As I sit in my warm, cozy Vancouver apartment I am followed by the thought of the bitter cold that awaits me. I’m not talking only about the physical chill that will shiver down my spine in a few weeks, but the breathy peering in from the frozen streets as an outsider.
I’m moving to Quebec.
Yes, I’m leaving the woolly embrace of Vancouver (?!) and entering into colder, possibly more hostile climes in a province not oft spoken of in these parts. For most Vancouverites “back
east” means Ontario. What lies east of Ontario remains a geographical mystery for most. I’ll probably regret it a hundred times: when the cherry blossoms bloom in February, when spring is nothing more than a rumour in the dead of Quebecois winter, when the Canucks beat the Habs in the next Stanley Cup, when a hike means a hill, not a mountain.
But these things I must endure for a good many reasons. First, housing is crazy here. It’s pushing the creative class out (I’ve been plotting an entry into that class any day now). Second, French is necessary in a bilingual world of international education. Third, I like to move to new places.
So in the modern sense of community (that which is more than simply place) how will a tête carrée fare in a distinct society that may not want him? What is a man born for community to do when he is surrounded by a language that doest fit in his mouth in a sea of people who may or may not despise his Ontarianess. Luckily, this man has lots of experience being an outsider.
Top Five Ways to Infiltrate Quebec Culture:
5. Do you best in trying to speak Quebecois
4. Stay open-minded when talking federal (or national, depending) politics
3. Kiss everyone on whatever cheek they offer
2. Get on the A-list to Carnival with Bonhomme
1. Tell everyone you’re from Newfoundland
I’m sure I’ll be fine.
Tell me how you’d parachute into a new place and try and make that your home, even a temporary home. What would you do to earn friendship? To break through cultural barriers? How would you find togetherness and belonging in a significantly different domestic culture?
I can’t wait to see what Martin has to say about this…
Good luck on your stay in Quebec. I think trying to speak French is a foremost, you should also say you are from BC (if you are), British Columbians are often well received unlike Ontarians who can have a hard time sometimes (sorry Ontario, but there is a price to pay for having thousands of drunk Ontarians in the streets of Quebec every winter…). You should also limit your kissing to girls only… Quebec prides itself on being very european, but to a certain limit. You are right that politics can be a touchy subject. On the other hand, keep in mind that the separatist movement is a lot weaker than a decade ago, so politics does not raise passions as much as it use to.
I´m looking forward to read your future posts about life in Quebec.
Bonne chance