The kindness of Canadians part II

On our first Sunday in RdL Lucie drove the four of us assistants out to Kamouraska to visit a brilliant German bakery and have lunch in the cafe next to it. Yum yum yum. She bought us bread and lunch (she said it was on the school board but I'm not convinced that wasn't a ploy to make us stop trying to pay our own ways). We had a somewhat confusing bilingual conversation with our waiter because no one was sure whether it was more polite to speak English or French.

Having studied a novel called Kamouraska, which was set, unsurprisingly, in Kamouraska, I was pretty excited. Unfortunately we didn't see to much of the place but it doesn't take long by car so we'll have to get Vicky to drive us back out there (friends with cars = win).

There was a secondary motive to our trip - to find the true identity of "Pearl". One of the assistants in RdL last year, Colin, had also been taken to the bakery and had rather fallen for one of the girls that works there. On my first evening in the town the story was recounted to me and it was the stuff that soppy films are made of. Or would be if he'd actually managed to contact the girl. After several failed trips to Kamouraska (the bakery was closed) he was told the girl he liked was called Pearl and that she had a boyfriend. So he stopped trying. Then it turned out Pearl is the other one! Lucie recounted the saga to the poor girl while she was getting our order. She took it well but possibly because her (highly unsuccessful) "stalker" is now several hundred kilometres away (near Quebec City).

We were then taken to Lucie's parents' place which is on the outskirts of RdL to meet them and the cat/kittens (so cute!). Because Lucie is so ridiculously active she doesn't have time to keep pets but she rescued a cat and then it had kittens so they're being distributed amongst members of her family.

As well as getting to play with small cats, Lucie's parents have an impressive kitchen garden so we were sent home with bags of gooseberries as well.

The kindness of strangers part I

While officially I believe the first few days in Montreal were intended to give us administrative and teaching advice there was a very important secondary function: networking. By putting all the British, Irish, German, French and Mexican assistants into one hotel we got to know one another pretty quick and gained instant friends. Just exactly what you want when you've arrived in a new continent/country for an extended time.

Before the "workshops" began (and thoughtlessly interrupted our eating of free food - no please not another coffee break, I can't see free food and not eat it but I swear I'll explode) we had a chance to see a bit of Montreal (and we saw quite a lot of it from Mont Royal, above).

The socialising was confirmed by an evening bowling. It started pathetically enough but I did learn and did not completely embarrass myself. Plus another evening of pubbing at Hurley's Irish Bar in downtown Montreal. I'm still a little excited that I'm in a land where "downtown" exists. It isn't just in the movies.

Friday afternoon we were cruelly severed from our new friends and shipped off to our various destinations. Some had days of travelling ahead of them but I arrived in RdL at 8pm that evening. Only one hour after the scheduled time. Eibhlin and I were met by Lucie (who I'm sure will feature prominently) and taken to Lison's place where we now live. So I'd met Eibhlin on the Wednesday, Lucie Friday evening and only about an hour before Lison but everyone is ridiculously lovely and friendly and generous. Lucky really.

On the Saturday Lucie took us to hers for dinner and to meet Vicky and Fiona - the Canadian monitors working in local primary schools. We sampled her famous penne which was, as expected, very nice indeed and were treated to stories of mountain expeditions and personal philosophies (everything is perfect).

So far Canadians seem to be awesomely positive people which, I must admit, I find a little bit scary. We have been welcomed by so many people, quite a few of whom have shared their life-affirming beliefs with us.

Hugs and kisses and treats in a bag

Tuesday evening, Barfly, downtown Montreal.

Having arrived Monday afternoon and done my best to stay up until 10pm local time (23 hours since I got up) to try and fool my body clock into not being jet lagged, Tuesday was my opportunity to see some of Montreal before the training started. And what an introduction to Canada it was.

Two other monitors had arrived Monday evening and a few more turned up Tuesday day time, four of whom I cajoled into heading downtown for a gig I’d been told about.

After a slice of pizza and a can of fizz for almost no money we turned up at the bar – black and scruffy on the outside, dark and dingy on the inside, “Montreal’s favourite dive bar” according to one of the band. The drinks were cheap, $4.75 a pint while light outside, $5.45 when it got dark.

The band was L’embouscade – three key members plus a few friends, including Mark Berube, one of my all time favourite musicians. He was sitting at the bar by the stage when I went over to say hey, not really expecting him to recognise me after more than two years. I should’ve had more faith in the friendliness of Canadians.

“Hey, Jen! You made it. How’s it going?” accompanied by a hug and kiss on the cheek. So we had a chat, later on he came over to where I was sitting with my friends to meet them too before disappearing. He came back just before the band were due on stage, sidled up and said “a present, don’t tell anyone” as he passed me his new album under the table. The joy of this was magnified by the fact that to save weight I'd left all my CDs at home and was stuck with just mp3s. I was already missing my music collection so a CD with a jewel case and insert was just what I needed.

The band was amazing. I’d read a review that said “as precise as a terrorist strike and as tight as the finest knit sweater” and I’d have to agree. It was just a shame that it was the drummer’s last gig with the band before he goes to study in Vancouver and that the band seemed to be built around the drummer who also did lead vocals and played melodica.

It was the perfect start to my time in Canada. Perfect.