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.
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