Montreal's Uniqueness: A City Full of Food, Art and Accessibility

This staple city in Canada’s Quebec province has its own personality that’s one-of-a-kind! Boasting with plenty of festivals, art, cuisine, and innovation, Montreal also has a sense of comradery and welcomingness! American author and travel enthusiast Mark Twain once called it “the city of a hundred steeples” due to the high number of churches, and that’s just a snapshot of why this city is so special!

Fun Fact: Did you know that Montreal is an island? It’s actually five times larger than Manhattan!

Read on to find out more about Montreal’s food culture, art scene and accessibility!

Accessibility in Montreal

Montreal features one of the largest underground networks in the world! It has a series of tunnels and structures which can offer shortcuts and safety from the harsh cold during winter months.

The Underground City is over twenty miles with links to shops, metro stations, restaurants, and museums (Tousignant)! Known as La Ville Souterraine, the underground network was first built in the 1960s and has since expanded into tunnels, corridors, and plazas (Galipeau). 

Montreal boosts the reputation of enjoying one of the most bike friendly cities in North America, according to the Copenhagenize Index (Fadden)! There are hundreds of miles of cycle lanes that connect together throughout the city. Visitors and locals hop on bikes all year long to see the city sights and ride through different neighborhoods. 

Montreal’s Art Culture 

Montreal has a huge art and graffiti scene that celebrates all types of art and encourages various cultures to embrace themselves. Montreal exudes an open and welcoming atmosphere, given its powerful identity.

In 2006, Montreal was actually named a UNESCO City for its architecture and artistic design (Design Montréal). The city’s commitment to walkability, especially demonstrated by the neighborhoods’ designs which show this in particular, embodies their initiatives to increase happiness for the people in Montreal. 

Photo of Mile End, by Alan Rouiller, Flickr

Montreal’s creative neighborhood, known as Mile End, features artists, musicians, writers, and houses bookstores, entertainment venues, vintage shops, and even a one-hundred-year-old bagel shop (Yogerst). Another distinctive area, referred to as Quartier de Spectacles, has promoted Montreal’s initiative to boost morale and culture for the past two decades (Yogerst).

The prominent district ignites cultural exploration through many forms of art due to its close proximity to the Place des Arts complex, Central Library, Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Montreal Opera and Symphony Orchestra. In past years, this district has even displayed musical swing sets for locals to play for free! 

Place des Arts, Photo by Guilhem Vellut, Flickr

delicious food in the City of Saints

There’s more to Montreal than the cherished and widely popular dish known as poutine!  Although the city receives well-deserved praise for its delicious dish, Montreal continues to revolutionize the culinary scene! This city is known for being incredibly innovative and creative with incorporating modern twists to traditional favorites.

The cuisine found in Montreal truly captures the diverse population, with over 120 cultures influencing the city’s gastronomy (Roberts). All communities, including Greek, Italian, Eastern, African, Asian, and Jewish, have shaped the dining scenes in various ways (Roberts). Traditional Quebecois dishes are worth trying, but so is the ever growing and diverse international cuisine!

In the past, students and teachers have visited the iconic Notre-Dame Basilica in the heart of the Old Montreal are in the city. They’ve enjoyed learning how to prepare traditional Quebec cuisine with a local chef, and there’s

Hungry for more? Check out our past blog, “Culture and Cuisine: Savoring Canada’s Legendary Dishes”, for a look into dishes worth trying on your next adventure to Canada! 

Sources 

Fadden, Robyn. “Guide to All Things Biking in Montréal.” Tourisme Montréal, 29 Jan. 2020, www.mtl.org/en/experience/guide-to-all-things-biking.

Galipeau, Tobia. “Underground City Montreal: 16+ Amazing Attractions for 2020: Local Tips.” Local Food Tours - Beer and Food Tours, 16 Jan. 2020, localfoodtours.com/montreal/underground-city-montreal-destinations/.

“Montréal UNESCO City of Design.” Design Montréal, 19 Dec. 2019, designmontreal.com/en/about-montreal-unesco-city-of-design.

Roberts, Simon. “Beyond Poutine: Exploring Montreal's Growing Cuisine.” National Geographic, 29 Sept. 2017, www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/north-america/canada/quebec/montreal-restaurants-food-cuisine-global-international/.

