My Starbucks Saga

Y'all know how much I love my coffee. So I'm sure it's no surprise that I found a Starbucks immediately upon landing in Quebec. It also happens to be conveniently located about five minutes from my school, which makes French homework a thousand times better.

(I do want to make a note to say that yes, I do try other coffee shops! It's just Starbucks is my safe spot. Like Target.)

Baristas at Starbucks are infamous for the butchering of names all over the world. My name is no exception. Even in America, where we all speak English, baristas still can't spell my name right.

However, in Quebec things took a turn for the more humorous. My terrible pronunciation of the French 'e' is partly to blame and I'm sure my accent doesn't help.

Every badly spelt version of my name gave me something to look forward to while I adjusted to living in a new country.

Now I have less trouble getting my name spelled correctly, which makes me laugh because I don't think I've ever had my name spelled correctly in the States.

Take a scroll with me and review some of the funniest instances. 

 

It started with this. Not too terrible, considering I butchered the pronunciation of e.



 I still have no words.

 

 At least this was a real name?

 

 Still nothing.

 

Getting closer!

 
I will cherish this forever. 

Elle Me Dit

This is one of my favorite French songs. It's fun to listen to it every few weeks to measure the improvement in my comprehension. I'm also able to sing along a little more every time! And the music video is droll. 

Quebec Vlog Week 6

Guys, I really love it here. And I'm starting to think I may be getting the hang of this language after all. "I have confidence in me!" 

Fleuve Saint-Laurent

Morrin Library

After feeling blah and bored on Monday, I decided that Tuesday was the day to fix that silly mood. (Turns out hormones were partly to blame!) 

I visited the Morrin Library, which happens to be the only English library in Quebec. It is so pretty inside! I didn't take photos with my dslr because it can be noisy and I didn't want to be intrusive. Reading time is sacred afterall. But! There are a few pictures on my instagram here and here. 

This little excursion definitely helped my mood. Exploring and lattes are two things that can cheer me up almost any day.

*editor's note: no vlog today! Probably tomorrow? My sister had her baby today! So of course I wanted to hear all about that instead of film a vlog. And the baby, Anselm, is so perfect. I'm in love. Pictures on fb and instagram! 

Adventure time!

Last Sunday I wanted to go to church, but I didn't want to go alone. As I was getting ready my roommate stumbled into my room and asked where I was going. I jokingly repsonded "Church, wanna come?" (Except in French. Always in French.) 

And he said yes. Haha. I was excited to have someone to go with! 

After the service, we both decided that we were in need of dessert, so we headed down towards the port and ended up at Queues De Castor. Pictures of that deliciousness below. 

Then we meandered around Vieux Port and ended up at a Thai restuarant for a late lunch. And we stopped by my favorite coffee shop for a café au lait. Instagrammed here. 

C'est tout! 

I chose number 4. Best decision ever. SO AMAZING. 

Classic Lisandro.

Further proof that I make good decisions: choosing the apple pie-like beavertail. Holy goodness. So amazing. So mouthwatering. If you are ever in Quebec you have to try a beavertail! There are so many varieties, but I've heard that this location in Vieux Port makes the best versions.

Hockey!

I've never been into sports, probably because my family is not very sporty. I never grew up watching football on Sunday or attending little league games. That's not my family's style! 

The closest I've come into contact with a sport was one semester's worth of volleyball. (Unless you count the time my mom tried to have me play soccer. I wore a skirt. And cried.) 

Like most people in the world, I adore the Olympics. But I feel that has more to do with patriotism than an overall affection for sports. 

However, I knew before coming to Canada that I wanted to attend a hockey match. (Game? I have no idea and Google wasn't very helpful. Help a girl out, y'all!) Is there anything more Canadian? I mean, besides Tim Hortons. 

My language school has activities every week and this past week the activity was a hockey match. Hockey season has just begun so that meant we were able to get tickets to watch Quebec City's team, The Remparts, play against Baie-Comeau. 

I didn't really know what to expect. This was my first time watching a game in person. I did not expect to love it! I actually didn't want it to end. And I totally got goosebumps when the national anthem was sung. I'm such a sap. 

There was such a feeling of community at this game- all of us were there to cheer on "our" team. It was the oddest thing to find myself automatically cheering at the right moment, booing when the opposing team scored, gasping when a player was slammed into a wall and then bounced off said wall. 

I couldn't take my eyes off that flying puck and I found myself wondering if I too could play hockey. 

That, to me, is a sign that I have thoroughly enjoyed something, when I catch myself daydreaming about it. 

Cheering on the team made me feel more connected to Quebec and made this place seem like it could be my home too. 

Let's go, Remparts, let's go!

Curiousity

"When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do." Walt Disney

Today I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. I couldn't stop fidgeting in class and all I wanted was to stare at a blank wall. And then I realized. I had a dreadful case of the boredoms.

I can honestly say that I haven't been bored once since arriving in Quebec. Quebec has definitely not lost its shine, but I may have lost a little of my curiosity. Well, not lost, satiated?

So now I'm on a mission to drum up curiosity! I'm going to make myself do something new after class tomorrow. Explore a new neighborhood! Try a new coffee shop! Something, anything!

One shouldn't waste time being bored, especially when living in a new and exciting place.

*side note, if you haven't seen Saving Mr. Banks yet, GO. It is such a good film. 

Bits and Bobs, 2

This is a trademark dessert shop in Quebec that I ran across last weekend on my pointless walk. (Y'know, the kind of walk where you have no end goal and are just meandering? The best.)

I knew it had to be good because even the locals love it! They serve this pastry concoction called "beavertail", aka: queues de castor. Basically it's a fried dough and then you choose the toppings. I chose La Quebecoise which was a maple syrup inspired dessert. For a girl who loves maple syrup, I came to the right place for study abroad!  (I'm still on the lookout for a mapletini!) 

Divinity. 

OH MY GOSH. This was the cutest thing. These two dogs, who were complete strangers to each other, were walking down opposite sides of the street. When they saw each other they bounded towards each other in complete joy. I've never seen anything like it! Made me a little teary. 

I'm getting good at these single girl portraits. A marketable skill? 

Some of you might be receiving these cute carved animals for presents come Christmas. But only if you're good for the next 16 Fridays! 

Quebec Vlog Week 5

I give out film recommendations like I'm Roger Ebert and talk about the weather. I'm a well-rounded journalist! #holler 

Parliament

How pretty is Parliament? I can't wait to see the inside! 

Before heading to L'Observatoire, I actually stopped by Parliament. Of course I hadn't checked the hours and it was closed. But that was fine by me, because it meant I was able to photograph the exterior to my heart's content.

Going places by myself means that if I want to photograph roses and shrubs for half an hour, I can! It's kinda the best thing ever.

And today my conversation professor mentioned that we might go as a class to tour Parliament next week. That should be fun!

This week has been long and wearying. I have no energy to write today. Blerg. Even the delicious café au lait I bought on the way home hasn't helped! I just want a nap. Maybe I'll procrastinate on the homework for little longer...