Fourth week down, one to go! Monday and Tuesday this week I had ham sandwiches for lunch. I really like sandwiches so that was no problem for me, and we haven't really had sandwiches since we got here. Monday, my Culture Québécoise class walked over to Le Manoir Seigneurial Fraser and the Musée du Bas-Saint-Laurent. I found both to be mediocre experiences. Le Manoir Fraser was kind of cool because it was a really old house with old furniture, but at the same time, it was a really old house with old furniture. And it had those velvet ropes that I hated when I was a kid. And you weren't allowed to take pictures. And they made us watch a movie about the history of Rivière-du-Loup...in 3D. That's right. We wore 3D glasses and watched the most boring film ever made, filmed in 3D for no other reason then they had the technology and were dying to use it. The Musée was just as boring because the school didn't want to pay admission for all of us, so all we were allowed to do was watch a cool movie and then check out one lame exhibit.
That night we had trout for supper with rice. My mum has this delicious spice mix she buys from the store that is awesome on everything. She used it on our potatoes one night, and again on this fish. So good. Tuesday night we had deep fried chicken wings and pasta in a white sauce for supper. My mum took the leftover pasta and mixed in some smoked salmon for me to take for lunch on Wednesday. Tuesday night I also had my last phonétique class. The teacher, C, is such a character. She has a sort of quirky personality that makes the class really fun.
Wednesday night we had lasagna for supper. My mum put pepperoni, spinach and lots of cheese in it and used her famous sauce. It had a delicious crust on the top of crispy cheese. It was so delicious I took it for lunch Thursday and finished it off this afternoon. Thursday night was pizza night, as per usual. My mum's mom joined us for dinner because that night it was la Soirée de Théâtre, where all the students who chose the atelier théâtre performed their sketches, and our mum wanted to come watch so her mom came to babysit mon frère-du-loup for the evening. The students worked so hard and put on totally hilarious performances in just four short weeks. My roommate and I both chose vidéo so we just got to sit back and enjoy.
Tonight we went to our grand-mère-du-loup's for a homemade pizza dinner. I know. Pizza two nights in a row. Poor me. It was so good! Her crust reminded me of my real mom's pizza crust. She put shrimp on one of the pizzas with onion and cheese. It was so good! We also has these non-alcoholic coolers with dinner that I remember my dad used to buy. So weird! Before dinner, we walked over to my mum's sister's place to meet her and her husband and their son for the first time. Of course they were very nice, as everyone has been here! After, I went grocery shopping with my mum for supplies for the lovely meals she has planned for us this weekend. She also bought me an iced cap from Tim Horton's. She is so good to me.
One week left here. I'm starting to feel a bit anxious about getting home already and have started a countdown for B. 7 days left!
Friday 10 June 2011
Sunday 5 June 2011
Mon Nouvel Amour
I spent the weekend in the beautiful city of Québec. We left Friday afternoon and returned around supper time this evening. Friday before we left, some of my friends and I made a trip to the local liquor and grocery stores to get a few items for the trip. We were on our own for lunches and dinners for the weekend, so we decided to get some stuff to help make it a little less expensive. We also needed booze so we could drink before the bar or "pre-game" as my new friends like to call it. It was about a two-and-a-half hour bus ride there, including a pit stop at a rest station. When we got there, the animateurs got us sorted out with room keys and breakfast vouchers. We stayed at the Université Laval Résidence in pairs. My roommate and I had the stinkiest room on the floor. It had an odour resembling stale cigarettes and moth balls so strong you could taste it when you brushed your teeth in the room. Sick! Our rooms were what would normally be a single occupancy room with an extra cot rolled in. You could barely turn around in there. We also had community washrooms. Not at all the type of accommodations I am used to having, but it turned out to be kind of fun. Living in a résidence isn't something I have or ever will experience, so I got a chance to see what I have been missing (or not).
We had to use the city transit for the weekend and the cheapest option was to buy a 48hour pass, so everyone headed over to the campus store to purchase one. Unfortunately, Trois-Pistoles' Explore Program was there the same weekend, staying on another floor of the same résidence, so there was a super long line. The girls and I bought our bus passes and then walked over to the huge Laurier Québec Centre Commercial. We browsed some of the shops like Simons, I bought tons of discount hand soaps from Bath & Body Works to replenish our supply back home in Regina, bought some mix, grabbed some dinner in the food court, and headed back to get our pre-game on and get ready to go dancing.
Friday night we went dancing at Dagobert. It was unlike any other bar I have ever been too. I blame that on my living in Regina. Basically there were three floors in the bar. The first had a live band playing and people hanging out and drinking. The second was the ultimate nightclub with strobe lights, smoke machines, panels of lights the DJ could move to the music and tons of sweet jams for dancing. The third floor was an overlook for people who were too old or too creepy to be at the bar, to watch everyone else dance. Can you guess where we spent our night? I missed my bestie, A, back home in Regina that night because we love to bust it together and I know she would have dug the tunes they were playing. We left the bar at about 1:00am and caught the bus back to the Université.
When we first arrived, we were given meal vouchers to be used for breakfast in the campus cafeteria. It was only served from 7:00am-9:00am so I had to get up a tad early to eat and get ready for our tour of Old Québec. Our group caught the bus at 10:30am and headed to the parliament building to meet our guides. This is where I was struck by cupid's arrow. I am officially in love with Québec. What a beautiful city. The cobblestone streets were lined with shops and eateries and were busy with people. You could see horse drawn carriages and bronze statues everywhere you went. It is a city full of history.
