Its always sunny on Mondays

As I'm more nearly finished with my immersion experience in Quebec City, I thought I could spare a few moments to update my blog. Until now I felt guilty for using English. BUT, I feel Im progressing well enough now that a 20 minute break won't kill me.

Quebec city is wonderful. People here are unbelievably polite and helpful. The bus drivers says bonjour and merci to EVERY person and total strangers will make change for you or accompany you somewhere if you find yourself lost. The city is a dream for people who like summer festivities. There are international firework competitions, weeks of free outdoor concerts, and free admission to an outdoor cirque de soleil show every night! (did you know they started here in quebec city?)

Also, they have this meal here that I have really fallen in love with: poutine. Its made using the heavenly combination of fries, Gouda and gravy. Maybe while I search for a job i can work on getting a poutine franchise to open in Oregon.

old quebec, or vieux quebec as its said here, is bursting at the brim with history and culture. The license plates here say "je me souviens"- which translate to "I remember". It seems to really fit here- people know the history well here, and they cherish it. One of my favorite things in the old city is a particular tree, which everyone slows down to look at because the people walking in front of them did the same. When you look closely, there is a cannonball enclosed in the tree roots! Its great because its not a destination spot, but more of a happenstance.

I have been having a lot of fun attempting to talk to strangers in french. The elders here and the teenagers are the most difficult to understand, but the easiest to approach. I really get excited to practice, and I have lately caught myself thinking in french! I really love it.

the strawberries here taste like oregon strawberries, and you are encouraged, if not expected, to pour maple syrup on everything (weirdest 4th of july strawberry shortcake ever).

its been quite hot here, like it has for all you folks on the east coast. no one here has air conditioning so the houses are a whopping 100 degrees by the time you go to bed. it rains nearly once a day tuesday through sunday (often accompanied by thunder and lightning) but there is always too much wind to use an umbrella. So far its always sunny on Mondays.

okay my 20 minutes are up. back to the french "grammar exercises" (cartoons on youtube!)

Want to see more pictures?