Week in Review

So, we got our SINs (social insurance numbers) Friday which is the Canadian equivalent to US Social Security Cards. Now we can do things like open a bank account, health insurance (finally get to see if it is as good as they all say) and other random things like get library cards.



About five minutes after getting our cards I got pulled over by the polzi. Apparently I turned left down a street that I wasn't supposed to even though traffic flows both directions. Believe it or not I had a good experience with them and they didn't even write me a ticket. They did let me know that I have to get a Quebec car tag and drivers license by the end of March. If I keep the GA tag after three months of residence our car would be seized and we would have to pay a hefty fine to get it back. So we'll be getting QC tags in the very near future.


We've also found a way to help stem the budget bleeding from our
coffee/espresso/keep up with ella habit. We bought an espresso maker on Friday. We figure after we make 95 espressos it will pay for itself and I think we're around 20 made since yesterday evening. Total crackheads. You have to drink coffee in heavy doses to stay warm and they have more coffee shops than I have ever seen, typically one every block. So the local economy will take a hit now that we're not hitting a coffee shops, but alas what are we to do.


Next weekend we're headed to Quebec City for a daytrip. It is the annual Carnival festival and it happens to be the 400th year anniversary of the city. So we'll get to see ice races, dog sled races (iditirod style), luge racing, igloo city, ice hotel, etc. It should be pretty awesome and we're planning to hit a sugar shack on the way.


Other Random Carnival pics.....

We also made a trip out to Mont Royal to play in the snow today.....
http://www.garytempleton.com/mont-royal/

Our First Snow

This is what happens when you don't move your car and a snowplow comes through....

We got to experience our first real snowstorm this past weekend. It was pretty nuts considering we're from Atlanta and we're lucky if it snows a total of one inch throughout the year. On Friday it snowed an inch in 30 minutes and by the time I left work a good eight inches had fallen. By the time we woke up Saturday morning over a foot had fallen. However, life rolls on here when it snows and believe it or not we went out to dinner Friday night. Don't fret, we didn't even think about driving as we left that up to the local professionals. I thought I had found us a decent Mexican restaurant to try out, but it wound up being fairly terrible which was the first bad food experience we've had here. Jonathan let me know that we are a long ways from Mexico. I can also count on him to give me the voice of reason/common sense on such matters.

Ella and Ally had a big time in the snow, click here to see.

We were supposed to go out for tubing or sledding on Saturday, but it just didn't happen. We opted to stay indoors.

This is a pic from a parking lot. Yes, that is the actual height of the snow. Just crazy. On that note it is supposed to snow crazy amounts Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Who knows, guess we'll just have to see.

Ella's new school & other randomness

Last Friday we went and visited Ella's new school. The name of the place is Imagination and it is bi-lingual so she'll hopefully catch on to French quickly. The teachers at the school think that she will be speaking French within two weeks, but I think that is a little aggressive. Who knows. I just hope to understand some small conversation soon. It isn't so easy navigating around this city as an illiterate English only hombre. We start our French classes next week so hopefully speaking/reading/writing will start to come a little easier. The good thing is that I can get to work and back without too much of a problem. My commute is 10 minutes on a tough day and 4 minutes on a good day. I haven't had a commute this sweet since working at Photo Express in Athens.

We hit up Walmart Friday night too and it was quite an adventure. It was just like a Walmart back in the states except they spoke only French.



Saturday night we went to a steakhouse and Michelle had the most amazing looking piece of beef ever.

Pictures, finally, from the trip up

I finally got some pictures posted. These are from the trip up, but we'll hgave some more later on that are of the city, apartment, etc.


Click here to see the pictures....

We Made It!

