So I'm sort of holding off blogging until I have Tumblr up and running and designed properly... which I almost do. I'm hoping to have it up by the end of today!
But I have one more important difference between Montreal and Toronto to add:
- in Toronto, barely anyone smokes, compared to Montreal. In Montreal, walking down the street it's like every second person is holding a cigarette.
Also, yesterday Lyndsey asked me for recommendations for a good brunch spot in Montreal. I listed off about 5 of my favourites and then realised how much I miss that city already!!
Labels: food, montreal, toronto
Observations - T.O. vs MTL
So I've been here about a week and a half now, and I've got some observations on the differences between Toronto and Montreal.
- Montreal is definitely more the more charming city and feels more "European." I miss stumbling upon tree-lined squares and parks at every corner.
- Toronto feels more laid back and relaxed, not as pretentious or people-pleasing.
- Likewise, Toronto's fashion is more "street" and urban, more hipster and casually stylish, less designer and trend-conscious than Montreal.
- Montreal has a better system at bus stops where everyone lines up and boards the bus on a first-come first-served basis. In Toronto it can be a free-for-all.
- Toronto has defined city neighbourhoods, like Little Italy where I live. Or Kensington Market, or Cabbagetown, or the Annex, or Queen St West. And each neighbourhood has a distinct flair. (Okay, Montreal has its Plateau, and Mile End, and Westmount, etc. but the areas are certainly not as defined or as many.)
- Montreal is far better for purchasing alcohol. It can be found at the liquor store, the grocery store, the dep, the gas station, anywhere.
- Montreal has a giant park (Mont Royal), Toronto has expansive beaches (the Beaches, Woodbine).
I love both cities. Neither is better, both have their own appeal. And I'm so lucky that I get to live in both places! :)
Labels: montreal, toronto
I can see the CN Tower from my bedroom window.
And so I've arrived. Here I am living in Toronto. Since my train rolled into Union Station on Sunday afternoon, I've been having a lot of "WTF, I actually live in Toronto now?!" moments, but today it's sunk in a bit more and life feels more or less normal. Yeah, more or less. Minus a lot of things I miss from Montreal, but suffice it to say that I've learned that building a life in a new city takes a while! Everything will not be perfect right away! And so, I'm just enjoying this time exploring my new city and being on my own.
My first two days being here have been filled with a lot of errands and unpacking and settling down. I also had a job interview yesterday, which I think went really well - I left with the same feeling you have after you know you just aced a test, so I think that's a good sign! The weather has been undeniably gorgeous and sunny and it's been making me so happy. Yesterday I drank my morning coffee outside on a bench in the sunshine and the sun actually felt
warm against my body. Spring, spring, I can't wait to greet you! Spring is a time of change and new beginnings. It's funny how I always seem to make life changing decisions around springtime.
I'm loving that my apartment is situated right in Little Italy. There are so many adorable shops and restaurants lining College St. And the fact that the street car stops right outside my apartment is pretty fan-freaking-tastic too. I can also walk to the subway in about 10 minutes and that will take me anywhere! The whole roommate situation is taking a bit of getting used to. I'm so used to living on my own, or living with a boyfriend. I've never lived with a girl roommate before, and I'm feeling a strange combination of releasing control over my living space and acting on my best behaviour.
Oh! And I can't end my blog post without talking about my amazing sendoff in Montreal! At work on Friday, there was a "surprise" screening goodbye party in the afternoon, and we ate cake and I got a card, and it was very lovely. I felt appreciated and happy and shed a tear or two upon saying goodbye. After work, a bunch of us went out for what turned into an epic night - first it was 2 games of laser tag, during which I re-confirmed that I suck so bad but it's
so much fun! We then headed off to the pub to drink a couple beers (and tequila shots - oops) and watch the Canada Olympic hockey game. From there, I was feeling pretty jazzed and enthusiastically suggested we should go to a strip club! Took a little convincing but I lead the way, and off to the strip club we went! Then the night took a turn into titties, buckets of beers, and... lapdances? Yes, I had my first lapdance, and it was quite the uh, experience. Haha! Suffice it to say, that night, and the people I spent it with, was amazing.
