Last summer, on a whim and without a plan, I left my life in Connecticut and moved to Montreal.
People tell me I’m brave.
Really? I’m a travel journalist. I traveled through Nepal with a snow leopard expert; I stayed with a family in Uzbekistan who spoke no English. I also had a private meeting with the King of Bhutan.
Montreal is only a 6-hour drive from my hometown in Connecticut. I don’t think that’s brave. Frankly, it seems pretty safe.
Yet moving here at age 42 freaked me out. I haven’t been to Canada in over 12 years and barely know anyone.
After my parents dropped me off, we spent a few days together exploring my new city, which was easily accessible without a car—it felt like the start of another semester abroad. Only this time, I’m older and have no plans to leave.
The last time I went to Montreal with my parents was in the summer of 2003, when I studied abroad in Hanoi for a semester. I had my first pho meal in Montreal’s Chinatown.
So why Montreal?
A Facebook post about the May full moon changed my life.
My lease is up in Ridgefield, Connecticut. The same goes for my relationships. My landlord wants an extra $500 per month for the 1,100 square foot one-bedroom apartment in the woods that I share with my now ex. That would bring the monthly rent to $3,250, not including utilities, which typically hit $700 in the winter because of the high ceilings.
I took all this as a sign to leave.
But I’m going to write a check for $5,985, buy a $1,995-a-month, 900-square-foot, one-bedroom duplex nearby, and then buy a car.
Then a Canadian friend shared that her 638-square-foot one-bedroom apartment in Montreal’s Little Italy neighborhood was available for six months at a rent perfect for a writer: $1,100 CAD, or about $775 USD per month, including utilities, WiFi, furniture, and a nice patio. My friend is a professor who has been working abroad for half a year.
I’ve wanted to live in Montreal since my first job at the Quebec Tourism Office’s New York office (a position that eventually launched my travel writing career). I also speak French. It seemed natural, so I said “oui”.
I found that Americans can stay up to 6 months at a time when visiting Canada. However, anyone who resides in the country for more than 183 days in a calendar year may be subject to tax. Foreign media workers like me don’t need a work permit either. I consulted an immigration lawyer about staying in Canada.
Watching the Stanley Cup semifinals at a bar in Montreal. Contributed by Erin Levy
my new life in canada
Since moving, I have learned to row. I take classes every week at Olympic Basin, and each beginner class costs $200 CAD. Gliding hundreds of meters alone on a scull is one of the best antidotes to my anxiety. However, socially speaking, I should join the dragon boat team.
My neighborhood, La Petite-Patrie, is home to some of the city’s top restaurants, including Vin Mon Lapin, Pasta Pooks, and Limbo. Jean-Talon Market, the largest open-air market in northern Mexico, is my local grocery store.
Some cultural highlights include celebrating Jewish holidays at Leonard Cohen’s synagogue, attending my first F1 race, cross-country skiing at Parc du Mont-Royal, and watching a hockey game on my own.
Of course, there is also loneliness. There was a desire. Moving to a new city isn’t easy when you work for yourself. It’s also not easy to be more than 10 minutes away from my parents and their delicious cooking. But I also made new friends, hosted old friends, and opened my heart.
Brave, right? Maybe I really am.