L'âme d'une aventurière

Moi qui avait oublié tout à propos de ce blog enfouit dans mes vieux (pas très vieux) souvenirs du Cégep. Eh voilà qu'il me reviens en tête à une période de ma vie ou je suis solitaire et loin de mes amis, ma famille, mon chum. Bref, j'ai besoin de me confier, ne serait-ce qu'à une page web oubliée, que probablement personne ne lira jamais.

Pour me resituer moi-même, je suis déménagée à Halifax, Nouvelle-Écosse depuis le 1er Septembre 2012. (Tout juste 1 mois aujourd'hui.) Ah, que le temps passe affreusement lentement les 30 premiers jours.

J'ai quand même eu le temps de détester ma nouvelle vie pendant certains jours, et de l'apprécier pendant d'autres. J'ai pleurer souvent, j'ai rit parfois, j'ai penser souvent.

QUE SUIS-JE VENUE CHERCHER, FAIRE, DONNER, PERDRE à Halifax?

J'en suis venue à la semi-conclusion que je suis ici pour faire des expériences qui seront enrichissantes autant pour mes élèves, je l'expères, que pour moi.

Je suis venue à la recherche de moi-même, en tant que femme qui ne se laisse influencer que par soi, perdue dans un environnement inconnu. Je ne peux compter que sur moi.

Bref, ma nouvelle vie est pleine de frustrations, de révélations sur la vie dont je n'avais aucunement pris conscience.

Il ne suffit que de sortir de sa zone de confort, de perdre l'accès à l'amour si facilement accessible de ses proches, de se retrouver seule dans le monde tel qu'il est de nos jours, pour réaliser.

RÉALISER.

Réaliser quoi?
Que finalement l'aventurière n'est pas si forte qu'elle le croyait, que finalement, la solitude finit par nous déranger après 1 semaine, que vivre en colocation avec des porcs c'est de la merde, que vaincre sa peur d'être en avant d'une classe sans avoir le choix d'y être et sans avoir le choix de parler avec enthousiasme, C'EST DURE.

Réaliser que la vie est dure malgré tout.
Qu'on était chanceux dans notre petite routine douillette, sans le savoir.
Réaliser qu'on était égocentrique de penser que notre vie était plate quand elle peut être aussi triste.

Je profite de ce moment de merde pour m'apprécier moi-même au lieu d'apprécier le reste.
Finalement, je réalise que, sans tout ce que j'avais l'habitude d'avoir au quotidien, la facilité de la vie, je suis maintenant prête à travailler sur moi-même, me prendre en main, planifier mes futures études, prendre du temps pour MOI.

C'est dure, mais peu à peu on rencontre des gens, et on rit un peu plus chaque jour, on apprend à laisser passer les choses qui nous énerves... on ACCEPTE la situation, on s'adapte.


prochain post = me défouler sur mes colocs. j'en ai grand besoin.

Interview with Mathias!

For my last post, I had to interview someone who’s not originally from Quebec about his integration experience in Quebec. I had fun doing this because it is interesting to be conscious of the Quebec particularities through the eyes of a foreigner.

Mathias is francophone. He is from a small city near to Nantes in France and is 24 years old. He visited Quebec many times.

His first time in La Belle Province was in winter 2005. Afterwards, he came in summer 2006, 2007 and winter 2012 for about 2 weeks each time. He has even been to Rimouski!

What struck him first is the greatness of the country. Everything looked huge to him: landscapes, buildings, roads, cars (the consumption of them, as well) and "Mc Donald’s menus".

He also said that the country looks "recent". The streets are straight, perpendicular and well organized, unlike in France where it is a little more sinuous and narrow.

According to him, Quebec has a pretty good integration system: people can not come to the country if they have less than 4000 dollars and there is a rating system (job, age, etc.). In France, it is much less supervised and it suddenly creates problems of integration.

Regarding food, "if we like fast food, we like Quebec". There is an impressive selection of fast food restaurants: KFC, Mc Donald’s, Subway, Burger King, etc.
There are some things that are quite different compared to France. Cheese is hard to find. Beer, bread and wine are 2 to 3 times more expensive than in France.

Regarding language, except for our ‘’damned’’ accent, we use a lot of English words in our conversations in French, making a funny mix. We have lots of pictorial expressions. He thinks that our language is quite straightforward. In France, there is a lack of spontaneity in language.

Another thing that struck him is the maintenance in natural parks. They are super well organized and maintained.

There is also a lot of volunteering which is not as developed in his country, unfortunately: "We may be a little too individualistic", he said.

Regarding the houses in small towns, they are not fenced, while in France everyone surrounds his house of fences or hedges. "We must be paranoid", he adds.

To end, Quebec is a beautiful country where everything is disproportionate. ʺBut if you want a country where wine and beer are cheap, come in France", says Mathias.

To me, this interview makes me want to travel in France in order to experience the integration in another country.

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!!!

HOW DID I EXPERIENCED THE STRIKE

First, I was torn between two feelings. To want or not to want? I wanted very badly to finish my courses as soon as possible. In the other hand, and just as much determined, I do not want this increase in tuition fees. Considering my choice uncertain, I decided to leave the fate of the vote in the hands of the other students. In short, I did not attend any assembly. Then after a week, I began to be in favor of this leverage the strike is. I was really convinced that students would succeed in making a difference.

But, unfortunately, the only changes it has brought in the minds of most Quebecers are negative. Students insult each other. The government is not interested. The police are attacking protesters. Protesters vandalize infrastructure. The population is becoming impatient and frustrated against the students and the government. Older people keep blaming the students, because they claim to pay for them with taxes. The worst thing is that all students do not stand together. The population does not support the students, but does not hesitate to criticize higher prices. Jean Charest and Line Beauchamp are not doing their job.         P.S. They cheat Quebecers.

For a nation that calls itself democratic, these two people very involved in the case of higher tuition fees do not respond to calls for democracy. They deny the students to discourage them. The Minister of Education is really insulting and disrespectful of population rights. Instead of giving talks to the media, she should discuss with us, the students, waiting for months! 

In addition to the opposition between the government and students, there is the opposition between the people against the rise and most of Quebec. The major problem of our nation is this: people are hypocrites. There would be other way to repay the debt of Quebec. The government does not know where to find the missing money. I have the solution: he just has to stop spending on things not essential. It should be like us when we are penniless. SAVE! Save and not spend what it has not. I think the country is very poorly managed. We work hard and earn little. We should not pay more even and the rest of the population either.

I understand the frustration this can cause for people who have no children. But education is a necessary for the entire society and everyone should give in this matter. Anyway, if this is not the price of education which increases, it will be another price. So, one way or another, people will pay more than today. So we should all fight together and stop letting our leaders do! :)

Big brother is watching you...