Quebec City #2

Wow. This city continues to amaze me. It’s definitely not difficult to get by without much French here, and every once in a while my attempts at my second language earn me some odd looks.

Quebec City is perhaps the oldest of Canada’s Cities, we walked past a building this morning that had a plaque identifying it as the first hotel built in the city, it’s 250 years old. I was amazed. Unfortunately, we came to the city without knowing when the pre-gathering sessions were to be taking place. Henry and I took advantage of our morning as tourists to go to le Citadelle. After the British took New France, on two different occasions, Quebec City was attacked by American Armed Forces (In 1759 and 1812). In 1820, to help defend the city, Britain built a fort on the edge of the St Laurence. This fort is known as la Citadelle. After confederation, in 1867, the British Forces no longer occupied la Citadelle. In 1872, the Governor-General of Canada adopted the fort as his official second residence. That tradition has continued to today and the residence is remarkable. The 22e Regiment of the Canadian Forces (Canada’s Francophone regiment) is housed in la citadelle as well. I’m really bad at this tourist stuff but I did the free tour of the Governor-General’s residence and I even learned some things.

Being in Quebec is a profoundly frustrating thing for me, even though it is really enjoyable. I’m continually reminded in French Canada that in many ways I’m only half a Canadian; that isn't exactly what I mean but I can't think of a better way to say that. Actually, let me try again. When I'm in Quebec I realise how much of the history and the story of this country is written in French, how much its culture and art and socitety has been shaped by both languages. Perhaps it isn't me feeling like half a Canadian, maybe it's better to say I realise that the Canada I know and love is profoundly inclomplete. I really really want to fill in the blanks. Of course I get frustrated that my French is so poor and have every intention of working on it as soon as I get home. Then I go home and don’t have a reason to learn any more. I met a guy in a store from Vancouver who came out here with the sole intention of learning French. I figure maybe that’s how to do it. I’m gonna need to be talked out of this plan when I get back to Vancouver so you might want to start thinking of all the reasons for me to stay.

This Afternoon we made it into the last bit of the second session of the pre-gathering. Big things are happening and I can’t even imagine what’s going to happen in the future. I have a sense of isolation that I can’t quite pin down.

God Bless you all.