Week 1: First impressions and first poutine!

Last Tuesday I arrived in Montreal so I've been in Quebec for just over a week now. So much has happened! My first few days were spent in Montreal and on Friday evening I arrived in La Pocatiere. These two places are very different to each other! I've enjoyed both but in different ways.

This is what cannoli look like!

Opposite McGill University

In Montreal, it was nice to get to know all the other assistants and explore the city. On our first night, we went into a place that sold cannoli (Italian pastries) and met the staff who were very friendly. One of the girls loved our British accents (a theme that seems to continue in Quebec) and even offered to show us the bars in Downtown! Later on in the week, we had workshops with Education Internationale, we did a bit of shopping and had dinner at Peel Pub where I had my first poutine (traditional Quebecois dish; chips, cheese curds and gravy!). Friday came around all too quickly and before we knew it, we were on the bus ready to be dropped to the towns where our schools are.

The view from the waterfall

Another British council assistant and I got picked up by our mentor teacher in Levis and met the Anglo-Canadian assistant. We stopped to have dinner in St Jean Port Joli at a Pizzeria and later got dropped off at each of our new houses. Mine was first. I was a little bit nervous but once I walked into the house, I realised that I'd worried for no reason. The house is very cosy and tidy, and my housemate is super friendly.

Lovely views in my town

On Saturday, my mentor picked me up and took me to Riviere-du-Loup where the other two assistants live. All four of us went for brunch (the best omelette I've ever had and my first experience of Cheese Whizz), we also went for a drive around the area and saw a waterfall. At the end of the afternoon, we went grocery shopping. I was surprised by how different I found the supermarket to my usual Tesco or Sainsbury's in England!

On Sunday, my landlord very kindly offered to give me a tour of the area. We ended up at his family's for a birthday party where there were around 20 people all speaking in Quebecois French very fast! The next day, we went to see my housemate at work at Cafe Azimut and I met a girl who invited me to watch a game of American Football with her on Saturday! I've never watched American Football before so it'd be a new experience!

Drove around the Canadian woods in a 4x4 gater

A picture of the poutine I had for lunch today

Today has been another very busy day. Again, my mentor picked me and the other assistants up and we started to do all the necessary admin tasks such as getting a social security number and setting up a bank account. We also visited the other assistants' schools and met the English teachers there. My mentor is going to take me to my school tomorrow morning! Wish me luck!