Living in Ottawa for my co-op work term was truly an adventure and a learning experience. I was a lot farther from my hometown (shout out to the 6ix) than I was used to. This isn’t necessarily a new experience if you initially moved to Waterloo to attend university as I did, but I was also away from the many of the resources that the University of Waterloo provides. Here are some things that are good to know when you are trying to adjust in a new city, whether it be for a co-op term, an internship, or a study exchange abroad. ☺
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BE A TOURIST!
Get to know your new town! Take some time to walk around and just wander. This will help you get adjusted to your surroundings but also give you the opportunity to find some cool shops and attractions that you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise (i.e. when running to school or work). Also, don’t be afraid to look at the tourist websites! The internet has an endless inventory of tried and true attractions and activities, but the tourist websites will let you know of special events in town like holiday festivals or special ceremonies, so don’t count them out!
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Use the hell out of your student discounts/perks
The reason that student discounts exist is because the world knows we are young and broke. So, take advantage of your student discount wherever you can get it! I used my Watcard to get discounts on my groceries in Ottawa, with a few funny looks, but hey it worked! Other student discounts include metro passes and transit discounts, student pricing for entertainment like movies or museum admissions and, maybe the best one in my opinion, student discounts at restaurants. Just make sure to ask a lot of questions about conditions to find out if you are still eligible for student discounts in, say Toronto for example, as a UWaterloo student.
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Know where to find the health services
If there are two things that you absolutely need to know when moving to a new town it is this: 1) The walk-in clinic is your saving grace and; 2) Not all hospitals have emergency rooms. You should always try and find out where you can access health care services as soon as possible, because when you are feeling sickly it just becomes that much more of a pain (pardon the pun) to try and figure out where to go. And sometimes, if you are really an unfortunate soul, you end up googling “nearest hospital,” and end up in an urgent care facility with no emergency room but a great geriatric care wing. And don’t ever forget that your student health insurance covers you on co-op work terms as well as study terms!
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Get to know some new people!
Co-op connection hiking outing in Gatineau Park
One sure-fire way to make a new experience less intimidating is to meet some new people and make new friends! Co-op Connection, for example, is a great way for UWaterloo students to connect while on a co-op work term in a different city. Other ways to get to know people could be going to a gym or dance studio if you like fitness, or seeing if a club you’ve joined back home has a branch at another school closer to where you are. Although this in itself can be an intimidating task, making some new connections will help you feel a little more comfortable and even possibly get you excited about going out, exploring, and taking advantage of what the city has to offer.
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Stay in touch with your homies!
When your friends (fam) come to visit you for 24hrs
Last, but not least, stay in touch with the people you care about back home. Make sure to make time for phone calls and skype sessions, especially to your mother (she actually misses you). Planning visits are a great way to show your friends something new while also helping homesickness. And don’t be afraid to splurge a little on trips going home, it’s definitely worth it when you get to spend time with the ones you love.
Being an adult in a new town can definitely be challenging and a little disorienting at first, but with these tips and a little adventurous spirit, it can be a great and rewarding experience.