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

Storyteller: Yathil Srinivas (he/him) My name is Yathil and I’m originally from Bangalore, India. Back home, I come from a lively and vibrant city with a rich mix of cultures, languages, and traditions. In India, I completed my education and started working as a hairdresser, which eventually led me to explore opportunities abroad. I moved to Antigonish in 2021 on a work permit. I currently live in Stellarton but work in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. I recently received my permanen

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

Neeti Bhatnagar (she/her) Interviewer: Tavneet Kaur Participant: Neeti Bhatnagar In this interview, Neeti Bhatnagar, a community member originally from India, shares her journey to Antigonish. Neeti moved to Canada in 2023 to join her husband, who had arrived in 2021 to work at NSCC in Port Hawkesbury. After spending a year there, they decided to settle in Antigonish. Neeti, a chef by profession, had a catering business in India and did some catering work in Port Hawkesbury b

Tejal (she/her) Tis the season in Antigonish Captured on January 20, 2021. Copyright @art_nouveau___ Hi, I'm Tejal, an international student from India who came to StFX in March 2021 to pursue my Masters of Applied Computer Science program. However, after arriving in Antigonish, I did face problem in terms of finding part-time jobs. There weren’t many job openings, and I couldn't find any online job postings for the jobs I was looking for. This was a challenge for me as I ne

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: Abhishek Walia (he/him) Snowview of St. Ninian church clicked on January 15, 2022. Copyright @art_nouveau___ I am a second year Masters of Computer Science at X. I am from New Delhi, a city in the heart of the capital of India, which has a great historical significance along with lively marketplaces and amazing food. I came to this beautiful town of Antigonish in the fall of 2021. As an international student, I experienced high cost of transportation, which i

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: Shivaang Antil (he/him) Editor: X Helping Hands A view of Morrison Hall captured on December 5, 2021. Copyright @art_nouveau___ I am a Bachelor of Business Administration student at StFX. My hometown is Delhi, the capital of India. I arrived in this close knitted town during 2020, and as an international student, I did share lived experience with homesickness and struggled to manage my life in a totally new country. As a high school graduate from India, it w