So…after two flights and a cab ride, we 12 students and 1 instructor are in Quebec now!
The flight from Memphis wasn’t too amazing. I sat in the very back of the plane next to a slightly creepy guy. He had a British accent yet was an American citizen (from Memphis, he said) and kept reading about EKGs. He was nice, though; don’t get me wrong. Maybe he was just as aggravated as I was about being put in the very back of the plane next to the lavatory (maybe he’d have called it “the loo,” haha). Anyway. After we waiting for what seemed like eternity on the tarmac (it wasn’t actually that long, relatively speaking, but it was kinda hot on that plane at first), we got in the air. A family of four sat in front of us, so I was kind of blocked in: creepy guy on my left, annoying family with 2 young kids in front of me, and the malodorous potty to my right. After that flight landed in Toronto, we had to try to rush to our next flight because we didn’t have much time. We went through customs. Unfortunately, we had to speak in English because they don’t do customs in French there. (I was nervous but still looking forward to trying to speak in French to the customs person). Anyway. After going through customs, we got our bags, put them in another conveyor belt thing to make them go where they needed to, and went through security again. We got to our gate and had time to sit around for about 10 minutes. When we boarded, I got to sit next to Allie, another student. She and I were on the exit row, so we had quite a huge responsibility of opening the emergency exit doors should we land unexpectedly (and therefore saving ourselves first, I guess?). I just liked having extra foot room; it beat being in the back of the plane SO MUCH. This plane even had a screen on the back of the seat in front of me that I could watch a movie or tv or whatever. I watched 2 full episodes of Modern Family (LOVE THAT SHOW) and got a little bit into another episode before we landed. On the flight there, though, we ran into just a slight bit of turbulence. Wasn’t a huge deal to me. I just liked that we could see lightning in the clouds! It was so nifty.
When we landed, I called both parents (remember, I have that international phone plan. Holla.) and informed them that I’d made it. Then we all went to get our bags. After that, we went to a currency exchange kiosk thing. We gotz our moneyz and then hailed a few taxis. We took about 4 in total to the hotel. (It’s called Hotel Manoir Des Ramparts, by the way. At least, I’m pretty sure I’ll have to check). It was so funny seeing places like McDonalds (the sign says McDonalds but we call it Chez McDo), Burger King, H&M, etc. on the way over. When we got here, it was just glorious. The hotel faces part of the city that’s lower in elevation so you can see a bunch (at least, I’m hoping! It was dark outside). There’s a light show on these silos across the way from the hotel. So amazing. Drew (the instructor) said they tell the story of Quebec, but I didn’t have time to sit there and see if that’s true. Maaaaaybe tonight. We got our keys, (Max and I are in room 304 in a building that has no elevator. Oh, and that’s technically on the 4th floor. The first floor counts as the floor above the main floor. I know it’s that way in France too.) unloaded our stuff and met outside at midnight to go walk around. We all walked around a bit in Vieux-Quebec mainly down Rue Saint-Jean. Most of the group was hungry so they went inside McDonalds to eat, while Drew, Elisa, Katie and I kept going. We walked down to just outside the walled part of the city and then came back to get the rest. We had about 10 minutes until the group was going to meet up outside, so I went in and got some food. Yay McDonalds! They don’t use nearly as many preservatives in their cooking, so it actually tasted a lot better to me, though. It was starting to sprinkle a little bit so we went back to the hotel. I hung out with Allie and Max for a bit and then we went back to our rooms. Max and I watched some awesome Quebecois television for a bit and then went to bed.
When we landed, I called both parents (remember, I have that international phone plan. Holla.) and informed them that I’d made it. Then we all went to get our bags. After that, we went to a currency exchange kiosk thing. We gotz our moneyz and then hailed a few taxis. We took about 4 in total to the hotel. (It’s called Hotel Manoir Des Ramparts, by the way. At least, I’m pretty sure I’ll have to check). It was so funny seeing places like McDonalds (the sign says McDonalds but we call it Chez McDo), Burger King, H&M, etc. on the way over. When we got here, it was just glorious. The hotel faces part of the city that’s lower in elevation so you can see a bunch (at least, I’m hoping! It was dark outside). There’s a light show on these silos across the way from the hotel. So amazing. Drew (the instructor) said they tell the story of Quebec, but I didn’t have time to sit there and see if that’s true. Maaaaaybe tonight. We got our keys, (Max and I are in room 304 in a building that has no elevator. Oh, and that’s technically on the 4th floor. The first floor counts as the floor above the main floor. I know it’s that way in France too.) unloaded our stuff and met outside at midnight to go walk around. We all walked around a bit in Vieux-Quebec mainly down Rue Saint-Jean. Most of the group was hungry so they went inside McDonalds to eat, while Drew, Elisa, Katie and I kept going. We walked down to just outside the walled part of the city and then came back to get the rest. We had about 10 minutes until the group was going to meet up outside, so I went in and got some food. Yay McDonalds! They don’t use nearly as many preservatives in their cooking, so it actually tasted a lot better to me, though. It was starting to sprinkle a little bit so we went back to the hotel. I hung out with Allie and Max for a bit and then we went back to our rooms. Max and I watched some awesome Quebecois television for a bit and then went to bed.
The next morning (this morning), we met up outside around 10 a.m. and walked around a bunch. I got some pretty good pictures. I haven’t decided if I’ll upload any onto here yet, but they’ll definitely go on Facebook.
Anyway. At about 11:30 we had free time so a lot of us walked around. Drew and I went to get bus passes but the place was closed until noon. I had to be ready for lunch at noon, so I went and bought a polo shirt from American Apparel and went back to the hotel. We all changed and met Drew at the bus stop. He gave us day bus passes and we all went to eat lunch at a really awesome restaurant called Graffiti. Anna and I got beef tartare and it was pretty interesting. Not terrible. After about 2 hours, we left and walked around more. We saw a bunch of interested restaurants and bars and whatnot. We also saw the stage where Elton John will be playing tonight, so I’m glad to be knowing where I’ll be going. He’s playing at 9:30.
Well, now I’m just sitting in the hotel room, just relaxing for a bit. I’m gonna check my e-mail and everything like that and wait for Max and Allie to get back to the hotel. I think then we’re gonna go out in the city until Elton plays.
I’ll update again soon, hopefully. Our day has mostly been structured, but I expect we’ll get more free time like I have right now.
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