Week 4: Falling for Montreal

I don't know where time is going - it is always the case during term that weeks merge into one long day of minimal sleep and staring at endless screens/text books/blackboards/Powerpoints . . . I can't believe that next week marks a whole calendar month of studying at McGill.

Certainly, work is mounting and - I can't believe I'm already saying this - midterms are looming. I'm unlucky in that my midterms are stretched out over the next month and a bit - no rest for the wicked! Luckily, I am still loving my classes and I've even had chance to celebrate As in my first two assignments. Let's hope this isn't a false start . . .

Beyond the classroom there is plenty to report, much which I've already talked about on the blog. I've got the ball rolling with Best Buddies and have been assigned a local Montrealer as my new friend for the year. I have also been offered a mentor role at a 'homework club' in the city. We have our initial training session tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully this combined with B.B. will give me the opportunity to get to know my city as much as my university. In between all this there has been lots of parties and coffees and walks with my lovely group of friends which is ever growing and ever cementing - what a nice bunch.

There's also a heck of a lot upcoming for me to keep excited about. In a fortnight Helena and I have booked to go to Kingston to see Faye at Queen's University. She lives on Lake Ontario so we're hoping to head out to see the Thousand Islands and catch the best of the autumn leaves. Then, come mid-November I have a trip to Boston to look forward to. I turned 18 in Boston and absolutely adored it the first time around, so I'm really looking forward to seeing its Winter face and exploring some more.

My colleague this summer told me that the most important thing she could tell me about my year abroad is that it isn't a holiday. I'm starting to realise what she meant. Believe me, I don't mean this negatively, but it certainly is different to live, rather than visit, in a new place. There isn't the same rush for every day to be exciting, and the niggles about your new culture won't disappear when you head home in a week's time. That's half the fun of it though, it isn't permanent so you enjoy even the tedious as novelty. I say that . . . I'm not looking forward to finding my way to the parcel depot an hour from the apartment to retrieve whatever my failed delivery note promises! What I do like, however, is that we're starting to have our favourite haunts. We can offer tourists directions (sometimes). And this is what I'm saying at a month in - there's still so much to see and do!

Les Jardins Lumieres: Exploring with Faye, Part 2

Montreal Botanical Gardens use the early nights of Autumn to their benefit. The Chinese and Japanese gardens stay open until 10pm, and put on quite the show. My camera gave up on me just as we arrived at the Pie IX metro station, so all of the photos owe credit to Helena who kindly let me use a few of hers.

I managed to take the snap of the Olympic Stadium while battery was still on my side - it is neighbour to the gardens, which was an added bonus to our journey. Lit up at night it looks great, I'm not so sure during the day. I could see the cars on the side of the stadium's leaning tower taking tourists to its very top - that would prove a pretty view I am sure.

These first two pictures are of the Chinese Garden, which was decorated with hundreds of paper lanterns from Shanghai. Faye knocked the nail on the head by pointing out how 'untouristy' the garden was; paths were windy and uneven, you could choose to clamber on a much rockier route rather than take the easy option. We really liked that, it made it feel much more 'real'. Saturday night was definitely peak time though - I'd recommend taking time out on a week night if I were to go again.

The Japanese Garden had a very different feel, it was peaceful and had been designed with an unobtrusive sound track of bells tolling in the background and clever lighting to make the most of the ornate trees and water features. It even had a 'contemplation zone' which we bypassed. We were all prepared for it to be a crisp evening, but coats proved necessary in yet another balmy twist in Montreal's Autumn weather. Larvely.

Old Montreal: Exploring with Faye, Part 1

One of my best friends from university Miss Faye Z was in town this weekend, which was so nice as I haven't seen her since May - and also bizarre that it took a transatlantic voyage for the pair of us to be re-united. I say pair, but mean trio, as Faye coming to Montreal reunited three quarters of my second year flat because of course Helena is on exchange with me. 

Being 3/4 was certainly an achievement given the context but we very much missed Francesca whose presence would have been the cherry on the cake. So, a month in, Helena and I tasked ourselves as tour guides. This is what we found in the old town on Saturday . . .

