I live in Montreal for close to two months now. I am studying for one month. The amount of things I experience and learn is great, and I would love to share as much as possible with you. On my desk is a list of things I would really like to write about, opinions, philosophies, frustrations. And at a certain point I will write about all of these things. But I figured today it would be better to just give you a short update of what is going on in my life, since you did not hear my voice for a while.
Let me start with the studying part of my life. This is definitely the most time consuming part of my life right now. I take six courses this semester:
-Counselling Skills
-APA-lab
-Ethics in Clinical Practice
-Group & Family Drama Therapy
-Improvisation and Drama Therapy
-Practicum + Supervision
Except for the APA-lab, which is all about style rules for scientific writing for publishing, I find all my courses very interesting and useful. APA is useful too, of course, but it is just very dry and boring to sit in class listening to someone talking about punctuation and how to refer correctly for two hours. My other courses are very practical oriented, which means I get to practice a lot in class. I love this, because I think it is very important. However, it also means that I have to do all the theory absorbing after class, back home. The amount of readings we have is crazy! I try to keep up and this far I managed to read all the recommended texts before class, but I am not as fast in English yet, so sometimes it is very frustrating. My classmates have difficulties with the amount of it all too, so that is in a way comforting. Next to the reading there is also quite some writing to do: journals, reflection papers, essays.
My practicum took a while to get sorted out, but this week I will be able to start working in the field. There are two sights I will be working at as a drama therapist. One is a school for kids with behavioural problems, average age 17 years old. The other is a Jewish centre for the elderly, average age not appropriate to ask. Interesting combination right? I visited the school last week and I am very enthusiastic about working there. It is a small school (80 students) and I think the view of this school is close to what I believe in. It is going to be challenging for sure, so I like that. This Monday will be my first visit to the elderly. I think there might be some holocaust survivors, which is interesting for me, since I want to specialize in (war-) trauma. But I don’t really know what to expect yet in terms of population and mental conditions, so I am looking forward to Monday.
So bottom line is that I am pretty busy. But I do not want to complain about that, since I chose to be here for a reason and this reason is still there and very important to me. I think coming here to study was a good decision. These two years will help me become a better drama therapist, specialized and ready to apply for a job with WarChild, or start my own projects in Africa. It is a great feeling to see everything narrow down more and more, getting closer to my goal.
Studying is the reason I came here, so of course it is a big part of my life here, but I do also need some self care, some stupid fun. So what else is going on in my life?
I am trying to discover Montreal’ s nightlife bit by bit.This far I went to a small dance festival, a movie and of course a gay club. Yesterday two classmates and me tried to go to a concert, but we ended up nowhere really. The thing with the city seems to be that you have to have a plan. And everyone knowing me alittle bit, planning is not something I do in my free time.
I discovered a coffee shop, very close to school, which is a great escape from everything. Writing this down I realize this might sound confusing to my Dutch friends. I mean an actual coffee shop where they sell coffee. It is stuffed with second hand really comfortable chairs and sofas, the music is always great and they have good coffee. Except for shisha there is no smoking inside. I go here in between classes to eat my lunch or read a little.
I am getting ready for winter, although I really have no idea what to expect. Minus 35 – 40 degrees doesn’t tell me anything. I mean, that sounds very cold, but I have no idea what that is like. So I get myself informed and discover that I need to buy good boots and maybe even a winter jacket. My parents have send me my long black winter coat, but people keep telling me it is not enough… It is getting colder every day, so I feel I need to hurry up, before my balls freeze off (people really scared me).
I decided to move. I will follow my beautiful roommates to their new apartment which will be cheaper, cleaner and better located for me. This will probably happen around Christmas.