And as a last tribute to Montreal, I love love love this
"Montreal in 2 Minutes" video. My old neighbourhood, the Plateau, is shown between 1:37 and 1:58. I think it perfectly captures how I feel about that amazing city. Watch and love it with me.
Labels: friends, montreal, moving, nightlife, toronto
Well, my Montreal days are ticking to a close - 5 days left. It seems bizarre that in a week, I won't be waking up in this apartment, won't be hopping on my bus to go to work every day. I've become very settled here, settled into routine - although never fully settled because I knew living in Montreal was only ever temporary.
I've been training my replacement at work, and it's exhausting. The first day I felt like I just talked non-stop for 9 hours, and now I feel like she knows everything and me being at work is rendered useless. For the last half of today, the minutes ticked by oh so slowly. I've done the pass-off and now I just want to get out of there!
I hate goodbyes so much. I'm so terrible at them. It's just tough. I've met some great people here - the people I work with, my friends. And so I'm kind of dreading all of the goodbyes I'll have to face in the next few days...
But, such is life. They'll only be temporary goodbyes. And you've got to say goodbye to say hello, right?
Labels: montreal, moving, work
This right here is a perfect Sunday morning. The sun is streaming through my windows, melting the dusting of snow outside, and landing in a perfect square on my duvet. I woke to no alarm, except for the morning light. Now I'm sipping a breakfast protein shake (hmm, that doesn't sound quite so romantic) and lazily cruising the world wide web.
What I did wake up to this morning was the sound of people having sex through the walls of my apartment. I'm always unsure how I'm supposed to feel when I hear people having sex. Amusement? Irritation? Turned on? I feel a mix of these three. And it makes me wonder about all the people who have heard me having sex. Weird.
I'm savoring this moment in bed because today is going to be a jumble of packing, cleaning, packing, and laundrying. I'm leaving Montreal in exactly a week today. So much to be done. I feel a bit melancholy, I wish I never had to leave anything behind. I love this city, this apartment, these people. But guaranteed, I will be back to visit definitely this summer and probably before. There is no period at the end of this sentence, it's more of an ellipses... (Yes I totally stole that line from
Garden State!)
Labels: montreal, moving
Lazy Saturday brunch
What a beautiful, beautiful day today. (Well, I'll confess that my day didn't really begin until 2pm because that's when I finally forced myself out of bed - a little too much fun was had and alcohol ingested last night at the dance party! Amber and I had ambitions plans of going for brunch at 11AM this morning, but that clearly didn't happen!)
I digress - it was a beautiful day, the sun was shining with clear blue skies - it's been much too long since we've had a day like that. Also it was very warm (only -5) and a perfect day to wander around! Amber and I ate brunch at
Patati Patata, a tiny, tiny, 15-person capacity cafe with breakfast served all day and famous poutine. And cheap prices! My breakfast (egg, bacon, hashbrowns, beans, toast, fruit and coffee) cost $4.50! Amazing!
After our fantasticly late brunch, we wandered back down St-Laurent, stopping to check out vintage shops, jewelry stores, and Amber pointed out other amazing cafes and restos I needed to try. I've never had anyone do that with me - walk around and point out amazing places in my neighbourhood, and since she's lived in the Plateau for 5 years, it was so fun!
Montreal is such an amazing city, I never anticipated how much I would love living here. It has so much charm and appeal, more than I've felt from any other city in Canada... maybe it's the whole French thing too. Whatever it is, this afternoon I fell in love a little more.
Labels: food, montreal, plateau
Spent this afternoon drinking café au laits and eating amazing almond croissants at
La Croissanterie Figaro. I love this little cafe, tucked in between tree-lined avenues in the Mile End area of Montreal.
La Croissanterie holds a special place in my heart because I used to live a few blocks away, and it was one of the first cafes in Montreal I ever visited. In fact, the girl I sublet my first apartment from recommended it to me, and on probably my second day living in Montreal, my dad and I went there for an early supper. I was immediately charmed by its European atmosphere and delicious food.
I have since spent many summer mornings on their terrasse eating their omelette croissant breakfast, or having afternoon café au laits, like today. Being there reminds me just how far I've come from being the wide-eyed fresh-off-the-boat girl in May to how I am now.