After our tour, a couple of us had lunch at a little place called Le Petit Cochon Dingue. It was this perfect little pâtisserie/sandwicherie serving up delicious sandwiches and an array of baked goods and is also the bakery that supplies the four full-size Le Cochon Dingue restaurants in Québec. After lunch, we headed next door for some gelato and then wandered around the shops. What a perfect day! I'm not sure if I have mentioned the weather in Rivière-du-Loup yet, but in case I haven't, it's the shits. It rains all the time and we haven't had more than two nice days in a row. The weather in Québec City this weekend was hot and beautifully sunny both days. A welcomed change!
After we had tired of walking around town, we started heading toward a bus station. We passed by Glaces Dolce Gelato, another gelato place and couldn't pass up the opportunity to have another. I love that stuff and I can't get it back home! On our way to the bus station, we ran into a crowd of people standing outside on the street. Police were there and the road was blocked off, so we asked a local what was going on. She replied that famous Québécoise singer, Alys Robi, had passed away and that today was her funeral. We waited outside for about twenty minutes and saw the coffin being carried out to the hurst, and watched as the citizens of Québec cheered for the family as they climbed into their limousines and drove away. It was such a bizarre thing for me to witness. Maybe it was because I have only been to a couple of funerals or maybe because nobody famous has died in Regina so I have never seen how the public reacts. Strange. That's my only word for it.
We carried on our way to the bus stop and arrived just in time to hop on. Unfortunately, 20 minutes into our journey, we realized we were on the wrong bus. Not really the wrong bus, more the right bus in the wrong direction. We quickly hopped off at the next stop and ran across the street to get on the right bus. An hour later, we arrived back at the Université safe and sound. Annoyed by our detour, we ordered a pizza to the résidence to avoid having to leave again. Then we got ready for round two of dancing.
Saturday night, a group of us headed back to Dagobert for more fun. Unfortunately, one of the guys we were with looked like someone who had been causing a ruckus there the night before, and was refused admittance even though he had actually never been there before. We all decided to stay together and leave as a group, so we headed down the street to find another location. We ended up parting ways with a few people who decided to go to the pub, Le Sacrilège, for some pints, while the rest of us continued on to the gay bar, Le Drague. Most.Fun.Ever.
It was even better than Dagobert the night before! They played way better music and everyone was dancing their ass off. The club itself was also super crazy with all these different levels and areas. It was so confusing we had to ask someone how to get out! At the end of the night, we walked back to the main street and caught the bus again back to the Université. That night I had the worst sleep ever. My roommate had a terrible cough that kept me up most the night, between my own hacking. Just when I thought I was getting better, I catch something from her.
This morning I dragged my-sleepy-self out of bed for breakfast and then returned to my room to pack up my shit and catch a nap. We had to be out of our rooms by 10:00am and put all of our stuff in another room. With nothing to do and nowhere to relax, a couple of us headed to the mall for some shopping and then took the bus to Old Québec in search of a sushi joint for lunch. We tried a couple of different places, but came up empty handed for one that was open on a Sunday before 4:00pm. So instead, we ate at Le Cosmos. I had a delicious smoked salmon, caper and cream cheese bagel with a couscous salad. Heaven! After lunch we shopped a bit more and then caught the bus back to the Université to collect our bags and get on the bus back to Rivière-du-Loup.
I am back home now and totally exhausted. Only two busy weeks left of this adventure!
We had to use the city transit for the weekend and the cheapest option was to buy a 48hour pass, so everyone headed over to the campus store to purchase one. Unfortunately, Trois-Pistoles' Explore Program was there the same weekend, staying on another floor of the same résidence, so there was a super long line. The girls and I bought our bus passes and then walked over to the huge Laurier Québec Centre Commercial. We browsed some of the shops like Simons, I bought tons of discount hand soaps from Bath & Body Works to replenish our supply back home in Regina, bought some mix, grabbed some dinner in the food court, and headed back to get our pre-game on and get ready to go dancing.
Friday night we went dancing at Dagobert. It was unlike any other bar I have ever been too. I blame that on my living in Regina. Basically there were three floors in the bar. The first had a live band playing and people hanging out and drinking. The second was the ultimate nightclub with strobe lights, smoke machines, panels of lights the DJ could move to the music and tons of sweet jams for dancing. The third floor was an overlook for people who were too old or too creepy to be at the bar, to watch everyone else dance. Can you guess where we spent our night? I missed my bestie, A, back home in Regina that night because we love to bust it together and I know she would have dug the tunes they were playing. We left the bar at about 1:00am and caught the bus back to the Université.
When we first arrived, we were given meal vouchers to be used for breakfast in the campus cafeteria. It was only served from 7:00am-9:00am so I had to get up a tad early to eat and get ready for our tour of Old Québec. Our group caught the bus at 10:30am and headed to the parliament building to meet our guides. This is where I was struck by cupid's arrow. I am officially in love with Québec. What a beautiful city. The cobblestone streets were lined with shops and eateries and were busy with people. You could see horse drawn carriages and bronze statues everywhere you went. It is a city full of history.
After our tour, a couple of us had lunch at a little place called Le Petit Cochon Dingue. It was this perfect little pâtisserie/sandwicherie serving up delicious sandwiches and an array of baked goods and is also the bakery that supplies the four full-size Le Cochon Dingue restaurants in Québec. After lunch, we headed next door for some gelato and then wandered around the shops. What a perfect day! I'm not sure if I have mentioned the weather in Rivière-du-Loup yet, but in case I haven't, it's the shits. It rains all the time and we haven't had more than two nice days in a row. The weather in Québec City this weekend was hot and beautifully sunny both days. A welcomed change!
