Theme: Stability
Subtheme: Building a Home
Second Chances: The last 2-3 years prior to my arrival in Nova Scotia were fraught with challenges and obstacles that destroyed me both mentally and emotionally. The combination of being far from home, the warmth of Nova Scotians, and the opportunities available to me, has allowed me to slowly piece myself back together after everything that’s happened. I have come to love the beauty of sunsets down by the water, the peace it brings. I often to take time out of my day to go to the water at sunset, to reflect on everything going on in life, and I have come to synonymize sunsets with my 2nd chance in life.
Subtheme: Planning
Opportune: Coming from a place where systemic barriers make it extremely hard for someone like myself to succeed, Nova Scotia’s ample opportunities for success represents something that I am so desperately searching for. Even as an international student, I have been afforded chances to participate in research and projects and so much more, chances I would never have gotten back home.
Futurebound: The Tupper Medical Building in all of its imposing glory, the home of Dalhousie’s Medical School and all the hopeful doctors seeking the coveted white coats. I’ve always wanted to go to medical school and while I’ve toyed around with idea of medical school in countries such as the UK, Ireland and more, I have come to set my sights on Halifax/Nova Scotia. To me, the medical landscape of Nova Scotia is incredibly unique and has an unlimited growth potential, potential I hope to capitalise as I become a doctor here in Nova Scotia.
Audreys’s Little Shop of Plants. I urgently needed to obtain sphagnum moss for an event I was hosting. Together with my plant pal, we looked far and wide to try to hunt down some sphagnum moss. This included calling all the nurseries, pet stores, grow ops, flower shops within 2 hours from Halifax. Turns out there has been a supplier shortage of sphagnum moss! To my extreme good fortune, my favourite plant place Audrey’s had some supplies leftover from their workshops. They sponsored the moss since they wanted to support our health promotion initiative!!! (For real though, Audrey’s is the best spot to find unique plants and cute pots. One of the loveliest locally owned small businesses out there.)
Subtheme: Working on a Better Society
Home Away From Home: Winters have been such a weird concept for me, having spent my entire life in the tropics. On the Dalhousie Quad, there’s a decal on the floor with the word “Welcome” painted in the different languages. English, French, Mi’kmaq, Mandarin, and oddly enough, Malay (the native language of Malaysia). This picture has come to represent how life here is so incredibly different from life back home, with the snow slowly covering over the words “Selamat Datang”. It’s almost a juxtaposition as when I think of “selamat datang” I think of hearing that whenever my plane lands back home and I’m welcomed by the tropical warmth, yet here the words are slowly buried on the snow in the dead of winter.
History: Nova Scotia is a place that has become symbolic with immigration, being the landing spot for many who stepped foot on these Canadian shores in hopes of a better life here. These values have become engrained into Nova Scotia’s identity, and as someone who hopes to emigrate to Canada, there is no better place to go to than one that recognizes the importance of immigrants in building society.
Now more than ever, social climate is an important factor in deciding where to live. The social and cultural views of the place I choose to live must align with my personal views. Thankfully, signs such as the one depicted here demonstrate that my values are common here in Nova Scotia.
