la bilingue

Oui, la notre minette l'est:

- Lis, viens ici.

[elle arrive]

- Faz miminho, faz...

[et elle se met à rouler par terre]

- Minha mimosa! Tiens! (des gâteries pour chats)

[elle mange en me regardant] 

- Qui est la plus belle de touts les chats?!

- Miau! [comme je le comprends, ou "Meow" - comme les francophones l'entendent...] 

Et c'est comme ça que se passe le notre harmonieux quotidien félin 'franco-luso'  à Montréal... une ville particulièrement bilingue ♥

harmonieux

harmonioso In Infopédia [Em linha]. Porto: Porto Editora, 2003-2013. [Consult. 2013-01-14].
Disponível na www: <URL: http://www.infopedia.pt/portugues-frances/harmonioso>.quotidien 'franco-luso'...

love means no shame

Well, everybody recognizes that, once in love, we do crazy things. Passion makes us behave as insanes.

Yes, a romance may turn you into silly person, a fool of you! Sometimes, even exposing you to ridicule while declaring yourself flamed.

And you know what? You don't care (actually, maybe, just until this state of euphoria end... blow out. Then, you might repent it. Anyways, you live it intensely, with all your heart and soul.).

Public declarations of love, photos, phone calls, sms and messages... cute gestures, cherished statements.

Towards both of you, but it can contaminate others... everybody! After all, this is delightful, pleasurable, ineffable, gratifying. Not tawdry, indeed.

If the happiness of the others bothers people, probably they are 'un'- or badly loved. Unfortunately, it happens oftentimes! Therefore, I wish them for 2013 to find their other half. Having a hubby is the best medicine in this case. Seriously.

___________________________________________________________  

novelty! (like it or not) 

Having said that, I can say I love Montreal, its four well-defined seasons - ergo: snow during the winter (despite that sometimes may be too much).

It's something new for me, and for my friends and family. To all of those to whom it is not understandable, I do not give a shit!

Lots of photos will still be posted (such as on Facebook), liked, and commented as well. Many texts will also be written about that once in a while - whether they mean to or not. 

For some, boring; for others, magic!

___________________________________________________________ 

ame e dê vexame!   
(in a loud and clear Potuguese)

Luis Fernando Veríssimo said: "...eu desconfio que a única pessoa livre, realmente livre, é a que não tem medo do ridículo". So do I. 

Hence, please, DO NOT feel embarrassed for me. My love and happiness are not worthy of your empathetic embarrassment. I absolutely do not deserve that!

I am, in fact, very well (enough) - with all my utterances and exposure. And you? 

 

winter memories

photo: Fanny Perret

We'll never forget the first snowstorm we witness... Freezing, wet, white, it's something! At the same time, it may be awesome for who is not used to. Become beautiful to foreign eyes... A romantic souvenir, even if chaotic.

All novelties turn us into a kid. That is wonderful, although all damage and trouble caused by this worst blizzard occured in Montreal area in December.

en français, S.V.P.

How to avoid boring mobile phone companies calls, being in Montreal?

- Pourriez-vous parler en français, svp?

- Sorry, M'am, but I can't... However, I will ask someone else able to call you later, ok?!

Nevermore disturbed.

___________________________________________________________  

By law, services must be offered primordially in French in Quebec, using English as an alternative. After all, their official language should be respected.

This is not the case, though, in real, pratical daily life here. Unfortunately. 

what do you fear?

Before, she said be scared of Lula's victory in 2002 Brazilian presidential election. Her call,  this cut rate appeal in José Serra's political advertising didn't work indeed. Then, in 2009, Regina Duarte keeps the same cheap speech; at that time, against Indigenous People.

According the Centro de Estudo Ambientais, she is a farmer in Mato grosso do Sul. Considering that, her behaviour really does't surprise me. Both agricultural estate owner and neo-liberal, of the right... It would be comical if it wasn't tragic! One way or the other, a unfortunate philosophy of life.

Being anti demarcations, besides appropriates lands which used to belong to Indians... I'd suggest that this (not correct - in the bargain!) Ma'am lost good oportunities to remain silent on issues concerning politics.

During a delicate periode like the current, I hope she doesn't dramatize again (with or without "monsters" under her bed).This has been the joke of the year (for 10 years!).

___________________________________________________________

Ça va (encore) chier solide!