After we had tired of walking around town, we started heading toward a bus station. We passed by Glaces Dolce Gelato, another gelato place and couldn't pass up the opportunity to have another. I love that stuff and I can't get it back home! On our way to the bus station, we ran into a crowd of people standing outside on the street. Police were there and the road was blocked off, so we asked a local what was going on. She replied that famous Québécoise singer, Alys Robi, had passed away and that today was her funeral. We waited outside for about twenty minutes and saw the coffin being carried out to the hurst, and watched as the citizens of Québec cheered for the family as they climbed into their limousines and drove away. It was such a bizarre thing for me to witness. Maybe it was because I have only been to a couple of funerals or maybe because nobody famous has died in Regina so I have never seen how the public reacts. Strange. That's my only word for it.
We carried on our way to the bus stop and arrived just in time to hop on. Unfortunately, 20 minutes into our journey, we realized we were on the wrong bus. Not really the wrong bus, more the right bus in the wrong direction. We quickly hopped off at the next stop and ran across the street to get on the right bus. An hour later, we arrived back at the Université safe and sound. Annoyed by our detour, we ordered a pizza to the résidence to avoid having to leave again. Then we got ready for round two of dancing.
Saturday night, a group of us headed back to Dagobert for more fun. Unfortunately, one of the guys we were with looked like someone who had been causing a ruckus there the night before, and was refused admittance even though he had actually never been there before. We all decided to stay together and leave as a group, so we headed down the street to find another location. We ended up parting ways with a few people who decided to go to the pub, Le Sacrilège, for some pints, while the rest of us continued on to the gay bar, Le Drague. Most.Fun.Ever.
It was even better than Dagobert the night before! They played way better music and everyone was dancing their ass off. The club itself was also super crazy with all these different levels and areas. It was so confusing we had to ask someone how to get out! At the end of the night, we walked back to the main street and caught the bus again back to the Université. That night I had the worst sleep ever. My roommate had a terrible cough that kept me up most the night, between my own hacking. Just when I thought I was getting better, I catch something from her.
This morning I dragged my-sleepy-self out of bed for breakfast and then returned to my room to pack up my shit and catch a nap. We had to be out of our rooms by 10:00am and put all of our stuff in another room. With nothing to do and nowhere to relax, a couple of us headed to the mall for some shopping and then took the bus to Old Québec in search of a sushi joint for lunch. We tried a couple of different places, but came up empty handed for one that was open on a Sunday before 4:00pm. So instead, we ate at Le Cosmos. I had a delicious smoked salmon, caper and cream cheese bagel with a couscous salad. Heaven! After lunch we shopped a bit more and then caught the bus back to the Université to collect our bags and get on the bus back to Rivière-du-Loup.
I am back home now and totally exhausted. Only two busy weeks left of this adventure!
Thursday 2 June 2011
La Troisième Semaine
Just as I suspected. Another jam packed week! Monday we had leftover Coquilles St-Jacques for lunch. Everyone at school who wasn't Québecoise looked at us like we were nuts with our mini seashell dishes, waiting in line to use the microwave. Monday afternoons I have Culture Québécoise, a class all about Québec culture. That day we looked at the foods and listened to the music from the last 100 years or so. Our instructor was kind enough to bring in an assortment of foods for us to try including tourtière, fèves au lard, tarte au sucre, bread avec cretons or ketchup aux fruits, fromage en grains (cheese curds), sirop d'arbre (tree syrup) on a spoon, et pet de soeur which translates to "Nun's Farts" in English. It was a really wonderful afternoon! That night we had steak, salad and carrots for dinner and my mum's sister joined us as well.
Tuesday we had a delicious rice dish with shrimp for lunch that mum prepared for us the night before. That afternoon during my Video class, my group uploaded our video to start editing. We are using iMovie which is new to me but it is also in French, adding another level of complexity. Our film has some really hilarious stuff in it, but was also obviously filmed by amateurs. The perfectionist in me is slightly disappointed but I just keep reminding myself that it isn't for anything very important. Tuesday was also the birthday of my roommate so we arrived home to find our mum home early, balloons on the side table and a cake on the counter. There was also cipaille in the oven that had been slowly baking all day, special for A's birthday. It was a really nice night, and I think he appreciated the celebration as well as the delicious traditional French meal.
Tuesday night I had phonétique again. I caught a ride there with my classmate who had to go a bit early for a group meeting. We had midterm exams this week, so I was reading over my notes in the hall for my oral exam when the director of the program walked by and asked what I was doing. When I told him I was studying for my exam, he offered to practice with me. I couldn't say no, so I spent the next 30 minutes attempting to speak French with the guy who lectured us the first day at school about the repercussions of speaking English here. It turned out to be really good practice for me because everywhere else I go, I am usually with people who don't even try to speak French or who will cave and throw me a few English words. Actually he did too, to explain to me the original meaning of the word "golf". Apparently it was an acronym for "Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden". News to me and I work at a golf club, which is actually how the topic came up.
The next day I had my oral exam at 11:00am, so I slept in and took a taxi to school instead. I was a little nervous about calling for the cab but it went okay except for a slight misunderstanding of the time which was thankfully caught before the end of our conversation. I said "dix heures et quart" (10:15am) which apparently sounded like "douze heures et quart" (12:15pm). That would have made me very late for my exam! Because I live outside of Rivière-du-Loup, I get taxi vouchers to pay for my trips to the city because it's at least a $25 cab ride. I think my exam went okay. It was done in groups of two, or three in my case since we have an odd number of people in our class. One part of the exam was using appropriate introductions and parting expressions in different situations. My groups' scenario was a daughter introducing her mom to her new boyfriend. It was pretty hilarious. Afterwards, I had spaghetti for lunch. I love the sauce my mum made. I think I'll ask for the recipe!