It is a lovely place to be.
Labels: mile end, montreal
Okay, it's time I stopped being a blogging slacker and updated this thing!
I saw my footage from my Tuesday "condo visit" and it was... mmmm... hilarious. Haha. No joke. I'm all "WOW, this place is so BEAUTIFUL!" and other amazing lines and truly fantastic acting skills. Also, I think I sound like a man. Anyway, my segment is about 30 seconds and I'm gonna be famous, bitchez! Haha.
Went out last night to a house party, lots of good times with good people! And some amazing photos, which I'll be sure to post... ;)
So yesterday and today feel like spring, I've heard people say. To me, it feels like BC weather - yesterday was all cloudy and foggy and misting rain. Apparently they don't get weather like that too often around here... well, it made me feel right at home! But seriously, the temperatures have been hovering around the 0 mark and it's been feeling so amazingly warm! Loving it! And I have to *knock on wood* because I'd like things to stay this way!!
Plans for today include going to the gym and then going over to Lyndsey's house to bring some food and snacks and happiness to cheer her up, and we will sit around and watch bad TV and it will be great!
Happy weekend, everyone! :)
Labels: friends, montreal, parties
You know what I've just realised? I'm pretty happy right now. It actually feels weird to be saying that, because I've been so unhappy and emotionally taxed for so long, but now I feel like everything has fallen into place and I just feel so calm and great! I am so glad for how everything has turned out. I am so glad to let go and just live in the here and now.
I feel like I have a life here in Montreal now, and you know what, I feel damn proud of myself for that. I have some amazing Montreal friends - I've slid right into place among a great circle of friends, I have an amazing best friend in Montreal who I've only known for 4 months and yet it feels like I've known her for years, I know this city and I love this city (although these winters I could sure do without!)
Last night about 10 of us went bowling at this awesome club, where there were dim lights and pumpin club music and velvet covered lounge chairs... best thing ever! We played 3 games, and the more beer I drank, and the more I danced around, the better I played apparently, because my last game was my best!!
Other random tidbits: NYC trip is booked for the first weekend in February!!!, got some free shoes from a work friend yesterday - they're pointy-toe ankle boots and freaking cute, seeing "Brothers" this afternoon and hope I don't cry my eyes out, aaaaand I love lazing around in bed on the weekend. Okay, I think I say that every weekend!!
Labels: friends, life, montreal
Comparisons...
This is the scene outside my apartment window right now. Snow, snow, and more snow. Current temperature: -7, -15 with windchill.
This was the scene over Christmas in BC. Sun, ocean, green grass. Average temperature: 6.
Does anything else really need to be said?!
Labels: BC, montreal, winter
2009...
Reflections on 2009The year 2009 was a year of growth and learning, pain and heartache, exploring, loneliness, independence, challenges, and finding happiness.
I rang in the the new year of 2009 at my friend Marja's house, with a crowd of her friends who I didn't know, which was perhaps a premonition of the year to come.
January was the second month I'd spent living all by myself in my own apartment, and I was loving living on my own.
I was broken up with my boyfriend of 2.5 years, but soon realised he was the one I wanted to be with, and we spent Valentine's Day at a secluded cabin up-island. We became inseparable again, and I was so happy, I felt like we could make it through anything.
I started feeling nagging thoughts about moving away around March. In April I decided I was going to move to Montreal for 4 months over the summer, to try and quiet those nagging feelings. I left town on May 1st and moved into a tiny bachelor apartment sublet in the Plateau area of Montreal.
That first month in Montreal I have never felt so lonely and debilitated and hopeless. I cried a lot and wondered what the hell I was doing there. I had a difficult time getting a job because my French wasn't great, and I only had one friend who I didn't even see that often. I did a lot of thinking during that month, and decided I had to change everything around, make some decisions, and break free of debilitating cycles.
In early June I started dating a guy and we had a fun summer fling, which helped to turn my mood around, and let me see more of the great things Montreal had to offer. I started feeling happier. July carried out similar to June, with beautiful weather and enjoying the city, and friends and my mom visiting from home. I found that being with someone else helped me to forget the heartache I felt about my ex-boyfriend from home. I also took some photography classes at Concordia University. In August I traveled to Jamaica with said fling, and when I got back, I decided to stay in Montreal for a while longer.