Encore sur des craintes... 

M. Gilles Vaillancourt, le maire de la ville de Laval, prend du repos sous prétexte de problèmes de santé. Histoire de ne pas avoir un coeur assez impavide pour affronter toutes les accusations qui le concernent. 

Comme lui, beaucoup d'autres politiciens doivent être si inquiets pour être dans la merde jusqu'au cou!  Gérald Tremblay, le mairie de Montréal, peut également bien le dire...

C'est la Commission Charbonneau faisant chier! Tout un scandale sur des systèmes corruption éclatant au Québec.

de la culture, n'importe où

18h30 d'un jour de semaine... Il fait tout temps chaud dans le métro.

Il n'y avait pas du monde dans le vagon, seulement 18 personnes.

Une lisait le journal (pas les gratuits), une autre était à feuilleter une revue, et une troisième regardait attentivement un prospectus.

Deux autres écoutaient de la musique sur ses ipods, pendant deux autres jouaient sur ses mobiles (ou checkaient des messages...).

Cependant, ce qui a retenu mon attention, c'était le fait que huit passagers lisaiet des livres... parmi lesquels, plusieus appartenaient à la Grande Biliothèque! (son tampon est tellement apparent qu'il est impossible de ne pas remarquer!)

Les trois dernières ne regardait rien - peut-être les fenêtres, en attendant qui le temps passait vite... C'est pas fou, ça arrive.

La majorité des gens, donc, avait le savoir sur les mains durant le voyage! C'est bien.

J'aime ça d'ici, cette culture. 

___________________________________________________________
 

Des livres, ils nous apportent où bon nous semble. N'importe où.

ex/é change

- C-H-A-U-D.
- Parfait! Tu l'as écrit correctement... Mais, c'est quoi "chaud"? Est-ce que tu sais ce que ça veut dire? 
- Oui, c'est "hot"!
- Ok... [en fait, pas convaincue, en attendant une réponse liée au climat, temps ou à la temperature] Et, quel est le contraire?
- C'est "cold", n'est-ce pas?!
 
It's impressive how easily bilingual children change from English to French (mode) in Montreal.

Il est impressionnante la facilité avec laquelle les enfants bilingues changent du (mode) français au anglais à Montréal.

(*they put adults to shame - including me! / *Ils mettent les adultes la honte - moi compris!)

A flourishing future wait for them! / Un avenir prospère les attend!

___________________________________________________________

bilingüismo

Eu adoraria que o mesmo acontecesse na América Latina com o português e o espanhol!

¡Me encantaría que lo mismo sucede en Latinoamérica con el portugués y el español!

one year has passed since then

366 days in Montreal (*2012, a leap year). Not even one of regretting, though.

I'm very happy about my choice, all changes.

Good luck maybe? Yes. I would also say: good FRIENDS.

Furthermore: I found love! (or he found me... actually, BOTH!).

Life giving us another chance... the universe conspiring in our favor.

Ok, I'm REALLY pretty lucky. I couldn't ask anything else!

Only good things to celebrate today and so on. THANKS, life!

___________________________________________________________

By the way, SPECIAL gratefulness to Dedé, Beto, Isadorable and Jeremy!

(besides my mother, evermore! ♥ ) 

Oh, and I couldn't forget: for that la pétanque redhead guy I fortunately met at Lafontaine Park, too. Their friend... An impressive story! After all, nothing happens by accident. 

___________________________________________________________ 

How could I foget Saint Nicholas? 

Once he pointed me to this destination (literally!), he is also responsible for my happiness.

private garden

I support campaings of urban farming. However, differently of community gardens which exist in Montreal (an excellent idea, by the way!), I have my own organic one, which I cultivate alone.

Well, I'm also in favour of home gardening:

Mon jardin... I love that! ♥

dutch machine

Despite of a school bus, in Holland is like that: kids pedal to go study!

Yes, a (different kind of) bicycle is their transport. What a good idea!

I love that... Everything related to their means of transportation.

(It's a good thing that in Montreal the spirit is the same! I'm really glad to be here - witing for summer, to finally ride a bike...)

nouveauté

À Montréal:

   de la neige 

+ de la bonne humeur 

_________________________

= des gens qui viennent d'arriver

*Je suis contente (comme un enfant), je confesse. 

there

Not alone: the best one in the world.