Wednesday afternoons I have journal class which is the French word for newspaper. My group is creating a personality quiz for readers to see which Simpson's Character they are. There is a guy in my group who I am growing to dislike more every time I see him. He talks down to me because he is in a higher level than I am and feels the need to question and/or correct my work, even when corrections are not necessary. He went so far as to ask me if I plagiarized the paragraph I wrote because he was surprised by my writing ability. Then he told the teacher he was concerned about the content of my paragraph because he feared it was too negative, but that is only because he didn't understand the whole piece and wasn't listening to my explanation. She, thankfully, agreed with me and thought it was a funny write up. He is also really lazy. The other girl in my group and I are the only two who have done anything. He just bosses us around while he unproductively googles useless information. I can tell we are both running short on patience with him and can't wait to get it done! That night I had hot dogs and chips for supper with the family. They have the weirdest buns here for their dogs. They look like pieces of folded bread! I'm not complaining though; they were delicious.
Today I had my written exam at school. It also went well, but I wasn't overly concerned because writing is my strong suit. For lunch I had leftover cipaille. It was even better than the first day! We had to stay after school today because tonight was our l'Activité de Mi-Session; a masquerade potluck for the students and their families. Our mum made a nice summer salad with spinach, strawberries and nuts and a berry vinaigrette. She also borrowed some masks from a friend at work for us all to wear. Some of the other students were super creative. There was a group that made Power Ranger masks and another that went as the Ninja Turtles. It was a fun night. Afterwards, we went to the Snack Bar D'Amours for poutine. It's this cute little fast food joint attached to an ice cream parlor where you can get some of the best poutine in the Loup. This weekend is my trip to Québec City. I am really looking forward to getting away for a few days!
Tuesday we had a delicious rice dish with shrimp for lunch that mum prepared for us the night before. That afternoon during my Video class, my group uploaded our video to start editing. We are using iMovie which is new to me but it is also in French, adding another level of complexity. Our film has some really hilarious stuff in it, but was also obviously filmed by amateurs. The perfectionist in me is slightly disappointed but I just keep reminding myself that it isn't for anything very important. Tuesday was also the birthday of my roommate so we arrived home to find our mum home early, balloons on the side table and a cake on the counter. There was also cipaille in the oven that had been slowly baking all day, special for A's birthday. It was a really nice night, and I think he appreciated the celebration as well as the delicious traditional French meal.
Tuesday night I had phonétique again. I caught a ride there with my classmate who had to go a bit early for a group meeting. We had midterm exams this week, so I was reading over my notes in the hall for my oral exam when the director of the program walked by and asked what I was doing. When I told him I was studying for my exam, he offered to practice with me. I couldn't say no, so I spent the next 30 minutes attempting to speak French with the guy who lectured us the first day at school about the repercussions of speaking English here. It turned out to be really good practice for me because everywhere else I go, I am usually with people who don't even try to speak French or who will cave and throw me a few English words. Actually he did too, to explain to me the original meaning of the word "golf". Apparently it was an acronym for "Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden". News to me and I work at a golf club, which is actually how the topic came up.
The next day I had my oral exam at 11:00am, so I slept in and took a taxi to school instead. I was a little nervous about calling for the cab but it went okay except for a slight misunderstanding of the time which was thankfully caught before the end of our conversation. I said "dix heures et quart" (10:15am) which apparently sounded like "douze heures et quart" (12:15pm). That would have made me very late for my exam! Because I live outside of Rivière-du-Loup, I get taxi vouchers to pay for my trips to the city because it's at least a $25 cab ride. I think my exam went okay. It was done in groups of two, or three in my case since we have an odd number of people in our class. One part of the exam was using appropriate introductions and parting expressions in different situations. My groups' scenario was a daughter introducing her mom to her new boyfriend. It was pretty hilarious. Afterwards, I had spaghetti for lunch. I love the sauce my mum made. I think I'll ask for the recipe!
Wednesday afternoons I have journal class which is the French word for newspaper. My group is creating a personality quiz for readers to see which Simpson's Character they are. There is a guy in my group who I am growing to dislike more every time I see him. He talks down to me because he is in a higher level than I am and feels the need to question and/or correct my work, even when corrections are not necessary. He went so far as to ask me if I plagiarized the paragraph I wrote because he was surprised by my writing ability. Then he told the teacher he was concerned about the content of my paragraph because he feared it was too negative, but that is only because he didn't understand the whole piece and wasn't listening to my explanation. She, thankfully, agreed with me and thought it was a funny write up. He is also really lazy. The other girl in my group and I are the only two who have done anything. He just bosses us around while he unproductively googles useless information. I can tell we are both running short on patience with him and can't wait to get it done! That night I had hot dogs and chips for supper with the family. They have the weirdest buns here for their dogs. They look like pieces of folded bread! I'm not complaining though; they were delicious.
Today I had my written exam at school. It also went well, but I wasn't overly concerned because writing is my strong suit. For lunch I had leftover cipaille. It was even better than the first day! We had to stay after school today because tonight was our l'Activité de Mi-Session; a masquerade potluck for the students and their families. Our mum made a nice summer salad with spinach, strawberries and nuts and a berry vinaigrette. She also borrowed some masks from a friend at work for us all to wear. Some of the other students were super creative. There was a group that made Power Ranger masks and another that went as the Ninja Turtles. It was a fun night. Afterwards, we went to the Snack Bar D'Amours for poutine. It's this cute little fast food joint attached to an ice cream parlor where you can get some of the best poutine in the Loup. This weekend is my trip to Québec City. I am really looking forward to getting away for a few days!
Sunday 29 May 2011
Grosse Fin de Semaine
I had such a busy weekend! Saturday was our day trip to SEBKA et la Brasserie Breughel. I was running a bit late that morning so my mum made me a sandwich to take along for lunch. The group was divided between two buses and each bus started at a different location and then switched halfway through the day. My bus went to SEBKA first and the micro-brasserie second. SEBKA is basically a big nature preserve with camping, kayaking, hiking, etc. A biologist led us on a walk down to the water and two stops at observation terraces. The first stop was quite high up and the biologist talked about the whales living in the water and what they eat. I took a couple of photos of the little krill and the chunk of baleen plate that were passed around. The plate looked like a large block of uncooked pasta.
