations with locals, met some kind people, took lots of pictures, and made my family go crazy for traveling within Belgrade amidst COVID-19 because I was scheduled to take another COVID-19 test before leaving for Canada.
5:15 pm July 5
I prepared to leave one of the best places in the world I’d ever visited.
6:35 pm July 5
I had another layover of about 14 hours at Warsaw International Airport (Poland). My plans this time were to fill my stomach with some good food and rest. Luckily, I met some fellow Indians who were traveling to Canada on the same flight. We bonded over food and our Canadian dreams.
11:50 am July 6
Commenced the most crucial journey of my life after boarding my flight to Toronto.
3:30 pm July 6
I made it to Canada! I still couldn't believe it. Toronto was beautiful and I was in complete awe of the airport. Soon after my arrival, my excitement was put to rest when I got to the immigration officer. But since I was fully vaccinated, after completing all the formalities and obtaining my study permit, I was free to board my final flight to Edmonton and I breathed a huge sigh of relief.
11:30 pm July 6
I might run out of words to explain what I felt during my four hour flight to Edmonton. Maybe it was true happiness, maybe not. I don’t know. All I knew was my parents’ years of struggle and hard work had finally paid off. I had finally reached my destination. The only way from here was up!
12:30 am July 7
I reached Lister Centre at the University of Alberta. My first impression of Edmonton was “WOW!”This is beautiful!". I was in complete awe of the city during my 40 minute cab ride from Edmonton International Airport.
To my surprise, I didn't just make it to Canada safe and sound, but I also discovered the good that is out there in this world and how much of a difference tiny, little steps in the right direction can make. I am happy to be in Edmonton and beginning a new chapter of my life as a U of A student. I’m not sure if I know the Ishan who left India on June 30 anymore. My trip transformed me into an individual who is ready to see the good in every situation. I now look forward to the new challenges that life has in store for me. I thank all my friends and family for believing in me.
At the end of the day, we only regret the chances we didn’t take. At one point in my life, I had no plans of completing higher education, let alone pursuing it at one of the best universities in Canada. And look, here I am, sharing my story of making it to Canada :)
International students should check for updated information about travelling to Edmonton with University of Alberta International.
About Ishan
Ishan is an international undergraduate student from India starting the second year of a BCom degree in the Alberta School of Business.