Staying out late. Very late. Quite possibly ridiculous late. Verging on early...

This week, along with just about every week since I have gotten here, has been a lesson in staying out late. Vie à la Québécoise means that clubs dont start getting really busy until close to midnight, and you stay until 3am.....usually followed by some late night snack. Wedneday: grabbed drinks with some friends that I had met from Vancouver, BC. Thursday night: Same people, plus some Aussie and Americans mixed in - drinks + poutine though. Last night (Friday) - Same group as Thursday, plus more Americans and Québécois....only later and more poutine!! I got back to my house around 5am this morning.......therefore, I did not get out of bed until 2pm. What a weekend! Topping it off? I'm writing this, about to head out again! I am justifying it through extra studies next weekend. I think its equal, right? :)

Quick Montréal Rain Storm

I thought I would upload a quick video of the rain in Montréal today. I found it particularly interesting, largely due to the heat wave that has hit California. Only downside: it's ridiculously humid outside!

Autumn's beginnings

Wow! It has already been almost a week since I last wrote an entry. This week flew by, largely because I am officially in full-swing at university. My course on Monday morning was on international political organisations, with an emphasis on the UN. I am really fascinated by all the information, and the professor is either from Africa or the Caribbean, I can't quite place his accent, which is easier to understand than the Québécois one. So Monday was a definate success, along with a pleasant dinner with Bonnie and Lauren involving some lovely conversation. Tuesday started off with a run through the park, which is when I first truly noticed the changing of the trees. Although we are probably about three weeks away from the best of the colours, the yellows are definately appearing. Every tree has a least a bit of it dying, and the smell from the red leaves on the paths is amazing. I just want to find a pumpkin and carve it for Halloween, but it's still so far away! The autumn season naturally starts far earlier here than in California, or I think most of the West Coast of the US/Canada. Supposedly, by mid-November, winter will have started. Anyway, so Tuesday was alright, classes were relatively interesting but I did meet some really nice québécois people, who also happen to have largely similar schedules to myself! What a convenience! I can now ask people for help in just about all my courses. Wednesday was my day off, I slept in, did homework. O so very exciting, no? :) Thursday was a great day because it was my orientation day for the political science student association....I met a lot of other students, drank a wee bit, and played some interesting games. The day ended with a party at a bar, and a very late bedtime.

Friday!
NO CLASS! So I slept in, and I went up Mont Royal with Sarah, the aussie, and Lauren from CA. It was sooo nice! I took plenty of photos, had a leisurely walk, then we all headed up to Bonnie's for a Mexican food night! We all pitched in and bought ingredients for mexican food, then all cooked together. Followed by a bar, or two, or three......I had such a great night, despite the fact that I can no longer walk around in a tee-shirt at night. A jacket is required, because the seasons are changing! :)

Tests, of the alcoholic sort

So my last post was on Wednesday, so I figured that I would fill out another for your enjoyment! Thursday was a rather hectic day, from a mumbling-professor to filled-classes to finding out about new programme requirements. Essentially, I recall no mention of a french-class requirement to my study abroad programme, so I had to navigate the *bureaucrazy* to get to the right place, and take a placement test. The following morning, I went to the École des Langues at UQAM, and wrote 15 lines in french. Fairly simple. Proceeded to get a few errands done, and by the time I was done, I was quite shocked at how fast the day had gone. Of course, I did stop for lunch with Gabrielle on the Plateau, and had a hambourgeois (hamburger in Québécois). Followed by a walk around Le Village with Lauren and some quiche, all of a sudden it was 9pm and it was time to leave for a party!! We took the metro and the bus over to Bonnie's place, then walked to Esther's house. Such a cute apartment, it has to be said! It was certainly well decorated, along with the usual wood and steep staircase charm that is Montréal. We left a wee bit early, and then I called it a night because I was really tired from the week.

