Faces from around the world in the city

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: BOHYE JUNG
Bohye Jung is one of the many new faces we see on campus. Pictured is Jung's 'super sexy bicycle,' which helps her get around the city.

Every fall the city finds a myriad of students from far and wide to weave aspirations into dreams wearing them into the world of success. Canada, one of the worlds in vogue destinations has earned its name in creating avenues to the lives of the students.

“I didn't know what to expect but the warm welcome with the international students' welcome kit and the superbly friendly Fanshawe College representative ebbed out my unease,” said Hetvi Mehta, a Dental Science student from India.

Police forces of the Bahamas and Canada, which operated together in recent past to nip organized crimes, enlighten Alexandria James (Alex), a Bahamian citizen and a Pre-health Science student at Fanshawe. She said she hopes to receive more awards, bursaries and scholarships from the college, as the cost of attending school is already expensive.

Alasa Bekisu (Becky), a Nigerian national, chose the country's sound educational system and believes that the practical exposure would help her shine through life. “I took a course in geography but I found the social service course at the college will train me help old-age people, children and teenagers so that I can help mitigate the existing social problems in the country,” she said. “My course has been tailored so subtly that I can move into health sciences, which is a distant dream.” However, speaking about the assistance provided by the international centre she grew quite critical and said she loathed the misplacement of her course change form. But she still smiles at the opportunities at the college, which await her.

As the country opens its floodgates of opportunities beckoning students, few peep in with an explorer in themselves. Bohye Jung (Bonnie) a South Korea national who spent 10 months volunteering at an elementary school in British Columbia is already in love with the helpful nature of the Canadians and the jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween. Jung purchased what she calls a “super sexy bicycle” to help get around the city. “[It] was so helpful when I looked around here to find places to move in, get furniture [and] shop [for] groceries.”

Days will turn into months and we will see serious faces in the library and the homework labs, cutting through the climatic challenges, students will spread diversity, each of them eager to preserve their nativity in a foreign land. As the smiling faces swarm in and out of the campus facing, tackling and overcoming challenges, they will be sure that they are empowered.