Dans cet épisode, je reçois Pauline (@paulinefleurit sur YouTube), une expatriée qui a vécu aux États-Unis en tant que fille au pair, puis au Canada (Montréal) grâce à un PVT.
Elle nous partage son parcours, son quotidien, ses galères, les chocs culturels…
On aborde :
Les différences culturelles USA / Canada / France
Les attentes irréalistes qu'on peut avoir avant de partir
Les réalités du travail, du logement, de l'intégration
Les imprévus qui changent tout…
🔔 Abonne-toi pour ne pas rater les prochains épisodes de Récits Expats
💬 Laisse un commentaire pour me dire ce que tu en as pensé
🎧 Écoute le podcast sur ta plateforme préférée :
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💛 Merci de faire partie de la communauté Récits Expats,
où chaque écho est une histoire, et chaque histoire est une aventure.
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Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/recitsexpat/
TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@recits.expats
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/recits.expats
Blog : https://www.recitsexpats.com/
#canada #montreal #pvtcanada #quebec #pvt #expatriation #podcast #temoignage
Elle nous partage son parcours, son quotidien, ses galères, les chocs culturels…
On aborde :
Les différences culturelles USA / Canada / France
Les attentes irréalistes qu'on peut avoir avant de partir
Les réalités du travail, du logement, de l'intégration
Les imprévus qui changent tout…
🔔 Abonne-toi pour ne pas rater les prochains épisodes de Récits Expats
💬 Laisse un commentaire pour me dire ce que tu en as pensé
🎧 Écoute le podcast sur ta plateforme préférée :
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | Deezer | SoundCloud | Podcast Addict
💛 Merci de faire partie de la communauté Récits Expats,
où chaque écho est une histoire, et chaque histoire est une aventure.
📲 Retrouve-moi sur :
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/recitsexpat/
TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@recits.expats
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/recits.expats
Blog : https://www.recitsexpats.com/
#canada #montreal #pvtcanada #quebec #pvt #expatriation #podcast #temoignage
Catégorie
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VoyagesTranscription
00:00Hello, welcome to Expat Stories, I'm Wazeline. So, we're back today with a new...
00:05This episode is a bit special because it's a video. So I started watching it, and the episode...
00:11In today's episode, we have Pauline with us. She's an expat.
00:16A French woman who lives in Montreal. She's going to tell us a little about her background and everything that...
00:21Immigration and life here in Montreal. So I'll let her introduce herself. Hi, I'm Pauline.
00:29As she so aptly put it, I'm a French expat living in Montreal. To make a little bit
00:35To give a quick overview, I would say that I've already had my first experience in the United States. So
00:40I left when I was a year and a half old. Then I came back here; I wanted to see something else, and then
00:44It's been almost two years now since I moved to Montreal. Time flies by so fast.
00:49Important. That's it, I think that's all. We'll move on, I think, to the...
00:57Actually, it's because Pauline also has a YouTube channel. That's how I discovered her.
01:03And I had also seen, regarding the daughter-to-father thing, I had seen that you had done it in the United States.
01:09Yes, that's it. What do you think of the difference, let's say, between the United States and Canada?
01:17I experienced it very differently in both cases, since I lived the first one alone. This one, I'm living with my
01:24spouse. So it makes for a very, very, very different adventure in those aspects. I would tell you
01:30Besides that, the main difference is that here, we speak French. We are still in Quebec, we are not in the part
01:37Anglo from Canada. But I would say that besides that, in terms of mentality, I found what I
01:41I was looking for things I missed when I came back here from the United States. And it's more or less similar, I'll tell you
01:48I'd still say so, in many ways. It's true there's less... How can I put it? I don't have as much
01:54I've only traveled as much as I've traveled in the United States. So I haven't seen all the different aspects of the country, etc.
01:59So it's true that in terms of mentality, difference of thought, things like that, I don't necessarily have the
02:05Comparison for now. And I'd say the biggest one... There isn't really one, strictly speaking.
02:08There are big differences. They're still two different countries. But for now, I'd tell you
02:13that I'm finding little things I missed from the United States to Canada. And that's it.
02:18It's really mystifying that, for example, in any country, we'll only take France
02:25For example, you go to a country to be a fibroid. Is that really the reality?
02:29What's happening to you? It's really... What you were sold, you mean? I think the au pair adventure,
02:35I might get in trouble for saying this, but things have changed a lot. Me, when I am
02:40Part of it was in 2018. So it goes back a few years. I would say that even before Covid, things had already changed.
02:45The difference is because Covid changed a lot of things, I think. I would tell you that the au pair experience,
02:51It's truly an insane experience, but one that, in my opinion, was promoted in a way... not necessarily in the best way.
02:57good way on social media, right now. We see a lot of the aspect, you're in
03:02A wealthy family, you go on vacation, the sun shines, you stay in a beautiful house, etc. On the other hand,
03:08It's 45 hours a week of work with children; it's a different culture.
03:13You will integrate yourself into a family you didn't know before, and then you find yourself with them now.
03:18So I would say that, before, for example, when I left, it hadn't been sold badly. Then
03:23It was exactly like me, I perceived it, it was even better because I had,
03:27I don't think I had overly high expectations either. And in fact,
03:30It allowed me. I mean, I visited 32 cities in a year, I was in lots of places and you
03:36If you had told me that before leaving, I would never have told you in my life because I didn't feel...
03:39Capable of traveling independently to different cities, etc. Especially in the United States. That's it.
03:44But in the end, I kind of rediscovered myself there, and let's just say it was even better than that.
03:49that I imagined. Now, it's true, I'm telling you, I think that social media culture
03:54doesn't help the father's adventure. I see it myself; I was working afterwards for the agency with which
03:58I was gone for two years, until I came back here. And I really saw the difference.
04:05From the beginning, when I arrived, until now. I think it's poorly marketed, and as a result, people have
04:13expectations that are unrealistic compared to what they will experience. And as a result, this causes a lot
04:17back in France before the scheduled date because people are, how can I say, they are saying,
04:22Yes, in the end, they realize that it's real work, that it involves a lot of openness.
04:28of mind, of understanding, all that. And so, I think everyone, I'm not making a generalization
04:33in the sense that everyone goes that way, but there are a lot of people who arrive
04:37with the wrong expectations. And I find that social media really tarnishes what the fatherhood adventure is all about.
04:42Because above all, it's a cultural exchange. Don't forget that. You're part of a family, and that's the point.
04:46That's not the point of travelling and living in a rich person's house for two years, you see.