12 hours later, I woke up. Quite the sleep, non? :)
I got up, had breakfast in the afternoon, then read my book for a wee bit. THEN BEGAN THE FUN! As the international student department at UQAM is a relative failure, I have begun to latch onto the program at Concordia, one of the two English-speaking universities in Montréal. First of all, I showed up and it was just a little mixer, and I met plenty of people, whether they be from New Hampshire or New South Wales. Soon enough, the organisation had set up a pub crawl, with teams, leaders, chants, and colours and all! Me and one of the Aussie girls who also did not go to UQAM began our friends' fan club, and followed them around the bars :) We took plenty of photos, which I am sure will be on facebook within a week....largely not-flattering I might add. After a few hours at the pub crawl, and A ROLO McFLURRY from McD, we headed over to La Sociale for a few more hours of dancing. It was so much fun, had a wee bit to drink, and danced until about half past midnight. The club was slowly emptying out, which is a stark comparison to the norm here in MTL, becasue half past midnight is when the party is at its finest. Undeterred, the group slimmed slightly and those willing took the metro over to the village. After agreeing that a $4 cover charge was reasonable, we headed into Sky Lounge! So much fun! Danced for a bit, sat on a gorgeous terrace for a bit, then danced some more! Come 3am, we were all exhausted, and headed our different ways. Got to say though, that was one of the best nights in Montréal, and was most certainly epic.

Indirect learning

So I started my courses yesterday. My classes will be referred to as courses during my year here, because the word in french is "cours", so the translation is less confusing in my head. First off, Tuesday morning was quite the frustrating morning. I went to the registrariat to try and change my courses, because I had been enrolled in what appears to have been a masters course. Over one hour in line, only to be told that I was in the wrong place and that I had to go see someone for the political science department. Frustrasted at the lack of efficiency, I went to this woman who incidently was the most annoying person I have yet to meet here. She shall remain nameless, but she has a horrible attitude, and is extremely frustrating. Not only did she talk to me as thought I was stupid, but also advised me against taking a certain course. Best part? SHE IS IN THE COURSE; not as the professor mind you, as a student. Anyway, happy thoughts. I got two classes switched over, and I was then enrolled in US political system and the politics of Canada and Québec. Off to US Politics I went. My main motivation for taking this course was to see the way that the US is represented in Québec, and I am certain not to be disappointed. Within the first twenty minutes, I knew that I was going to the love the course. The prof is pretty young, probably born around 1980 ish, and he is passionate about his subject. Between that, and the way that people discussed parts of the US, I am extremely excited!! After that, I went to my Canada and Québec class. The subject itself is very interesting, and the workload is minimal. The main issue that I have, though, is that my prof's Québécois accent is extremely strong. I need to sit near the front to understand anything. Indirectly though, I should at least learn more québécois words. Today, I had a Political Thought course. Let's just say I am not keeping it and I am going to try and get that one changed right away. First off, I despise political theory, and political theorists. While intellectual thought of the abstract sort is great, if it is not applied concretely, I become very irritable. The lecture was entirely on the idea of an idea, not what is an idea, but why do we even call it can idea....Offfft. Oh well, I'm going to try and get into several other courses besides that one, so I will keep you updated. One aspect of all my courses that I am finding surprisingly pleasant is that they are all three hours long. While it can become naturally a bit boring, it makes scheduling life so much more simple. That, and the fact that you only have to do homework once a week for each class, and the system gets an A+ from me.

Less about school! I went on a walk this afternoon after meeting up with Guillaume in the Social Sciences Café. I took the métro up to Mont Royal station, then walked back down Ave. Saint-Hubert. It was largely residential the whole way down, then I turned into the Gay Village and grabbed a coffee while I read my book for an hour. Ô and the best part about coffee shops here, if you get it to drink there, which you should because people take their time here, you get a REAL MUG! None of the plastic/paper/cardboard Starbucks stuff, REAL MUGS! Imagine! Quick rush-hour ride on the métro back, and here I am, writing. And here I am, not writing anymore :)

