By Raúl A. Pinto and Erinn Kenney
With the holidays right around the corner many Humber students, staff and faculty are looking forward to a much needed break spent with friends and family.
However, many international students are facing the difficult challenge of being away from home while learning about new holiday traditions that may not be part of their culture.
Humber and the International Student Centre have been working hard to help students feel comfortable, welcome and integrated.
The centre will be hosting various events that students can attend such as a movie night on Dec. 7 and their annual holiday dinner on Dec. 27. Humber’s student federation will also be hosting a children’s holiday party on Dec. 7 and another event on Dec. 14.
Emma Phan, from Vietnam, told Humber News that the school’s International Centre does a great job of showing students parts of the country through the school year and holidays.
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Omar Hassan, who is from Egypt, says the International Centre at Humber provides students with a relatable environment that can lead to a job or internship through the holidays and school year.
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Humber Student Federation VP Daniel Pasin, who is from Venezuela, says embracing a new tradition is a positive way to feel integrated over the holidays without forgetting your roots.
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According to a study from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, over 100,000 permits were issued to new international students in 2012.
Canada is also the seventh most popular destination for international students according to the Canadian Bureau for International Education.
For more information and what’s happening at Humber during the holidays, students can visit the International Student Centre website, HSF events and Humber events calendar.