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^ I have heard living in Quebec and traveling to Quebec as a tourist are two completely different things. As a tourist I have fallen in love with Montreal. It's such a beautiful city and deep contrast to Toronto where I am used to. There is always something to do in Montreal, the people love to party! I was just there on the weekend and it was great. Easy to get around, we rode the Bixie's all over the city. Restaurants are incredible! And I did not find that businesses were closed early. Many places in Old Port were open past midnight, same in the entertainment district. As for banks... I have no experience with that. In Ontario, most banks close at 4-5pm, with the exception of TD Canada Trust which is open 6 days a week, until 6 to 8pm on weekdays. I'm not sure if this is the same in Quebec.
But from what I saw, the infrastructure isn't that bad. Some of the bridges look old but still very safe. Then again, I don't live here. I can only talk as a tourist. People were very nice, and even the homeless people were bi-lingual! I had a fantastic time. The city has such an alive feeling, very open and accepting of all cultures.
Living in Montreal is just as amazing as visiting, I never fell out of love with the city and it's such a huge city that there's always something new to see. As for infrastructure, yeah it has its problems, but the problems are kind of overblown by people from other cities, it's like they think the whole place is crumbling when really it's just a small but expensive percentage. I wouldn't say it's all that much worse than Toronto, it's just we use more salt on the roads and alot of stuff is reaching the end of its lifespan at the same time. And yes, corruption at the time the stuff was built is a factor.
When I was 16, I was a Rotary exchange student in Japan. It was a terrific experience - it has had a profound effect on my life. I ended up majoring in East Asian Studies (it was called "Oriental Studies" - ironically Edward Said was teaching there at that time and had just published "Orientalism") as an undergrad. We thought about moving there - we even traveled around Japan so our kids could visit my host families. They love Japanese culture, but we decided the transition would be too difficult for all of us. Making transitions is a big issue when you have a family because everyone is involved. We view Montreal as offering the kind of life we want to live at this point in our lives.
America has changed so much in my lifetime. The idea of leaving the US is very difficult for my siblings and parents to understand. They are very tied to America (my mother's ancestors go back to the Mayflower) and are strongly Republican and Libertarian. I consider myself an Independent (the Rhinoceros party is not an option unfortunately). It used to be that there were liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats - they don't exist anymore. Sadly there has been so much energy focused on partisan politics at the detriment of the major issues facing our society.
From all of your posts Montreal (and Quebec) has its share of problems, but it also has some pluses. For me, the amount of public art from graffiti to art in the metro, the existence of independent bookstores, and a diverse populations says a lot about the cultural health of Montreal. Politics goes with the territory.
Acajack, I just saw "Mon oncle Antoine" - great movie! I saw on another thread you asked people to weigh in on their favorite BBC comedies - I loved the "IT Crowd" and was sad when it ended.
When I was 16, I was a Rotary exchange student in Japan. It was a terrific experience - it has had a profound effect on my life. I ended up majoring in East Asian Studies (it was called "Oriental Studies" - ironically Edward Said was teaching there at that time and had just published "Orientalism") as an undergrad. We thought about moving there - we even traveled around Japan so our kids could visit my host families. They love Japanese culture, but we decided the transition would be too difficult for all of us. Making transitions is a big issue when you have a family because everyone is involved. We view Montreal as offering the kind of life we want to live at this point in our lives.
America has changed so much in my lifetime. The idea of leaving the US is very difficult for my siblings and parents to understand. They are very tied to America (my mother's ancestors go back to the Mayflower) and are strongly Republican and Libertarian. I consider myself an Independent (the Rhinoceros party is not an option unfortunately). It used to be that there were liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats - they don't exist anymore. Sadly there has been so much energy focused on partisan politics at the detriment of the major issues facing our society.
From all of your posts Montreal (and Quebec) has its share of problems, but it also has some pluses. For me, the amount of public art from graffiti to art in the metro, the existence of independent bookstores, and a diverse populations says a lot about the cultural health of Montreal. Politics goes with the territory.
From reading your posts it sounds like you really are in love with the idea of living a french lifestyle in Montreal. If your husband is OK with that you should definitely pursue that dream. However, it might be a little difficult for your family to understand that you want to move Montreal because the US is too partisan.
Hello? Almost half of Quebec wants to secede from Canada - no friction there I'm sure! Quebec student protests? - the largest act of civil disobedience in Canadian History?
If you want to leave for Montreal because you love Montreal then go, but if you're leaving the US because the politics is a little too passionate for your tastes that seems an over reaction.
By the way, many posters have remarked that the US is going off the rails politically - things used to be so docile. Really? The USA was founded by rabble rousers. I can imagine if they had the internet back then - "The Americans are crazy - look at the blogs..." Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton was killed in a duel by Vice President Aaron Burr! Today we don't kill each other, we go to the blogs and call each other names!
Sadly there has been so much energy focused on partisan politics at the detriment of the major issues facing our society.
Seriously, a good old Parti Quebecois/Liberal Party fight for power will bring to you a whole new definition of partisan politics. Most Canadian opponents represent a true array of the political spectrum. Living in the US, I am amused by what is essentially two right wing parties fighting each other here. By Quebec standards, Obama and Clinton would be considered Right Wing. Most people South of border have never seen a true socialist.