Arcade Fire vs. McGill

So, yesterday I experienced my first college basketball game. Well, my first basketball game ever. The (AMAZING) twist? The McGill first team was playing no other but ARCADE FIRE alongside members of The Strokes and Bon Iver! I couldn't believe it when I was first told this was going on; I saw the band at Glastonbury this year and it couldn't have been a better show, so the chance to seem them again . . . at my university . . . for $22. I didn't need to think twice.

This was the third time Montreal-er Win Butler has organised an event like this with McGill as part of the city wide 'Pop Montreal' festival. All the money for event goes to the local charity DJ Sports Club. The atmosphere was awesome, all very low key and everyone involved took the game really seriously so we got to see some pretty good basketball. The Butler brothers got skillz.

Team Jock getting warmed up. I liked that they played a mixed team.

Annnd introducing Team Pop: Win Butler, Will Butler (Arcade Fire), Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Nikolai Fraiture (The Strokes), Royal Ivey, Dranadia Roc, Alisa Wulff (NBA and College Basketball), Brian Scalabrine, Luke Bonner (Former NBA), Marco Volcy (Montreal Rapper), Dexter John. 

Coach: Matt Bonner, NBA, of the San Antonio Spurs

I am very much in love with Régine Chassagne, she is a very awesome lady. Not only was she there to support her husband and band mates but she DJ-ed the entire game. Very cool, you can see her in the back of some of my shots.

Then half time came around. We'd been promised a show and Team Pop certainly didn't disappoint. Some children from the charity the day was for warmed us up by dancing through the bleechers with Régine - what a cool lady - and Luke Bonner sang us some Karaoke. 

Then came the impromptu gig, eeeee.

We went into the final quarter with Team Pop and Team Jock tied on 91 points a piece, so things got pretty tense. The final quarter was rowdy! Team Pop pipped it to the post in the end, finishing on 101 points, which meant they won the trophy back from Team Jock. The final awesome thing? I won a prize in the charity raffle they had going on (I love my new fancy Arcade Fire baseball hat) and got to go down onto the court amidst the players. I was a very happy bunny.

The event made it into Rolling Stone, which is pretty neat. Hopefully from how much I have rambled on you will have gauged quite how much I enjoyed my day. Celebrities aside, it was good to see another of McGill's incredible sports facilities and especially awesome to be able to share the day with basketball loving Faye who had come to visit from Queen's University.

International Students' Welcome Reception

When I was invited to a Welcome Reception by the International Office, I thought a bowl of crisps and maybe some informative leaflets. That certainly wasn't the case! The event was held in McGill's most prestigious building Redpath Hall, which was the original university library and its steps are lined by a permanent red carpet. It is a little odd to realise this is the oldest building McGill has to offer, but I suppose we've just been spoiled with such a long history in the UK . . .

My photos aren't great, but they give you a flavour of what it is like inside and out - and also show just how well attended the event was.

Speaking of 'well attended', the reception played host to not only the Principal of the university but also all of the Consular Generals that represent our international student body AND the Quebec Minister for Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion. There is nothing like this for international students at Edinburgh, and it added to the ever-growing sense of community that McGill seems to create so well. I met a whole new group of UK students at the event as we all agreed that we felt much more valued as individuals here. What an impression to have been able to confer within a matter of weeks!

Interestingly, the minister explained that Quebec has a new system whereby graduating international students can fast track their permanent residency applications - the first stage is guaranteed to be completed for you within twenty days. Impressive.

P.S. The maple tartlets they served were very yummy indeed.

Week 2: Winter is Coming

On Thursday on my way home from class I caught two red squirrels playing (I think they were fighting over territory but it is much twee-er if they were playing.) When the clash was over, the remaining squirrel began burying a nut for winter. The next morning, Montreal had changed, we have gone - genuinely overnight - from scorchingly hot 30 degree days to crisp, fresh autumn. Clearly, the squirrels knew something we didn't.

So, the shorts are away and scarves are beginning to be donned. It really is no bad thing - quite a lot of international students I've spoken to have all agreed we're breathing a little sigh of relief. Now autumn (Fall) has hit us WE HAVE THINGS TO WEAR. We all had a token pair of shorts with us, but definitely weren't prepared for a fortnight of mid-summer temperatures!