I decided to stay in Montreal for a number of reasons. I was upset that life in BC seemed to be so different - friends were scattered, my ex-boyfriend was seeing someone new, and I wasn't sure that I wanted to go back when it seemed like nothing and no one was waiting for me there, and everything had changed. Plus, I had booked 2 wedding photography gigs in September and I was really excited about that. I also finally felt stabilized in Montreal, like I'd gained that independence and confidence I'd wanted.
So, the last few weeks of August were consumed with intense apartment and job hunting. I moved into a new bachelor apartment in September, and finally landed a job a week later. I successfully photographed the 2 weddings and other photography gigs. I traveled to New York City by myself to visit a friend. In October, my fling and I broke up. I befriended a girl at work, and she helped me to keep my sanity and gave me that female friendship I had been really missing. I came back to BC for Thanksgiving on a whirlwind 4-day trip and realised just how much I missed everyone and being back at home.
I celebrated my 24th birthday in November with friends in Montreal. December it started to get cold and I knew I wasn't cut out for Eastern winters! I had some tough days at work and tried to keep my head above water. I came home for Christmas holidays and knew without a doubt that it was time to come home.
---
Which brings me full circle to now. I can't believe how much has happened over the past year, how much has changed. And most notably, how much has changed within me. I've learned that I've been looking outside myself for the things that matter. I've been trying to bring the world to me. But the most important things to me are here and already inside me, like my love for my family and friends.
No more running away, no more searching. I've found home. I just had to travel across the country to realise what was right under my nose. I was so scared before: scared of growing up, of settling down, of not being sure. I wasn't sure what I wanted out of life, wasn't sure who I wanted to spend it with.
You can live anywhere in the world, you can have a house anywhere, but home can only be with people you love. And so, I will start 2010 by moving back to BC. My Montreal adventure has reached its end. I feel so confident and excited about my decision to come back; I can't wait to live here again.
Labels: BC, memories, montreal, thoughts
Me: I hate wearing my snow boots! They're so ugly. (etc etc, other similar grumblings)
Lynds: Buddy, you can't be pretty in the snow.
(later)
Lynds: (after seeing me wearing my snow boots with my pants tucked into them) HAHAHAHA You look ridiculous, take your pants out of those right NOW.
Me: If I have to wear these ugly snow boots, I want to look as ugly as possible.
Montreal had its first snowstorm today. It started snowing at 8AM and dumped snow the entire day. I think around 30-40 cm accumulated, and temps hovered around -15 C. Sweet. Actually, it wasn't
that bad. This city actually knows how to deal with the snow. It was a weird feeling for me today though, because I'm so not used to so much snow at all. I kept thinking I was up on some mountain and should be snowboarding or hanging out in a chalet.
Labels: montreal, winter
I wish I could start all days like this. Lazily get up around 9AM, eat breakfast in bed, drink a big mug of Chai tea while surfing through my daily sites... Ah, weekends. How I love thee.
So I've been on this mission for the past month to buy a new winter coat and winter boots. I don't know why this is so challenging! Okay, I do know, it's because I don't want to spend $200 on ugly winter boots that will hardly be worn outside of Montreal, and I'm a bit picky about coats. But seriously! Today is THE DAY. I must buy either one or the other - preferably boots. Last Monday it snowed for the first time. Just a dusting, but still snow. This week it's forecast to snow lots and dip down to -15. WICKED. I love Montreal winter already! (That was sarcasm.)
I never wrote about how I made it the whole month of November as a vegetarian. Yep, I was successful, and even expanded my cooking repertoire. I actually didn't find vegetarianism that difficult. Maybe I should up the ante next time and try veganism. Or not.
I would like to write a book at some point in my life. A couple weeks ago I found this website,
National Novel Writing Month, which promotes the idea of November as novel writing month. The idea is to just write without any editing, just let the words flow, and try to write a novel within a month. You have a set wordcount you have to achieve (50,000 words), you have to start with a fresh idea, and there's advice and forums to help support you along the way. I think this is a fantastic idea, and I wish I had stumbled up on the website at the end of October so I could have tried it out. Maybe I will turn January into my own writing month. After all, it's going to be so freaking cold, there won't be much else to do!! Hmm.