04:50Actually, one of my questions was about... it was going to be in the... in relation to... not necessarily
04:55It's about the father, but immigration as such. Like, for example, all those who come here,
04:59Even in Montreal, some people think that Canada is Eldorado, or let's say, a dream…
05:06Just as there was the American dream before, there's the Canadian dream. And actually, the purpose of the podcast is to demystify all of that.
05:15Not just in Montreal, but worldwide, immigration as such.
05:18But when people come here, they think it's going to be easy. For example, you'll arrive, you'll get a job, you'll get a great place to live, let's say.
05:27Yes, yes, I see what you mean.
05:29You'll have it all. And every weekend, you'll go on an adventure. Is that what you...
05:36Yeah, the different side, yeah. I'd say it's more like Eldorado than it was before Covid.
05:42I truly believe that Covid made a difference, both in the adventure with my father and in the Canadian adventure.
05:48Working holiday visas, it doesn't matter how people get here, but expatriation in general, already, everything has increased.
05:53We have to be realistic. I see it, I make the comparison. I have friends who are with their fathers now.
05:58OK. And I see the difference compared to what I used to pay for traveling alone in a youth hostel, in terms of activities.
06:04And what they pay is incomparable. Everything has gone up so much with inflation, everything has taken on a bit of a price…
06:11Much higher than it was before. And so, I would say that access to Eldorado is not the same.
06:17Because, for example, in the United States, you see, I traveled a lot with the money I earned there.
06:22I didn't use any of the money I came with from France, you know.
06:25And now, I don't know if it would be realistic to do everything I've done in the past, at the present time, with the father's budget.
06:32You see, I don't know how feasible it is. Now, if you're going back to the Canadian adventure, I think it actually resonates quite a bit.
06:38Because there are a lot of people who moved abroad, I would say, five or six years ago, who sell you the idea of Canada.
06:43You can travel every weekend, like you said, do things like that. Honestly, financially, you have to be pretty strapped for cash these days, I think.
06:49Everything is expensive. Housing, as you know, is getting worse and worse. It's really complicated.
06:56So, I would say that there are already many difficulties finding housing. That's also why there are so many immigration problems in Canada right now.
07:02Then, everything is expensive, salary-wise, it's a real struggle to find a job. They sell you something like it's a snap of your fingers, then someone hires you.
07:10That's not really the reality. I don't really know how you feel about all this, but I think it's not like it used to be.
07:19And I recognize that it must have been in the past, but it is no longer the case now.
07:24Yes, I would admit that the fact that I actually arrived here was in 2019.
07:29OK.
07:30So, I had the, well, the before and after, of Covid, and I know what it was like before.
07:36I must admit that it's still much better than the price. It was still expensive; some housing has always been pricey.
07:45But at least, with all the groceries, you weren't spending a fortune.
07:50The price you pay now was, let's say, doing your shopping twice with the same amount.
07:55And you can travel more because you no longer have a salary-to-expenses ratio. In fact, it will balance out much better.
08:03After all, it's still a beautiful city, well, a beautiful place to live and to move abroad. I mean, there's still plenty to do.
08:08I know I've moved around a lot. But for example, if I make a comparison, I think it's complicated for someone who moves abroad alone to travel alongside their job.
08:16With all the expenses, that's it. I'm not sure it's really viable to have a project.
08:21In any case, coming here to live abroad and travel alone every weekend requires some thought.
08:26It depends. Or, you still have to keep in mind that we're in Montreal and it's not the cheapest city in Canada.
08:31And she doesn't have the most expensive one. It's much more expensive.
08:35But yeah, I'd say it's a little bit, it really depends on the case.
08:40It will depend on your salary, it will depend on the professional field in which you are looking for work.
08:44It depends if you're alone or with others. I know what we do when we leave the city.
08:48Even the evenings we allow ourselves to have at a restaurant, things like that.
08:52If there weren't two of us, I honestly don't know how well we could do it.
08:56I mean, some people come with children.
08:59I think that's just another expense.
09:01We adopted a dog here.
09:03This is causing us a lot of expenses.
09:05I think it depends on lifestyles.
09:08But I think we need to be realistic about the fact that it's no longer the Eldorado it used to be, in every respect.
09:12Whether it's financial, travel, work, anything you want to talk about.
09:16Actually, regarding the dog, you adopted it here.
09:19Yes, we arrived with our cat from France and we got a dog here.
09:22Isn't all the administrative procedures for adoption here a bit complicated?
09:27So, I would say that the most complicated part is now.
09:30Administrative procedures, not necessarily.
09:33We wanted to take him into a shelter.
09:34It was something or in association, since we were volunteers in France at a shelter.
09:40And we said to ourselves, we're absolutely going to do that.
09:42We visited quite a few shelters.
09:44There were shelters, I believe, in Valleyfield, where they brought in dogs from Mexico.
09:52You know, it's about readoption.
09:54Then there are dogs that haven't been trained, where you really have to relearn everything.
09:58Actually, we didn't have a problem with that.
10:00The only thing is, when we started looking, I would say, regarding those biases,
10:05They were all dogs that were practically categorized as dangerous.
10:08In fact, we wanted a dynamic dog profile that we could move around with.
10:11and that he would, I would say, still be endowed with certain basic racial traits
10:16so that we can educate him in the best way possible, you see.
10:19I know that a dog classified as dangerous was too complicated.
10:22It's not necessarily directed at me personally, but rather the thought that if we have to return to France tomorrow,
10:26Having a dog classified as dangerous and returning to France is extremely complicated.
10:30You know, to return the plane, well, not all companies necessarily accept them.
10:36To find an apartment here, there is no law, like in France, that obliges the owner to accept dogs.
10:43Finding an apartment with a dog is already a challenge, but finding one with a categorized dog is even more complicated.
10:48I would say it's more about adaptability, but also about character.
10:53because I think there are many people who are made for that type of race.
10:56I don't know if I would have the temperamental strength, I mean, to train a slightly more complicated dog.
11:02Do you see what I mean?
11:03Even though any breed of dog can be complicated, I think it still plays a big role.
11:08So, we did some research, we looked into it, and I'll admit that we'd been talking about it for years.
11:12And we asked ourselves, do we take the plunge? Do we not do it if we have to go back tomorrow?
11:17Before the immigration laws changed, we said to ourselves, that's it, we're staying, so there you go.
11:21Now things have changed, so we tell ourselves, now we're in it, so it's not a big deal.
11:25But I would say that in hindsight, if we had known, I don't know if we would have adopted it right away.
11:30You see? Because right now, there's this idea of thinking, we have to go back to France with the dog.
11:33You're going back to France tomorrow, I mean, you're staying with your parents maybe for a few months,
11:37because while you're looking for an apartment, etc., you're imposing the dog on your parents.
