Bonjour from Montreal-One week

Im alive,

This I am sure of. My eyes are tired, its 2am on Wednesday morning and Im sitting on the free internet at a cute little auberge (inn) that is costing $19 canadian a night in the heart of Old Montreal, an area that was developed by the French a few hundred years ago, our building is this old.

Am I happy? Well, things could be worse. Settling in well really, need to find a place to live, a job, found friends which is the main thing, and I need to find a way of getting the girl Im totally mad about to be with me. Thats not fair actually. I was thinking that things would be as they were with us in NZ, but alas of course, this is a new day, a new city, Carrie is a busy bee. Bad timing. All I want to do is love somebody who has no time to be loved. What do you do in times like these? Sit at a key board and blog to your friends scattered all over the world, whilst eating duty free chocolate feeling sorry for yourself? No! Well, hang on. It could be worse, she could have told me that she did not feel the same way, perhaps that would have been better? Then again, at least if things are meant to be they will be, just not in the next massively long next few year period. Love is all you need, da da da da da, all you need is love, love, love is all you need. So true, so tragic. Blah, cry, sob, im letting it all out for you. Meeting with her tomorrow at 3, lets see what tomorrow brings :)

So apart from my love life feeling like a steam train out of control heading towards the edge of a flat earth I thought I lived on with magical romantic corners everywhere and a train driver called cupid, things are good.

I had my first french tutorial today, met a girl educated in Paris who I am paying $20 an hour to critique me, a challenge ahead I tell you. A lot more in a language than I realised, determined though now that I have started, nice to be able to speak to locals really, they probally have very interesting things to say throughout what currently sounds like super fast something I do not process. YOGA! Yes, found a free class on Tuesdays at Concordia Uni, which is in the heart of Down Town, Carrie actually studies Phsyc there (30,000 students !!!) lucky really it is for students only but I met the teacher outside the hostel, he was parking his car. Funny how things happen. Now I have met a brother who has offered me a room at his house for a week, turns out that he did his OE in NZ as a study break I presume, owes Kiwis a few favours were his exact words, this has made my day, its not economical to stay at backpackers long turm, even in Aussie I managed to stay in Vans but its too cold here, plus I feel more like a oncoming resident of this place rather than a traveller. Who knows where the road shall lead from here. Listen to yourself Shane ;0

The locals are great, met some people that are just keen to lend a hand, finding me a place to stay, whatever, really accomodating. They dont understand leaving summer for the coldest time of year over here though, not that it is yet but boy, put your woolly undies on. Sucks to be single here in the winter im told, when hibernation is natural. Carrie, if you read this, listen to your fellow Quebecians, you need someone in your bed. Be with me I dont care that you are busy. So what. All the better the time we do see each other. Blah blah blah im nuts about you and Im telling everybody about it so how about it? Dont worry, im not desperate guys and girls, anyway, im sure you have been here bofore at some stage. Its a first for me, and what really sucks about it is that it jsut makes you want it even more. Who came up with that? Come on, right now, show yourself, cupid, I will kick you in the arse. Please dont shoot me again anytime soon.

First sign of homesickness, just wished that my bed was here. How about everybody in NZ comes here on the 31st to celebrate Halloween with us? How cool is that! I get to carve my first pumpkin. We are taking Carries cousin out trick or treating hopefully, always great to absorb childrens enthusiasm and energy, be around it as much as you can, they have a lot to share, we can learn a lot.

Anyhow, Im going to plonk my emotional arse into bed before my brain explodes, send some messages my way, love to hear what you are all going to do for the coming day following the moment you read this, whatever it is do it with a smile and remember that I love you!

Over and out from the French quarters of Canada,

Shane xoxo

PS Bring my bed over with you, cheer.

---

---