I don`t have much time online to update everyone… but the whirlwind that has been the last few days has really taken off. Unfortunately we have not been speaking as much francais as I would like (yes, I fully plan on inserting French words on occasion). That said, we are doing it more often (as a group) than before.
Sunday`s arrival was pretty great. Some guy helped me walk my baggages from the Central Station (right next to the Berri-UQAM metro station) to our residence on the corner of St. Laurent and Rene Levesque, which was really nice. Although I sleep on a really uncomfortable cot, my roommate is awesome and we`re lucky to only have two people staying in my room… this means a great view, convenient location and of course space if anyone who`s in town needs somewhere to stay during Kiwanis ICON (email me, really! As much as I don`t check other things, I certainly check email when I can). My roommate`s even okay with that idea. And wow are we ever central! Kind of nice to be able to get EVERYWHERE so easily! So in these past few days I`ve been placed in a class (level 5 out of 6 levels… we`re mostly ex-French immersion students and international students or people who actually have recently moved to Montreal), toured Montreal, toured campus and visited both les Francofolies and Nuit Blanche (I can`t remember the actual name of that festival I visited last night. Unfortunately it was raining, so the paintings were getting smeared).
In any case yesterday I also accidentally dropped my camera (which isn`t broken although it`s not as pretty) and determined that I forgot my battery charger (so had to buy batteries), and also visited Atwater market (which was really great: Heather was right, the strawberries are excellent!).
This weekend I`m going to Mont Tremblant, this afternoon I`m visiting the cineroboteque.
It feels odd to be using this keyboard… but I kind of want one (although with the break in the middle) as it`s easier to type the special symbols inherent in the French language.
Anywho… I`d better run… gotta get some food before my afternoon field trip. Honestly, I`ve been rather lonely on occasion (not that the people here aren`t great but it`s just not the same as having you here), although I`ve been trying to get out. The problem is of course partially because I don`t drink like a fish (which seems to be all that some people want to do) and because I can`t stand smoke (and when people want to party in a small room with smoking in the other residence I really can`t be bothered to deal with the consequences — I rather like breathing!). Although there`s those problems, I`m getting out and doing stuff and having a great time. I`m certainly really enjoying it here, and the next month will be a real blast especially with all the excursions and so on!!
Oh and I hope that the Oilers do much better in the next game (win!!) the last one was rather disappointing to say the least.