As I walked toward Humber College – North campus on Sunday, it was deserted at first. However near Humber residence, it was all crowded with students dragging suit cases with pillows tucked under their arms, boxes of dry food, electronics and everyday items. While the excitement of having independent lives was apparent, some faces looked nervous.
Varun Malia, international culinary arts student at Humber College
Humber residence had racks of brouchers at the entrance for students who are not from Toronto to visit in an effort to alleviate the feelings of loneliness. For its students, Humber College offers various choices when it comes to choosing who the students wish to spend their time at college with. There is a floor for noisy students and quiet floor for those who prefer hushed down corridor. There is a floor for international students where the support is available to familiarize these new students with Canadian culture, places to visit and Humber traditions.
From L – R: Mother, Daughter, Arjun (electronic engineering student at Humber), gradma Kanwal and father Taranyit
Various companies offer meal plans to students. While dietary needs like Halal or vegetarian food only can be compensated, students have to be cognizant of their own needs.
The new students were helped and guided by senior students and Humber staff.
One of these older students, Varun Malia, works in housekeeping. He, with a group of few students, was guiding new students of dos and don’ts of living at Humber residence.
Varun Malia, an international student from Chandigarh, India, will be starting his third semester at Humber’s culinary program. He has enjoyed his time at Humber because of the support base provided by the college administration. He likes his housekeeping job at Humber. “It’s totally different here,” but it is not “awkward anymore,” he says about his experience at Humber and Canada.
Amid the entire crowd, we noticed a South Asian dad with a grandma.
Not a traditional father, Taranyit Chowdhary, a dentist by training from India, was seeing his son, Arjun, off at Humber College residence. Next to him sat Arjun’s grandmother Kanwal Chowdhary who had come all the way from India to see her grandson off to college.
Mr. Chowdhary said that he is having his son move from Mississauga to keep alive family tradition of moving away from home for college and to have his son “meet all the good looking girls.”
The grandma was not so keen of the idea though. “I want him to do very well, study well, spend time beautifully and make full use of it,” said Arjun’s grandma who thinks of Arjun as “a very sensible boy.”
Arjun chose to come to Humber College because it “offered more career choices and specialized programs.” Arjun has been enrolled in electronic engineering program, a career same as his grandfather who had passed away a few days ago. He wanted to live in residence “to meet all people.” He was all set to take advantage of opportunities of getting involved in activities offered at Humber, and was looking forward to Frosh week.
While Arjun and I talked, the DJ made an announcement that So You Think You Can Dance stars will be coming to Humber College on Sunday night. And Arjun’s younger sister was all awed and ready to move to residence herself.