This up-coming week is going to be epic. The amount of events written on my calendar is unreal. Hello social butterfly.
Labels: 30dayvegchallenge, books, montreal, winter
Think I'm updating enough today? Seriously.
I love the smell of fall leaves crunching underneath my feet. Took some festive fall photos today when I was out.
Spent part of my afternoon today at the library. I find it amazing how much there is to know out there. And in my lifetime I will only ever know a very tiny percentage of that knowledge. It's funny that in university I took all of these random electives on literature and art and architecture and mythology, but none of the information really stuck with me. I was interested at the time, but because I was being forced to read the textbook and study for the exams, and wasn't doing it at my own pace, that it wasn't really enjoyable.
Now that I'm done university and done cramming studying, I find I have a great desire to go into the library and check out books on art and literature and other subjects that interest me and learn about them at my own will. And it's enjoyable and the information is sticking. (And why did I spend thousands of dollars on a university education, again?! Kidding.)
Labels: fall, montreal
Comparing Montreal with BC
I honestly didn't think the two places were that different. Probably because I've gradually grown used to how things are here in Montreal that I kind of forgot what living in BC was actually like. But I was definitely re-reminded when I came back to visit for Thanksgiving.
Firstly, people's personalities are different. People in BC are much more laid-back, friendly, and easy-going. I was actually surprised at how friendly people were being to me the first day I arrived back. Examples. I arrived into the Vancouver airport and was waiting at the bus stop for my bus, which, little did I know was not going to come, now that there was the new Canada Line skytrain. It felt so easy to approach and talk to the people waiting at the bus stop, who then informed me I needed to take the Canada Line instead.
Then, I was in line getting my ticket for the Canada Line. A girl I had been talking to at the bus stop noticed I was paying the measly $2 with my Debit card, and offered to give me a toonie to pay for my fare, since she "got out way too much change and didn't need it all." A stranger offering me free money? What?
Then, I was eating in the cafeteria on the ferry, and struggling trying to maneuver my giant suitcase and juggle my garbage and purse in both hands, and the guy sitting beside me offered to help me out, to which I said thanks, but I was okay. But noticing I was still struggling, he offered at least to take my garbage for me to throw out after he was finished eating. Wow. So I gave it to him, thanking him profusely.
Does this kind of nice stuff happen all the time? Have I just become a little hard and jaded living in a bigger city? Or are people in BC just friendlier than those in the East? Or maybe it was all karma. Who knows.
And then there's the way people in BC dress. It's definitely more casual and laid-back. I guess it just goes along with the whole easy-going, outdoorsy lifestyle. And it's so
weird that I was never really conscious of it before. So many guys in BC wear hoodies and toques and skate shoes, with brands like DC, Etnies, Element, and of course my favourite West coast brand,
Sitka. And of course girls wear their LuLu pants and hoodies too.
That kind of style just doesn't exist in Montreal. I have worn my LuLu pants outside when I haven't been going to the gym
once and it felt so wrong. People here are definitely more fashion-conscious - no one steps out of the house in schleppy clothing. Not to say that hoodies and toques are dumpy, because they're not, they're just a part of West coast fashion that does not translate to the East.
And these are only two of the differences I discovered upon returning home to BC. What an eye-opening experience... and I've only been gone for 6 months.
Labels: BC, montreal, thoughts
More bits and pieces
I just booked my flight home for Thanksgiving and I am so, so excited. I cannot wait to see everybody. I want to visit with everyone and go to my favourite places and I don't think there'll be time for sleeping! I also found out today that my mom was rushed to the hospital yesterday because her appendix burst. Very scary. She's in the hospital until Friday and will be off work for a month. I can't wait to see her and hug her.
I've also booked my trip to NYC for this weekend to see Jenn. I'll be going it alone in the big city on Saturday and seeing her Sunday. Which means Saturday I'm going to cram full of some combination of: shopping, Central Park, NY Library, Guggenheim museum, Broadway show... which I don't think is that unrealistic given that my bus arrives into the city around 6AM! I <3 NY.
