Quebec at last

Bonjour tous le monde!

 

I woke up this morning at 5:00, the realization finally sunk in that I was leaving. I wandered around my unnaturally clean house (I spent all of yesterday cleaning) and tried to actually see the arrangement of statues in our living room, feel the familiar bounce of my bed, and the hold the warmth of my little bratty dog. Then, my mother came to fetch me – it was time to leave.

 

We arrived at the airport bright and early at 7:15. Each outgoing exhcange student was handed a matching t-shirt and a laniard from which dangled our names and important contact numbers. We looked like those groups of asian tourists who walk in clusters through downtown Vancouver. After the usual hassle of organization and security, we shuffled onto the largest plane I`ve ever boarded. Seven seats occupied every row, each one equiped with its own screen and set of movies, tv shows, and music. Five hours passed, during which I was able to re-watch Glee and get to know my neighbour (who spent nine months of grade eight sailing to Mexico). By the time the plane bumped onto the Montreal runway, I could feel the excitement pulsing up my legs. I was finally, after eight months of anticipation, in Quebec!

 

My small family arrived to great me after I picked up my baggage: a short smiling mother with straight brown hair, glasses, and a kind smile accompanied by a younger version of herself, her twenty-one year old daughter. I found out that in Quebec people acutally do kiss the cheeks as our greeting ended up in a rather awkward hug. While we made the short journey to their car, we got to know each other in the halting manner that accompanies a first meeting. I spent the journey peering out of the car window in an effort to absorb as much “Quebec“ a I possible could. Although store and street signs were in French (The Bay becoming La Baie) and no mountains could be seen on the horizon, Montreal resembled Vancouver much more closely than I had imagined. It had the same sprawling city-scape I`ve always identified with home. The most hilarious thing: about 10 minutes into the car ride “I Kissed a Girl“ came onto the radio.

 

My bags are now stowed in my new bedroom, dinner eaten, and I think it is time for a shower. So, until next week!