Apparel aside, now two weeks of the semester have passed work is really getting into the swing of things. I've had to play around with my schedule a bit so I actually moved into a new class today - I'm so glad I've moved, it is much more appropriate for our academic level and I also love the subject area. Postcolonialism, yay! I've got a fair bit to catch up on, though. Last week I felt much more confident in class too, knowing when to talk and what to say etc. I prepared my first piece of work for grading over the weekend as well; fingers crossed I got the right end of the stick . . .

It is much easier to balance my work load now I have an established routine and know my way around, I've even had time to do some more 'playing.' I did a whole bunch of my friends' face paint for a 'Rep your Flag' party for international students and climbed Mont-Royal with Evey on Sunday evening. Here's a snap of my face once Helena had finished painting me - super cool:

Mont-Royal was really beautiful, and really relaxing. I've lots of exciting plans coming up next week too, including an international students' reception with university and city dignitaries. There is also the now annual free lunch for students hosted by the Vice-President of the university and my first Best Buddies meeting of the year. My old flatmate and dear friend Faye is visiting us at the weekend too - I haven't seen her since May so I CANNOT WAIT. I just have to get through all my work before the weekend - challenge accepted!

Mont-Royal at sunset.

Evey and I finished our Sunday with a leisurely stroll up Mont-Royal, Montreal's Arthur's Seat equivalent. While less craggy and poetic, it still offers a view worth walking for. I can also see myself running round it in the weeks to follow!

We caught the view at just the right moment, and got to see the city turn its lights on for the evening - the sky was something pretty special, too. After a weekend of rain and grey skies, we had a view for miles and the air couldn't have been crisper. Autumn has definitely crept up on us (literally) overnight.

Let's go Redmen, let's go!

College football, along with red plastic cups and GPAs, is the stuff of American teen movies. It was definitely on the I'm-going-to-a-North-American-university bucket list, and it definitely didn't disappoint. Score aside.

The first game of the season is the Annual Shaughnessy Cup, played between the McGill Redmen and the Concordia (the other English speaking university in Montreal) Stingers. For only $5, tickets were bargain price and despite how it looks, the game was really well attended! McGill shares the Percival Molson Memorial Stadium with the Montreal Alouettes, so it has a capacity of over 25,000.

In an unexpected twist, the match ball was presented by McGillian astronaut Julie Payette in the presence of three members of the Canadian Olympic team. Following this we had the national anthem, the verses sang alternately in English and French.

The McGill cheerleaders were phenomenally peppy, and I felt so sorry for them in the cold - we were cold enough huddled in the bleachers in our jumpers! The Redmen mascot Marty the Marlet was hilarious and also, in a nice reminder of home, wore a kilt. I got to meet Marty at half time, we had a brief boogie together - now that's team spirit!

As for the game? There were moments, but Concordia really stole the show. The last quarter was even worse than my photo shows. Final score: 41 - 7 to Concordia. I loved the atmosphere though, and think I've figured the basics. 

Consensus? Canadian Football makes Rugby League look fast paced, but the good bits were super exciting and the atmosphere was great although I hear attendance tails off as the semester goes on. We're going back for sure! To get my fill of college sports, I'm seeing basketball next weekend and we've found out that McGill are playing ice hockey at Queen's University on Thanksgiving weekend. We'll be coming for you Faye!

Touchdownnnnnn!

Catherine Dickson

I thought this was a bit of fun. If you need to find me, I'm somewhere between Edinburgh and Montreal, sort of.

Rue St. Catherine is the 'Oxford Street' of Montreal, and I live a stone's throw away from it this year. Pictured above is a very pretty market square that leads off from la rue, although this doesn't really reflect the reality of Rue St. Catherine. The street is lined with luxury department stores and fancy shop fronts, and filled with bustling shoppers all hours of the day. Not going to lie, having a shopping street with my namesake is far too much of a temptation/justification for some spending!

Between the entrances to these stores are far from obvious doors into enormous indoor, mostly underground, shopping centres where the majority of Montreal's vendors can be found. It originally baffled me as to how short Rue St. Catherine was - where were all the shops to cater for this huge city? They, and dozens of food courts, are all beneath the city, connected by a complex of tunnels that also link major buildings and metro stations. A very different way of doing things, but I am sure I will completely understand the necessity of this system come winter!

Dickson's Close is a typical windy Edinburgh back street which Helena and I stumbled upon walking back from Prince's Street last year. Beneath is a rather unfortunate picture of me on the street to prove I have frequented it . . .

 

Ah, well.