This article is part of an ongoing series here on Dal News focusing on international voices in our community.
It was a love for Anne of Green Gables that first attracted Maygan Forbes to the Maritimes.
鈥淭he movie was filmed here, so that鈥檚 how I knew of Halifax. There is a lot of history behind this place,鈥� says Maygan, originally from London, England.
鈥淚 am interested in becoming a film director and Halifax has a booming underground film history, a film culture and music culture."
Thus, Halifax was the perfect place for an exchange for the second-year history and film major, and she鈥檚 been enjoying it immensely, involving herself in the community.
聽鈥淎t the start of the semester, I joined Dalhousie鈥檚 World Society for the Protection of Animals,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was my first encounter with people outside of class and I started to really know people. The animal society encouraged and influenced my eating decisions. We always talk about global issues and have friendly debates.鈥�
Joining this society also influenced her decision to join the Loaded Ladle. 鈥淲hoever thought about this idea should get a Nobel Prize,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 such an incredible thing that helps everyone at Dalhousie.鈥�
First impressions
Like others who move to Canada, some of Maygan鈥檚 strongest impressions of Halifax relate to the weather.
鈥淏eing from England, we have rubbish weather, but this was different; it was just so cold. The snow is so different here. In London we get a handful of snow, it melts and turns into slush. Here, snow is a permanent fixture. It鈥檚 so deep that you can put your feet in it and not get them out for at least 10 seconds.鈥�
The friendly nature of the people more than made up for the weather. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 mind the cold. People here are just so nice. Even the dogs here are so friendly,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he way people communicate here is very different. Here, when people talk to you it鈥檚 like they actually want to talk to you. Back home people communicate, but the connection is very different.鈥�
Unexpectedly, language was a barrier for the student who wishes to do a master鈥檚 in history and go to film school one day. 鈥淓ven though we both speak English, the phrases are very different 鈥� like 鈥榡umper鈥� and 鈥榮weater.鈥� I never expected language to be a barrier and my roommates have to decipherer what I say.鈥�
Other commonalities were also surprisingly different from home: 鈥淐anadians have a lot of magazines dedicated to the Royal Family, like the obsession with the new baby and the clothes the Duchess is wearing. This is something you won鈥檛 see back home.鈥�
Other things that have impressed Maygan about Canada and Halifax: our money (鈥淚t鈥檚 like Monopoly money!鈥�), the houses and coffee shops. 鈥淵ou have so many options to choose from of everything,鈥� she says.
Embracing new experiences
Prior to coming to study in Canada, Maygan says she did have different conceptions of what Canada would be like. 鈥淚 was very ignorant in my thinking of Canada 鈥� like, how Canada was very American-influenced and they dominated the country. I came here and I was surprisingly shocked that was not the case. Just coming here, I have gotten rid of my preconceived stereotypes of how people around the world live. Travelling has been an education in itself.鈥�
So what鈥檚 her advice for other international students? She advises them to let themselves be surprised and to discover what Canada has to offer.
鈥淒on鈥檛 shut yourself away,鈥� she says. 鈥淗ave the motivation to get up and do things. I got over homesickness just by sticking out and going over my emotions. Now, I absolutely love it here. Just be yourself. The human being you are is a good human being, so don鈥檛 do yourself a disservice.鈥