HELLO WORLD!
My name is Maya!
I'm a former international student (recently turned foreign worker) from Trinidad and Tobago, who made the decision to pack my life up, and move way up north to study abroad in Toronto, Canada back in 2017.
Are you a new or current international student in Toronto? Are you about to graduate, or are you already a new or recent grad turned foreign worker? Well this blog is just for you!
All those steps between arriving in Canada for the first time, graduating, and life beyond post-secondary education have so many elements in between that I had to learn about, and I've created this blog to share my experiences and all that I've learned (and am still learning) with you!
If you're also an international student here in Canada, please share where you're from at the bottom of this post in the comment section!
Just a quick explanation of my blog name; 868 is the area code of Trinidad and Tobago, and 416 is one of the area codes in Canada. So 868 is like me, a Trini, here in the 416, Toronto, Canada, ta-da, - 868 in the 416 was born.
⬆ From Trinidad and Tobago - To Toronto, Canada! ⬇
I just want to start off by thanking everyone who has clicked on the link and is reading this post right now.
As an international student, moving to a new country can be a huge transition, and while there are numerous resources available, I sometimes found myself having to put in extra work to find information or resources that were clear cut and straight to the point, which also applied to me personally, as a black, female, international student from the Caribbean.
It was through interaction with other international students, as well as locals, that I got that straight to the point advice or answers I was seeking, which inspired me to create my own blog, documenting my experiences - So I can be another helpful person in your journey of figuring out life in Toronto, especially if you happen to find yourself in a similar situation or two that I found myself in, trying to understand how to navigate this brand new city and environment.
My goal is to provide some (hopefully good) advice about what I’ve learned during my time here so far; the ups and downs, pros and cons, and tips and tricks by sharing my own experiences; the good, the bad and the in-between.
It has been quite a learning journey, but this is a supportive learning environment, so we can all get familiar with this new place we've decided to call home, whether temporary or permanently!
Think of this blog as my personal blueprint that I'm sharing with you all, as I still try to adjust to living in an entirely new country. Paired with some videos and content I'll be throwing together regularly on Instagram and TikTok. (@868inthe416)
As international students, we've all more or less started at that "fresh off the boat," (or plane, literally) starting point, and it can sometimes be frustrating trying to figure out what your next steps should be, and where to even start when you first arrive in Canada.
I do hope my blog can be a useful guide to help you navigate through any frustration, provide some insight you can apply to your next steps, and overall, enhance your experience, and help make your transition to post-secondary life, specifically in Toronto as a new immigrant here in Canada just a smidge easier - but feel free to apply any advice I provide here, wherever you're located if possible!
Four years later, there’s still so much I’m yet to learn, and so much I'm yet to experience, so while reading my blog you’ll essentially be taking the journey with me as I take this whole uprooting-my-life-back-home-and-moving-abroad-to-Canada journey one day at a time.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask!
Or if you have any experiences you'd like to share, whether similar to the ones I discuss, or entirely different - this is all one big learning space, so please do!
I hope you enjoy!
Much love from Toronto, and Trinidad and Tobago.
- Maya 🤍
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