The second terrace was really close to the water and the guide talked all about les algues aka seaweed. Did you know those little buggers are in everything from gum to body wash to face cream to crackers? We got to try some seaweed crackers with seaweed shavings on top. They were seaweed-errific! Actually they were quite bland, but they are the casings for the sushi I love so much so I felt obligated to pay my respects by trying one. The presentations took a bit longer than planned and we had to head back to the bus right after to drive to the brewery.
The brewery was in this sweet old farmhouse, and had chickens and cats running around loose outside. We got a little history and the how-to on beer making and then headed upstairs to try some beer. I am not a fan of beer but my BF is, so I purchased an assortment of beers for him and my BFF who is checking on my puppies while I'm gone and B is at work. I purchased a couple of beer-wine blends too, so I hope everyone enjoys them! My pseudo-brother enjoyed a bit too much beer so I had to drive his minivan back to Cacouna from the school.
When we arrived, we were delighted to find our mum and her mom cooking up a storm. They prepared a huge vat of spaghetti and meat sauce to can and have on hand for whenever and also prepared a traditional French dish for supper, Coquilles St-Jacques. It is the most delightful dish of seafood served in the cutest individual shell shaped dishes. After dinner we watched the movie No Strings Attached en français with French subtitles as well. It was very hard to follow because the sound and the subtitles didn't match. Definitely one I'll have to watch again in English.
Sunday we got up early and headed out to friends of the family's cabin at Saint-Mathieu-de-Rioux. It was about an hour away from Cacouna. It was another rainy day so we were stuck inside, but it was a nice change of scenery. We enjoyed a delicious spaghetti lunch from the batch of sauce mum had prepared and played Rock Band with the kids after. We had to leave around 3:00pm to make it to la Fromagerie des Basques before dropping me off to work with my group from school. It is basically an ice cream parlor attached to a bakery attached to a cheese store. Lucky for me I love cheese and they were sampling an array of them for me to try. We bought a few items including a loaf of bacon and cheese bread. How can you go wrong with that?
After our quick stop, they dropped me off at my classmate's house so we could film our video for school. Video is one of the afternoon activities I have to attend everyday. My group decided to make a French cooking show, starring the mum of one of my classmates. We wanted her to prepare a French dish while we filmed it cooking show style. Her mum decided she would like to make brochettes, which are basically shish kabobs. She made a delicious marinade for the chicken, and then assembled them with bacon, pineapple and an assortment of veggies. She made some delicious rice to go with the brochettes and then a sauce to serve over top out of the leftover marinade. While the chicken was marinating, she also whipped up a dessert. She made these little pastry packages filled with apples and a cinnamon/nutmeg/sugar/butter paste and covered in a sauce of sugar/water/butter/cinnamon and baked in the oven. Delicious!
My classmate's mum was the perfect host and was adorably over the top. We got to stay for dinner after and enjoy the meal. Another amazing dinner in Québec! I had a really great, but super busy weekend. It's crazy how normal it feels to be here. I think it's because I was immediately thrown into a routine and routines make me feel normal. We have another busy week ahead so I'm sure I'll have another short novel to post soon!
The second terrace was really close to the water and the guide talked all about les algues aka seaweed. Did you know those little buggers are in everything from gum to body wash to face cream to crackers? We got to try some seaweed crackers with seaweed shavings on top. They were seaweed-errific! Actually they were quite bland, but they are the casings for the sushi I love so much so I felt obligated to pay my respects by trying one. The presentations took a bit longer than planned and we had to head back to the bus right after to drive to the brewery.
The brewery was in this sweet old farmhouse, and had chickens and cats running around loose outside. We got a little history and the how-to on beer making and then headed upstairs to try some beer. I am not a fan of beer but my BF is, so I purchased an assortment of beers for him and my BFF who is checking on my puppies while I'm gone and B is at work. I purchased a couple of beer-wine blends too, so I hope everyone enjoys them! My pseudo-brother enjoyed a bit too much beer so I had to drive his minivan back to Cacouna from the school.
When we arrived, we were delighted to find our mum and her mom cooking up a storm. They prepared a huge vat of spaghetti and meat sauce to can and have on hand for whenever and also prepared a traditional French dish for supper, Coquilles St-Jacques. It is the most delightful dish of seafood served in the cutest individual shell shaped dishes. After dinner we watched the movie No Strings Attached en français with French subtitles as well. It was very hard to follow because the sound and the subtitles didn't match. Definitely one I'll have to watch again in English.
Sunday we got up early and headed out to friends of the family's cabin at Saint-Mathieu-de-Rioux. It was about an hour away from Cacouna. It was another rainy day so we were stuck inside, but it was a nice change of scenery. We enjoyed a delicious spaghetti lunch from the batch of sauce mum had prepared and played Rock Band with the kids after. We had to leave around 3:00pm to make it to la Fromagerie des Basques before dropping me off to work with my group from school. It is basically an ice cream parlor attached to a bakery attached to a cheese store. Lucky for me I love cheese and they were sampling an array of them for me to try. We bought a few items including a loaf of bacon and cheese bread. How can you go wrong with that?
