Introducing yourself to strangers at a block party

• You (a new resident)
  Listen

  Du Liban à l'origine, mais j'ai vécu à Toronto pendant quelques années avant de déménager ici.

  From Lebanon originally, but I lived in Toronto for a few years before moving here.

• A neighbour from the area
  Listen

  Ah, donc tu connais l'hiver canadien, au moins. Tu vas bien t'adapter à l'hiver montréalais.

  Oh, so you know Canadian winter, at least. You'll handle the Montreal winter just fine.

• You (a new resident)
  Listen

  J'espère ! Les gens disent que c'est plus rude ici. C'est animé d'habitude, ce coin ?

  I hope so! People say it's harsher here. Is this corner usually lively?

• A neighbour from the area
  Listen

  L'été, oui — il y a beaucoup de monde dehors. L'hiver, c'est plus tranquille. Mais on a un groupe Facebook de la rue, je peux t'envoyer le lien.

  In summer, yes — lots of people outside. In winter it's quieter. But we have a Facebook group for the street — I can send you the link.

• You (a new resident)
  Listen

  Ah, ça serait super, merci. Comme ça, je vais savoir ce qui se passe.

  Oh, that would be great, thanks. That way I'll know what's going on.

• A neighbour from the area
  Listen

  Donne-moi ton numéro, je te texte le lien tantôt. Et viens-tu, je vais te présenter à Diane, qui organise la fête.

  Give me your number, I'll text you the link later. And come on — I'll introduce you to Diane, who's organizing the party.

• You (a new resident)
  Listen

  Avec plaisir. Merci, Sylvain, c'est gentil de prendre le temps.

  Gladly. Thanks, Sylvain, that's kind of you to take the time.

• A neighbour from the area
  Listen

  Ça me fait plaisir. Allez, viens, je te présente.

  My pleasure. Come on, let me introduce you.

Vocabulary

• une fête de quartiera block party / neighbourhood festival— Often organized by the local arrondissement (borough) in summer.
• l'arrondissementthe borough— Montreal is divided into arrondissements, each with its own local services.
• un attroupementa cluster / a small crowd— Used here jokingly for a disorganized line.
• rester (= habiter)to live (in a place)— Quebec usage — « tu restes où ? » = where do you live?
• un triplex / un duplexa triplex / duplex— Montreal's typical 2- or 3-unit walk-up buildings.
• une galeriea porch / front balcony— In Quebec, « la galerie » is the outdoor wooden porch at the front or back of a house.
• texter quelqu'unto text someone— Verbed from « un texto » — common in Quebec.
• tantôtlater (today) / a bit later— Very Quebec — means « in a little while » when looking forward.
• animélively / busy

Culture note

Block parties organized by boroughs are a very Quebec way to meet neighbours with no commitment. You show up alone, talk to whoever's at the coffee table, and the informal « tu » almost always sets in right away. Giving your number to join the street's Facebook group is also a classic.

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