Quebec continues to have an undeniable attraction for French expatriates. France is the leading country providing immigrants to Quebec. Often perceived as a true El Dorado, Quebec offers opportunities for professional advancement, attracting French people eager for adventure. But it is important to recognize that settling and acclimatizing there is not always an easy task. Integration and adaptation challenges are part of the journey, making this experience as enriching as it is demanding.
Théo, 31, remembers very well what he felt the first time he arrived in Montreal. “I was in the hotel room, our two suitcases still closed. And I watched the city expand, with its buildings and its never-ending streets. I felt very small. I asked myself: How will I manage to find a place here? » The Toulonnais would never have thought of living in Canada. Already, his departure for Lyon to study computer science was an adventure. It is there that he meets Elsa, 25 years old: she is finishing her studies in hotel management. For her end-of-year internship, she dreams of going abroad.
But Covid-19 thwarts his plans. Frustrated, she makes a promise to herself: as soon as she can, she will go for an experience abroad. Théo decides to follow her on this adventure. And after fantasizing about a life in Japan or New Zealand, their choice falls on Montreal. They leave with a triple objective in mind: tourism, professional development and financial success. “Living the American Dream” in short.
At the end of Indian summer 2024, they are celebrating their one year anniversary in Montreal. After a month of woofing with a beekeeper in Saint-Constant, they found an apartment in the Plateau, the French district. For $1,000 per month, they occupy a 60 m2 apartment with three and a half rooms, with two balconies. To find this very cheap plan, Elsa fought tirelessly.
“Here, everything happens on Facebook. You don't need to put together a file like in France, with tax forms, pay slips, guarantors, etc. You are asked to print a receipt from your bank account to verify that you have the necessary savings. » The owners are keen on “PVtistes”, holders of the “Working Holiday Program” permit, which allows you to stay in Canada for a year and work there. To arrive on Quebec soil, they must have $10,000 in their bank account.
Despite this very light file compared to that required in France, the search for an apartment was not without pitfalls for the young couple. The housing crisis has worsened in Montreal since the pandemic.
Very quickly, Elsa found a job in her field, catering. Théo, a computer scientist, encounters more difficulties. After a month of browsing the ads, he saw his savings disappear. Panicked, he decides to go down “cross the street and find a job”. “I say that laughing, but here, it worked. I applied to the businesses on Mont-Royal Boulevard, at the end of the day, I had three positive responses. It was mind-blowing. »
That day, luck finally changed for Théo. He will not have time to improvise as a cashier: a company hires him to create an IT center. He quickly climbs the ladder and his salary follows. “The relationship with work is totally different here. No one is on your back to check, criticize, challenge. We trust you. And as long as the work is done, you keep your job. On the other hand, if you do nothing. You can get fired overnight. »
Elsa and Théo strive to be perfect employees, invest in their respective companies and take responsibility. They notice that their pace of work is “too fast”. “It’s weird, you have the impression that there are two of them on time. Already, as a foreigner, you put pressure on yourself to perform. But it's not just that. In France, it's so normal to kill yourself at work. Here he…