11:41You see, it's stuff, well, our parents don't have a problem with it, but more on a personal level, it bothers me a little bit.
11:47You see? There you go. So we want to stay here, we hope we can.
11:51Now, fate will decide.
11:53But I would say yes, so to get back to that, in the end, we went through a very small breeding operation.
12:00So this is a lady who has a female, a male and who has them transported once a year.
12:04And it's really, I'd say, more family-oriented. It's not about big, well-known things.
12:09You know, here in Canada, you have a lot of really well-known breeders who have amazing websites,
12:15where you see the dogs from all angles.
12:17Very market-oriented, marketing-focused, sales-oriented.
12:21That's it. And actually, I had exchanged messages, I had subscribed because we had actually thought a bit about the breed of dogs we wanted.
12:27We wanted either an Australian Shepherd, a Border Collie, or a Golden Retriever, but in that range.
12:32You see, a dynamic family dog where you can really focus on training, things like that.
12:39So, we thought these were the best breeds.
12:41Then I did some research on Facebook, on the Internet, etc.
12:44And in the end, someone contacted me on Facebook.
12:46Fun fact, she contacted me on a Friday morning saying, "I have three females left."
12:50We absolutely wanted a female because our cat is male and savannah, so very, very, very dominant.
12:57And I thought, go ahead, I'll answer her. In fact, she tells me, I have three females left, if you want, you can come.
13:02We booked a car for the next morning, and we were off.
13:04We asked ourselves, should we do it, or shouldn't we?
13:06In the end, we said to ourselves, let's go, let's do it.
13:07Then afterwards, once you find yourself facing tiny little beauties like that, you think, well, how do you mean? No, it's okay, thank you.
13:14So afterwards, administratively speaking, it went pretty smoothly. We were going to pick her up three months later. Actually, we didn't adopt her in Montreal, we adopted her in Sherbrooke.
13:23So, we've traveled quite a bit. And now, I'd say that this is more the reality of animal acceptance in Quebec.
13:31They're not allowed anywhere, let's be realistic. In supermarkets, no. On terraces, no. In restaurants, no. In public places, no.
13:39The metro is allowed with a muzzle. Buses are prohibited.
13:43That's going to change. Yeah, it's in January.
13:45But there you have it, there are lots of little things like that which are...
13:48I would say that Montreal, in general, maybe Quebec, I don't really know to what extent, outside of Montreal, it's like that.
13:55This is not the appropriate or ideal place to have a dog.
14:00It was really limited very quickly. I mean, as soon as I want to go somewhere with her, I have to check on the internet if she has agreed beforehand.
14:06Should I put a muzzle on him? Should I...
14:08It's a whole thing where, for sure, we come from Corsica, so it's not like that.
14:12Finally, we can sit on the terrace, and nobody will ever say anything about it.
14:15Finally, I mean, these are really things that, yeah, I can understand.
14:18Honestly, when I see how often people don't pick up after their dogs,
14:23I wonder how badly trained dogs are in dog parks, things like that...
14:27In fact, I can understand why people are so hesitant about accepting animals everywhere.
14:33But I believe that when you get a dog, it's to train it, to make sure it's really well-behaved...
14:37For him and for us.
14:39It's important that he's comfortable on his feet too.
14:41We, I mean, had some minor problems at the beginning.
14:42She was very anxious about the outside world.
14:45It's simple, we got it from a ranch.
14:47So, she didn't have a car, there was no noise, things like that.
14:50And so she quickly developed traumas; anything involving a garbage truck, things like that, is difficult.
14:55But anyway, all this just to make a reservation.
14:57I would say that it's more difficult now.
15:01Like, life in Montreal with a dog, phew.
15:03Not easy.
15:04But we don't regret it at all because it brings us so much.
15:08Then, we do our best to ensure she can see something else.
15:10So, we take cars.
15:11That is to say, we're going to want to get out of the city, we're going to take him in the car, we're going to go on long drives, things like that.
15:16But here's the thing, you have to keep that in mind.
15:18I mean, when you get a dog that needs energy and exercise, when you're in a place that doesn't necessarily allow it, it's not easy.
15:27But here's the thing.
15:28But at the administrative level, no.
15:29However, if we return to France, I think there are quite a few things that we will have to take into account.
15:33Yes.
15:34First of all, everything related to passports.
15:35Yes, that's it.
15:36We did it for the cat, and it worked.
15:38But it's clear that having a dog in a vacuum cleaner, I'm going to be stressed to death on the plane.
15:43Yes, because...
15:44But then again, she's not small.
15:45No, 20 kilos, then...
15:47That is to say, the little female dogs, I think, it was taken in the cabin.
15:50I believe that in airlines, it's a maximum of 9 kilos.
15:54But here's the thing.
15:55We knew that until the very end.
15:58I know there are quite a few restrictions regarding animals.
16:04I know that you can also experience delays in being able to take the plane if there are no seats available.
16:08I think it's 3 animals per flight or something like that.
16:10So, you really need to book well in advance.
16:12We'll see.
16:13We'll see.
16:14I hope it'll be OK.
16:15Then, the thing we tell ourselves, I'm stressed about this, is because we're going to have to take at least two planes.
16:20You know, that means we end up either in Marseille or Paris, and then we head back to Corsica.
16:23Poor thing.
16:25And speaking of immigration, I'll also discuss this with you when I ask for new reforms and laws.
16:31So, I'm not the most positive person in that regard, I'll admit it.
16:35I went through several phases.
16:38I would say that, first of all, it was extremely gradual.
16:40It was very fast, but gradual.
16:42That is to say, one day we were told, there is this.
16:44The other day, we were told, there's this in addition.
16:46Then three or four days later, we were told, oh no, but there's this.
16:49Finally, you see, it just never ends.
16:52I would say that it's more about the stress.
16:56I am, however, a person who manages their emotions more or less well.
17:00But the side where you never know what's going to happen to you, that's where we are, I mean,
17:05What I was saying to Théo, so my partner, I said, it's March.
17:09We're leaving in September.
17:10Between March and September, anything and everything can happen.
17:13There are elections in June.
17:14You don't know how things will turn out.
17:16I would tell you that I am not, if you will, 100% transparent and honest in my opinion.
17:20I'm having trouble understanding some of the new reforms that have been passed.
17:24But there are other things I understand.
17:26In the sense that, of course, having people who are not working,
17:30who are immigrants here, who do not contribute to the well-being of the country,
17:35I can understand that it remains frustrating, and that's because people will search for it.
17:38And that's completely legitimate, we're not at home.
17:40We still need to keep that.
17:42For example, you know, they've closed some work permits,
17:46They eventually closed the skilled worker program.
17:48I don't understand that.
