it's 1:57 pm, lunch is over and the faculty of irabu senior high school is sitting in the teacher's room, working, or, as in my case on this particular afternoon, pretending to. it's still summer vacation so there are no classes and we are pretty much all there. oddly and rarely, working at 1:57 pm today was a very quiet thing, until "julia-saaan!" i look up to attention, as its my kyoto-sensei (vice-principal) screaming my name from the front of the room. "hai!" i scream back. he asks: "did you cut your hair?" (i have been back to school for a week now) "hai!" i scream back. by this point all the teachers are looking on. then, "nande?" (why?) i tell him that my long hair was too hot in this weather. he just about accepts this reply, then decides to ask one more question that i do not understand. everyone bursts into fits of laughter: "ahahahahahahahaha, ahahahahahahahaah!!" i pretend to go along with it: "ahahahaha." it ends. moments later, the very kind math teacher who sits at the desk next to me asks me for a japanese-english dictionary. i provide one accordingly. he points to the japanese word that translates to "dissapointed in a lover". he then says, as best he can: "my boss worry this is julia's story, so you cut the hair." i want to tell him that i am not that kind of girl, but that would be rude, so i don't.
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there are lots and lots of french restos and bistros in montreal. some are great, some not so great, some very expensive and some quite cheap for what they serve. here are my top pics, all things considered:
Au Pied de Cochon 536 Duluth E. 514-281-1114
i'm a big fan of au pied de cochon. the atmosphere is fabulous: bistro-style and relaxed, i just love it. and the food... excellent. but you definitely have to be a carnivore to eat here.
L' Express 3927 St Denis 514-845-5333
i have been going to l'Express pretty much since i was a newborn and my mum just popped me under the table while she enjoyed one of the amazing steak tartare at one of the most autentic parisian bistros in montreal. not what i would necessarily call romantic though as the tables are very close together. skip dessert and head a few doors down to Suite 88 Chocolatier (3957, Rue St. Denis) and try their fresh preservatives-free chocolates instead..or their gelato or amazing pear-almond cake. the very first "montreal chocolate lounge", or, as some have called it, the "Tiffany's of chocolate" (minus the price of course). in short, original chocolates to be amazed by.
Au Cinquième Péché 330 Mont-Royal E. 514-286-0123
this is a cute place, and the food is really good though portions are on the smaller side. great wine list and in a nice location for an after-dinner stroll..
Entrecôte St-Jean (L') 2022 Peel 514-281-6492
the best steak et frites in montreal. that's all there is on the set menu, but its delish. i ended up here at least once a week when i worked downtown. the service is efficient, but not the friendliest- so you've been warned! its worth it though.
Chez Pierre 1263 Labelle 514-843-5227
good for duck and extensive wine list. a bit on the pricier side though.
Le Flambard 851 Rachel E. 514-596-1280
le flambard is a bring your own wine, and the food is very good, service pleasant and good atmosphere. they do two services in the evenings so call for the times and to reserve.
Le Maistre 5700 Monkland 514-481-2109
the place to be if you find yourself in n.d.g. (my hood- wahooo!!) or on monkland. it's very good. very.
and, last but not least, here is a recommendation from a web-friend, david in toronto:
Le Bonaparte 443 St Francois Xavier 514-844-4368
david says: "traditional and somewhat touristy but their prix fixe is a pretty good deal. Great service." the place does get excellent reviews and is in a good location in the old port for an evening stroll along the water. thanks david!
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i finally turned off the AC today and opened all of the windows in my apartment. there comes a time when you just have to do this. for one thing, having a similar indoor and outdoor temperature means that you don't go into shock when you step out the door, and your glasses don't steam up. also, its better for the environment, cheaper, and healthier. after all, if every hot country in the world pumped the AC, we would be in a much worse-off state than we already are. as humans, we must learn to adapt. my current adaptation is sitting in front of the fan in my skivvies typing this.
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there is something that compels the japanese to 'just comment'. every single person i saw at work today, including students, said 'oh, you cut your hair'. full stop. no indication of whether this is a good or bad thing, just the statement, in case i had forgotten or something. what is up with the japanese and their tendency to just state the obvious? so i tested my student who works at mos burger today after she, too, uttered the same five words. i asked, "kawaii?", meaning, "is it cute?" her answer? a straight-in-the-eyes, dead on serious "no". well, that'll teach me to ask about the obvious next time.
this just in- while dining at mos burger this evening with a japanese friend- she informed me that she has met the man of her dreams, that she is madly in love with. she plans on marrying him and having lots and lots of babies with him. this is IT. they have each other's keys and he knows her ring size. they met on saturday. that's two days ago. it just never ceases to amaze me. but i guess love at first sight may just exist.
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- its so fucking hot you think you are going to pass out at any moment - you blast your AC, and turn it on and off about ten times during the night - airport staff help you wheel your luggage to the people waiting to pick you up - airport staff lift your ridiculously heavy luggage onto the conveyor belts - flight attendants put your carry-on luggage away for you, adjust your seat into its upright position for you and replace your table for you. talk about service. - flight attendants give you their pen to keep - your sink is soooo low you get a backache from just washing your face - after driving your mother's good car, your own car's breaks feel like they don't work- back to driving a jalopy makes you realize how shitty it is - you get confused when you turn corners about which lane you are meant to be in - you take a boat to work - you are already sweating as you get out of the shower - you are back to taking three showers a day - kids point - people stare - people wonder what you are doing at the bank.. hmm... i wonder!?
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- you fight with your family, because you are close (physically) to them - you don't have a secret language anymore - people give you dirty looks when you use dirty language - you use a clothes dryer to dry your clothes - everything (appliances, food) seems huge and quasi-industrial - you drive into oncoming traffic- wrong side of the road. - you are amazed at the one nice waitress you meet in weeks, and give her a hefty tip - there are rotten eggs in your salade nicoise and they give you a free iced T. cheapskates.
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- there is suddenly a ton of drama since you can now communicate with people - you can blow way too much cash in two days on clothes and accessories - cakes taste good and are not made of sponge - it dips down to 13 degrees C at night - you drive 8 hours and arrive in the big apple - you feel overwhelmed at the bookstore as the whole place qualifies as 'English section' - you find many more people attractive - you become rude
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