Well, I guess this is it for now. I hope I will have time soon to write about some of the topics I mentioned in the beginning. For now, you at least know I am still alive and kicking and what I am up to now a days 
All of you who know me a little bit, know that I am quite social and open to meeting new people of all sorts and kinds. This is one of the reasons why, till now, I had a great time here in Montreal: exploring, enjoying, entertaining and learning. I like meeting new people. That is why I decided to go to the introduction day of the CISA (Concordia International Students Association) today, in spite of the loads of reading I have to do for next week. I thought it could be a good place to make new friends.
The day started with a gathering in a big beautiful lecture hall. I met Peggah, a girl from Iran who I know from my stay in the hostel. But I barely get the time to get posted on what is going on in her life, because we are split up in different teams. I understand, they want us to meet new people. I want that too, that’s why I came, so fine. Let’s go meet new people!
But before we can do that we have to sit through this whole spectacle in which the board of CISA is introducing themselves and other ‘important’ people. This is where my doubts about coming to this day start. I feel completely out of place. I listen to some business-school-propaganda, followed by stories about how crazy (read: drunk) you can get at CISA parties. Everything seems so superficial. And what is with the screaming: ‘ARE YOU HAVING F U N !?!?!’ every five minutes? I seem to be the only one that doesn’t get it, because around me people are getting more and more enthusiastic.
With everyone around me clapping hands and producing grunts and screams of joy I wonder what is wrong with me. Is this how I should feel too? Do I miss the point? Or am I the one being superficial and do I not give this event and these people a fair chance? I definitely do not aim to be superficial and decide to stick around a little longer and give it a chance. So when we leave the lecture hall to do some games in our teams I take a deep breath, shake of the annoyance and start over. All ready to shake new hands and tell people my name and where I am from as if I never told such interesting things to anyone before.
I do not really like the games (which involve a lot of touching each other), but neither do most of my teammates, so that works kind of binding. I make some jokes with some people and even get passed the standard ’so where are you from?’ with some, but still… I feel very much out of place.
I don’t care about how rich your daddy is and I find the ‘and then I was SO drunk’-stories rather sad. Of course I do not tell people that, I still want them to like me. But every time I try to talk about something other then partying, drugs and sex, people tune out and walk away or just look at me really confused. I decide to just not talk about me or things I value anymore and to just pretend I am interested in their beer adventures.
When during the BBQ I find myself talking to someone who cannot stop looking at my breasts and someone else starts doing a strip act on a chair, I decide to leave and go home. I don’t feel like joining these people in a bar-atlon tonight. I guess I am not really a party girl. I feel very tired and I have to admit I am a little bit disappointed. This was not what I expected at all. I guess I got spoiled, meeting so many interesting people with big goals and visions the past year. But I can’t help finding it disturbing that all these people I talked to, seem to have come all the way to Canada just to party and show off. I wish they could see how privileged they are just because they are free to go wherever they want. I know I do.
Maybe I am wrong about the people I met today. Maybe I am the one being superficial. I hope so. I hope it is my mistake.
Yesterday morning 8 AM:
I open my eyes and discover with joy that I stare at the ceiling of my new room. Last night was the first night in my new room and I am very happy to have made it out of the basement because I started to grow a humped back. Rising from my squeaky (not so new but non the less new to me) bed I stretch myself and listen carefully to hear if the shower is free. It is! What a good start of an exciting day.
Today I am going back to school. And I feel like a 4 year old must feel: nervous and excited, non the less ready and prepared, feeling like a big girl. To bad my mom is not around to walk me to school, she would be real proud of me. I decide to wear my red dress: neat but comfortable. I take a last look in the mirror, brush my hand through my hair and off I go.
As I step out into the garden I discover my bike is gone. Bummer! I will have to take the Metro then. No worries, I still have time. Papineau station is really close to my home and the stop for Concordia University is on the same green line. It only takes me 15 minutes to get there. It is a beautiful day and I enjoy the walk. Everybody keeps telling me to enjoy this weather since it will be minus 40 degrees in a few months. So I do.