17:50In the sense that, yes, it's certain, people are having trouble finding work.
17:53I hear it.
17:54And I see it, I'm in HR, I recruit people every day.
17:57I know it's not easy.
17:58It's a rather closed-off field.
18:00where it's difficult to find work.
18:02So I am well aware of that.
18:04But I would say, I have trouble understanding how you can close doors to people who want to work.
18:08who contribute, who pay taxes.
18:10From an HR perspective, when I recruit people, I post a job offer online.
18:16Three-quarters of the candidates are immigrants. Really.
18:20And the few people from Quebec who answer my calls are people who won't respond.
18:24who are not going to come for an interview or who are not going to be very, very motivated.
18:28I'm not making a generalization.
18:29I recruited people from Quebec, there were no problems.
18:32In fact, I find it hard to say in my head, given the recruitment side of things where I experience it every day,
18:38to tell me how difficult it is for people to find work here.
18:42They say they close the doors to qualified people.
18:45because Quebecers can't find work.
18:48And when I post job offers, I don't get that many candidates from Quebec.
18:51So, you see, I'm having trouble gauging how badly they can't find work.
18:54But at the same time, when there are open positions, I don't have that many applicants.
18:57Besides, I don't work in a field that results in fewer Canadians and Quebecers applying.
19:04I don't know.
19:05I agree, there must certainly be certain fields where Canadians want to work.
19:08Quebecers want to get involved, etc.
19:11And honestly, all the Quebecers I hired were very good workers.
19:15I have no doubt about that.
19:16There was rather a wave of immigration.
19:19Yes, that's it, it's perhaps a bit much.
19:21For your job search, you had more than...
19:23That's it.
19:24I think above all that they were overwhelmed by events.
19:27They accepted so many people.
19:29I mean, the year we got the Working Holiday Visa, it all happened super fast.
19:33They had accepted I don't know how many people.
19:35In fact, they are now realizing that they have accepted too many people and as a result, they are having trouble assessing the situation.
19:39For example, I'm going back to what I was saying earlier where there are things I understand from their point of view.
19:43The accommodations.
19:44First thing, I completely understand.
19:46People are struggling to find housing.
19:47And immigration certainly doesn't help with that.
19:49Totally.
19:50I mean, the number of...
19:51But afterwards, I don't know to what extent it would be necessary...
19:53You know, rents are so expensive.
19:54Not everyone can afford housing with the rent prices here.
19:57When you see roaming charges starting to increase.
19:59Finally, when I talk to some Quebecers who have lived here for years,
20:02They tell me, Pauline, it's considerable how homelessness has popped up in two years, kind of crazy.
20:08But because people need housing, you know.
20:10I saw that too.
20:12Actually, you see...
20:13Did you see the difference?
20:14Yes, the progression too.
20:15Even in winter, it's very noticeable in these places...
20:17Yes, on the subways.
20:18In subways, enclosed spaces and everywhere, the public is closed off.
20:21And we were also outside, you walk outside, nothing but Sainte-Catherine.
20:24Finally, it is important to keep in mind that we are leaving our country to immigrate.
20:28So yes, we know that we are not at home and that we did not sign a lifetime contract to stay here.
20:31Finally, I'm thinking about people who have children.
20:33The children go to school; they came from another country.
20:36They came here.
20:37How do they do it, what?
20:38Like, it's a life change, it involves a lot of money.
20:41Then I mean, we pay so much to be immigrants here, to be realistic.
20:46We pay, that's all.
20:48Each step.
20:49That's it.
20:50I mean, yeah, you don't know.
20:52You think to yourself, I understand him on many levels.
20:54And I know there are plenty of Quebecers and Canadians who will disagree with me on other aspects.
20:58But yeah, there are things where, well.
21:01I think to myself, if you do the opposite in our country, I would understand, you see.
21:04Especially regarding housing, work, things like that.
21:07But I'm telling you, why open the door to so many people?
21:10And then, the thing I can't keep in mind, or rather, get into my head, is how can you still accept people on visitor work permits if you're blocking access to people who are already here?
21:19Why don't you invest in people who are already in your country, who are working?
21:22And no, no, you're going to go and find more people to immigrate to again.
21:26Do you understand?
21:27Well, I know that rates must be much lower than they were 2-3 years ago, but why not focus on the people who are already here?
21:33You see, instead of bringing people back, cut off the valves, don't bring people in, wait for things to regulate themselves, people will leave anyway.
21:41Anyway, there are plenty of people who won't be able to get another work permit after their Working Holiday Visa or other things like that.
21:45Why bring people back from abroad when you could rely on people who work here?
21:49I don't understand.
21:50And then afterwards, it becomes even more difficult to plan ahead.
21:52Well, I see it, since September, we're a bit... we don't know.
21:55We have launched an EIMT here, we hope everything goes well.
21:58Fortunately, my partner is really enjoying his business, so that helps.
22:02And his boss really wants to keep him.
22:04But what makes us think the government will want to keep him?
22:07Person.
22:08Nothing.
22:09So we'll know for sure, then we'll know for sure at the last minute, then we'll be stressed until the end of the Working Holiday Visa, and then we won't necessarily have enjoyed it in the same way.
22:15Because when you're stressed and you want to be careful with your money because you're thinking, "What if you ever get home?"
22:19You need to have a bit of… I don't know, you'd say it's a bit vague.
22:24Afterwards, you know, I thought about it a bit with the… I tried to take a step back from the situation.
22:28And I'm thinking that perhaps the fact that they're still bringing people in from abroad, even now,
22:32It's because they want to invest in people who will apply for permanent residency in two years.
22:35It's a Working Holiday Visa, it lasts two years.
22:37Wouldn't it be more convenient for them to bring in people who will apply for permanent residency in two years?
22:42Because in two years, they have time to see how things are going and to organize themselves.
22:45But, selfishly, there are things I don't agree with.
22:49You see, if I'm really thinking just for our own heads, us, as immigrants here.
22:54I could have gone back to the United States.
22:56Except that reuniting with a spouse is extremely complicated.
22:59Even if I had found work because I had some leads,
23:02Getting your partner closer to you is complicated.
23:06Finally, in the United States, visas are really something else.
23:09So, I thought about it a little.
23:10For me, it's simple, the return to France was extremely brutal.
23:13After my adventure with my father, I really thought to myself, why did I come back?
23:17I didn't really know.
23:18I felt like I had left behind an extraordinary life in which I was personally fulfilled.
23:23where I had rediscovered myself to return to square one in France, in my home.
23:29In fashion, what do I do?
23:31And then, I wanted to leave again.
23:33And so, I talked about it with my partner.
23:35I told him, listen to me, anyway, I don't see myself staying here long-term.