Refugees in the land of the Gay Marriage

So another "quick" update, as I have noticed I keep beginning my blogs with. Whether or not they are actually quick is irrelevant, its the thought that counts. So my last blog was written at 9am on Saturday, and this is picking up from that point. Saturday, Lauren and I went to a run in Parc Lafountaine. It was rather lovely, not only due to the positive health benefits, but also because of the tangible summer atmosphere in the park. Mid-70's outside, and with humidity, perhaps around 80, had brought everyone, their children (Montréal being a very family-friendly city), the dogs, just about anyone really out into the parks for picnics, runs, walks, reading, sleeping, tanning, all around fun-in-the-sun activities. After our run, we went and had.........dun dun dun, more poutine! hahahah In all fairness, Lauren hadn't had any yet, and we walked right past a poutine place :) After our poutine délicieuse, we went back to Lauren's place. A quirky québécois film on the Radio-Canada channel later, and we headed out to get ready for the CLUB! Looking our best, cowboy boots included, we went to Club Unity for the DRAG BALL NIGHT :) The promise of free entry had brought out the queens and kings in force, with a large proportion of the attendees being in drag. Hours of dancing later, along with plenty of fun eye-candy, we headed back home. Fun night? Most definately

.

Today, a load of laundry and another run in the tree-lined streets of Notre-Dame-Des-Graces was followed by the first of hopefully several Californian dinners. We all met up at the Mont Royal métro station, followed by some Thai food. This was then followed by two bottles of wine, shared amoung 7 mind you, and some coffee and cake, quite a lovely evening. I felt very québécois/canadian (although the terms do not go hand in hand, I'll wait for another blog to go into depth about that). I would just like to take the time to mention that while all these dinners are great fun, on a more serious note, there is a definate freedom to living in Canada that I am learning to enjoy. Perhaps, and most likely, more conservative areas of the country are not like here, but overall, the liberty when it comes to homosexuality is astounding. Blink twice at two men or two women holding hands? Nope. Not required. Want to get married? Sure, why not. Want all the legal rights as everyone else, from taxes, social security (or the Canadian equivalent), to immigration? Sure! It really hit me how amazing it is and how lucky I am to be here after reading that some same-sex recognition laws are going to the ballots in WA and Maine, just like Prop 8. Its so relieving to be here, because even the supposedly most progressive 1/50th of the US can't get its act together; this whole country has had it together for several YEARS now. Rant is over. Thought I would provide inside to my thoughts.

On a far more positive now, Vive Montréal! Vive le Québec! Vive Canada :)

I'll have some groceries, international students, with some poutine on the side

So I have found a cheap grocery store! YAY On Monday I was out with Leah and we went to a place called Maxi & Cie (the & cie part apparently means "& Co"). I went back on Thursday, and got some fantastic savings! Buying generic is key, along with pleanty of fruit. So, thank you Maxi, you kept me in my food budget for August/September.

On Friday morning was the orientation day for the international students. Thinking it would be a day filled with activities, I was rather excited. Unfortunately, this was not the case to any degree. I spent two and a half hours listening to a lecture about the rules of UQAM, and why 95% of the time , international students are the ones breaking the rules. Then, afterwards, they said that it was done. Confused, I get out of my seat with the other non-French, as the French are about 90% of the exchange students at UQAM, thinking that I can perhaps make friends with a few people. Within 10 seconds, the wave of France is coming behind, and being able to make friends becomes impossible. Perhaps it is not my destiny to make friends with other international students at my school, so I will just make Québécois friends instead :)

Friday night was a lovely day, and not too wallet-emptying either. Leah and I went for a walk up Rue St. Denis, over Avenue Mont Royal, then down Papineau, all the time browsing the shops which had expanded onto the street for some sort of end-of-summer sale. I found a pair of shoes that I really wanted, but as the warm temperatures are only going to last a few more weeks, it would have been silly to buy them. After our walk, we met up with some friends from California, and one from Canada too, and went to a Scottish pub. I use the term Scottish losely, as the menu was filled with scotch, they had Scottish flags outside, and the décor implied Scottish, but the music did not. One cider, one spilt beer, and some good conversation later, we headed out and got late night poutine! POUTINE!!!!!!! It is amazing. I don't know if I have mentioned it before, but its fries, covered in brown gravy, with cheese curds on top. Its sounds awful, but trust me, it is delicious. Quick walk home later, and I am in my bed, ready for what turned out to be an 11-hour sleep.

Mont Royal

Today, with Lauren and her dad, we walked up to the top of Mont Royal. Who'd have thought, in the middle of the big city, there would be such nature?