At the University of Montreal, employees welcome international students into their families during the holiday season
Published at 5:00 a.m.
End of December. The last exams are over, the campuses are emptying, the students are returning to their families. Well, those who can.
“For international students, it’s not always possible to come home,” says Heyun Liu.
The student of Chinese origin knows something about it: for the second year in a row, she will spend the holiday break on a deserted campus, thousands of kilometers from her family. Depressing? It doesn't have to be!
Last year, the University of Montreal set up a sponsorship program for students in the same situation.
The idea: to pair staff members with international students, for an outing or a meal, between December 23 and January 3.
“The objective is to break isolation,” summarizes Frédérique Danault, coordinator of support for the international student community.
The holiday season can be a particularly lonely time for international students, many of whom stay away from loved ones due to lack of time or money, she points out.
An anecdote from an employee who had sponsored a student the previous winter particularly struck her. “It was the first time that the student shared a meal with another person since his arrival in the country in August…” she says.
This winter, nearly 120 students registered for the sponsorship program, approximately the same number as last year. These students come from around thirty countries: Germany, Cameroon, Algeria, Iran, Nepal, Switzerland, Syria, South Korea…
And the activities offered by their hosts are just as varied: visiting a Christmas market, skating in the city center, climbing Mount Royal…
The university hopes to repeat last year's success. “We had very good feedback, both from employees and students,” emphasizes M.me Danault.
A heavy loneliness to live with
When she learned about the program, Samanta Penaloza immediately volunteered.
Originally from Mexico, she knows what international students go through. Especially during this time of year, when loneliness is heavier to experience.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE
The faculty relations advisor at the University of Montreal, Samanta Penaloza
I wish this existed when I was studying!
Samanta Penaloza, faculty relations advisor at the University of Montreal
This is how, on December 24, she welcomed four students – including Heyun Liu – from the four corners of the world to her table.
The group ate pie, played games, took photos in front of the tree… A typical Quebec Christmas dinner, in fact.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SAMANTA PENALOZA
Samanta Penaloza (holding the dog) and her guests at Christmas last year. On the far left, Ludger Azandegbe, from Benin, and Heyun Liu, from China.
“It became a very special evening,” says Samanta Penaloza. This exchange between people who come from different cultures was very enriching. »
Heyun Liu nods. “It was magnificent,” she sums up in broken French, which has actually improved a lot since last winter, Samanta points out to her.
The chemistry was so good that three of the students even met again the next day, on their own initiative.
“We visited the city center together and had a drink! », says Ludger Azandegbe, who re-enrolled in the program this year.
Originally from Benin, the master's student in health services administration was able, this year, to return to his family for the holiday season. It was by choice that he decided to stay.
In addition to breaking isolation, the program promotes the integration of international students.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE
Foreign student at the University of Montreal from Benin Ludger Azandegbe
Since I arrived here, I have participated in a lot of activities. I try to find out how things are done here, how people really live.
Ludger Azandegbe, foreign student at the University of Montreal from Benin
He too retains a precious memory of this evening shared with strangers.
“At one point, we received a call from Samanta’s mother. It's like we're family! It was great,” he says.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SAMANTA PENALOZA
Samanta Penaloza (holding the dog) and her guests at Christmas last year. On the far left, Heyun Liu, and forward on the right, Ludger Azandegbe.
Charmed by her first experience, Samanta Penaloza decided to enroll in the program again. “I'm going to recreate the formula because I really liked it,” she explains.
A similar program at UQAM
The University of Montreal is not the only establishment that offers a program of this type. The University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) has also had one for several years.
“There are adaptation challenges for international students, and it’s good that others are sensitive to that,” summarizes Frédérique Danault.
And perhaps even more so now, when the discourse surrounding their reception is often negative.
“They are aware of this atmosphere,” she emphasizes. I find it important for them that they feel that there are employees who open their doors to them. »
An opinion shared by Samanta Penaloza. “I think that a majority of people see the added value that these young people bring to Quebec society, and that comes, I think, to counterbalance all the speeches that we find these days in the media. »
Related News :