23:38So he told me, okay, we'll find out.
23:41We'll take a look.
23:42Australia is not an option for us.
23:43It doesn't appeal to me that much.
23:45In many ways.
23:47So.
23:48New Zealand would have been nice to me.
23:50Really much more than Australia in terms of many cultural things, etc.
23:54Even on the level of my personal interests.
23:56I mean, that would have really interested me.
23:58But we did a little comparison between Canada, New Zealand, and the different Working Holiday Visas in other countries.
24:04Because there's more to it than that.
24:05This needs to be kept in mind.
24:06But we thought, Canada might be the best opportunity.
24:09In fact, I ended up talking with a friend of mine from high school who had come here to Quebec.
24:14And who sold me Quebec?
24:16Clearly.
24:17I thought to myself, go for it.
24:18Besides, I thought to myself, it's still North America.
24:20Perhaps what I miss about the United States, I will find more easily in North America than in New Zealand, for example.
24:25And besides, that's reality.
24:27I really found things that I like about the mentality.
24:29The fact that it's super cosmopolitan and you learn from everyone, you know, all types of people.
24:33Ethnicities, religions, everything.
24:35Finally, I'm super curious about all of this.
24:38So, I missed it in Corsica where you don't find all that.
24:41We're just in our little bubble, etc.
24:44Furthermore, even in terms of open-mindedness, I think it's good.
24:46Even when you have children, you see, later on, allowing them to have an open mind.
24:49While being reasonable, because open-mindedness is also a limit.
24:52But I would say that, yeah, Canada, we thought, why not?
24:55And then afterwards, however, we hesitated between Quebec City and Montreal.
24:58That's always been the question, I think.
25:01And we said to ourselves, we don't want a car to start with.
25:04I spoke with my friend who was in Quebec City.
25:06He told me, without a car, it's not going to work.
25:08So I said, let's go to Montreal.
25:10I went to Vancouver when I was in the US.
25:12I loved it.
25:13But seriously, this city is crazy.
25:15And me, I love surfing and everything.
25:17So, the coast, you see, was really ideal.
25:19But when we saw the price of moving to Vancouver,
25:22I thought to myself, no, no, it wasn't possible.
25:25So, in the end, we finally had a discussion.
25:27Then I said to Theo, you know what?
25:29We're going to Montreal.
25:30We would travel to Vancouver.
25:31If we really fall in love with it, we'll have time to see how things develop.
25:34But honestly, we love it here so much
25:36that, in reality, I don't necessarily have an interest in leaving Quebec, you see,
25:41if we can stay here.
25:42However, we may not stay in Montreal, Quebec.
25:44But we would like to stay in Quebec.
25:46I love the Laurentians, things like that, you know.
25:49Saint-Sauveur, Saint-Adolphe, things like that.
25:51I really like those places.
25:52So, we'll see in the long term.
25:54But Quebec was kind of a choice, you know, after weighing all the pros and cons, etc.
25:59It was the best choice to make.
26:00And honestly, I like it even more than I initially thought I would.
26:03Oh yeah?
26:04So, you weren't too bothered by the English-speaking aspect of it?
26:07A little.
26:08I won't lie to you, but I think we can still find him
26:11depending on the people we communicate with and spend time with.
26:15My first job here was entirely in English because it was Canadian.
26:18Truly a Canadian company.
26:19Well, that didn't go very well, but I still had some English.
26:22And then, I mean, you can quickly find yourself surrounded by people who don't speak French,
26:25Even though Quebec is very French-speaking, they try to preserve that.
26:29And I find that magnificent, for once.
26:31But besides, it's very similar to Corsica, that in Corsica, we want to keep the Corsican language.
26:34Those are the very conservative things that I like.
26:36Yes, I think it's a bit lacking, honestly, in some cases.
26:40There are things in the United States that I don't find here that I miss.
26:42But besides that, I'm finding things here that I didn't have in the United States, you know?
26:45which I also like.
26:46So, I don't have any major deficiencies.
26:48I really like it.
26:49Okay.
26:50Also, if you want to go to the United States, you can...
26:52The border isn't that far away.
26:53It remains more or less accessible.
26:55Well, not so much anymore.
26:56That's a bit tricky.
26:58That's it.
26:59And things aren't likely to improve anytime soon.
27:02I'm also wondering if you've travelled outside of Quebec, rather than just that?
27:05Yeah.
27:06During my year here.
27:07Yeah.
27:08We went to New York.
27:09My mother came for the holidays this summer.
27:11It was his lifelong dream.
27:12You know, my mother didn't travel much.
27:14Then I told him, go ahead, you're coming to Montreal, you absolutely have to go to New York.
27:18Like, we can't...
27:19No.
27:20We can't get that close to the goal of not making you do it.
27:23And in fact, we made his dream come true.
27:25She was like a little girl there.
27:26Finally, it was pretty crazy.
27:27So, I would say that we went to New York.
27:29And after that, we were mainly...
27:30We are really...
27:31I realize this over time.
27:33When you find a place you like, you go back to the same place 25 times.
27:37Okay.
27:38We have a big problem with that.
27:39We're going back to New York.
27:40Well, New York, we only went there once.
27:42SO...
27:43But I had already been there when I was in the United States.
27:45And then, actually, I also think, to come back to that, the fact that I have so much
27:50Having moved around during my au pair year, I'm less inclined to...
27:54Because I've discovered so much that, you know, it's not a necessity right now
27:58within a minute.
27:59I've seen so many different places in the United States.
28:02And then, in the United States, you actually change states.
28:05You're changing...
28:06It feels like you're in a different country.
28:07Mentalities are not the same.
28:08That's crazy.
28:09I think that's crazy.
28:10Even in terms of scenery, it's completely different.
28:12SO...
28:13No, I would say that when we were in Quebec, I had less...
28:15I felt less of a need to travel outside of Quebec.
28:17And there, you see, even now, the thought that we might have to
28:20When I go back, I just want one thing: to enjoy Quebec.
28:23Because it's...
28:24We are in Quebec.
28:25We got our visas to be here.
28:26You really need to invest yourself in this.
28:27So, we did quite a lot of things in Quebec itself.
28:30I went to Toronto too.
28:32But besides that, well...
28:34I'm telling you, I think we also need to...
28:36Often, we forget when we come here on a Working Holiday Visa that we are in Quebec, we live in Quebec.
28:40There is so much to discover here.
28:41Yeah, Quebec is...
28:42I mean, it's crazy.
28:43Then there's the Gaspé Peninsula, which isn't far away.
28:45Not far.
28:46Not far.
28:47Everything is relative.
