I’m at the University of Quebec right now, hogging a computer someone told me I could use without any problem. What am I doing here? I had a meeting with the director of the Biology programme who checked my credits and told me I can start to study in January if I want to. WTF? This is great! I’m going to fill in my application tonight and bring the papers tomorrow. He said they will give me credits for the courses I took in Colombia and at the University of Montreal and that I could start with 1 or 2 classes during the Winter session. I’m thrilled and a little confused, but definitely happy.

And because this is such a small world, I happened to meet a Biology graduate student… from Colombia! Nice guy, willing to give me all the info I need and even told me there’s a latino party in two weeks if I want to come, he he! He also wants me to contact his father regarding a job and because the world’s even smaller than I thought, he’s good friends with the only Colombian girl I know in town. Serendipity? Luck? Guardian angel taking care of me? Things definitely get good sometimes and I don’t feel so alone now. Woohoo!

I must go. People are starting to look at me as if I were some kind of weird bug. I’m not a student here… but I’ll be! Now it’s time for a vanilla hazelnut coffee, a good bus ride and then candy, candy, candy with the kids. Too bad it’s raining, though. Oh well, who said life is perfect.

Beautiful day today. The sun actually shines in Saguenay… Who would’ve thought? LMAO. No, it’s really nice today and I’m going to take a few photos, take a walk, enjoy this absolutely beautiful place. My PC’s not here yet, but my internet connection is ready, so I’ll be on line at home in no time… finally! I’m at my friend’s house now, we had coffee, chatted, I played with the kids and now I’m taking care of e-mails.

Things are going well. I met with a potential employer yesterday and I think she liked me, so I’m hoping to hear from her next week. I also dropped a few CV’s here and there and I’m meeting with the director of the Biology program at the university on Monday. My life’s moving, slowly, but surely, and I’m starting to feel optimistic. I feel alone sometimes, but it’s all normal and I know I’m not alone at all.

On the BIG NEWS section: I talked to my EX on the phone this morning. I woke up and first thing I wanted to do was dialing his cellphone number to ask him for a few things that belong to me, fearing that he would be nasty or cold, but surprise… It was a civil and nice conversation. I told him where I am and what I’m doing and he actually said he’s proud of me and that I’m going to be successful. Anyhoo, I told him it was sad we didn’t speak to each other and that I didn’t understand why he wouldn’t talk to me at all and he managed to say he’s sorry and that we should start talking again. Now, what do I do with that? I have no idea, but I’m not holding my breath. We’ll see.

And that’s all for now. I should go home, take a shower, do laundry and get busy.

I’ve spent all morning at the Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi, a wonderful place where they give you advice and ressources to find a job in the region. I had a long interview with a counselor who helped me put my CV in order and I even got an interview for a job tomorrow, so wish me luck! It’ll take a few weeks, but I have faith in God and self-confidence.

People here in Chicoutimi are so nice, so willing to listen and help you. They find it exciting that someone who lived in wonderful Montreal decided to come to their little city to start anew. They’re encouraging and they’re proud of this place. I really feel at home, my friend’s mother is a very nice lady, always trying to make me feel welcome, worried about me like a real mother, I have everything I need. Sure I feel lonely sometimes, but I’m trying to stay active and I even joined a support group for divorced women and I had my first meeting last night; can’t wait for next Wednesday so I can see them again.

So, this is my new life. I know it isn’t easy, but it isn’t bad. In fact, it is good, really good. I like it here, I like to realize that I’m a strong person and that I was willing to take this big risk. I’m all alone, despite the people around me, but I’ll build my social network again and enjoy what my beloved Canada has to offer.

Little steps take us to big steps. I’m just starting, I’m gonna be just fine!

I’m in an internet cafe on Racine street, kind of cool. I feel like asking if they’re looking for employees. All kinds of techie books, great music, great ambiance. I’m waiting for 7 p.m. so I can go to my first Divorce Support meeting, a group mostly for women, but I’m happy to be able to meet new people. There’s a conference about STD’s tonight, oh well…

Thing are going fine. Yesterday I had a meeting with a lady who will help me find a job. She encouraged me a lot, told me I have great things to offer, three languages, a good education, I’m good with people and she even said I can get a job working as a Biologist which really, really thrilled me, with the forest service, woohoo! I’m meeting with another person tomorrow to discuss which options are better for me regarding working/studying. It sure is scary sometimes, but I know I’m going to be OK once I find a job.

