Hello all,

I'll be arriving in Winnipeg in Dec this year from India as a student. I was wondering which of the two options is more convenient, given the extreme weather conditions prevailing at that time:

1. Stay at the college campus living hostel for first 4 months (I will still be required to walk about 300-400 metres to attend my classes.) Excuse my naivete, but I'm not sure if even walking is an option in that kind of weather??!!
2. Stay outside the college campus, say about 3-4 km, and use public transport to attend classes.

Note: I do not have a driving license and have no experience driving a car.

Thanks for taking time to reply to this!

GreatWhiteNorth

Welcome to Canada and esp. Winnipeg, where even Desi's dread to tread.
I am guessing that your university might be the only source of your employment as Winnipeg does not have that many jobs open. Other jobs available may be low level jobs at Tim Hortons and MacDonalds or labour jobs in factories.

It is always good to stay at campus as you get to mix with the whites. So if you have good money, stay in the campus. Hostel fees will be expensive. your professor may give you a teaching assistanship or you can do work, like stacking books in the library, working for the students society etc... First jobs will be given to whites and natives and then the last jobs to Desi's and blacks.

If you donot have much money , stay outside the campus, near a busstop. In winnipeg, you may even get a house, just 300 m from your campus. Get a 3 bed house for $ 1000 and 12 desi's would stay there (3 in each bedroom). Trust me, my classmates stayed like this in the US in 1990's and today they are millionaires (they studied IT them).

Around 1 km, you can walk even in the coldest of the winter and 300 m and all will be nothing. Just get some good winter cloths and boots.

Welcome to Canada and just feel free to ask me the information that you need. I can even tell you where you can get free groceries or free food apart from second hand cloths for free but you will have to ask me about that. Some people in this site have asked me not to tell this voluntarily unless you ask me about it. Alternatively we can take this information offline. Mail me at tamilkuravan(at) yahoo (dot) ca

Murali the Kirshnan

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Thanks tamilkuravan. It is understandable that 'desis dread to tread in Winnipeg', given the weather.

I am also aware that Winnipeg does not have too many jobs, which is expected since the total population is barely 7/10th of a million. I'm not sure if you are trying to scare me with the dire warnings (first preference to whites, etc.) but I'm not foolish enough to think that the Canadians are going to lay out a red carpet for me as soon as I land. It is but expected that the locals will get first preference over non-locals. I should know this, especially coming from India where the government considers you "outsider" even though you have been born and raised there (erstwhile A.P., now Telangana). This is pretty much the same scenario whether it's Maha, TN, Guj, or Punjab. Try getting a state government job in Punjab after living there for 35 years, and you'll see what I mean. Anyway, I'm sure you wanted to alert me with good intentions.

Appreciate your detailed reply. And yes, if the time comes, I'll contact you for the information on free food and clothing. We all have our ups and downs!!

That is the good spirit and you will prosper.
Too much negativity in every aspect of life doesn't really help in anyway.

If the campus stay is in your budget, go for it otherwise find a nearby private accommodation. Call your student union office and they may also help you out in finding the accommodation. Don't worry about the mode of transportation in winter. You can walk for 1 or 2 kms in winter. Actually it is better to walk in -20 degree centigrade than standing at one place as walking will keeps you warm.

Public transportation should be your first choice similar to most of the new immigrants during first year of their arrival. You can get student bus pass at discounted rate. You will learn to 'bundle up before heading out' soon. Get a good quality snow jacket, winter boots and gloves upon your arrival.

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A Delhite in Toronto

Thank you, Delhite. Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Winters are cold, really cold in Winnipeg. As mentioned by 'Delhite', public transport is the best mode initially. You can look for alternate accommodation(as they tend to be cheaper) while you initially move into a college dorm.

Some walking is required for routine chores like shopping, for moving around campus etc. Invest well in warm winter clothing, including winter boots. Some of these brands can be very expensive, if you cannot wait for them to go on sale. So shop around a bit, look for cheaper options.