Tousignant, Isa. “Your Guide to the Underground City.” Tourisme Montréal, 29 Jan. 2020, www.mtl.org/en/experience/guide-underground-city-shopping.

Yogerst, Joe. “12 Of Montreal's Best Neighborhoods.” CNN, Cable News Network, 16 Mar. 2017, www.cnn.com/travel/article/montreal-most-interesting-neighborhoods/index.html.

Balancing Your Travel Budget - Planning Ahead for Your Time Abroad

If you’re considering a study abroad experience, it doesn’t have to be exorbitant! It’s totally reasonable to have a great time, and be able to stick to a study abroad budget! The awesome part about traveling is that, no matter your budget, you can still see the world!

Expenses Don’t Have to be Expensive 

Before heading abroad, take into consideration the location and duration of the program, as well as bordering cities, available transportation, and costs of dining out. Compiling a budget for expenses will alleviate any surprises along the way.

Check in with yourself and what you enjoy doing - Do you love grabbing coffee in the morning? Are you an adventure junkie? Assess your interests and then make some wiggle room to enjoy the things! Be sure to keep your budget in mind (excursions, entertainment, personal expenses) and live within your means. 

Find Student Discounts 

Keep an eye out for any student discounts that may be available to use when applicable! It never hurts to ask! Check out StudentUniverse, which offers discounted pricing and terms on flights, hotels and tours.

Another interesting resource to look into is an International Student ID, a.k.a. ISIC, which offers discounts for travel, insurance, and products pertaining to your host country. You can also carry around your host university’s student ID to get student discounts at museums, movie theaters, train tickets, and much more! 

Anticipate Certain Charges 

Let’s be honest, we all love food! It’s hard to decline interesting dishes you’ve never tried before when out and about! However, food does end up being one of the biggest expenses when traveling. Keep this in mind and space out which traditional foods you want to try. Make a fun lunch date with friends on different weekends, that way you’re dispersing your expenses on weekly meals and savoring those delicious dishes! 

Other charges that can seem unavoidable are ATM transaction fees. Try finding a bank in your host country that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Whenever you pull cash from your debit card, you’ll get hit with fees from your bank and the foreign bank as well. We recommend bringing some cash that you’ve already changed into the local currency!

You can also apply for a credit card with zero foreign transaction fees, or ask your bank if they have a sister bank in your host country, which is another bank that’s affiliated with a U.S. bank. This saves you time and fees! 

Implementing Your Budget 

There are always plenty of options when it comes to making the most of your time abroad! Comparing your expenses with your budget while you’re overseas will keep you accountable so you can determine whether you might need to slow down on dining out or can afford an extra fun excursion. It’s recommended to make adjustments to your budget accordingly after you’ve been living in your host country for a bit once you find your way around the city and all of its costs! 

Staying conscious of expenses is the best thing you can do for yourself as a student traveler! Ask for discounts when you can, and most importantly, make the most of your budget when living overseas!

Check out our recent blog, Money Matters - How You Can Afford Your Experience with EdOdyssey, to find out more tips on saving costs up front with EdOdyssey’s programs!

Eight Must-Have Applications When in China

We all use our smartphones daily and presumably this will be true if you travel to China as well.  There are some applications on your smartphone that you will use frequently in China, and some that you will discover are actually a necessity.  We get into routines and comfortable with applications’ functions, and I had an initial discomfort of learning a number of new apps, but later discovered their great value.

Here are eight apps that you should download and use when in China:

1. WeChat

WeChat is a free application that you will use every single day in China.  It is used for messaging, calling, and even has a social media aspect. It is akin to any other messaging app, with audio and messaging, built-in emojis, and group chat functionality.  I found WeChat to be extremely useful when I was in China, as I was to able to message my friends and even pay for items at stores or at street vendors through the app with QR code technology.  If you have a Chinese bank account, simply link your card to the app and you are ready to easily shop!

2. DiDi

DiDi is the Uber of China.  It is super convenient to order a ride if you do not want to take a taxi or there are no taxis around you.  I found that riding with DiDi was a little better than taxis, since taxis are metered and often more expensive.  The user interface is very similar to Uber, as you can also split rides with other users. Also be prepared to almost always speak to the driver on the phone, the driver will call you to ensure your location and pickup, so be prepared to speak Chinese!  You can alternatively message the driver through the app to ensure a proper pickup and even pay the driver in cash if you prefer to.