As I arrive at the Fine Arts Building in which the Creative Arts Therapy department is, I discover a room full of new students, all excited to start their studies and meet their fellow students. Some people already know each other. I figure that is because they did the introduction course this summer. I don’t know anyone yet, but how hard can it be to find nice and social people in a room full of people who want to become therapists? And I am right: within 5 minutes I am talking to a very nice woman who will start her studies in Visual Arts Therapy.
After the welcoming speech we split up in the disciplines music, visual arts and drama and I finally discover with who I am going to study the next two years. There are eleven of us: 10 woman, one man. Most of us are around my age, three woman are real adults (I guess between 40 and 50 years old). I am the only one in the group that was not in the introduction course this summer, which makes me feel a little bit like an outsider. But I don’t have time to worry about it too much, because like real drama therapists we enter the play space rather sooner then later. Playing together is a very nice way to get to know each other and I surely prefer it above talking (and you all know how much I love talking).
We play and show the others who we are, what we feel and what we expect in the following years. After this workshop we have a delicious lunch, we get to talk too second year students, we get stuffed with information and at 4 PM I leave University. Together with one of the older ladies in my class I walk to the metro station. We discuss what kind of place we would prefer for our practicum. For the first year we get placed by the staff members, so I am a little bit nervous about this being out of my control. Especially since you get paired up. For the whole year I will work with the same co-therapist in the same center, so it is of big influence to the whole learning process. I will get to know this week where and with whom I will be placed. I will have to trust the professionality and judging abilities of my teachers in this. Until now I am very impressed by my teachers (of whom one worked with my Belgian friend Daan in the past, yes it is small world), so I have faith. But I have to admit to being a little bit nervous.
When I came home I was pretty tired from all the new things, impressions, people and thoughts. So it was extra nice to be able to go into my new room, which is already very Trude:
First of all I would like to thank everyone for their birthdaywishes: thank you!
Secondly I would love to share my day with you. It was a nice day, I enjoyed myself, I missed my friends a family a little bit though, but my roomies where great companions too:
I started the day with making pancakes for Aelis and Norbert:
And how they loved it! They finished the whole pile
Then I went to Picnic Electronik to dance a little bit and make new friends. This time the party was at an amazing spot. Right in front of this view:
And this guy was not bad to look at either
When I came home I prepaired diner for my roomies, who where a little bit anxious about it being vegetarian… But again: they loved my food! By now, Lisiane also joined us and we are complete.
So I live with these people:
After diner, they gave me presents: strawberrycake and a beerhat with the flag of Montreal.
and look how happy she is:
Even een berichtje in het Nederlands, speciaal voor mijn Nederlandse vrienden en familie. Ik wil jullie namelijk vertellen over de grootsheid van Montreal, waar ik me als Nederlands meisje nogal over verbaas en ik denk dit best met mijn landgenoten te kunnen delen.
Alles hier in Montreal is groots. De binnenstad alleen al telt 365,13 km2 en 1.620.693 inwoners. Met de buitenwijken erbij 1.677 km2 en bijna 3,5 miljoen inwoners. Om een vergelijking te kunnen maken: Amsterdam telt 762.057 inwoners…
Daar waar ik vroeger als ik in een nieuwe stad ging wonen gewoon ’s morgens de deur uit liep en al ronddwalend de stad in me opnam, kan ik nu niet anders dan de deur verlaten met een gedegen plan. Gewoon ronddwalen brengt me namelijk helemaal nergens. Ik moet minstens een wijk uitkiezen voor vertrek en kan dan daar de hele dag zoet mee zijn. Een hele nieuwe ervaring voor me. Verdwalen is overigens wel vrij lastig hier, omdat de hele stad is opgedeelt in blokken. Waar ik dus ook ben, er is altijd wel een straatnaam die me bekend voorkomt. Ook het metrosysteem zit zodanig in elkaar dat ik het na twee dagen al door had. Dus praktisch is het allemaal wel. Maar ik dwaal af, ik wil het namelijk hebben over de grootsheid.
