Well, I`m going to back up a bit, because I finally got my pics uploaded. Back to montreal and the relentless search for an apartment. After 2 long days of searching and finding only sketchy duplexes and triplexes, we decided to look for something a little...taller? After finding a neighbourhood we liked (Maisoneuve W at Rue Guy--right near Concordia), we wrote down the numbers of a bunch of apartments, and started with a tall building called Le Montford. It was pretty much love at first sight, and after a night of discussion, we decided it was the best option. Alors, 1978 Montford it is as of this August. There`s lots of room for people to stay, so the invitations are open.
The first week and a bit has been really enjoyable, here in Jonquiere. Although my host mom has admitted to me that she hates cooking (and it shows), I`ve managed to survive on a steady diet of fried hot dogs, fried buns, fried fish, and lots of mayonaise (I believe mayonaise is a province-wide obsession btw).
Every day we have class, and then activities of one sort or another. It`s really weird not to have homework, but I suppose it`s a well-deserved reprieve after finishing my degree.
My 23rd birthday kind of came and went surreptitiously, but that was the vibe of this year`s fete for some reason. Thank you to everyone who sent me emails, e-cards and facebook messages. You really made my day :) My apologies for not replying yet; I can`t here because there`s a virus that doesn`t let you run hotmail. I`ll hunt down an internet cafe some time this week though.
Although it`s rained every day since I left Ontario, I don`t really mind. It`s refreshing to run in the rain, by the river, and around town. The nights have been warm and everything is within walking distance. The cheese is also really good.
On the weekend we went on a trip to Lac St-Jean and a small ghost town, Val Jalbert. It was truly gorgeous, and was even enchanced by the overcast weather.
The other great thing about Jonquiere is the lively bar scene and the great prices therein. The other night we were given complimentary everything, as Brian`s host brother`s cousin owned the bar.
Avant
Apres
This summer is already so different than last, but the two complement eachother, I think. Both times I`ve been lost in another language, whilel slowly discovering another part of the world, and more ways to adapt, cope, explore and become the life-long traveller I would love to be.
3 comments:
your place looks perfectly beautiful
...i must also add that we have identical kitchen cupboards... color, grain, handles...how bizarre
good luck learning the language... don't be afraid to add a lil' italian accented ring to your stressed vowels..i know you know your italian ;) ...it can be a new italian dialect...an italian quebecois ...fretalian ... alright...i don't know where i'm going with this...
take care dal
your summer is so exciting so far! see, burlington girls NEVER need burlington to have a good time.
i thought about doing the french-quebec-exchange thing, but it somehow became nothing more than an idea.. and now i'm somewhat kicking myself seeing what a good time you're having. your pics are beautiful!
j'adore le francais!
haha, anyways, keep posting, and i will keep you updated on london-town. :) and congrats on finding the mo'real apartment! (was that an already-installed headboard? what more could you need..)
love, alex xo
Welll anni, my italain `r`s make me incomprehensible to the french canadian ear. I`m happy we have the same (clean) kitchen aesthetics. And alex, that headboard (convenient as it may be) is coming down. The apartment is also a hotel, so that was leftover from that. There`s also a scary painting of a mime that``s gotta go.
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