I shot a wedding on Sunday, and even though I prayed for days to the rain gods, it still rained the whole day. The ceremony was supposed to take place on a rooftop patio but instead 50 guests were crammed indoors into a living room. Thankfully the rain stopped for a few hours while we did photos outside in Mt Royal Park by the lake - which turned out beautifully! And then I stayed and photographed the reception afterward as well. It was really my first real wedding - I was there for about 8 hours! There are sooooo many photos to edit it's ridiculous!!!
I went to go see the Opera on Saturday night, and it was really amazing. Probably the best opera I've seen. It was a double showing of "Pagliacci" and "Gianni Schicchi." And it was also a good excuse to dress up. :)
So I've entered the hockey pool at work, and I pretty much have no idea what I'm doing. Okay I kind of do now because my dad's been helping me out... All I know is that I want to represent the Canucks amongst all these die-hard Habs fans. Which means I will definitely lose. Haha.
I can't believe September is almost over. Life is crazy these days.
Labels: fall, montreal, photography, travel
I am falling so behind with this thing. Life has been busy. In the past week I have been trying to land both an apartment and a job and both have required a lot of running around and a lot of wasted time! I like point-form. Do you?
- I 99% have an apartment. It's beautiful and modern and in a great location and fairly perfect all around.
- I do not yet have a job. But it's coming. I will not let my inferior French get in the way this time! I. Will. Get. A. Job!
- I had my last photography class tonight and presented my final project. I did a series of portraits. It was pretty cool.
- On Friday I have a photo shoot which I am insane with excitement over and will post more details and pics afterwards!
- I have had a sushi craving for the past 3 days.
- I am currently reading "The Game" so I can learn how to pick up chicks. True story.
- Skype makes my life. If I didn't have it, there would be no way I could last this long so far away from my family and friends. Speaking of, I'm Skyping with my parents in 10 mins...
Bonne nuit!
(P.S. How many languages do you know how to say "Good night" in???)
Labels: apartment, montreal, random
I don't think I've ever mentioned before how much I love this blog:
What Chuck Wore. Of course if you've never seen Gossip Girl, all will be totally lost on you. Not that I can blame you for not appreciating that golden gem of a TV show in all of its terrible rich, juvenile, snobby glory. I wonder when that show premieres again anyway?
Have I also mentioned how hot it's been here lately? Okay, only every day on my Twitter status. It's gotten up to 40 degrees for the past 5 days and I have been melting. Yes, there's me in a puddle on the floor. Not that I'm complaining! I enjoy heat, but maybe a few or 10 degrees less would be good, thanks Mother Nature.
So it looks like I might be sticking around the Frenchlands for a little longer. I've been hired to shoot a small wedding at the end of September, and another wedding might be in the works for mid-September as well. I figure they will both be great experiences and worth sticking around for. This means that right now my days are filled with frantic apartment and job hunting, as my sublet runs out at the end of August and I will need a bit of extra cashola to throw around for another month. Wish me luck. I hope to have things more or less sorted by this weekend.
I think I've finally figured out the perfect location for my fan. It's right at the open door to my balcony and is blowing the cool night breeze onto my back. Ahhhh, relief.
Labels: montreal, random, TV
Fallling in love again with Montreal
I must say, there's some things about the French that I absolutely adore. I've just re-realized this after coming back to Montreal from Jamaica. It's their passion for good food, good wine, classy yet trendy restaurants, well-made clothes... It's taking hours at dinner, and enjoying it with a bottle of wine. It's buying a baguette and fresh flowers at the market. I'll sum it up by saying
sophistication. Do I sound like I'm spouting cliches? Well, cliches are usually true. And right now I'm feeling very french as I write this on my terrasse, drinking a glass of rosé wine and munching on a baguette with hummous. Yes, I'm enjoying this life centered on pleasure.
And Jamaica? Fabulous. Definitely a needed getaway. It was scorching hot afternoons and floating in the ocean, it was bottles of wine at dinner (and sometimes two), it was champagne on the beach, it was catamaran adventure tours and waterfalls, it was renting a car and seeing the real Jamaica. It was late nights and lazy mornings. And lots and lots of pineapple. ;)
Labels: montreal, travel
BC, I miss you.