28:48Now, when you live in Quebec, everything is close by, if you listen to us.
28:51Whereas Canada is very large.
28:52Yes, it's very big.
28:53But I mean, there are plenty of things to do in the country itself.
28:56Why would you want to look elsewhere for that?
28:58In any case, I understand him.
28:59For people who haven't traveled, I would clearly have had the desire to move around more outside.
29:03But yeah, I'm telling you, we discovered the Laurentians.
29:06We love it.
29:07We go there all the time.
29:08Finally, I mean, it's...
29:09We're really...
29:10We're really not very curious.
29:11Furthermore, I was going to come back to the fact that...
29:13When you said, your mother came here too.
29:15Yeah.
29:16So she visited New York.
29:17Well, also, there's the fact that immigration isn't just, like, a personal matter.
29:21That it allows families, others and friends to come and see us.
29:25And for them too, it allows them to travel.
29:27And to discover things at the same time, then...
29:29Yeah, that's it.
29:30Well, for me, it had...
29:31I had some regrets.
29:32My parents couldn't come to see me in the United States because it was very, very expensive.
29:35And so, well, I had a bit of regret at not having been able to show him my life there, etc.
29:39Then when she came here, I thought it was fantastic, you know.
29:41Then, all I want to do is go back and see my hosts where I was in the United States.
29:44Then to take Théo so that he could meet them, so that he could get to know them through the telephone.
29:47But you know, I see the life I had before, the one I've been talking to him about ever since...
29:51I kept nagging her about it, during my friends' time.
29:53So, I would tell you that...
29:55Yeah, you're right.
29:56I think that expatriation is something that can be shared.
29:58And even if you don't share with close family members, you're sharing with people...
30:02Everyone you meet is someone you share your adventure with, like.
30:06In any case, it allows me to revisit a question as well.
30:09On all Facebook groups and others, or even just by talking.
30:12People say that it's difficult to make a network or friends here, rather...
30:17Close friends, true friends, let's say, in human terms.
30:20And to meet some...
30:23Not necessarily meeting French people.
30:25Finally, some Quebecers, sorry.
30:26But as a Frenchman.
30:27But doesn't it mean that with the French, we open ourselves up to others...?
30:31Yeah.
30:32I would say it's reciprocal.
30:33Okay.
30:34I have the impression that we are not opening up, but that they are not opening up either.
30:36But everyone prefers to stay among themselves.
30:38That's it.
30:39Yeah.
30:40But what's quite funny is that, for example, when I was at PER, I still come back to that,
30:43There were about fifty of us in the town where I lived.
30:46Okay.
30:47Completely different countries, there were Mexicans, Brazilians.
30:50Well, everyone stayed...
30:52Really between them?
30:53In a group.
30:54Yeah, yeah.
30:55And you see, we shared things when we had gatherings with all the operations in the city.
30:58Yeah.
30:59But on a personal level, like outside of those events, well, we only saw each other in relation to...
31:04Finally, and most importantly, people see themselves in groups based on their country of origin.
31:08Okay.
31:09But I think you see, you're in another country, with other... different things, different mentalities,
31:14It's always nice to have a little bit of...
31:17Yeah, from home.
31:18From home.
31:19But at the same time, I still find it sad that...
31:21I managed to meet many more Americans when I was in the United States.
31:24than Quebecers since we've been here.
31:26Oh yeah?
31:27Yeah. Outside of work...
31:28Well, you know, they're people you'll meet, but with whom you won't necessarily keep in touch or things like that.
31:32I see it with... ever since we got Raven, our dog, every time we pass people,
31:37It allows us to meet a lot more people because as soon as they have a dog, we go and talk to people.
31:40But nobody...
31:41You know, for example, I'm going to meet a French woman.
31:43She's going... with her dog, we're going to chat, she's going to say to me, oh well, give me your Instagram.
31:46That's something that's never happened to me with Quebecers.
31:49Okay.
31:50But because I think they too are in their little group, they are doing well, just like we are.
31:54And it's not at all a judgment because I understand him.
31:57But it's a shame because... yeah, for me, it's something I miss a little bit.
32:01But I'm thinking maybe later on... you know, when you have kids, maybe you'll meet Quebecers more easily
32:05because you have parents of students who are from Quebec.
32:07For me, it's true, it is.
32:08I think it's the context that makes you meet fewer Quebecers.
32:10And even Montreal.
32:11Tomorrow, you're in a tiny village in the middle of nowhere, I don't know, in the Laurentians or even the Eastern Townships.
32:16I think you'll find it easier to connect with Quebecers.
32:19because there is less of that cosmopolitan aspect where you have a billion French people per square meter.
32:24We must keep in mind that there are many of us too.
32:26Yeah.
32:27We also need to talk to you, actually, like YouTube.
32:31Yeah.
32:32We'll see.
32:33For what ?
32:34So, honestly, I never really know how to answer that question.
32:38If I think about it, and really, because, well, I'm telling you, I've already been asked this several times, so sometimes I question myself.
32:45What drove me?
32:47There have been several stages.
32:48I would tell you that I didn't have a very easy childhood.
32:51Not from a family perspective at all, more from a school perspective, integration.
32:55I've always been very out of step with, I would say, even with my age, if you can put it that way.
33:02And then, well, in the end, I was diagnosed with ADHD, and later with high intellectual potential (HPI).
33:06And in the end, it answers questions I had been asking myself.
33:08Why couldn't I fit in?
33:10There must clearly have been a psychological disconnect.
33:12So, yeah, I'd say my childhood wasn't easy.
33:16I started out on YouTube.
33:17People started telling me, you know, it was a bit like being teased at school.
33:21Because it got out.
33:23It didn't work.
33:24Because back then, it was the old YouTube of...
33:26Back when there were the old chains, you know, really...
33:30Okay, 160.
33:31Yeah, it wasn't amazing when we said it, but I liked it.
33:33For me, it really allowed me to detach myself a little from my little life, all that.
33:37And then, for me, what changed my life was my adventure with my father.
33:42Okay.
33:43Actually, I left.
33:44I always tend to say, you can get to the father, there, first experience abroad.
33:49I could have called myself whatever I wanted.
33:50Having the personality I wanted, nobody would ever have known.
33:52That's it.
33:53I feel like I have a new chance at life.
33:54Like, it was a really weird feeling.
33:56Where they would tell me, go ahead, opposite, stop worrying about what you were going through.
34:04That's also why returning to France was complicated.
34:07Because you feel like you're, hey presto, going back in time.
34:10It wasn't a big deal.
34:11But anyway, all this to say that, yeah, when I left, it...
34:13Well, I rediscovered myself.
34:15I became the person I am today when I went to the United States.
