Back in Action in Montreal

Finally back from spring break and I’ve returned to Montreal sick, but that hasn’t slowed down my exploring. This past weekend I visited Quebec City and I had a blast! Quebec City is about a 3 hour car drive north but a completely different feel from Montreal. After taking half a semester of Canadian history the city had more meaning to me and was really exciting to explore. It was cool to see the wall that protected the city from foreign invaders and to see the beautiful castles that Brooke dubbed to be her own (but they’re really mine!)

Being back in the United States for spring break was a very strange feeling. I suddenly felt that there wasn’t as much for me to do compared to what I’m use to living here. In Canada you only have to be 18 to get into clubs and bars, but being 20 there are only a limited amount of clubs that would actually let me in. As soon as I got back here I was relieved to be able to walk down the street and get into a club without being questioned.

Living in such a big city can sometimes make you feel lonely and lost in a crowd. In Vermont it’s nice to walk down the street and see someone you know, it helps you feel a sense of belonging. Before moving to Montreal I didn’t expect to ever see anyone I knew walking down the street or in a store. I’ve realized that this is not true. Montreal is like many different towns within a big one. You get to know the locals within a certain radius of where you live. When I go to the gas station down the street, I know who the tenants are and they know me. Even a little thing like that makes me feel more connected to the community, like I belong.

Going on my second week of being sick I’m hoping that I can shake whatever I have and return to walking around streets I have yet to explore and seeing new things. The International Festival of Films on Art is going on right now, so hopefully by next weekend I can review what I think of it!