I pretty much grew up on this beach.
My amazing family taken in my parents' backyard! My bedroom had the exact same view. So beautiful.
Watching amazing sunsets on the top of a mountain.
This is me showing my love for BC!
Seriously. I miss it. This whole past week I've been wanting to smell the refreshing salty sea air, hear the waves crashing on the beach, swim in the numerous lakes, walk through the forest, walk through my favourite long-grass field filled with so many fruit trees that are probably almost bursting with apples by now, and I want to hug every single person that means something to me. It's really amazing how you don't realise what a beautiful place you live in until it's gone. Well, that applies to everything, really.
You know what else I miss? My own furniture. My own bed. My beautiful leather couches, my real computer, my art, my framed photographs, my cute lamps... having my own stuff. My own apartment. And an oven! I have no real oven here, and have not been able to make any cookies, muffins, pies... I always make apple blackberry pies and crisps in summer, and I seriously miss that.
Not to say that I don't love Montreal. Because of course I love it here, but it's a different love. I love the cute cafes filled with laughing French people that spill onto the sidewalks, sipping drinks on rooftop terrasses, the old walk-up brick apartments with their grand spiraling outdoor staircases, the passion, the zest for life that is here.
I have been here now for 3 months. It seems like so long, and yet it doesn't seem like long at all. I'm so glad that I came - the amount of things I've learned about myself, the new experiences I've had, the tough times, the fun times, it's all been worth it.
I've realised though, that Montreal is not a place I could make a life. English people will always be at a disadvantage here. No matter how hard you try, how much effort you expend, you will always be one-upped by a bilingual or French-speaking person. My French will never be as good as theirs. I can't even count how many jobs I've applied for here - probably around 15 or 20. I've had one interview. I have no hard feelings, though, I understand that the French culture is something special and they want to preserve it.
Montreal will always have a place in my heart, but BC is my first love.
Labels: memories, montreal, thoughts
More point form updates:
- I went to go see the Beyonce concert on Tuesday night. It rocked my socks off. Seriously. I'm not a huge Beyonce fan to begin with, but her concert was amazing and super entertaining. I was dancing around and singing... I think it might have been the best giant concert that I've seen. (I think the best small concert I've seen was MSTRKRFT in Seattle, but that is beside the point!)
- I had the most frustrating run-around day yesterday ever. Ugh. It stemmed from me leaving my photography assignment, due that night, to the last minute - well, it wasn't quite my fault because I had been in Quebec City for the entire weekend. I was running around to a bizillion Jean Coutus and Pharmaprixs trying to get a photo printed in an hour, running home, running back, running to class, running running running. Lesson learned: be more organized!!
- I'm having serious contemplations lately about my future. About what I want to be when I grow up. This whole "future" thing is creeping up on me slowly, and I realise that I can't bum around and work shitty jobs forever - not that I
want to anway! So, options are looking towards possibly grad school? Becoming a child psychologist? Continuing studying photography? Moving to other cities (maybe settling in Vancouver?)? I'm going to make this weekend a let's-get-serious-about-the-future weekend, and do some career research. Yeehaw.
- I want to see a Broadway musical. Is it weird that I have a craving for that? Singing and dancing just make me so happy. I've been YouTubing a bunch of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs tonight and singing along like a crazy girl. These songs always remind me of being a kid, too - my dad used to have a bunch of Andrew Lloyd Webber CDs and we'd aaaalways listen to them. I think it's his fault that I am now a musical junkie, and love Phantom and Cats and Joseph... There's no shows happening in Montreal though. When my mom and I were in Quebec City, Les Miserables was playing there... So it's either to Quebec City again, or to NYC! I'm thinking NYC wins.
- This entry was completely random and weird. I will end in the best way: with a photo.
Labels: concerts, montreal, random
Photo Shoot
These are a few photos from my photo shoot last Sunday. We went to Parc Lafontaine and it was a gorgeous, gorgeous morning. Maria was a beautiful model, and we had some amazing settings to work with! Couldn't have been better!!!
