Montreal Experience

[Reba 2]

Montreal does sadly have a reputation for not being the easiest city to get around in if you're a pedestrian, or not used to the crazy drivers there! I always avoid driving at all costs, and take other transportation. I'm used to being a pedestrian in a crazy city tho, Toronto isn't much different really. I've usually found that most people are more than happy to practice their English if you respectfully let them know you don't speak French. Although I have come across Quebeckers who refuse to speak English, they weren't in Montreal.

That said, I've never had a bad experience in Montreal. I love the city and wish I could go back for another visit. Even if only for a half decent bagel and some poutine

I'm sorry you've had such a bad time, it really is a beautiful city with lots to do and lots to eat! I had my car broken into in a parking lot in Toronto, and I had an even less than acceptable response from the police there. I had a camera in there, and a couple of duffle bags full of clothes and dance costumes in the trunk, all gone. They pretty much shrugged and said "it happens, what are we supposed to do about it?" From then on, I have never left anything of any value in my car again, no matter where I am.

*sigh* now I want a bagel.

[A-PhiJill 0]

My husband is from Montreal Freda, and being English Canadian, he would agree with ya! He has no desire to ever go back there...

Of course he has to go there on business the week after next!

[Freda 0]

Just an update, I am now still in Quebec but in Saint-Jean-Sur Richelieu. I have my visa in my hand, OH MY IT HAS TO BE THE PRUDIEST THING I EVER SAW!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL. Today was a much better day I got to explore a bit while we wait on 2:30 to pick up the visa. So we walked around and did some shopping, and I must say it was a far better day, guess all the nice people decided to get out and about today. Only one nerve wracking experience today and no one from Montreal was to blame. I got to the window to pick up my visa and they couldn't find it. **gasp*** thankfully after about 30 minutes they did, rough 30 minutes not breathing!! LOL. I even managed to get out of Montreal and here in one try, didn't get lost once. I figured it out. I was use to aggressive driving while I was in Montgomery but over the past 7 months being back in Nova Scotia I got soft again. So today I set out with an OH YEAH I CAN DO IT attitude and it worked. So after a rough 2 days I am sitting here waiting for my daughter who I haven't seen since Febrauary to call so I can go over to St. Jean garrison and pick her up. So to all you from Montreal I do apologize, but I do want to remind you all about first impressions. But I am glad I had to stay there another day, now I can say I MIGHT go back for a visit.

[cdngirl06 0]

Glad today was better for you! Congrats on the visa!

[Mermaid 0]

Congrats on getting the visa Freda! Nice to hear you had a better day today

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Congrats on the Visa..... I made a mistake of booking a 6 day vacation in Montreal from the Uk... about 3 years ago now... it very much remindedme of Paris... the people were very rude and went out of their way to speak french so fast that I did not stand a hope in hell of understanding them... the service we received was so poor that after 4 days we left and went to Toronto... wonderful city and I would recommend Toronto to anyone.... Montreal never again....

Kezzie

[Sharon 1]

[Cygnet 0]

I'm glad you had a better day.

[Mephys 2]

First of all, congrats for your Visa!!!!!!!!

I am really sorry to hear about your experience in montreal though. I am french canadian and I was born in montreal, been living here all my life. I agree with what people wrote here on many points.

Just to let you know, driving and staying in Montreal downtown is something nobody wants, even not people living in montreal. I never drive in downtown either. It is way too crowded, streets are loaded with peoples and cars, it is a really stressfull environment to be in, even for us. There is a little more criminality over there too, as far as I know.

And I am sorry to hear about people being rude to you. There is a lot of mentalities over here, from the people who are simply not able to learn english, to the people who are really open minded and dont mind anybody no matter where they come from or what language they speak, to the people that are just too proud to be french canadian and that hate the rest of the country or any english people for that reason. It is really sad in my opinion, and although I really like being part of this french culture, Im ashamed of the way some people are acting over here. I mean, we are french canadian, so what, there is no point in being rude with other people for that reason. And it all has to do with politic too and i think its really stupid because I dont care about politic.

I know that you know now, but for everybody that may have to come to montreal for their visa, just dont think that all the people living in Quebec are like this. Its just a part of it unfortunately. And i would highly recommend to anybody that has to stay for few days not to stay too close from montreal's downtown. You would be better to stay a little more far and drive to the embassy.

mephys

[ILoveMephys 0]

just thought I would chime in here as well as being an American that visits Montreal for work relations as well as to visit my love (sure you can guess who). I have only been downtown Montreal two or three times and never had a bad experience at all. A friend of mine took me to see the area and while driving in the streets and dealing with people where we were dining at and having a nice little smoke afterwards (Stogies...good cigar bar) were all but kind and well mannered for dealing with a person such as myself with "0" french skills. However I am learning french for my sweety, it still needs alot of work.