After our quick stop, they dropped me off at my classmate's house so we could film our video for school. Video is one of the afternoon activities I have to attend everyday. My group decided to make a French cooking show, starring the mum of one of my classmates. We wanted her to prepare a French dish while we filmed it cooking show style. Her mum decided she would like to make brochettes, which are basically shish kabobs. She made a delicious marinade for the chicken, and then assembled them with bacon, pineapple and an assortment of veggies. She made some delicious rice to go with the brochettes and then a sauce to serve over top out of the leftover marinade. While the chicken was marinating, she also whipped up a dessert. She made these little pastry packages filled with apples and a cinnamon/nutmeg/sugar/butter paste and covered in a sauce of sugar/water/butter/cinnamon and baked in the oven. Delicious!
My classmate's mum was the perfect host and was adorably over the top. We got to stay for dinner after and enjoy the meal. Another amazing dinner in Québec! I had a really great, but super busy weekend. It's crazy how normal it feels to be here. I think it's because I was immediately thrown into a routine and routines make me feel normal. We have another busy week ahead so I'm sure I'll have another short novel to post soon!
Saturday 28 May 2011
La Deuxième Semaine
When I started this blog, I had the intentions of writing on it more than once a week. But my weeks are so busy sometimes, I really don't have a chance to write everyday. Plus, I got my usual travel bug and it's kicking my ass. Every time I fly on an airplane I end up getting sick with something. This time I got a really bad cold. It started as a sore throat and then changed to a really annoying cough that won't let me sleep and then added a stuffy face that forces me to breathe through my mouth, which then makes me cough. Basically it's awful and it's been hanging around for a week now.
So last Sunday was the crab feast and a feast it was! That morning, my mum made us a big breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, pork & beans, strawberries and toast with Cretons to start the day. I was a little hesitant to try the French spread on my toast, but it is totally delicious! During the party prep after breakfast, I snapped a couple of photos of the kiddy pool full of crabs they were washing and prepping in the garage. It was a sight! Once the guests starting arriving, I started to experience some serious anxiety about my French. I stood there listening to everyone around me rapidly speaking, using French slang I had never heard, and felt really dumb. I can be socially awkward at the best of times, but this was a whole new level for me. I snuck away to my room to take a few deep breaths and to remind myself that I am still learning. That was the first time I thought that I might just give up and go home. I obviously wouldn't have and I ended up having a great time, but it was a really awful feeling at the time.
Back to the party! Everyone got a platter to use as a plate and it was full of salads, garlic butter and delicious crab legs. There was toasted bread on all the tables for dipping too. It was so good! And then for dessert, a friend of the family prepared a variety of baked goods including brownies, assorted cupcakes and whoopee pies! I had never experienced the delight that is one of these little treats, but they are definitely something I would make. I could have exploded I was so full!
The next day we had leftover cheesy beef macaroni for lunch. Monday was the Victoria Day holiday, but the Explore program doesn't get holidays, so we were off to school! That night, the family was recovering from the late night the night before, so we had corn on the cob, sandwiches, and fondue parmesan with tomatoes and lettuce. My mum buys the fondue parm at the store and heats it in the microwave-oven. It's a traditional french appetizer found at most restaurants and is so good!
Tuesday we had leftover Asian soup for lunch. For dinner, we did individual pizzas on tortilla shells. It was a really easy and neat idea! That night I had phonétique; a mandatory language class for the beginners. It was 45 minutes of trying to make the different sounds in French, "aaaaaa, eeeeee, ooooooo". A lot of laughs were had. Afterward, I caught a ride home with a classmate of mine who also lives in Cacouna. I had gotten a ride in with my mum since my roomy is in the advanced section and didn't have to attend. That night my roommate also locked his keys in his car, so our mum just whipped up fresh croissants and made us a seafood salad to go on them for lunch the next day. Only she would make fresh croissants when she needs to make something in a pinch.
On Wednesday, my morning class joined the other beginner class and formed teams to participate in Safari-Photo. It was basically a photo scavenger hunt. We snapped some pretty awesome photos and met some really interesting characters in the city, including a lady who invited us to her apartment... I think. Her French was fast and mine is subpar so her request wasn't crystal clear. I hope she didn't wait up for us! That night we had hamburgers for supper with the leftover seafood salad on the side. After supper mum made us a delightful lunch of beef strips and noodles for the next day.
Thursday was pizza day again, so mum came home with pizza and oignons français, or onion rings as you may know them as. Friday's are our free afternoons, so we enjoyed leftover pizza at home for lunch and had hot chicken for dinner, another French favourite. With the exception of that one meal at the hotel my first night, I am yet to experience a meal I didn't like. My family has shown me some pretty amazing hospitality and have gone above and beyond to make me feel welcome.
Friday evening I experienced my first Québécoise film, L'Appât. We watched it with the French subtitles on and I think I got the gist of it. It was a really funny movie. Today we are heading on a day trip to SEBKA and la Brasserie Breughel. Should be a fun day!
So last Sunday was the crab feast and a feast it was! That morning, my mum made us a big breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, pork & beans, strawberries and toast with Cretons to start the day. I was a little hesitant to try the French spread on my toast, but it is totally delicious! During the party prep after breakfast, I snapped a couple of photos of the kiddy pool full of crabs they were washing and prepping in the garage. It was a sight! Once the guests starting arriving, I started to experience some serious anxiety about my French. I stood there listening to everyone around me rapidly speaking, using French slang I had never heard, and felt really dumb. I can be socially awkward at the best of times, but this was a whole new level for me. I snuck away to my room to take a few deep breaths and to remind myself that I am still learning. That was the first time I thought that I might just give up and go home. I obviously wouldn't have and I ended up having a great time, but it was a really awful feeling at the time.
Back to the party! Everyone got a platter to use as a plate and it was full of salads, garlic butter and delicious crab legs. There was toasted bread on all the tables for dipping too. It was so good! And then for dessert, a friend of the family prepared a variety of baked goods including brownies, assorted cupcakes and whoopee pies! I had never experienced the delight that is one of these little treats, but they are definitely something I would make. I could have exploded I was so full!
