First Couch Surfer at new place!

This weekend I had the opportunity to host my first couch surfer in Quebec city! For those who don't know couchsurfing.org is a really cool website where you can travel the world for free by surfing on people's couches in the city you are visiting. For the people hosting (like me), we get to meet someone new from another culture and show them the local joints and spots that you wouldn't see if you were a tourist. Also most hosters have been a surfer at one point or another so it is also about paying it forward.

I first feel in love with the idea of couch surfing when I was in Korea. One of my well traveled Irish friends told me about it and I hosted a couple of people in Korea. Then when I came back to Canada I had the opportunity to surf in a lot of new places like Montreal, Couberg etc. Every time the experience has been wonderful. So I wanted to pay it forward.

My surfer Chih-Yu is from Taiwan and he came here to attend a world scout jamboree. Which is like a grown up version of boy scouts. There are many countries represented and after the meeting he is now travelling across Canada with the money he has saved up over three years.

We became fast friends and over Saturday and Sunday I took him to many places. Our first stop was the Plains of Abraham where coincidentally there was a historical reenactment going on and we got to see people fire muskets, cannons and a mock duel. Then we walked around old Quebec and splurged on some roast duck, foie gras, and rabbit legs. At night time Yu broke out his analog cameras and taught me a lot about photography. He said he is going to send me some of his pictures - I can't wait!

Peace from Quebec.

My couchsurfer using his analog camera to take some night shots.

My friend Rebecca who seems to loves to climb on top of big black things haha.

Really expensive dinner, first time eating rabbit -  pretty good.

:D

Celtic festival - strongman games

We got to catch an historical reenactment

Inside the fortification walls

Parents visit

My parents came to visit me this past weekend, I took them around the city. We were able to catch the free showing of cirque du solei and afterwards we caught a ferry across the river to Levis side to check out the awesome view.

Oh yea I also bought some rock climbing gear cause I am going to get a membership to the Laval university rock climbing gym :D

The Good News Express.

If I had to sum up my life so far in Quebec city it would be titled the good news express. Ever since I got to Quebec city it has been good news after good news.

First I never expected to be placed in Quebec city in the first place, because the Odyssey program application stated there were only city locations for the province of Nova Scotia. Second, my coordinator at the school I will be teaching is also one of the presenters for the training sessions. Everyone I have met at training has been telling me how lucky I am to have Lucie and work with her! She is an absolute blast to have and her enthusiasm, knowledge and wit is contagious! Third, my apartment which was originally my second choice has turned out to be far better than I could imagine! It is located in a very central location relative to Laval university and all amenities. (I did some grocery shopping and it is literally a 5 minutes walk for everything I need). My new apartment is also close to all the bars and restaurants since it is so close to the university.

My living room. Super clean, modern and minimal decor. I decorated it myself.

my apartment from the outside. I am on the first floor by the corner near the doors.

Eduardo who is going to Ramouski, Kelly who is going to a suburb of Quebec city.

More friends from the training going everywhere. All anglophones.

My quebec city group. Well actually they are all placed in a suburb of Quebec city called Levies, which you need to go by bridge or ferry to get to and I am the only one inside Quebec city. But we are a tight group :D

Bar hopping on one of the nights.

300 participants in the Odyssey program from all over Canada. 60-70% of the people are actually going to an English province to teach French. So the Francophone population in the program is higher than the Anglophone population.

My mixed friend Lia - I said that she can only do the peace sign on one hand since she is half and that is an Asian move!

Fourth, the group of Odyssey people in my city are really tight.  I am placed with people who are all teaching across the river from me in Levie, but that didn't stop us from meeting up on the first day of arrival and going out until 2:30am! Fifth, I brushed up on my (western) cooking skills and already had a friend over for dinner and it turned out really well.

exploring quebec city in the rain with my frien

Oh, lastly while I was out with my friend yesterday walking around we stumbled upon the university and found out the athletic center has free volleyball courts with SAND! Beach volleyball is literally 10 minutes walk away from me whenever I want it! And the athletic center also has really cheap membership for their rock climbing wall!

These are just the major good news I can think of, the minor ones will be too many to mention. Anyways moral of the story: the good news express has come and Jack is on board! Chu chu motherfucker!

Mon vie en Quebec a commencer!
Jack.

Quebec City!

Finally settled into my apartment after a day and 1/2 of moving. I drove to the city for 8 hours with my dad in his van and all my belongings.

After we arrived we quickly dropped off all my stuff and proceeded to assemble all my bought furniture which was shipped over last week. The bed, computer table took about 5 hours to assemble in total and ended the night.

The next day we drove to the local walmart where I bought more furniture including a TV stand and futon couch for $128! - thank you capitalism!

My dad drove back after the assembly of those furnitures and I went to the Delta hotel Quebec to stay for the night and prepare for the 3 day orientations of training.

Luckily I met another Odyssey person who was going out to meet with some couch surfer gatherings and I tagged along. First we met up with a spanish guy who was in the city from Montreal to work in the army here and a Belgium girl who was backpacking across Canada. Then we hopped over to another gathering of English speaking couch surfers at another bar. With live music as backdrop, I quickly met another friend who lived next to Laval university and we already made plans to go rock climbing for next time.

Moral of the story: always show up to things early and never say no to meeting new people!

Le debut de noveau adventures!