34:18Honestly, if I hadn't left, I don't really know what I would be like in terms of personality.
34:22You see.
34:23But then I left.
34:24I discovered a lot of things.
34:25I rediscovered myself.
34:26Before rediscovering other things, I truly rediscovered myself personally.
34:29I realized that I was capable of many things, that I didn't need anyone.
34:33You know, it's a series of things that led to me, well, you know, traveling everywhere all by myself.
34:38If you had told me that before leaving, like I was saying, I would have told you, but nonsense, never in my life.
34:42My mother was in a state of shock in France, thinking I was in the middle of the desert at 7 a.m. all alone.
34:47Well, you know, a few things.
34:49So, but it really challenged me and I learned about myself, to discover things.
34:55It allowed me to develop to my fullest potential.
34:57So, I would say that's what boosted me.
34:59So that's when I started sharing my au pair experience.
35:02It created a small community, but one that worked very well.
35:05Now I even run groups on Instagram where I connect them by state and departure date.
35:10So, the idea is that they can exchange information before leaving.
35:13That's something I would have loved to have had when I went au pair.
35:15But I see that it works, people like it, and it allows them to do so.
35:18You know, I've always thought of others before myself.
35:21It's still going on now.
35:22I'm someone who gives a lot of my time, you know, like in everyday life.
35:26So, yeah, being able to have groups, help them, things like that, is super satisfying for me.
35:31Because I realize that I have a small impact, you see, on them in their au pair lives.
35:35And that's cool.
35:36So, I would say that YouTube helped with that.
35:39Then in fact, it was a small community.
35:41Well, it always is.
35:42But really, I got a lot of feedback, actually.
35:46You know, it was like there weren't many of us, but I had so many...
35:50I could really see the result.
35:52I could see that I had helped people.
35:53And actually, that motivated me to keep going, keep going, keep going.
35:56I shared my life, all of that.
35:57Then in fact, I myself was the first to watch videos before leaving, to take a little interest in all of that.
36:02Then there were many who helped me through YouTube.
36:04And I thought to myself, go ahead, keep going.
36:06You know, you're on a roll.
36:07And in fact, now I have none at all...
36:09As we were talking about earlier, there's no shame in filming me in the street, you see.
36:12Before, it was crazy, people were looking at me.
36:15I used to go filming often.
36:16If you look at the old videos, I'm very low in the shot.
36:20Because I was there in a "I'm talking" kind of way, but you can't really see me talking.
36:23Now, I don't care about that at all.
36:25I don't know at what point it took a step, you know.
36:29But I'm doing great, I like it.
36:31I love video editing; I could spend hours on it.
36:33Yeah, I'd say that I...
36:37It's almost a passion now, at the moment.
36:40Like, it allows me to have a side of my life where I can let off steam and romanticize my everyday life.
36:44Without being fake in my videos and showing a part of my life that I don't experience.
36:49Because it's the same thing, I'm just showing my life.
36:51But in the end, it's a bit like having a best friend on camera.
36:53But the problem is that no one will answer you to your face.
36:55And then there's the creative side, the fact that you can always help.
36:57There, I can see it, there are Working Holiday Visa holders asking me questions.
36:59I interact a lot with people on Instagram or even via YouTube.
37:03And I'm pleased to see that I'm helping.
37:05And what's more, I do things that I enjoy.
37:06So, it's a bit of a give-and-take situation.
37:08I like it.
37:09What I like about YouTube is that I create memories for myself.
37:11So, I'm watching my videos with my dad.
37:12Now I see them, the little ones who have grown up.
37:14It's impossible to have grown up that fast.
37:17And I realize I'm getting older when I watch the videos.
37:19But it's so great to be able to...
37:21I know that we have to go back tomorrow.
37:23But in 5 years, we'll be so happy to be able to watch the videos we had.
37:26For me, it allowed me to share with my family, to keep memories, to help people.
37:29I mean, if I can do all of that at once and I enjoy it, why stop?
37:33Like, why frustrate me? Why not like it?
37:36Then I said everything, it happened little by little.
37:38And now, it allows me to be here today.
37:41I know it's hard to believe when I say that.
37:43I don't see the financial benefit that this could bring.
37:45I see more the human side that it brings me.
37:47For me, it's beneficial to have relationships with people.
37:49To see that what I do is appreciated.
37:51Not everyone likes it, but a good portion of people do.
37:53That helps.
37:55And I, I create memories for myself.
37:56I love it.
37:57I often encourage people to do it, to take the plunge.
37:59I have a lot of people telling me, it's cool and all, I love it.
38:02Even with my girlfriends, I tell them, but come on, go ahead, do it.
38:05So what if it doesn't work? No big deal.
38:07You'll be happy, you've created things for yourself.
38:09Even if you help two people, you will have helped two people.
38:11I have a friend, for example, who had taken the plunge.
38:13It didn't work at all this time.
38:15And she said to me, "But Pauline, can you imagine?"
38:17But I'm looking at it, you already have a comment.
38:19That's it.
38:20That's how it is.
38:21This is someone you helped.
38:22So yes, you may not have helped a million people to help x or y person.
38:25But I don't care.
38:27Help yourself if you like it, so do it.
38:29And also discuss with you everything related to employment and other matters.
38:31Yeah.
38:32And on top of that, you're in HR.
38:33Yeah.
38:34That's perfect.
38:35So, there are a lot of differences.
38:37Okay.
38:38I think that, even from Canada to Quebec, it's not the same thing.
38:41Because mentalities are not the same.
38:43I can see it because we work for an Ontario company.
38:46Okay.
38:47But we are a Quebec company.
38:48You know, we're a little bit...
38:49It's like we're a triangle and they're at the top.
38:51Then there are two of us involved in acquisitions with the companies I work with.
38:54It's much less...
38:56Actually, it's unusual.
38:58I wouldn't be able to describe it to you.
39:00I would say it's less strict.
39:02Yeah, that's it.
39:03In the sense that they trust you.
39:05But on the other hand, tomorrow...
39:06Then, they also have this thing about saying to themselves, they want to fire you overnight.
39:09Okay, bye.
39:10Take your things and they don't even need to give you a reason.
39:13Your...
39:14Come on.
39:15It was nice.
39:16Bye bye.
39:17And then, on the other hand, you have the freedom to leave too if something is wrong, you see.
39:20But...
39:21Well, because of that, if you work well, I think it's all to your advantage.
39:25Because you're much freer.
39:26Ultimately, it depends on the companies, once again.
39:28But I know there is much more freedom in terms of schedule, more flexibility.
39:33People really understand that you have a personal life outside of work.
39:36Then again, I know that this does not concern all companies in Quebec.