From reading your posts it sounds like you really are in love with the idea of living a french lifestyle in Montreal. If your husband is OK with that you should definitely pursue that dream. However, it might be a little difficult for your family to understand that you want to move Montreal because the US is too partisan.
Hello? Almost half of Quebec wants to secede from Canada - no friction there I'm sure! Quebec student protests? - the largest act of civil disobedience in Canadian History?
If you want to leave for Montreal because you love Montreal then go, but if you're leaving the US because the politics is a little too passionate for your tastes that seems an over reaction.
By the way, many posters have remarked that the US is going off the rails politically - things used to be so docile. Really? The USA was founded by rabble rousers. I can imagine if they had the internet back then - "The Americans are crazy - look at the blogs..." Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton was killed in a duel by Vice President Aaron Burr! Today we don't kill each other, we go to the blogs and call each other names!
I largely agree with this analysis. There is likely to be a Quebec provincial election in September and the separatist PQ has a good chance of winning. This means that there is a good chance of a referendum on independence within four years. Trust me when I say this would be a passionate and tense political turn of events.
^ I highly doubt Quebec would separate from Canada. It would be heartbreaking. I don't want to get out my passport everytime I drive to Montreal! That would suck! Plus, Quebec relies quite a bit on transfer payments from other provinces which helps fund the province. I can't see Quebec surviving without Canada economically unless they dramatically changed their social policies and stopped subsidizing hydro/daycare, etc. Not to mention the massive debt problem in Quebec right now. Leaving Canada would be a disaster move. Right now (based on several polls in 2012) sovereignty support is around 30-35% in Quebec which would not pass any vote on the matter.
Regardless, seeing Quebec leave would be sad. Atlantic Canada would be isolated even more, it would be a big hassle having to drive across a country to get to 4 Canadian provinces. Hopefully it never happens.
^ I highly doubt Quebec would separate from Canada. It would be heartbreaking. I don't want to get out my passport everytime I drive to Montreal! That would suck! Plus, Quebec relies quite a bit on transfer payments from other provinces which helps fund the province. I can't see Quebec surviving without Canada economically unless they dramatically changed their social policies and stopped subsidizing hydro/daycare, etc. Not to mention the massive debt problem in Quebec right now. Leaving Canada would be a disaster move. Right now (based on several polls in 2012) sovereignty support is around 30-35% in Quebec which would not pass any vote on the matter.
Regardless, seeing Quebec leave would be sad. Atlantic Canada would be isolated even more, it would be a big hassle having to drive across a country to get to 4 Canadian provinces. Hopefully it never happens.
I do not think it is likely to happen either, but one never knows.
It's funny that you all assume that I am naive enough to think that politics in Quebec is gentle - I have read about the Separatist movement. BTW, we do have some pretty prominent Socialists - one of the most famous being Cornel West.
A major difference between politics in Quebec and the US is apathy - I think Americans have been led to believe that to disagree with the status quo is anti-American (i.e., the 99 percenters). Further, the fact that money = free speech, according to the Supreme Court, those with money set the political discourse. I am a proponent of fusion politics - you vote for candidates of any party that support your ideals. I am a progressive, but strangely enough, particularly in local politics, sometimes the best candidates are moderates. The Working Families Party (they have been lobbying to get themselves on the ballot in several states - they are in New York State) has been instrumental in getting info out to the public about where the candidates stand on the issues. When I talk about conservative Democrats (& progressive Democrats) and liberal Republicans I'm talking about politicians who were willing to "do the right thing" even if they were going against their party. Unfortunately they are literally a dying breed - most of them are about to retire or have died. Jose Serrano, a U.S. Representative of the Bronx, is a terrific example of this kind of politician and thankfully he is young.
I do not believe that life in Quebec is the same as life in France - in fact, I have never written that in any of my posts. I have asked people in this forum for information about cultural life in Quebec, not France. I have posted that our family would like to learn French - does this mean we want to live in France? I find this puzzling when the government of Quebec works extremely hard to have newcomers learn French. Is this a case, where even if you speak French you will not be accepted into the culture? I think the people of Quebec have to fight for the existence of their language - much like Iceland does. In Japanese there are 3 syllabi - kanji (Chinese characters), kana (phonetic alphabet), and katagana (alphabet for foreign words) - it is always clear what word is not a Japanese word. Also, the Ministry of Education has set a standard for the number of kanji that students need to learn. I have read that in Quebec there have been efforts to create French words for foreign words. Does the government set standards for the type of French that must be learned (French of Quebec vs. French of France)?
This is just my humble opinion, as an immigrant to QC myself, but if you are coming for the French/Quebecois experience, look outside Montreal. Montreal is different than the rest of Quebec - it is so diverse (which is fine) that one can get about in daily life without ever speaking French (aside from employment obviously). If you truly want to experience Quebecois life, look outside Montreal.
I have been to Montreal a billion times, but I live away, and I have travelled in rural Quebec. Two completely different worlds. Montreal, in comparison, was just like being back in Vancouver. Go outside Montreal, live outside Montreal, shop in stores/towns where nobody speaks English, where people celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste without a mention of Canada day, where people get excited to practice their English
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