Diwali in Montreal!

This year, being far away from my family, I didn’t expect to celebrate Diwali, commonly known as the “festival of lights” and being one of the most important festivals for Hindus.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed it as much as I would have being with my family in Madagascar.

Along with Indian students from McGill University, we went to the Ramji Temple, where, after praying and having delicious sweets, we celebrated Diwali with firecrackers.

Moreover, on the following Saturday, I went to the Diya Jale event, a south Asian ball organized by the ISA, PSA and MIPSA, 3 different south Asian groups of the McGill University. I spent the night meeting people, dancing on Indian songs and enjoying delicious Indian food and amazing performances. 

As you can see, thanks to people at McGill, we can enjoy each and every moment.

McGill!

I can’t believe it has already been a year since I applied to McGill!

What caught my attention the first time I heard about it, 13 months ago, was not only the fact that McGill in ranked among the best Universities in the world but also the fact that it is located in Montreal, Canada.

Living in Madagascar, I have always dreamed about coming to Canada. With McGill, I saw an opportunity to make my dreams come true. That’s why, after doing some researches about the University known as the Harvard of Canada and the city of Montreal, I ended up submitting my application.

In the following months, with the French Baccalaureate exam coming closer, I didn’t really have time to think about the application I submitted anymore. However, when I received the letter stating that I was accepted, I just forgot about the upcoming French Baccalaureate. I started completing the Canadian Visa application forms and gathering the needed papers.

Once I got my visa, I could finally come to Canada, the country I have always dreamed about!

3 months have already passed since I landed to Montreal and I can tell that I have really enjoyed the past 3 months, learning new things, not only at the University, but also about life.

Pleased with the decision I made a year ago, I am looking forward to the next few years I am going to spend over here. 

Montreal Santa Claus Parade!

On the 17^th of November, I attended the Montreal Santa Claus Parade most commonly known here in Montreal as “Le Défilé du Père Nöel”. That Parade consisted of decorated floats rolling on St. Catherine Street for about 2 hours. During those 2 magical hours, the St. Catherine Street was fully animated, with all kinds of entertainment, including music, dance and Christmassy scenes.

Seeing elves, fairies, people disguised in all kinds of Christmas tree decorations and finally the Santa Claus was mesmerizing but what really amazed me was the number of people that attended the Parade. I can even say that I have never seen that many people gathered in one place at the same time. In the Metro, they even had to stop selling tickets for a while as to many people were already waiting for the next Metro to come!

There was the same crowd we can see on the photo from Fort to St Urbain on St. Catherine Street 

From what I remember having heard, the Santa Claus Parade is an annual tradition, happening since 1925. As I really enjoyed it, I am planning on going next year as well. But before that, for those who couldn’t make it on the 17^th, there is another Parade taking place tomorrow at 7pm in the neighborhood of the Beaubien Metro Station. 

Snow! Snow!

I was trying to concentrate in my accounting class this afternoon when suddenly, while looking outside from the glass window, I realized it was snowing!  Seeing snow, I got so exited that while the prof was explaining how the statement of cash flow was important, I literally shouted: “It is snowing!” There was no way I could concentrate on the rest of today’s material. I couldn’t wait for the class to end so that I can go and walk in the snow.

As soon as the class ended, I ran outside and experienced for the first time the feel of the snowflakes on my face. It felt amazing!

“Snow! Snow!”, that is what I was repeating over and over again!  I am pretty sure it seems childish, but, what can I say in my defense? Experiencing the first snowfall of my life in a city like Montreal is just sensational!

I really am looking forward to playing in the snow, making snow mans and having snowball fights with friends! 

Montreal Botanical Garden

My visit to the Montreal Botanical Garden, the visit including the Insectarium and the Exhibition Greenhouses was mesmerizing!

As this is my first autumn with leaves changing color and giving  the trees a complete different aspect, I loved the Botanical Garden with its thousands of plant species.

Furthermore, as I went during the month of October, not only I could enjoy the Chinese Garden’s Magic of Lanterns festival but also the Gardens of Light at the Japanese Garden.

In the Chinese Garden, brilliant and colorful lanterns represented plants, animals and mythical scenes.

Although both gardens celebrated the festival of lights, the Japanese Garden was completely different from the Chinese one: a serene environment was created through illuminated landscapes emphasizing on the loveliest parts of the Garden.

While visiting these Gardens, I also had the opportunity to know more about the Chinese and the Japanese cultures through indoor exhibitions that were held.

                                      Chinese Garden                                  Japanese Garden

At the Insectarium, I saw different species of butterflies, spiders, and other insects. There, I could also weight myself in number of ants! I weight approximately 3,500,000 ants!!

 As for the Greenhouses, there were two I appreciated the most. The first one was the one where bonsais (small size trees) where exhibited. The second one was the one where decorated pumpkins were displayed. These pumpkins were decorated for a competition and visitors could vote, using the internet for the one they appreciated the most.

                                            Pumpkin                                              Bonsai

Until now, the Botanical Garden is the best place I have been to in Montreal!

If you are reading this and you want to experience the Chinese Garden’s Magic of Lanterns, don’t worry! The event Gardens of Light will be held until November 4^th! And if you really can’t make it until then, there is going to be another one next year, from September to November.