My suggestion is to deal with each experience seperately. You just so happened had one of the worst days most people could imagine there and I hope that any other trips or experiences you may have in Montreal are pleasant.

Maybe since I am from Chicago and I hate to go downtown here as well, I think our downtown is a little more congested with taxi drivers from hell, but to each their own, some love it, others hate it. I enjoy my trips to Montreal and I hope that you can see some of the better sides of it in the future.

But definately congrats on your visa, its always a pleasure to see someones hard work and deterimation pay off in ways few could ever imagine. Best wishes for everyone involved.

Edited June 11, 2006 by ILoveMephys

[KarenCee 3]

Oh Freda....I am SOOOOO sorry you had such a horrible experience. Wish I could give you a hug too. I'm just so very glad you have the visa though. Stina is right though...not all Montréal is rude...Joel had a good experience even though he speaks fluent french, no one would speak to him! As for it being rude for Americans to expect the French to speak English....I heartily disagree with that. I expect, at the very least, for a modicum of respect from one human to another regardless of nationality! Besides...50% of Montréal is English!

When you get to Alabama...if you aren't already...get in touch with us! We've got to plan a get together with all of us here in the South! Yeehaw!!!! Another Canadian in the South!!!!!!!!!!!

[evilcanuck 0]

its funny, growing up in northern ontario we always heard how rude people in quebec were, we have our share of english/french rivalries and I fully expected to be treated like ####### when we went to montreal for our visa appt. Thank god my son had to come, years of French immersion were going to be a benifit I was sure....however I was pleasantly surprised by the french people in the service industries attempting to communicate with me in english when it was obvious to them I couldnt (wouldnt) speak french. Every person whom I dealt with initially addressed me in french, and I replied in english, and from there they carried on in english to me, albeit with a very heavy accent, they tried and that impressed me a lot.

I have a lot of resentments left over from years of having french rammed down my throat in school and such, canada being declared a bilingual ccountry etc, yet the french do nothing to actaually be bilingual...its french or nothing there...so ya there is a lot of bitterness left hehehe

As far as hotels, we got into the city well after midnight and I am cheap..I wont pay $100+ per night to sleep for a few hours, so we headed back out about half an hour where there were little motels and such. There was a small one on the side of the road, with a sign advertising rooms $40 or womething like that, so we stayed there. The rooms were cute, and clean, but we opted to sleep on top of the covers with the lights on, because well....there were 100000 spiders in the awning outside the room and spiders are nocturnal so turning the light off was not an option LOL

They had a continental breakfast but we got up and were gone b4 they served it, thank god we did leave that early tho because there was a ton of construction on the highway on the way in so even leavign at 8 to make a 30 minute drive, we got there just in time at 9:30!!!

Our inerview was a friday so we didnt stick around to pick the visa up cuz I coldnt take 2 more nights of spiders LOL It arrived in the mail a week or so later.

[hockeygal 0]

I have a lot of resentments left over from years of having french rammed down my throat in school and such, canada being declared a bilingual ccountry etc, yet the french do nothing to actaually be bilingual...its french or nothing there...so ya there is a lot of bitterness left hehehe

I find it interesting that so many people have this view - of course I became more aware of it after I left Quebec. Everyone I ever knew in Montreal was fluently bilingual. I think it depends where you go in the province, but they would probably say they have English rammed down their throats too. And for all the ramming done across Canada, I do not encounter many people who actually speak French or do anything to be Bilingual either, so I am not sure why the expectation should be any different in Quebec.

Well, we are all going to encounter the same thing in the USA, only with Spanish. Personally, I am signing up for Spanish classes this summer and will continue them during my unemployed period in the US. If I learned anything growing up in Quebec it was this - you can choose whatever side of the political fence you want to stand on in a language debate, but for getting ahead and being employable etc... languages are a plus! Hola baby!

[lynnmatic 0]

Hi Freda,

First, Congratulations on your visa. And I am sorry to hear about your horror experience in Montreal. I've never been there, but have heard the similar story several times from different people. Hang in there till tomorrow, looking back it will all be like a bad dream, but reality is that you will have your visa in your passport and be on your way to be with your loved one.

I guess I was so lucky to have my interview in Vancouver.

Good Luck with the rest of the process.

Senka

Hi

I live in Victoria B.C. and was wondering how you got your interview in Vancouver. I assumed I had to go to Montreal.

Judy

judye52@gmail.com

[Flames9_RN 358]

Lynn:

If your doing a cr-1/ir-1 everyone in Canada goes to Montreal

If you are doing a K1 or K3 Vancouver does those as well. Think It is manitoba and west.

Where about in Victoria do you reside? I lived there for nearly 9 years. Lived near thr Gorge area. Actually on Colquitz street. Beautiful city.