Laurel was just here visiting me for a few days, and it was soooo awesome!! We partied it up! of course we saw the sights, but we mainly hung out on a bunch of terrasses and had a good time. Now on Tuesday my mom arrives! Holy guest month!!
Labels: montreal, photography
So the girl who's apartment I'm subletting left a few books here, and I've been slowly reading a bunch of them. I've finished all the novels that look interesting (and are in English), so yesterday I picked up
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (no laughing). I'm pretty sure my mom bought me this book when I was 12 - although it was called
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers or something. Anyway, it was strange reading the first few chapters, because it almost felt like I wrote that book. It's mirroring all of my own recent personal revelations about choice and about choosing how life events affect you, being happy in the now not
if and
when certain things happen, and being proactive. Anyway, this is all sounding very cheesy, but I was just surprised by the similarity.
One of the things that particularly struck me yesterday while reading this book, was a small paragraph on love and how people say they "fall out of love" with their spouse. Love, for a lot of people, is a feeling. But it's really an action, and that feeling of love we get is a direct result of love the action. Love is a value that is actualized through loving actions - sacrifices, giving of self, touch, listening, quality time, etc. Therefore, love, the feeling, can be recaptured, all it requires is effort and action. Just like everything in life, really.
ANYWAY. Interesting. Maybe this is my mind telling me I need to go back to school and study some more Psychology. Masters, anyone?? Or, marriage counselor??? Hah.
And onto some more normal blog post stuff: this week was St Jean-Baptiste day, which I didn't exactly celebrate. It was a super hot day so I ended up trekking to the West Island (which took 2.5 hours with metro + 2 busses) and spending the entire afternoon by Nick's pool. I also saw Transformers 2 (lame), ate Lebanese food for the first time (yum), went to the casino and bet on the horsies (lost), learned French, went to some bars, and oh yeah, worked a little. Hehe. In one week Laurel comes to visit me!!! And tomorrow I start Photography classes.
And now it's time to make some dinner.
Labels: montreal, summer, thoughts
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
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
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
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
I registered for classes at Concordia yesterday, cruised around downtown, and ended the day with relaxing in the park. :)
Labels: montreal, mount royal park
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
Reaching for my dreams
For 3 years I have wanted to move away and live in a bigger, more vibrant city. I have started the process a few times, and stopped for various reasons, mostly because the timing wasn't quite right (and life, really, is all about timing) and because it's scary - I have grown up here and lived here my whole life, I have all my good friends and family here and it's terrifying to leave that nest.
But, I know that this is something that I need to experience, and I need to do it by myself, to fling myself into the unknown. I know that living elsewhere will help me grow, bring me a confidence and independence that I can't obtain here in my bubbled life. Just like deciding to get an apartment by myself has helped me to grow. That was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself.
And so, at the end of this month, I am going to be packing up all my things and hopping on a plane to go live in Montreal for the summer. I'll be subletting a cute bachelor apartment, one block away from Mount Royal park, I'll be taking some photography and possibly web design classes at Concordia University, and hopefully getting a job, even though my French is a little (read: lot) rusty. My time in Montreal will also be like an extended vacation - I plan to see all the sights and travel around to other cities, including NYC. And I hope to have lots of visitors! I will have a fabulous air mattress, so if anyone wants to come see Montreal in the summer, you can crash with me! :)
Why Montreal, you ask? Good question. Montreal seemed to have all my requirements: big city, far away, culturally diverse, trendy, with charm, and it's very inexpensive to live there!! That was the clincher. I couldn't get over the apartment prices! Currently I pay $825 +hydro +internet/TV for my 1 bedroom apartment. In Montreal I could easily have this place for $700 all inclusive. For my furnished bachelor, I will be paying $550, all inclusive - so I'll actually be
saving money by living there. Crazy.
I'm feeling mixed emotions about leaving. I am excited and looking forward to new change and challenges, but it's bittersweet because I leave behind my amazing friends and family as well as someone who I love so much. Even though it's hard, I know I need to do this for myself. After all, 4 months isn't
that long, but long enough to make a change, to make a fresh start, to see life clearly. Come what may, I'm making this decision for me, I'm living my dream, and the rest will fall into place as it should.
Labels: montreal, moving, travel