___________________________________________________________

Bed-in 

In Montreal.

As John Lennon and Yoko Ono, 42 years ago...

Just wanting love and peace.

The ideal.

another river

... another (point of) view.

Another city.

Another story...

Another life!

marching

Although I' haven't totally understood yet their cause, I'm convinced that Zombie Walk is an interesting movement. 

(Maybe also influenced by Occupy Montreal) Many people went downtown yesterday. They attended the parade with weird costumes and so much make-up. Big style!

Cool! (or « bizarre! »)

des citrouilles

Partout:

un délit?

Parc Lafontaine

Un petit gamin fait pipi près d'un arbre.

(Il n'est pas carnaval, c'est l'été des indiens, mais... quand même) Est-il un hors-la-loi?  

Au Brésil, oui, il le serait - n'importe quand. 

Bon, je ne suis pas d'accord avec le mamans que laissent ses enfants pisser partout (surtout les garçons!), mais, quand il faut, il faut...  C'est comme ça, ici ou là-bas!

le français

C'est ça que j'm:

Je parle
Tu ne me comprends pas
Il répond
Nous changeons des experiences
Vous êtes gentils  
Ils rient

(toujours, presque comme ça…)

I'm in love with French, I admit.

J'essaye... parler, comprendre, écouter, répondre correctement, me faire comprendre! Since I arrived in Montreal, and now, mainly because I'm studying it, it's impossible not to say I'm completely involved with the idiom. 

Actually, I used to be when I attended some classes in the past, but it was not so intensive. While interested, it was not the same experience as living in a place where everybody speaks that, where the language is partout!

I fell in love, as a tree leaf fall... naturally. By now, I can say I'm changing (not my color, but the way of my thoughts, et ma vie). By the way, it's already Autumn! 

Well, for sure, it’s another season for me… Why not? Since I’m discovering different things far from home, and blooming as long as I’m not so green anymore. C'est ça... tout a fait!

It’s natural… as being in love, looking for someone before the winter come, wanting and also accepting all changes.

Ça arrive... C’est la vie!

by force

A sad reality among so much happiness and perfection...

I’ve never thought about rapes or sexual violence in Canada. However, today I was informed that around one in four women has suffered some kind of sexual abuse here, or even attempts, at least once in  her lifetime. “Too much!” - I said impressed to Julie, who attended me in the 2110, giving me some information about sex issues.

Actually, I don’t know if this number is refered only to Montreal (Quebec) or if it is a mean of all their cities. I used to live at easy, calmly, with no worry about that here… until tonight! Coincidently (or not!), a guy tried to grip my arm under a viaduct while by my side. I was a little afraid, without understand what he wanted... and could do with me there. Fortunately, nothing happened due to a lady who passed by bike exactly at that time, disturbing him (and helping me by chance! - Thanks God). 
   
Although Mtl seems being a peaceful and safe city for women, it‘s better pay attention - always! I‘m going to inform myself about who are the men who commit it, the way it occurs here and why. I‘m sure that the reasons (besides the “basic” uncontrollable desire of pervert men) are different for the Brazilians. Let’s verify… and as soon as possible, I’ll write explaining something which is simply inexplicable - inadmissible and unforgivable.

By the way, congratulation to people who help others with these sexual problems, all demages...

Despite implicit, the heaviest scene I’ve ever seen about that was played by Monica Bellucci in the French movie Irréversible. It’s extremely distressing. I hope nobody, experiences it, or undergoes a traumatic similar situation, wherever.

Better if I could help them... So, (hey, ho) let's go!  

la sieste d'après-midi

Parc Père-Marquette, midi

Ici, c'est comme ça:

Les gens mangent dehors, surtout aux parcs, en profitant de (la fin de) l'été. Et, tout de suite, prennent une sieste.

J'aime ça!

le temps de dîner au soleil

Square Victoria, midi

C'est l'été! 'Faque', il est le temps de manger dehors, n'importe où.

Ici, différemment qu'en France, on dîne à midi (on déjeune le matin et on soupe en soirée).

Cependant, l'habitude de profiter qu'il fait beau, c'est la même... tout le monde ensemble: collègues de travail, mamans avec leurs enfants, couples etc.

(J'ai l'impression qu'ils le font même plus que nous, au Brésil).