Allow me to introduce myself

My parents crossed the border (by plane) years ago and next Saturday I will continue the tradition. However, I will be stepping over the Canadian line to spend my junior year in Quebec, Canada to learn French.

This semester, I will be acclimating myself to the French language in Montreal while attending Concordia University. I'll then travel two hours north to Quebec City for my spring semester, where I'll participate in a French-Immersion Program at Universite Laval. Of course, this is only if everything works out, things are still up in the air as I wait for a confirmation on my CAQ (equivalent to a Canadian visa) and I'm still apartmentless.

At first I was kind of bummed at not being able to afford to study in France but after some research I've realized how much Montreal has to offer and how similar it is to a European city.

And so, with this blog I'm hoping to shed a new light on Montreal, one that's not just freezing winters and a winter-break destination. I want to come out of this semester with a better definition of what it means to be a Montrealer and a Quebecker. I want to find the differences and similarities between the US and Montreal. And I plan on doing so by writing about and reviewing literature, art, fashion, culture, and events. So expect a lot of photography and videos.

To start off, I'd like to introduce the band Coeur de Pirate...



What I found surprising were the tattoos covering 20-year-old lead singer Beatrice Martin. It totally broke a stereotype. No longer will I think that post-hardcore screamers are the only ones who can sport tattoo sleeves, but also sweet-looking singers who deliver piano-driven melodies on love.

Recommended songs:
Comme des Enfants, Fondu au Noir, Berceuse

Montreal Performance:
September2
Apple Store
1320 Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest
Montreal, QC H3G 1P7, Canada
(514) 906-8400