39:40But...
39:41But most of them, yeah.
39:42I would say that there is more of an understanding between personal life and work than in France.
39:47Okay.
39:48Where it's much more...
39:49You know, even if you leave on time, people give you strange looks.
39:51Yeah, but I did my job, you know.
39:53Yes, that's it.
39:54It's over, it's time.
39:55I have the right to have a life.
39:56Not all companies in France are like that.
39:58But I mean, here, it's much more popular to have a personal life alongside a work life.
40:03And I gave a lot when I first started my job, you see.
40:06And my HR manager, I was saying to myself, Pauline, leave!
40:09Like, okay, that's enough, do your thing, you know.
40:11Even with my former colleagues, the sector managers we had,
40:14They were telling me, "But Pauline, stop, there!"
40:16Go ahead, you know, you want to prove yourself, you've just started a new job,
40:19You want to show that you're capable of things and all that.
40:21In the end, I've now managed to detach myself a bit from the whole fashion thing,
40:24because I was stressing out a lot about work.
40:26But then, it was also... I'm still young, you see.
40:28Like, I haven't had 40,000 professional experiences, but...
40:30Yeah, I'd say that's the more...
40:32We trust you, if you're good, you've got... You know, you're all set.
40:36And another thing, I think that in some fields, you're still paid much better.
40:40Ah yes, that's for sure.
40:42Yes, you can... Yes, life is expensive, but you're paid much better than in France.
40:44I mean, the salary I earn here,
40:46Tomorrow, I'm going back to France, I've never done that in my life.
40:48In Corsica, mainly, I've never had a life.
40:50But in France...
40:52And being paid every two weeks also makes a difference.
40:54Yeah. I don't think there's a better way to think professionally.
40:57I'm not saying that France is better, or that Quebec is better.
40:59It's completely different.
41:00And I think that, for me, there were aspects of the professional world that I preferred in France.
41:04which I like less here, and vice versa.
41:06Holidays. I'm just saying.
41:08That's it. That's how we slip into vacation.
41:10But you only had like three words for Montreal.
41:14Wow, great question!
41:16Cosmopolitan.
41:18This ties in with what I told you earlier.
41:20Personally, I think it's crazy.
41:22How many people from all over the world you have.
41:24You can meet people anywhere.
41:26And in general, people are still quite open-minded.
41:29I've never met a very closed-off person who didn't want to talk and didn't want to share their...
41:33But you know, I see you're going to have a barbecue in La Fontaine park this summer.
41:36Since we got the dog, it's even worse.
41:38Because, oh, he's cute, everyone comes.
41:40And that's it.
41:42But yeah, I think I can...
41:44In fact, by staying here, I'm learning so much from lots of different countries.
41:46Full of cultures, full of...
41:47I would say cosmopolitan.
41:49Another thing.
41:51That's a very good question.
41:53I would say good life to you.
41:55It's not really a word, but it's a good place to live in the sense that you still have a lot of opportunities here.
42:00You learn...
42:01You see lots of things and everything.
42:02So yeah, I'd say good living.
42:04I'd still say it's a real hassle.
42:06If we're talking about the expatriation perspective, it's not always a happy experience.
42:09But yeah, no.
42:10And then there's diversity.
42:11I would say that it remains cosmopolitan.
42:13Diversity, it all comes together.
42:14But in terms of accessibility, it's a great word.
42:19You can do lots of things here.
42:20Finally, if I compare it to Corsica, it's incomparable.
42:22But I mean, tomorrow, if you feel like going bowling, you can go bowling.
42:25If you want to go and do some ceramic painting, you're going to do some ceramic painting.
42:28You really want to, you want to go karting, you want to play batball.
42:31You can do everything in the same place.
42:33I find that crazy.
42:34That's great, yeah.
42:39Among expatriate people, both here and when I was with my father,
42:42I think there are many people who are not open-minded.
42:45You know, they're really...
42:47As soon as there's something different, they get extremely negative about it.
42:50Finally, really, tell yourself that you are going to another country, you don't have the same mentality.
42:54Be open-minded, because that's how you'll love your adventure, in my opinion.
42:57You learn the most when you're open-minded.
43:01So, I would say, as much as when you're with the father of the family you live in,
43:05Be open to the fact that you are not going to live in the same way.
43:07That's normal, and you'll learn things from them too.
43:10And then they will learn things from you.
43:12Finally, the basis of expatriation is, after all, a cultural exchange, it must be said.
43:16But well, I would say, yes, just an open mind, even just wanting to discover simple things,
43:20to find joy in simple things, in the sense that, as you said, when you move abroad,
43:26We kind of see it as you're going to travel every weekend, etc.
43:29Also consider the side where you are expatriates, I'm coming back to what I said, in Quebec, in Canada.
43:33Think about the little moments in your life that you spend, like going for a walk in the park with fountains in the sunshine.
43:38These are pleasant moments that you may not experience later in your life if you no longer live here.
43:44So, take the little you're going to learn, and with all the simplicity in the world, try to...
43:49It sounds a bit silly, but you know, being content with the things you already experience in your daily life,
43:54before you settle for everything else, like travel and stuff like that.
43:57Try to be realistic, in the sense that expatriation is not easy.
44:01And I know that on social media, it's being sold a lot, in a way that it's accessible, it's great, blah blah blah, the weather's nice, there's sunshine, there's snow.
44:06Yeah, but besides that, not everything is going to be positive, we have to keep that in mind.
44:10And I'm far from being negative when I say that, it's just that not everything in life can be beautiful and rosy.
44:15as you would be if you were in your own country, I mean.
44:18But, yeah, keep an open mind and tell yourself that there are possibilities to do lots of things,
44:22and that not everything will be readily available, not everything will be handed to you just like that.
44:27Yeah, I'd say I'm pretty open on all those aspects.
44:33Leaving with a desire to discover above all, and also the realistic side where you're not going to find a job by snapping your fingers,
44:39It's not employers who are going to come looking for you, you're in a big city.
44:41And my advice is to be truly open and really enjoy the present moment.
44:45Because, guys, at any moment, you're back in your country, you won't have enjoyed it, which is a shame.
44:50Regrets must be avoided above all.
44:52Yeah, that's it.
44:54And now we're nearing the end. I have one last question to finish.
44:57A question that was a bit... it didn't stick, let's say.
45:00Would you be more of a Montreal bagels or French croissants person?
45:06Ah, that's tough!
45:08I don't know, if you're talking about bagels on your aviator, there's a chance it might turn more towards bagels.
45:12And finding good croissants here is complicated.
45:14Or you can do it at home.
45:16Yes, that's it.
45:18Yeah, bagels. Definitely team bagels.
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