Alles is hier groot. De supermarkt aan het einde van mijn straat is gigantisch. Alle straten zijn minstens twee, vaak driebaans (en dat allemaal eenrichtingsverkeer). Iedere keer als ik een kleine koffie bestel en maar net op kan, vraag ik me af hoe groot een medium, laat staan een large dan wel niet moet zijn. De gebouwen zijn groot en behoorlijk hoog, zo hoog dat er eigenlijk overal schaduw is in de stad. De parken zijn ook supergroot en heel erg mooi trouwens. Waarvan de grootste de Mount Royal moet zijn: een berg met drie punten midden in Montreal van 233 meter hoog en naar ik schat een oppervlakte aan groen zo groot als Boxmeer. Ik vraag me wel af of deze parken nog gebruikt worden in de 6 maanden per jaar dat het vriest.
Maar het meest bizarre en meest echt typisch Amerikaanse dat ik tot nu toe heb gezien is toch wel het gigantische ondergrondse winkelcentrum. Dit is echt niet meer normaal! Je zou gerust drie dagen ondergronds kunnen blijven en je prima vermaken (mits je van shoppen houd natuurlijk), zo groot is dit. Pfew… Financiele crisis? Waar dan?
Nou goed, alles is dus nogal groot hier, behalve de mannen. Ik ben nog geen grote sterke mannen tegengekomen. Mijn romantische beeld van grote mannen met baarden in houthakkersshirts is inmiddels dan ook het raam uit gevlogen. Het ‘metro’ gehalte bij mannen hier is namelijk nogal hoog. En ik woon bovendien vlakbij een buurt, genaamd ‘the village’ waar het een soort continue gayparade is. Echt waar, deze hele straat is behangen met regenboogvlaggen, staat vol met gayclubs en sauna’s ‘just for men’ en al wat je er rondloopt zijn homo’s en zo nu en dan een verdwaalde enigzins geintimideerd uitziende toerist.
Ik vind het fantastisch hoor, dan maar geen houthakkers.
Yesterday I was at a danceparty. Every Sunday afternoon ‘Picnic Electronic’ brings cool dancemusic from dark clubs into the sunlight. It was incredible. I might go again next Sunday to celebrate my birthday.
I will let the pictures tell the story:
Some stunting in front of the skyline of Montreal
It took me only 3 days, two blisters and a LOT of explaining what the hell drama therapy is, but I did it: I found myself a home. And it is perfect!
But before I tell you all about the place I want to share my quest for it with you.
Day one, existed mostly of searching for availabilities and calling all these people to try to get appointments. I managed to get two appointments for the next day.
The first room I visited reminded me way too much of the first room I had in Sittard: cheap, but small, dirty and with boring roommates, as well as the area. I immediately knew this was not going to be the place, since I plan to go forward in life, not back to where I began.
Then I went to the house of a very nice Bolivian woman who rented out a room in her apartment. This woman was a real sweetheart and her apartment very nice, but I already have a mama.
Pretty tired, but with already two new appointments for the next day, I went to bed.
The next day I firstly visited a really nice (and handsome) guy with a really nice apartment. And I mean, really nice. But it was quiet far from the metro in a neighborhood that was a little bit edgy and I was afraid it might get a little bit lonely since this guy was not home too often. Still, it was a good possibility, I told him I would think about it.
Just now I called all these people to tell them I found the perfect place for me. Some sounded a little bit disappointed, others didn’t really seem to care. I am happy either way, because my new home is awesome!
I have a garden, a piano, a private bike and phone number just for me, three really cool roommates who will definitely help me with my French since they are from France, and on top of that: this house is really close to the Metro, which is very nice, especially in the cold cold winter.
And if you come visit me some day, there is plenty of space for you to stay.
As soon as I move in, I will make some pictures ad put them up here.
Now I am going to pretend I am a real (very happy) tourist. Finally…
I’m still trying to figure out how this works…
I hope you can see some pictures I made yesterday during a walk around the city.
Enjoy!
