Another step closer to routine. Jaedyn is on her way to work, and Val's and my classes are now harmonized. We now go to the same classes at the same time, which is much nicer than the opposite schedule we started with. We try to make sure that we don't whisper in English, as the teachers seem to be watching...or so it seems to us, and that would be ultimately counter-productive. So, too, church. When we were introduced last week, the entire congregation was told to speak to us "en français seulement." Difficult still (neither of us feel like we have an ear for the language yet), but overall a positive. We both notice we are able to string more words together now, which is good to see since we often feel like we are babies, since we can't really express ourselves yet. I definitely have far more empathy for international students, or any non-English speaker who arrives and immediately immerses.
The thing is, that in Montréal, it is SO bilingual that as soon as a francophone hears our accents, they automatically switch to English, but we soldier on in French. But the city...what an amazing place it is. While we are not yet buried in homework (yes, we have some, but so far manageable), we have been using our transit passes to good effect and going out exploring new neighbourhoods a couple times a week. Just yesterday, we caught a bus after church and headed to Mont Royal. Instead of climbing it, as we had intended, we arrived to discover the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal (https://gpcqm.ca/en/grand-prix-cycliste-montreal/) taking place in the park. Not a local event, but international. The chase motorcycles had European plates, much like the safety and medical cars in F1, for example. For those who follow the Tour de France, this could be your methadone! After happening upon that, we wandered downtown and discovered a Québec version of the Academy Awards taking place (https://academie.ca/prixgemeaux)! This is a whole new world! And even without events, the ambience. Yes, some of the buildings are old, and the architecture is different, but even walking down the street and hearing one conversation in English, another in French, seeing a rabbi walk by, or random art installations, or graffiti (which could be argued to be the same thing), or Bloc Québécois election signs, all point to an amazingly unique culture. Finally, our team. On Saturday, all the FIT4M candidates, their hosts, leaders of the program, and an executive member from the Québec district of the PAOC met for the day, to hear each other's stories and hopes, and reasons for being here. Pretty inspiring, and a reminder that we are part of something much larger than our own story. It was a great day, and humbling too. Now we await moving out of the Air B&B and into our apartment. No complaints, but we look forward to really feeling like we live here vs. sojourning and still living out of suitcases.
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AuthorTom & Val, off on a mid-life adventure (but not crisis) in la belle province! Archives
May 2020
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