Posted by javableue on September 11, 2005, at 18:05:41
In reply to Wow!!! whats it like there? (nm) » javableue, posted by wildcard on September 8, 2005, at 6:31:39
I've tried so many times to reply to this, and I think the general consensus is I can't do the place justice. Unfortunately having never been outside the province for any significant length of time (or indeed in a position where I could get to know the area I was in) puts me at a real disadvantage for describing it because I don't know which things are exceptional and which aren't. I'm sure Maximus can chime in with some things I've forgotten.
Obviously the French presence in Québec has a huge influence on the culture, though how much depends on the region. Montréal, as well as some nearby suburbs and possibly other regions I'm not sure of, is pretty multicultural, and while French is still the dominant language, it's usual to hear lots of English as well as other languages, depending on what areas you pass through. I don't know how typical this is of other regions, relative to the rest of Canada; I stayed in Trois-Rivières for a French immersion this summer and a lot of students complained that they felt it was too homogeneous... on the other hand, lots of them came from big cities and I barely even noticed. One thing I love about what I believe are our three oldest cities (Québec, Trois-Rivières, and Montréal) is that they have lovely historical areas which all happen to be situated waterside... an excellent way to pass an afternoon.
Another thing which the visiting students found worth noting was the churches... they are predominantly Catholic here, and there are lots of examples of really beautiful architecture. (Not only in Catholic churches, although those are usually the most noticeable. I find St. Andrew's & St. Paul's, a Presbyterian church in Montréal, particularly stunning myself.) Although overall I think this province is less religious than others, though there are still many vibrant churches. Unfortunately, it can be a bit hard to find them if you don't live near a big city. On the food front, the only thing I can really comment on is poutine, which is fries with cheese curds and gravy. Basically a heart attack in a styrofoam cup, but can taste good if it's well done. Our weather is pretty variable, as we have intense summers and winters, but thankfully no major natural disasters. I don't know how this compares to the rest of Canada; I've heard conflicting reports from people moving elsewhere.
It is interesting to see how the French and English cultures interact, although unfortunately sometimes it doesn't go well. The issue of separation has been pretty much the biggest political issue for years, so sometimes there is a real sense of divison. Not to mention there are tensions on both sides; it can seem like a real struggle to protect French culture and language in the current situation, and anglophones can feel pressured both by this struggle and by the necessity of knowing a certain level of French depending on their job. I rarely notice any hostility between the groups - of course, I go to an English college where about 40% of students have French as their mother tongue - except at home, where my parents are regrettably quite racist in this regard. It's really sad to see, especially seeing as I'm half-French by blood (and my mom entirely so! although she was born in America and identifies as such) and don't feel like cutting myself off from that part of my heritage just to appease them.
Well, there ends my haphazard summary. Probably a better picture could be gleaned from web-sites devoted to the subject or, better yet, from visiting, should you ever have the occasion.
poster:javableue
thread:552126
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050909/msgs/553858.html