I think I’m gonna have my PC connected to the internet this weekend and then I can stay in contact with everyone more often. Although I don’t mind coming to this really cool place from time to time. The city is small and kind of quiet, but a perfect place to start my new life. I like it here… I really do.

It’s normal, it’s very normal to feel like this. I’m not going to freak out, I won’t cry. I feel lonely today, like very lonely and scared, but then I tell myself this is what I wanted to do and I’m here now, might as well face it. I don’t know where to start, really. I just found a bunch of e-mails from people all over and they keep telling me how strong I am and how proud they are of me, but then fear starts crawling all over… What am I going to do? This starting all over again thing can get overwhelming, but I’m so going to do it. I’m smart, I’m a good person, I speak three freaking languages, I’m not alone here.

Good God, my grandma was a warrior, my father was a warrior, it’s in my blood, I won’t give up. I’ve been here for 3 days, can’t expect things to fall on my lap. I’ll call the university tomorrow, contact the financial aid for students office (I was approved for a loan last year and it’s got to be there still), get my world moving. Then I will see my potential employer on Tuesday and I’m praying so hard things will be fine because I need to find a job ASAP. I can’t be scared, fear is what I want to fight against and I’m going to triumph.

Gotta hold on tight to my faith and then the world will be mine.
Psalm 23, Bea… Psalm 23.

I’ve been at my new place for 2 days now and I’m loving it. I have a little apartment in my friend’s mother’s house basement, bathroom, living room, office, nice bedroom (they decorated it for me, how cute). I have a huge Quebec flag in front of me to remind me of where I am, ouais! But I have access to the rest of the house, washing room, the kitchen and I feel like I’m living with a cool roommie. I like it here! Sure it gets lonely sometimes and I won’t deny I’ve teared up a little, but it’s good… it’s all good.

Last night I went out with Madi, took a walk on Racine Street, stopped at library, hit the mall (didn’t buy anything!) then we went for coffee at Tim Hortons (finally, yum!) and then I went home, got comfy and watched a couple of chick flicks from my DVD collection. I was busy this morning, did laundry, finished organizing my things, made lunch, took a shower and now I’m kidnapping Madi’s PC because my machine hasn’t made it here yet, hopefully next week.

Plans for later today? None, ha ha ha! Go home, make dinner and probably watch TV or another movie. I’m all alone now, better get used to it and then it’s gonna be just fine. Next week’s gonna be really busy with the job interview and then I’ll have get me another job on the side, call the University because I want to take a few classes… Oh boy! I guess I really won’t have time to get bored. Thank God for that!

I’m home now, got here at 8:30 last night. I found a housewarming gift from a good friend, a CD mix containing this song called ¨Happy¨ by The Wrens. I’ve heard about it, knew the lyrics, I just never listened to it before. It’s cool, kind of distorted at the beginning, but then it makes sense and what starts being a sad story becomes a happy one, I guess. It made me think of Patrice this morning when I was unpacking… It’s all back to me now. I’m alone, in an unknown land, starting all over again, it’s overwhelming, I’ve felt like crying all morning, but I won’t cry, there’s no reason to cry… I have this amazing opportunity for a new life.

I’m all settled, have a lovely little apartment at my friend’s mother’s house, I have my friend just in front of my place, this is such a beautiful area, people are nice, I already made friends with the neighbour. I have a job interview on Tuesday and I don’t lack of anything, except for groceries that I will get later today, heh. Yes, I should be happy. I am happy. This was my decision, this is what I wanted, I made it all the way here and things can only get better, like the song.

So, I’m ready to go now. Will be at my final destination tonight, then I have to get settled and who knows when I’ll be on line, but let’s hope very soon. I have my PC with me, Fab was nice enough to provide me with peripherics that were missing (dear P kept it all… so nice!) and I’ll guess I’ll find an ISP as soon as I have everything else ready.

The trip’s gonna be “funny”, I’m taking the bus, but I have more baggage than allowed, so I have to pay extra, but everything is in the planned budget and I have to go home anyway, so I’m not worried about it. Now I have to run to Staples and find something to put my PC in and then I’ll be ready to go. Someone really special told me last night that I’m going to be sitting on top of the world really soon… I don’t want to be on top of the world, but I sure want a nice front row seat.

Who knows, maybe I’ll be back in Montreal sooner than expected since I’m waiting to hear about that job and people keep telling me there are really good chances for me, but for now I’m going north after my new life and I’m going to try to make the best of it. Weaving dreams… I’m going to start weaving dreams to make them come true.

Be back later!