I am now employed in Montréal.
Was I ever worried? Me? Never.
Ha!
Oh yes, this means I can stay. I can live the life of a French Canadian. I have putine and tasty burgers at my disposal, beautiful French girls in their beautifully short summer dresses, and no doubt so many many more things I have yet to discover.
What’s even better, is that bicycle, yes bicycle, will may soon become my daily mode of transport to and from work. Until winter, anyway.
Where I sit, in my temporary room on the second floor,my feet dangling out the window, afternoon sun streaking in, I can hear the classic French ballroom music softy from across Rue Chombard as the dance class carries out its daily ritual. I may be on the lowest salary I've ever earned but I am still enjoying being here. Its a romantic city. It's a city of great architecture. It's a city unlike any I've ever lived in before. And its damn hot. 44C today on the humidex.
SO, my professional assessment of Montreal; perhaps slightly less French than I though or would be. That can only be a good thing. The French is still there, and its appealing, but its not impossible to live here if you dont speak French. Or if you just let it sort of fall out of your mouth as I do. It's a lot more patriotic than I could ever imagine and tends to divide people a little. Should Quebec get its independence, or shouldn't it. I can't see it ever happening no matter how hard they rally.
I like the relaxing pace of the city. People ride bikes more than they drive their cars. When you do drive your car, you only really have to wear a seat belt if you want to. You don't have to display a front number plate either.
I enjoy the fact that people approach me and speak in French, ask me the time for instance, and I can reply in English. Or vice versa. It's easy to navigate. Unlike Sydney but perhaps akin to new York, it's well laid out.
And the food, I'm Afraid if I get started on the food we could be here for quite a while. I love it. I’ve always said to people that I could easily spend all my money on good food. In Montreal, it's no different. In fact, it's much worse as far as my bank account is concerned. Everything is so good. So tasty. So different. A burger is no longer just a burger- it's an explosion of flavor disguised as a burger, and the other day in Old Montreal I ate venison cooked in maple syrup outside on a terrace as a gentleman played his piano accordion and set the perfect mood.
I love how the summer time releases a sense of celebration in the people. It's warm and light until 9pm, the clubs and bars stay open until at least 3am every night, there is a flow of festivities, one after the next with no sign of letting up- how could you ever possibly see everything that's happening in Montreal in just one summer.
So in short, and you may have already guessed this, j'adore Montréal. But I knew I would.
I hope over the next few months I can explore a bit more of Quebec. Quebec City, for example, and a few more of the sweet country towns I have been told about.
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