3. Ofo & Mobike

Both Ofo and Mobike are very convenient bicycle-sharing applications.  In China, I would walk on the sidewalk, find an Ofo or Mobike, scan the QR code with my phone, and then the bike unlocked and I was ready to ride!  Within the app, there are the fees for riding, but they are very cheap prices, most of the time around fifteen cents for each ride! Of course, you want to be cautious when riding bicycles especially in a foreign country.  In major cities, there are separate bike lanes in the street going in the same direction, but you have to always be cautious of other bikes, mopeds, and bicycles sharing the same lane.

4. Taobao

Taobao is the perfect application for all of your shopping needs.  You can practically find any item that you desire on Taobao, which is also a website.  I have used Taobao to purchase cheap clothing, shoes, and accessories in the past, and the items were shipped right to me!  You can easily have items shipped to any location in China, including your school or university shipping center. It is the best site in China for cheap, online shopping, and you can always find great deals.  However, this may not be the best idea for buying gifts for others, as it depends on what it is you are buying.

5. Ctrip

If you are planning on travelling within China, Ctrip is the application for your travel needs.  Through the app, I compared flight prices from one city to another and purchased my flight tickets.  Through Ctrip, you can also book bus tickets and even hotels. Ctrip is very convenient for purchasing your tickets, and they are usually the cheapest prices out there!

6. Amap

If you are looking for more local commuting routes and updates, consider Amap you Apple or Google Maps.  Well, in China you will most definitely need to find your way to your destination, and Amap is the perfect solution.  With basic functions just like Google maps, you will never get lost if you use this app. I used this app every day in China, as it is also great for providing locations, authentic reviews, and recommendations, in addition to directions.

7. Xiami

Want to listen to music in China?  Xiami is the best application for listening to music and watching music videos.  Think of it as Youtube, along with the functions of Spotify. I love this app because I was able to listen to my favorite English-speaking artists, but also discover new and amazing Chinese artists!

8. Pleco

When in China, you will want to practice your Mandarin.  Pleco is an amazing application for learning new Chinese words, with a focus on self-learning.  You can simply type in an English word, and learn the Chinese character, stroke order of the character, related words, and even sentences using the word!  Additional capabilities include being able to bookmark words you want to save for later, and a built-history that allows you to look back at previous words.  I found this app to be extremely helpful for a daily practice of Chinese and I could even translate from Chinese to English too!

I can say that with the usage of all these applications, my life in China became much easier.  In some ways, it was even easier than life in America, as I was fascinated by the widespread use of QR code technology.  I was amazed at how easier and faster it made daily activities, such as paying for items at checkout and grabbing an Ofo or Mobike.  

For me, there was not a huge adjustment to using these apps, since they all have equivalents that would be used in America for example.  To this day, I still use WeChat and Pleco in America. I love to keep in touch with my friends in China through WeChat and practice Mandarin even more with Pleco.  These are not all of the applications you will find yourself downloading in China, but these are eight essentials, making for an easy transition to life in China!

Interested in learning more about life in China? Check out my Five Customs You Should Know When in Public in China!

Peru's Recent History: A Story of Struggles and Growth

Peru’s Recent History: From Terrorism To Triumph

Peru continues to go through a tremendous transformation that has taken the country from terrorism to triumph within the last almost forty years. Although Peru has struggled with political corruption and scandals within recent memory, on the whole, it has emerged as an economic powerhouse in South America. Along with economic growth, Peru’s expanding middle class has improved life for its people while transportation and services can vary depending on where you are in big cities like Lima.

Through EdOdyssey, we want to show you that despite Peru’s history of terrorism and most recent stint of political controversy, there has been an advance in development that has helped neighborhoods grow and prosper. From the bustling city center into the more humble neighborhoods, you will learn about how the atmosphere in Peru, and especially in Lima, has evolved and changed drastically during the last three decades.