Salut! Well, we are finally here! We had quite an interesting trip. We stayed in Washington D.C. for two nights at Hotel Monaco. It was very cool. The first night we ordered room service for us and Alley! They brought her an entire buffet including treats, adult dog food and of course, bottled water. We were there January 20 - 22. We saw MLK protests as well as a pro-life protest. It was very cold and crazy trying to go and do anything with Ella and Alley. We ate really well and drove around to see the sights. The second night we ate at Fogo de Chao. It was awesome. The waiters were very impressed with the amount of meat Ella put down!
We hit the road for NYC Tuesday. We had a pit stop in Philadelphia and ate at Geno's cheese steaks. It was raining and freezing. Geno's is a walk-up place so we decided to eat in the car. Ella was sitting in my lap in the front seat and proceeded to say "I need to go potty." Being that we were in South Philly, we were not near a good place to relieve yourself. So we told her let us finish eating and then we will find a place. All at once, I felt a very warm sensation in my lap! She relieved herself right on my lap in the front seat of the volvo parked on a side street in south Philly! You should have seen us trying to clean-up and get to a change of clothes for me! It was not so funny then, but now it is hilarious! We made it to NYC later that night and ordered a pizza for dinner. We decided not to stay an extra night because we were so ready to get to Montreal. We made it through customs where we met a family from Columbia. The 8 year old daughter was the only one who could speak English. She was translating between the Canadian Border patrol and her family. She told me they lived in Gainsville, GA before coming to Canada. I asked how their trip was and she said it was long and they even had to go to jail! We were in and out and the police were still going through their belongings.
We pulled into Montreal around 6:30 pm Wednesday night. From that point on, every time we step out the door it is a new adventure. From going to the grocery store to doing laundry, nothing is "easy." We are having to learn a "new" way to do everything. I went to a STEP class tonight (aerobics) and the instructor taught it partially in English and partially in French. She would yell "overt" and I finally figured out I was suppose to go over the step. There was a French lady next to me who was probably in her sixties (she kicked my butt, by the way) and she had a frozen bottle of water. Every so often she would bang it on the floor next to her step and yell different things in French!
Ella's first day of school is tomorrow at Imagination. I love her school. When you walk in you know it is "kid" centered. Everything on the walls the kids made. There are two teachers both are bi-lingual but one "specializes" in French and the other in English. When we went to visit it was a little girl's birthday. So Ella had cake and milk with them. She had a great time and did not want to leave. There are 3 NHL kids in her class. Maybe we can get some free tickets.
Overall things are going well. The hardest part is being patient. Everyone, well almost, has been more than welcoming and helpful. Our apartment building is full of students and elderly ladies. The elderly ladies LOVE Ella. They all talk to her in French and she says "oui" or "merci." Probably because that is all Gary and I say!
Okay, hopefully I have blogged enough for our anonymous poster to continue reading. We will do better about updating and Gary will post some pics tomorrow! Au Revior!

MT's Thoughts and Mumblings

6 days and counting...I can't believe it. Ella's school called today and her teachers are very excited to meet her. We are meeting them Friday 1/25 and picking up her uniforms. (American Apparel, Ella's so hip) I mailed 5 boxes of clothes and toys today. It is really happening. I am so excited but anxious as well. This is a huge opportunity for Gary's career not to mention a once in a lifetime experience for us all. My Dad said to update the heading to a "temporary home" instead of our new home. ha ha.

Again, Gary and I had a great time Saturday. Thank you all for coming and sharing the good times. Also, special shout-out to Cousin and Coco for the fabulous hosting!

Thanks & Prepping

Thanks for everyone who came to the party Saturday. Michelle, Ella and I had a wonderful time and it was nice to be surrounded by the family one last time before hit the road.

Courtney and Aaron thank you so much for putting it all together!

We have begun sending some of our belongings to Montreal. I loaded the car last night with all of the clothes that we're shipping. I cleared off my desk this morning with the office stuff that I am taking. This week is pretty much all about preparation for the drive.

At this point it looks like Michelle and Ella will be making a trip back to Atlanta at the end of February and then we will all be coming home for Easter which is on March 23rd.