I Have One Year to Discover Whether Canada Is My Home
Nienke Smid (21) from Veendam, Groningen, is now visiting Canada for the third time. What began as a mandatory international internship has grown into a serious search for her future. "I have one year to discover whether Canada is my home," she says with determination.
First Introduction to Canada
Nienke visited Canada for the first time in the summer of 2023. She traveled there with her boyfriend Vincenth and his family to visit his brother. During this trip, Vincenth decided he wanted to live and work in Canada for a year. In April 2024, he made the move.
For Nienke, this turned out to be perfect timing: in the summer of 2024 she was required to complete an international internship for her studies. She found a placement just 15 minutes away from where Vincenth lived.
Internship Period and Study Change
At the end of her internship, Nienke decided that she also wanted to spend a year living and working in Canada. She would be able to continue working at her internship company. Meanwhile, between September 2024 and April 2025, she switched from the four-year program in Animal and Livestock Production to the associate degree version, which she successfully completed in April 2025.
During the Christmas break of 2024/2025, she flew back to Canada to spend Christmas and New Year’s with Vincenth.
A Change of Plans
When Nienke began preparing her visa application through the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, she unexpectedly learned that her original employer would not be able to hire her after all.
During this time, Vincenth remained in Canada, where he had been living and working since April 2024. When it became clear that Nienke could not start working at her internship company, Vincenth reached out on her behalf to other Dutch farmers in the Barrhead, Alberta area. One of them immediately offered her a job. “It was exciting to accept something new from a distance,” Nienke says. “I didn’t know the company or the people, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.”
“My school recommended Visa4you to help with my visa application,” she adds.
Heading to Canada Together in April 2025
In April 2025, Nienke completed her associate degree in Animal and Livestock Production at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in Dronten. Around the same time, Vincenth returned to the Netherlands for three weeks. On April 26, 2025, they departed together for Canada once again, with the goal of spending a year living, working, and exploring.
Vincenth is enthusiastic about the idea of staying in Canada, but the final decision is one they will make together, after this year. “The summer here is fantastic, but I also want to experience the winter. Only then will I make a decision. This year feels like my deadline,” Nienke says. She emphasizes that Vincenth’s future in Canada is not yet determined and that he is not taking steps toward permanent residency until she is sure of her own choice.
