Okay, I realise that this layout is totally inappropriate, given that I'm not in BC at the moment and that photo at the top is very BC, but I had to throw something together quickly because I fucked everything up with a new project I'm working on. While I was at it, I actually fixed and updated the "Maresa" page too!

I'm so looking forward to this weekend! So much going on!! And next week I start French classes... ooh la la.

Labels: website

posted by Maresa @ 8:41 PM 1 Comments

Observations about life in Montreal so far:

- Everyone is very impatient to cross the street. I have never seen so much jay-walking and disregard for cars in my life (except in New York City). Also, people will stand way off the curb before they cross the street - just close enough so that the cars will nearly drive over your toes.

- There's barely any pedestrian crossing signals (the walking man and the hand), but that's okay, because no one would even pay attention anyway.

- While we're on the subject of driving, barely any lane lines exist on the road. If the line is worn off, it's okay, I'll just make my own lane. Or wait, this lane is big enough for two cars? Cool, I'll drive in it too!

- It's no use standing politely and waiting to be asked "Can I help you?" No, you must interrupt in order to get attention.

- I have seen so many stereotypes walking around this city: men wearing berets, little old ladies in head scarves carrying armloads of flowers, women with baguettes sticking out of their purses, don't get me started on all the Jewish men...

- There are no refried beans to be found anywhere in this city.

- Alcohol can be bought pretty much anywhere: grocery stores, depanneurs... Wine is cheap.

Ah this city is a crazy place to live. But lots of fun. And have I mentioned that I've almost been here an entire month already? Wow.

Labels: life, montreal

posted by Maresa @ 4:46 PM 2 Comments

It's weird how relative a term "home" becomes when you grow up. Home used to be such a concrete word to me, especially since I grew up in pretty much one house until I was 17 or so. Now, it feels like I have no home, or that everywhere could potentially be my home. It's probably the fact that I've lived in 4 different apartments within the last 2 years, combined with me moving to Montreal and it now feeling more like a homey city.

It's also weird how my perceptions have shifted about living in different cities. Before I left my hometown, it seemed like such a big deal, but now I feel like going to live in another city is easy (okay, maybe that's a gross oversimplification - it's not easy because obviously there's lots of challenges, but they are definitely conquerable).

I dunno, I guess today I'm just feeling very adaptable.

Labels: montreal, thoughts

posted by Maresa @ 4:30 PM

It's strange, living in a new city. When you first get there, all the buildings mean nothing, everything looks the same, everything is bewildering. You haven't explored anywhere, you have no stories, no meaning behind any streets or shops or cafes, no memories to go along with the city. The streets seem both empty and glittering with possibility.

Now, with time, I have lived among these streets and these shops and these people. Street names gain meaning, cafes contain stories, people become real. The language even seems natural, when it once seemed like surreal, incomprehensible babble.

I'm starting to feel part of it all, not just an intruder who is feeling her way around in the dark.

Labels: montreal, thoughts

posted by Maresa @ 11:10 PM

I'm two beers deep (bought nextdoor at the depanneur - how convenient that corner stores and grocery stores in Quebec sell alcohol) and listening to some fabulous house music from the likes of Deadmau5, and I gotta say that I'm itching to go out and dance tonight. I want to get hammered and be overwhelemed by the pounding music. (And it could also be the fact that it's your birthday today and I'm missing it that I want to do this so badly.)

I wonder what would happen if I just walked over to Saint Laurent and went into one of the clubs by myself... (Or maybe I'd really rather not know.)

Labels: nightlife

posted by Maresa @ 9:05 PM

I got my hair cut yesterday at Salon Noir. It needed a cut and a colour refresher baaadly. I told my stylist that I'd been thinking about cutting it all off and so we looked through some magazines at photos of what I was thinking, and I was thisclose to doing it. Oh well, 2 inches are gone and when I go back many more inches will fall!! Guaranteed by the time I leave this city, it will be chopped.

I've somehow managed to fuck up my foot pretty good... I don't know how it happened, if it's been the ridiculous amounts of walking I've been doing the past few days and the run I went on this morning and the more walking today, but walking home this afternoon I was in PAIN, limping like a sad puppy. :(

Today the weather is gorgeous - sunny sunny and about 20 degrees. I'm wearing capris and a tanktop and it is fabulous! I ate lunch in Mount Royal park and suntanned a little and felt very happy.

I've had a productive day visiting a language school to find out about taking French classes, I've visited Concordia to tie up some lose ends (which ended up just being a big fail, stemming from many unhelpful people), and did a few other little errands. Tonight it's time for seeing what Montreal has to offer in the way of sushi and hopefully going to a salsa dance class if my fucking foot feels better!

Labels: daily life, montreal

posted by Maresa @ 2:43 PM 2 Comments

I registered for classes at Concordia yesterday, cruised around downtown, and ended the day with relaxing in the park. :)

Labels: montreal, mount royal park

posted by Maresa @ 9:28 AM 0 Comments

Bonjour from Montreal :)

It's true, I'm sitting here in my cozy Montreal bachelor apartment as I write this. I've been here over a week now, but this is really only my 4th day completely by myself, as my dad flew over with me to help settle me in. And then we took a side trip to NYC for a few days! But now, I'm alone and in a giant French-speaking city where I know one person. Well, that number is growing every day.

I go through moments thinking I'm a crazy person for moving here like this, without a job, without a support system, without really having any concrete plans and other moments feeling exhilarated and full of possibilities. It was honestly a shock to me about how much French is spoken here, I naively thought that English would still dominate French, but no, French is the first language of everyone, and most people are able to switch back and forth mind-numbingly fast. It's taken me a few days to get comfortable with saying "Bonjour" or other short phrases in stores and cafes and getting past the awkwardness when someone speaks to me in French. The French I learned in highschool is coming back.... slowly. Very slowly.

I live in a great neighbourhood called Mile End, which is home to lots of cafes and restaurants and shops and arty people. There's tons going on, and everything is in walking distance, including the subway, so it's easy to get around. I'm also extremely close to Mount Royal park, which will be amazing when the weather gets hot.

The one big thing that lingers to making me think I'm insane is the job situation. It's proving to be quite difficult to get a job, given that I'm not bilingual or even close. I will be okay for another month or so, but then the money situation is going to get a little tight! I'm trying to stay positive, but every day I look at countless classified ads for every type of job I can think of that might be decent, and all require spoken/written English and French. Even janitors! Even busboys! And especially all jobs I'd be qualified for or interested in. Soooo. We'll have to see.

My main goal for this summer is just to have fun, take lots of photos, do as many photography classes as I can (tomorrow I register at Concordia Uni), and travel (on the list: NYC again!, Boston, Cape Cod, Toronto, Quebec City).

And there we have it - the first update from the Frenchie lands.

Labels: mile end, montreal, thoughts

posted by Maresa @ 6:27 PM 0 Comments