Algoma University Syrian refugee student Bassel Alkosani talks to local media about his experience in Canada so far and about his life in Syria and Lebanon, prior to his arrival in Sault Ste. Marie last week.

One of Algoma Univeristy’s newest students was introduced to local media on Tuesday. Bassel Alkosani is from Syria and arrived in Canada and Sault Ste. Marie a week ago through the World University Service of Canada program. He is currently studying Computer Science at Algoma, but had been attending school in Lebanon, where he had been the last two years. Bassel was asked about how his family reacted regarding his moving halfway around the world for higher education and a better life…

Bassel’s experience away from home has been positive so far — even with the colder winter weather! He left his family three years ago and moved to Lebanon a year later. He feels badly for leaving the students he was teaching English in a refugee camp in Lebanon behind, but at the same time he appreciates the opportunity he has at Algoma University for higher education and to improve his future. Alkosani talks about what resulted in his decision to come to Canada…

The Computer Science student also finds it difficult to watch the news when the Syrian crisis comes up. Bassel says all he can do is watch as there is nothing physically he can do from far away. He is able to connect with a brother through the internet, but communication with the rest of his family back home is not as easy with a internet communication — and some of the basics there — hard to get to. Alkosani is definitely adjusting to the Canadian experience and is hoping for a future different from what he had experiencing in his home country and the Middle East…

Bassel is the oldest of six children in his family, with a brother and sister attending university at home. He graduated from Damascus University as an English teacher. But it is very hard to go to school in Syria right now. Bassel points out that there are several checkpoints on the roads, making travel anywhere in that country difficult.