A Dane wondering…

Photo by: Wallyg

Walking down the street, sitting in the metro and talking with Montrealers, I have found myself wondering. These wonders I will try to create blogposts about in the next couple of weeks, but as I am not able to do all these blogpost right away, I thought it could be interesting to let you see them. Perhaps you have a comment, a new wonder, a better wonder.

• Why does The Gazette use a format that I have seen any Danish newspaper use?

• How does blind people cross the road when there is no sound to tell them when it’s okay to go (So far I have only heard the sound at one crossing in Montreal)?

• Where does the Homeless people on Rue Mont Royal go when it gets cold or wet – how does the social system take care of them compared to the Danish social system?

• Why do they spend money on heating up the metro that much?

• What is with the whole cheek kissing-culture – who does it, who doesn’t and do they do it in all of Canada?

• Does the cars in Montreal have special rust protection to be able to stand covered with snow the most of the time?

Is it a ”don’t” to talk about Quebec separatism with a minus 40?

“Don’t address the topic of Quebec separatism with anyone under 40 the first time you meet them – unless you want to be seen as hopelessly square. Whether you’re speaking to a separatist or a federalist, the subject these days is deemed tired to the extreme and an unforgivable bore on social occasions.” (Page 29, Lonely Planet – Montreal & Quebec City).

This was one of the first things I read about Quebec separatism, and I must say that it didn’t encourage me to look deeper into the topic. I find these national issues (can you call it a national issue?) very interesting, and I am one of those persons who grab the chance and ask Montrealers about their view on the separatism the first time I have the chance.

Actually I did. He is a Québécois Québécois, he explained to me. We had a nice talk about it, and I don’t think he found me extremely and unforgivable boring. Writing this blogpost I asked him, what he thought about the Lonely Planet-statement. His answer made me think about how great a power a book as Lonely Planet can have, if you just blindly believe what it says.

He said: “You shouldn’t listen to that weird travel guide if you are a curious person. For me this subject is never boring. I think nationhood is the status that all nation states must achieve, be it in Kosovo, Tibet, Timor Leste or Québec. It is very important to talk about that issue, since it is our future we are talking about. I think anyone who is bored by that debate is obtuse.”

I wondered if this perhaps would be an obvious answer from a Québécois Québécois, so I also asked an Anglophone. She was amazed and surprised when I told her about the words from Lonely Planet. It was interesting to see her reaction; you would imagine that Montrealers themselves could recognize their city in a book about their city.

In her eyes the topic is might said to be boring, but once you ask Montrealers about it they always have something to say. And they will always be ready to have the discussion.

These two persons are of course not representative of the whole population of Montreal. But their views reminded me not to believe everything I read, but when you are new in a city, a travel guide is sometimes your first lifeline to the city. I just find it problematic, because a book like that is affecting the way newcomers behave in this city. And to me it seems like the topic of Quebec separatism is not “extreme and an unforgivable bore” just yet, no matter what I know that I am going to keep on asking questions about the topic.

What’s the big deal with that poutine?!

Photo by Roboppy

“You should try the Elvis”, “You can’t judge it until you have tried a classic”, “It seems to hit just the right spot when you are either drunk or hung over!” “Go to La Banquise”.

I had my first poutine not too long ago. After a night of dancing and drinking all the well-meaning advice of how I could lose my poutine-virginity in the best and most tasteful way sprang into mind. I went into it open-minded, but I must say that I don’t understand what the fuss is about.

Poutine has a long history, but I guess all Montrealers know that… For all the uninitiated out there I can sum it up to this: French fries with gravy and cheese curds.

Being faced with one of Canada’s, and Quebec’s in particularly, national dishes I must say that I blinked twice when the plate of brown confusion was placed in front of me. I would normally prefer my fries as crispy as possible and the gravy as brown and thick as possible. And the two things not mixed together. The cheese I would not complain about.

So it was a cultural experience for me and my taste buds, when I ate the first soft French frie soaked in light-brown gravy and half melted cheese. But when in Montreal do as the Montrealers, and I must say after haven researched on and written this blogpost I might give poutine a second chance. It actually sounds kind of good.

If you google Montreal in Danish…

A bit nerve racking. My first blogpost, my first point of view about Montreal is about to be born. I hope you like seeing Montreal through my eyes.

When I was younger traveling in France, I met Charles and Valerie from Quebec. I don’t remember where they were from in Quebec, but I remember thinking, “wow those people seem so non-prejudiced, so liberal and so happy about life.” I think you would call it ‘joie de vivre’ in French (that’s what my Lonely Planet – Montreal calls it). I never thought I would be experiencing it. Living in Denmark, Quebec and Montreal were very far away.