And where were I?

I were telling you we found our first apartment (september 2009)

Barramejo was waiting the begining of his public french course called “francisation” available to all non french speakers immigrant and that gives in most cases an economic weekly support. I were looking for a job almost from our arrival.

Let’s beggin with the shortest story: Barramejo was evaluated to know what his french level was in may, but it had already started so he had to wait for a new group to be gathered or for the previous level group to “upgrade” to be able to join them. I would love if Barramejo would tell himself all about his french learning here. But for him, editing this blog is as good as it gets. He doesn’t really like to write, so, we have to content ourselves with my impressions of his experience.

Little boat seen from Trois-Rivières port

So, he had no choice but to stay at home waiting a letter from the french school to arrive. Barramejo went to the french course given at SANA by André a volunteer who if you ask me he’s Clint Eastwood’s twin, Barramejo also used to go to the library every week and he watched TV in french only.

Barramejo made himself a routine and he made a huge headway in his french learning process at his own pace and manner. The awaiting reached five long months and in that lenght of time he was far from being at the level he was in may.

Champlain's arrival to Trois-Rivières

In december he finally got accepted at the french school. The teaching method is perfect for someone with absolutly no previous contact with the language. Study groups are made of entire families of immigrants whom sadly most people is very busy trying to avoid get employed somewhere. I don’t want to be misunderstood but it’s a matter of likes. There is people happy with the idea of studying french a couple of years even if they already speak the language before even thinking of working. And there’s those who believe in working once you can speak in order to fit in your new society. There were always be more than one way of adapting yourself to your new home, depending on each family’s strategy.

All those lines to say Barramejo got quickly tired of his french course. He already knew what they were teaching him and unluckyly some of his classemates where more interested in being payed for studying than actually learning the language, so the class was not avancing a lot (or at all). In january (just a month after) he decided to sign up for the university french course, that really fullfilled his needs in terms of content and speed and allowed him to speak and write much better. The university french cours can be payed as a student loan. This province pays a part of it as scolarship and we start to pay our part six months after the studies are over.

Flowers at Victoria park

In the meantime I kept thinking that my french could only be improved while working. My story (and the end of Barramejo’s story) I will tell in another post.

As promised, Cirque du Soleil 2009

A year ago, I was announcing my plans to tell you all about the cirque du soleil free show @ Trois-Rivières. All in all, every show we saw for the 375th aniversary of our city was amazing.

And the city was pure beauty, there were flowers in virtually every corner, banners everywhere, almost all shops were decorated and even some residential houses joined the city.

Trois-Rivières charmed us and we felt in love like a couple of kids.

As long as I remember, no one complained about anything that summer. It was all about party and joy everywhere. For the cirque's show, every resident of this city went to the nearest mall, presenting a bill as proof of residency at 6 o'clock IN THE MORNING. Some people make it earlier and others even spent the night waiting for those tickets.


From six to eight a.m. we all lined up, we talked with strangers (about the weather, we're canadians after all) we told all kinds of jokes and we bought coffee and cupcakes from a truck. What a fantastic idea to sell coffee in your truck for all those people waiting for their free tickets in a cold morning. I'm sure that guy who camed up with the idea was colombian.

Even lining up people managed to smile!

The cirque ended giving two shows due to the huge number of people trying to get themselves a ticket. The first show was presented saturday the 26th september and the second was shown the next day. We went sunday.

Lights and fire works in the stage

The host of all important shows was an actor playing Laviolette Trois-Rivières founder.

Before the cirque show there were musical acts, we didn't even noticed how much time we waited for the cirque's show. The show was about a typical circus but the animals were played by the artists. The cirque du soleil is an amazing experience for all senses, including the sixth. If you have the chance to go to one of their shows go for it. Their music, stunts, costumes, make up, everything, everything about it is out of this world.


It's such a shame I wasn't able to capture a good picture of the show, but it's too late now to complain. It's kind of funny to tell you all this a year later... especially due to serious criticism about the 375th organization. I wouldn't really make any political statements in our blog so as a good colombian I'm going to drop it.

Let's not forget life is all about balance!

So, a list lessons learned cirque du soleil 2009:

1. To go to a cirque du soleil's show is mandatory in everybody's life. Can you tell me if you have seen it?


2. Citizens should check public investments and projects before are during their execution... not a year later.


3. If you're in love of the city you are living in, you better keep yourself up to date of everything that's going on there. To love also means to care.


4. Corruption exists everywhere. Don't go thinking that belongs only to countries as Colombia.


That's all folks! I have no more choice that continue to tell our everyday in Three-Rivers. Until then!