Late 20th Century Terrorism, Recent Corruption

In the 1980’s and 1990’s, a reign of terrorism controlled and disrupted Peru. The Shining Path, a terrorist movement for the last two decades of the 20th century, rallied indigenous people from the countryside and poorer areas to engage in terrorist acts against civilians and the government. During that twenty year span, the armed supporters of the Shining Path took part in bombings and assassinations that went from more remote areas to major cities, such as Lima. Some estimates have shown that there were more than 60,000 deaths reported as a result of the Shining Path, according to the NY Times, which one of the highest death tolls from any terrorist group in the history of the America’s.

Former President Alberto Fujimori Credit: University of Houston - Clear Lake

In the 1990’s, President Alberto Fujimori pushed back against the group through unilateral, illegal orders ranging from kidnappings to assassinations of Shining Path members. Additionally, he used public money to fight the insurgency of the group that did contribute to weakening the power of the terrorist group, but his unethical tactics broke the law. His controversial decisions during his presidency ultimately put him in jail where he continues to serve a prison sentence that was given in the early 2000’s.

President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski during his short-lived presidency.

Credit: perureports.com

Despite Fujimori’s daring politics, his presidency began a time of construction and transformation in Peru that also highlights Peru’s continued struggle with political corruption within recent years. The most recent example comes from the controversy of one of the most recent presidents, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, which brought him to resign as president in May 2018 - less than twenty months into his presidency.

His company advised and received funds from a Brazilian construction company, Odebrecht, that laundered money to electoral campaigns. Despite Peru’s political controversy surrounding their presidents, the country has seen significant growth in the middle class.

21st Century: Lima On The Rise

Lima has seen an increase in public transport that has helped the middle class grow tremendously within the last few years. According to Andina, a Peruvian news source, the middle class has grown eight percent from 2011 to 2015. In order to support this growing class, Lima continues to build out new transportation, including a new metro line.

This second subway line shows the Peruvian capital’s dedication to public infrastructure as it has invested heavily with over five million dollars to expand on its existing transportation. From one subway line to two subway lines, the country has committed its biggest investments in the country’s history, according to the World Bank.

This new metro line that aims to open in 2022 will serve over two million people, according to PeruReports, which shows that the country’s capital continues to grow and expand. The growth of the metro and bus lines in the city center will help continue to serve the community as Peru continues to gain economic strength in South America.

Don’t you want to get a look into the future of one of South America’s fastest developing cities before it’s finished? Do you want to see a real look some different neighborhoods?

The silver buses service the city center.

Credit: metropoliano.com.pe

Along the same lines, the buses in Lima show that even the bus lines indicate both an area of growth as well as identifiers of class and wealth. The Metropolitano, Lima’s public bus system (as seen on the right), provides quick and easy access for over half a million workers daily to get to/from work in more of central and generally wealthier parts of the city.

The yellow buses cover Northern & Southern Lima.

Credit: APLN

During your trip, you will get a chance to see the central area of Lima that the Metropolitano services as well as the more developing areas where the Alimentadora makes stops. In the past, we’ve taken student groups to a local orphanage in Villa El Salvador, one of the Lima’s developing neighbors, to complete a day of service out of solidarity. As a part of our custom programs, we have allowed our student groups to go out and serve local communities to see how people live in different parts of the city.

Do you want to witness the growth of some of the newest, most up-and-coming infrastructure in both North and South America? Are you curious to learn more about Peru as it continues to rise?

If you want to get a better idea about us and our programs, check us out across all of our social media!

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Sources:

Andina, Agencia. “Peru's Middle-Class Accounts for One-Third of the Population.” News  ANDINA - Peru News Agency, andina.pe/ingles/noticia-perus-middleclass-accounts-for-onethird-of-the-population-618120.aspx

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Alberto Fujimori.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 24 July 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Alberto-Fujimori.

“Delays for Lima Metro Line 2 Postpone Opening Date to 2022.” Perú Reports, Perú Reports, 20 Sept. 2017, perureports.com/lima-metro-line-2-delays-postpone-opening-date/5498/.

Forero, Juan. “Peru Report Says 69,000 Died in 20 Years of Rebel War.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 29 Aug. 2003, www.nytimes.com/2003/08/29/world/peru-report-says-69000-died-in-20-years-of-rebel-war.html

Hollar, Sherman. “Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 29 Sept. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Pedro-Pablo-Kuczynski.

“Lima Urban Transport: On the Way to Transformation.” The World Bank, The World Bank, www.worldbank.org/en/topic/transport/brief/connections-note-22.