Storyteller: Gagan (he/him) My name is Gagan, and I was born in Ambala, Haryana, India. Ambala is a city with a rich cultural history and a close-knit community, known for its lively streets and vibrant traditions. Growing up in such a place shaped my values and gave me a strong sense of community, which I’ve carried with me throughout my life. In 2019, I made the decision to move to Canada on a study visa to pursue higher education, seeking new opportunities that would help

Amarinder (he/him) Interviewer: Bhavpreet Singh Arneja Interviewee: Amarinder Singh Sandhu In this interview, Amarinder, a final-year MSc Computer Science student at StFX, shares his journey since moving from Ferozpur, Punjab, India to Antigonish in August 2023. Currently on a study permit, Amarinder talks about the challenges he faced, especially finding accommodation and securing a job during the summer of 2024. His younger brother, who is also in Canada, helped him find a

Pavithra (she/her) Interviewer: Bhavpreet Singh Arneja Participant: Pavithra In this interview, Pavithra, an MSc Computer Science student from Chennai, India, shares her experience as an international student at StFX. She moved to Antigonish on August 28, 2023, on a study permit and initially knew little about the town. Through research, she discovered that Antigonish is a peaceful place. However, Pavithra faced challenges, including the lack of public transportation and expe

Asad Ali (he/him) Interviewer: Bhavpreet Singh Arneja Participant: Asad In this interview, Asad Ali, a 25-year-old international student from Pakistan, shares his journey from Dubai to Antigonish. After spending 19 years in Pakistan and five years in Dubai for his bachelor's degree, Asad moved to Canada on August 23, directly settling in Antigonish. He met the StFX recruitment director at a conference in Dubai, where they discussed Asad’s plans to move to Canada, and the dire

Anonymous A frozen brook in the town of Antigonish. Captured on January 28, 2022. Copyright @art_nouveau___ As an international student from South Africa, I had always been fascinated by the beauty and culture of Canada. So, when I got accepted into StFX University, I was thrilled to embark on this new journey. However, little did I know that it would be a rollercoaster ride filled with challenges and opportunities. Upon my arrival in Antigonish during the winter of 2021, I e

Kesha Patel (she/her) A busy day at the main street in Antigonish. Captured on January 3, 2022. Copyright @art_nouveau___ Hi, I'm Kesha Patel, an international student who joined the Masters of Applied Computer Science program at StFX in April 2021. While my experience at the university has been great so far, I faced a major challenge when it came to finding suitable housing. The limited options for housing and the high cost of rent made it difficult for me to find accommodat

Original author: Ravjot Singh (he/him) Editor: X Helping hands An eye view of the Town of Antigonish from Xavier hall, clicked on January 28, 2022. Copyright @art_nouveau___ I am an international student from India. I recently graduated in May 2022, with a degree in Masters in Applied Computer Science. I arrived in Antigonish during the fall of 2021. Due to a country wide lockdown in my home country and late visa approval, I had to complete the first year of my studies from h

Original author: Venkatramana Ramadev Krishnamurthy (he/him) Sunrise captured from the town on January 10, 2022. Copyright @art_nouveau___ Hi, I am Venky, that’s what my friends call me. I am a graduate student in the second year of Master of Computer Science program at X. I am from Chennai, a city, famous for one of the best information technology and industrial engagement in India, and this developed my interest in computing and software. I came to Antigonish last year in N

Original author: Dhruv Patel (he/him) Editor: X Helping Hands This photo was taken on December 28, 2022. Copyright @art_nouveau___ I am a final year student in the Bachelor of Science program at X. I am from Gujarat, a province in India known for the beautiful handicrafts, arts, sculptures, the historic temples, and most importantly, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, a great leader and the source of inspiration for the Indians during the early 1900s, who played an active role

Original author: Madeeha Dala (she/her) Editor: X Helping Hands This photo was taken on September 1, 2022. Copyright @art_nouveau___ I am an international student from the beautiful islands of Mauritius. I arrived in Antigonish during the fall of 2018 and recently graduated this spring in the Bachelor of Computer Science. Not to mention, but I finally got the X- Ring, that I still wear every day. As an international student, I did have some experiences with finding a room to