We are now approaching holiday season and the so called “most wonderful time of the year,” however, holidays can be bittersweet for international students who navigate going back home or staying in Canada. 

Many conflicting emotions arise for international students during the holidays. For those who travel back home, there’s the exhaustion of booking flights, the feeling of being an outsider upon returning, and the frustration of knowing the holidays will soon end. 

On the flip side of the coin, staying in Canada evokes its own set of emotions, including loneliness and homesickness. 

But hey, you are not alone, and this is proven as we have our conversation with Gagandeep Singh a Student Coordinator at York International (YI) and an international student himself. Gagan guides us through his emotions and how he manages them with the help of the ample resources provided by YI.

Resources

• York University Psychology Clinic - http://www.yorku.ca/yupc/
• York International - https://yorkinternational.yorku.ca/yueli/
• #YIFeel - https://yorkinternational.yorku.ca/test-yifeel/
• York International Winter Holidays - https://yorkinternational.yorku.ca/winter-holidays/
• Appletree Medical Centre - https://appletreemedicalgroup.com/
• WellTrack Mobile Application - http://www.welltrack.com/
• Learning Skills Services - http://lss.info.yorku.ca/
• Student Counselling, Health & Wellbeing - https://counselling.students.yorku.ca/
• Glendon Counselling Services - http://www.glendon.yorku.ca/counselling/
• Student Accessibility Services - http://ds.info.yorku.ca/
• Centre for Human Rights Equity & Inclusion - http://rights.info.yorku.ca/
• Mental Wellness Support for Students outside of Ontario - https://counselling.students.yorku.ca/node/1077