Musings of an International Student: What I Learn from my Roommate

17 November 2012Joanna L, Alex ’14,

“What on earth is a jumper?” exclaimed my roommate loudly during a casual conversation in the earlier stage of our friendship. This particular query was quickly followed by my hasty explanation, during which a larger number of cultural unknowns were uncovered between the two of us, joined by nothing other than our one connection: Brentwood.

For the 20% of Brentonians who join the school from other nations, I think it can be safely said that the transition is a big one, but while international students are bombarded with the new excitements of a cultural experience in Canada, they often bring their own little bit of back home with them. Being an international student, I can attest to the fact that having a roommate is a big help in bridging the gap between a far-off home, and creating a home away from home at Brentwood.  

For those of you who don’t speak Australian, a jumper is nothing more than a simple cozy comfort, a sweater.

Language is just one piece of cultural baggage that international students lug with them over long flights and across time zones. It is always a pleasant and curious experience to realize that a large proportion of your classmates, housemates, and friends, while speaking English during school, also speak another language at home.  

The high school environment is a collection of different opinions, personalities and characteristics within the confines of a relatively small space. Brentwood encompasses all these things, as well as joining nations in a headlong fusion of culture, nationality and race. Travelling the long journeys to Mill Bay, international students bring with them their own cultural experiences and backgrounds to their houses, roommates and friends, sharing their opinions, their stories, and forming friendships that will never be forgotten.

Mill Bay may be small, but Brentwood draws in students of different cultures and nationalities, making for an environment that showcases the beauty of other nations, as well as Canada, making for a place where the world, quite literally, comes to the school.

So don’t worry Brentwood. If you ever find yourselves in a far flung corner of the world, you’ll always have a couch to sleep on, a friend to talk to, and a temporary place to call home.

G’Day, mate!

Joanna L, Alex ’14,