The Slippers
Parents are often asked if they start feeling like a mother and a father the second they see their newborn—does a kid feel like his parents’ child the moment he is held for the first time?
Author Zhu
Zhu
French woman in English Canada. World citizen, new mom, traveler, translator, writer and photographer. Looking for comrades to start a new revolution.
20 Typical December Scenes in Ottawa
All week long, I’ve been taking photos of a few typical December scenes around Ottawa with my cellphone. This is what the city looks like right now.
10 Common Canadian Winter Problems
Every year, for four to six months, life in Canada is full of big and small winter struggles. Here are ten situations you’re probably familiar with if you’ve ever considered using the car trunk as a freezer.
The Creeps of Flickr [NSFW Language]
Involuntarily, I paid $50 to be introduced to online porn at the age of 35. Fuck me (no, not literally…)
When Canada Was Really Shitty
I spent most of September and October working on a very long assignment I’d call the “Inuit project”. “The who?” my mom asked when I mentioned the workload that was keeping me awake until ungodly hours.
It’s Cold
Some people can handle cold weather, some people can’t. Clearly, I can’t. I don’t even like ice in my drinks.
That Puzzling Place Canadians Call “School”
Parent-teacher meetings are this week. We have the 9:00-9:10 slot. Should be a fun 10 minutes.
The Fine Art of Getting Paid (and Spotting Red Flags)
I’m a freelancer. Not only there’s no guarantee I’ll get assignments, but there’s always a small risk I won’t be paid. Illegal, sure, but who’s looking forward to a legal battle?
This Is Why Blogging Can Save The World
Blogging seems to be so yesterday. In this day and age, you argue on Twitter, show your flawless lifestyle on Instagram and spread the word on Facebook.
“They all float down here” – Halloween 2018 in Quebec
My friend’s kid is going as a giraffe. Mark is “Georgie”, the first kid murdered by Pennywise the clown in “It”. Clearly, I failed at parenting.
20 Things Most Immigrants Must Have Experienced
Please, tell me I’m not the only one!
4 Mistakes I Made When I Came to Canada (Avoid Making Them!)
I made many mistakes over the years, especially when I first came to Canada. Maybe these “lessons learn” can help you?
The Fleeting Beauty of Fall
Some years, fall can be like a long French movie where you can almost see each leaf changing colour while having an identity crisis and wondering about the meaning of life.
Weed Is Now Legal in Canada (But I Promise I’m Not High)
Today, Canada has become the second country in the world where recreational marijuana is legal on a national level.
In A Fog (And Nautical Metaphors)
I have dreams, projects, ideas, the whole shebang. But when? When do I get to tackle them?
That Night, Six Years Ago
Happy birthday, Mark. You’ve been looking forward to being 6 for almost a year now. No, we can’t pretend you’re ten. Sorry.
The Cool Kids (And the Rest of Us)
Who are those people who look back at their school years with nostalgia?
We’re Not Strangers, After All
The couple, a man and a woman, were sidewalk experts. That alone was noteworthy. But then, something strange happened.
Important Things to Note Before You Move (To Canada)
Adult life can be stressful at times and the option that many people take is…
After the Tornadoes – Power to the People
Turned out we weren’t hit by two tornadoes but six.
After Tornadoes Struck – Powerless Without Power
I reached over to grab my phone, plugged to the charger because surely, the power must have been restored at one point during the night.
The Day a Tornado (Or Two) Hit Ottawa
There are events you know you will recall vividly years later—what you were doing, where you were, how you dealt with the situation.
How NOT to Switch Cellphone Provider
At 7:01 p.m., the line went dead and I started swearing in both official languages.
8 People Every Immigrant Should Have on Speed Dial
You’re leaving your family and your friends behind to start a new life in a…