Conquer the Colony in six easy Steps!

Bonjour Fellow Voyagers!

This week we have reached 10 months in the Colony!

That’s 44 weeks!

308 days!

6,487 Croissants!

94 bottles of wine!

…And 3 jobs.

Oh yah, 3.

     When I first arrived on the shores of the Isle of Montréal, I came with the promise of a job. As life would have it, that job was not for me. Well, it wasn’t for anyone, as the place went bankrupt. A business model of selling $9 pints of beer--beside a place you can get 2 Coronas for the price of one--was not sustainable.

     I began job number two under the eye of the siren: Starbucks. At the time I wasn’t aware of the French program offered by the provincial government to which I would be accepted. I took a position at Starbucks and frankly I have no bad words to say about the place. Especially the people I worked with. Being new in a strange and foreign land, I was very lucky to experience their kindness and openness. I have also learned that: ya’ll need to be patient when you’re waiting for your ridiculous beverage order. Those baristas work too damn hard for anything less than kindness. Also, I have learned that I can single handedly drink my weight in double Chocolate-Chip Frappe. I am both proud and scared.

     The third, and most interesting job was at a very cool cocktail bar on St. Laurent. I had assumed this was it! I had made it through the wilderness and was finally on my way out of debt, or at the very least, out of the “petit prix” section at the SAQ. Unfortunately in the end the conditions were less than favorable. Cool job doesn’t always mean great job. We had a difference of opinions. I respected myself—they did not.

     Here we are adrift again in search of a place, a purpose and above all…

*Cue theme from RENT… en français.

     This time around, oddly enough, I feel less lost. More “stepped off the path” than “lost in the desert searching for water and when you find some there is an ancient curse upon the fountain and the secret phrase is the Arabic word for love”. If I’ve learned anything from this ridiculous change in lifestyle it’s that I am adaptable and motivated (humble brag *tosses hair over shoulder.) It’s in these moments that you have to remember what you’re capable of overcoming in, order to move forward. For me, everyday success isn’t always taking more ground; it may just be standing my own.

     I find it easier in my job searches to leave the younger, more timid, Evan at home. He is very useful on the highway when I need to remind myself that no one is driving slower in front of me on purpose. I prefer to take out ambitious, confident Evan. The Evan that used to show up after a few beers at parties, able to make far too many jokes that no one was interested in hearing. I’m talking the confidence of those country club husbands. You know, inappropriate with the beer cart girl right in front of their wives confident? Oh the things I could do with the confidence of a straight, white, wealthy, male.

     Confident Evan also doesn’t fear his own French. Montreal can be a scary place if you are an Anglophone, or a car tire. The fact that everyone speaks English and French makes it, frustratingly, a very difficult place to practice my second language. I prefer to take back control. Force them to speak their own language and suffer through me speaking it back.

     Moving to Montréal was without a doubt the worst financial decision I’ve ever made. I was unprepared, financially, linguistically, and mentally for the how big the changes in lifestyle would be. That said, I have learned so much about myself and what I’m capable of. I’ve also never been happier. Moving for love is not highly recommended, so I like to think I moved for love and life. The life of wine, oysters, and bread that I expected has been replaced with, well, wine, canned tuna (only on sale) and day-olds.

It’s not all bleak.

If you are an English-speaker moving to Montréal, here are some job-hunting dos and don’ts:

1)   Do have your resume prepared in English and French. This is a bilingual city, respect it and more importantly, don’t limit yourself.

2)   Don’t lie. You either can or you can’t use excel. Let them know you’re willing to learn rather than them finding out you never did.

3)   Do, do your research. What does this company stand for? How much do the bartenders make? What is their tip policy (very industry specific but relevant.)? Read some Google reviews and go in for a drink first.

4)   Do speak French. Try to at least start speaking in French it goes a long way. From ordering coffee to choosing deli meat, and getting gas. JUST TRY!

5)   Don’t compare the wages to wherever you are from. Quebec has wonderful cost of living. Be prepared to meet the wages that come with this lifestyle. Budget accordingly.

6)   DO NOT GIVE UP. To all the boys that tried before, I say to you don’t give up. I arrived here without much more than bonjour. If I hadn’t tried, I would have been a Christmas graduate. It is not a simple move but, and I cross my fingers, it is a rewarding one.

Good luck out there, and remember:

          “It's the moment you think you can't, that you can” 
                                                                                ― Celine Dion