The next day we had leftover cheesy beef macaroni for lunch. Monday was the Victoria Day holiday, but the Explore program doesn't get holidays, so we were off to school! That night, the family was recovering from the late night the night before, so we had corn on the cob, sandwiches, and fondue parmesan with tomatoes and lettuce. My mum buys the fondue parm at the store and heats it in the microwave-oven. It's a traditional french appetizer found at most restaurants and is so good!
Tuesday we had leftover Asian soup for lunch. For dinner, we did individual pizzas on tortilla shells. It was a really easy and neat idea! That night I had phonétique; a mandatory language class for the beginners. It was 45 minutes of trying to make the different sounds in French, "aaaaaa, eeeeee, ooooooo". A lot of laughs were had. Afterward, I caught a ride home with a classmate of mine who also lives in Cacouna. I had gotten a ride in with my mum since my roomy is in the advanced section and didn't have to attend. That night my roommate also locked his keys in his car, so our mum just whipped up fresh croissants and made us a seafood salad to go on them for lunch the next day. Only she would make fresh croissants when she needs to make something in a pinch.
On Wednesday, my morning class joined the other beginner class and formed teams to participate in Safari-Photo. It was basically a photo scavenger hunt. We snapped some pretty awesome photos and met some really interesting characters in the city, including a lady who invited us to her apartment... I think. Her French was fast and mine is subpar so her request wasn't crystal clear. I hope she didn't wait up for us! That night we had hamburgers for supper with the leftover seafood salad on the side. After supper mum made us a delightful lunch of beef strips and noodles for the next day.
Thursday was pizza day again, so mum came home with pizza and oignons français, or onion rings as you may know them as. Friday's are our free afternoons, so we enjoyed leftover pizza at home for lunch and had hot chicken for dinner, another French favourite. With the exception of that one meal at the hotel my first night, I am yet to experience a meal I didn't like. My family has shown me some pretty amazing hospitality and have gone above and beyond to make me feel welcome.
Friday evening I experienced my first Québécoise film, L'Appât. We watched it with the French subtitles on and I think I got the gist of it. It was a really funny movie. Today we are heading on a day trip to SEBKA and la Brasserie Breughel. Should be a fun day!
Saturday 21 May 2011
La Première Semaine
Where has the time gone? I have officially completed my first week at school unscathed and have 27 days left in Québec. Not that I'm counting. I really love it here, but I also miss my family. The magic of Skype helps a lot and thankfully my family has wireless Internet for me to use. I bought an iPad 2 before I left so I could communicate with my friends and family for free and check my email and stuff. So far, it has worked like a dream.
This week I participated in a number of events and activities hosted by the school and ate a ton of really great food. My first night with my family we had steak, potatoes and broccoli for supper; a favourite of mine. My mum sliced the potatoes and wrapped them in individual foil packages, with butter and seasoning, and cooked them on the barbecue. That evening my "brother" and I headed to the school to participate in the Rallye au Cégep. It was basically a scavenger hunt that took teams of five all over the campus in search of the answers. It was a fun night. While we were gone, our mum made us a delicious spaghetti lunch to take to school the next day.
Wednesday night, we had shrimp wrapped in sole fillets with corn on the cob and caesar salad for supper. Another amazing dinner! After supper, we helped our mum make an Asian style soup for our lunch the next day. It had thinly sliced beef, vermicelli noodles and onion in a broth. Then we went on a walk around the village of Cacouna. It has some amazing history! All over town you can find little historic points with pictures and information on the site. It is one of the oldest places in Canada! The houses are beautiful architectural reminders of the past.
Thursday was payday, so we ordered pizza for supper. That night was the big Tournoi de Volleyball. It is an annual event where the six classes compete for a trophy that the winner gets to display in their class for the duration of the five weeks. The classes each come up with a name, a costume and a cheer to shout during the game. Our class was les Rivière-du-Fou. Fou means crazy, so our costume was crazy colours and our chant was "nous sommes fou!" meaning "we are crazy!". My team placed third. It was a lot of fun and afterwards, a bunch of the students headed out to la Brasserie Lafontaine for a beer. It was a fun night.
Friday's are our free afternoons so no lunch had to be made. Our mum also had the day off on Friday, so we planned to have lunch together at the house. To my surprise, she prepared a pasta dish with ground beef, tomato soup and cheese. For dinner, she made poutine with homemade fries, gravy and cheese curds. It exceeded the Burger King poutine I am used to eating. She also made us a pasta salad to take for lunch on Saturday for our day trip to la Grosse-Île. I made a sandwich to take along as well, and packed up some of the fresh fruit we have on hand all the time.
Today when we went to catch the bus at the school, we were informed that the trip had been cancelled due to crummy weather. The strong winds were making it impossible to take a ferry boat to the island. I am very disappointed as it sounded like a really cool historic site to see. So instead, we headed home for a nap and joined our mum at the grocery store.
I am really enjoying my morning classes, but I am struggling with the afternoon activities they have planned. I think this is because in the morning, we are separated by our French speaking levels so I am surrounded by people at my level. In the afternoon, they have us mixed into four groups of all levels and they seem to cater to the advanced students without regard for the beginners in the class. I have experienced multiple days where I am sitting there in class wondering what the heck is going on. It is very intimidating and frustrating. But, I have managed to get by and am noticing big improvements in my French.
Tomorrow my family is hosting a large crab feast for all their friends, which is sure to be a great time!
This week I participated in a number of events and activities hosted by the school and ate a ton of really great food. My first night with my family we had steak, potatoes and broccoli for supper; a favourite of mine. My mum sliced the potatoes and wrapped them in individual foil packages, with butter and seasoning, and cooked them on the barbecue. That evening my "brother" and I headed to the school to participate in the Rallye au Cégep. It was basically a scavenger hunt that took teams of five all over the campus in search of the answers. It was a fun night. While we were gone, our mum made us a delicious spaghetti lunch to take to school the next day.
Wednesday night, we had shrimp wrapped in sole fillets with corn on the cob and caesar salad for supper. Another amazing dinner! After supper, we helped our mum make an Asian style soup for our lunch the next day. It had thinly sliced beef, vermicelli noodles and onion in a broth. Then we went on a walk around the village of Cacouna. It has some amazing history! All over town you can find little historic points with pictures and information on the site. It is one of the oldest places in Canada! The houses are beautiful architectural reminders of the past.
Thursday was payday, so we ordered pizza for supper. That night was the big Tournoi de Volleyball. It is an annual event where the six classes compete for a trophy that the winner gets to display in their class for the duration of the five weeks. The classes each come up with a name, a costume and a cheer to shout during the game. Our class was les Rivière-du-Fou. Fou means crazy, so our costume was crazy colours and our chant was "nous sommes fou!" meaning "we are crazy!". My team placed third. It was a lot of fun and afterwards, a bunch of the students headed out to la Brasserie Lafontaine for a beer. It was a fun night.
Friday's are our free afternoons so no lunch had to be made. Our mum also had the day off on Friday, so we planned to have lunch together at the house. To my surprise, she prepared a pasta dish with ground beef, tomato soup and cheese. For dinner, she made poutine with homemade fries, gravy and cheese curds. It exceeded the Burger King poutine I am used to eating. She also made us a pasta salad to take for lunch on Saturday for our day trip to la Grosse-Île. I made a sandwich to take along as well, and packed up some of the fresh fruit we have on hand all the time.
Today when we went to catch the bus at the school, we were informed that the trip had been cancelled due to crummy weather. The strong winds were making it impossible to take a ferry boat to the island. I am very disappointed as it sounded like a really cool historic site to see. So instead, we headed home for a nap and joined our mum at the grocery store.
I am really enjoying my morning classes, but I am struggling with the afternoon activities they have planned. I think this is because in the morning, we are separated by our French speaking levels so I am surrounded by people at my level. In the afternoon, they have us mixed into four groups of all levels and they seem to cater to the advanced students without regard for the beginners in the class. I have experienced multiple days where I am sitting there in class wondering what the heck is going on. It is very intimidating and frustrating. But, I have managed to get by and am noticing big improvements in my French.
Tomorrow my family is hosting a large crab feast for all their friends, which is sure to be a great time!
Monday 16 May 2011
Tour de Ville!
Today was another jam-packed day. We had to be up and ready for breakfast by 8:30am. The hotel made a most delicious spread of food for us! They had ham, sausage, bacon, eggs, potatoes, croissants, croissants stuffed with chocolate, cheeses and fruit. C'est très bon! After breakfast, a bus picked us up to take us to L'Hôtel Universel de Rivière-du-Loup for our placement tests. After a written and an oral test, we headed back to our hotel for lunch. It was another amazing feast! We were served a starter soup, fresh bread, an entree of either pork or salmon (or a vegetarian dish) and cake for dessert. I had the awesome salmon with rice and veggies. After lunch, a second bus picked us up to take us on a tour of the town. There isn't much to the city so a 2 hour tour was a little long, but I did snap a picture of the waterfall image I had seen in my Google Image results before I left. After the tour, we had to pack up our things before supper so that when our families picked us up, we were ready to go! To clarify, the 100+ students here for Explore are staying with host families.
I was very excited for supper, especially after the breakfast and lunch I had just had, but I was quite disappointed. It was a buffet of creamy items. Everything from the vegetables to the fish to the chicken were covered in a cream sauce. Everything else was deep fried and tasted like dirty frying oil. Definitely not my favourite. After dinner, the families started arriving to pick up their student(s). While I was waiting for my turn to go, I started to feel really nervous about my placement. Luckily my name was called early and off I went. I could not imagine having to sit there any longer with all those feelings of anxiety and excitement brewing. Another student was also placed with the same family as me which I think will be great for my speaking. My host mum put me at ease immediately by whispering that she could speak English, so I guess my face must have registered some of my worries.
We had a bit of a drive to where we are staying. My family is located 15 minutes outside Rivière-du-Loup in Cacouna, QC. When we arrived, I got a tour of their home and an introduction to her son and her husband. She showed us all the groceries she bought and the lunch she had prepared for us to take to school the next day (homemade egg rolls and a delicious chicken and pasta dish) and really made me feel at home. I feel very relaxed about this new experience.
I was very excited for supper, especially after the breakfast and lunch I had just had, but I was quite disappointed. It was a buffet of creamy items. Everything from the vegetables to the fish to the chicken were covered in a cream sauce. Everything else was deep fried and tasted like dirty frying oil. Definitely not my favourite. After dinner, the families started arriving to pick up their student(s). While I was waiting for my turn to go, I started to feel really nervous about my placement. Luckily my name was called early and off I went. I could not imagine having to sit there any longer with all those feelings of anxiety and excitement brewing. Another student was also placed with the same family as me which I think will be great for my speaking. My host mum put me at ease immediately by whispering that she could speak English, so I guess my face must have registered some of my worries.
We had a bit of a drive to where we are staying. My family is located 15 minutes outside Rivière-du-Loup in Cacouna, QC. When we arrived, I got a tour of their home and an introduction to her son and her husband. She showed us all the groceries she bought and the lunch she had prepared for us to take to school the next day (homemade egg rolls and a delicious chicken and pasta dish) and really made me feel at home. I feel very relaxed about this new experience.
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