MONTREAL APARTMENT TOUR I Differences between France vs Canada Apartments! I Culture Shocks

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Did anyone notice that I said Canadian King Size beds instead of California King Size? LOL.🤣

[@anisaromano5352]

Yes, I wondered if it was a Canadian thing.

[@richiecabral3602]

@@anisaromano5352 same

[@kimbwf629]

Love it.

[@RupinderMahal]

Can you please make a video about how you got transferred within the company and what that process looks like?

[@niibaddoo]

Congratulations ! Great city and culturally/food wise the best city in North America in my opinion.....totally affordable and has the best qualities of France with very open minded people and great diversity...Lived there for 5 years and have lived in France and I regret the day I returned to the States

[@amyspeers8012]

So glad you found a place so quickly. Had to chuckle about the bathrooms. Our apartment in Rennes, France was a 3 bed/1 bath (one room for the toilet and one for the shower/sink. We bought a house in SW France that had been completely remolded and was used at first as a holiday home. It has 4 bedrooms…and each bedroom has a shower, sink and toilet! Also, there is a powder room. I went from 1 toilet to 5! 😅

[@sparklie962]

Wow, I"m glad that you managed to find a nice, permanent place so quickly. I don't think you'd have anything like that luck in Vancouver! Awesome. And yes, the lack of ceiling lighting seems to be a thing here in Vancouver too in condos and apartments, especially 20 yo or newer. I agree, it's annoying. I've heard it's just a developer-cheaping-out thing.

[@jillianmakes]

My husband and I have 2.5 baths and 3 toilets and it's just the two of us! 2 toilets are definitely necessary. Sometimes you just both need to use one at the same time 🙂

[@peggiescraftcafe7117]

Yes, two showers isn't necessary but 2 toilets definitely.

[@annaburch3200]

We're in the USA, but check out Canadian Tire for all sorts of things from snow and sports gear, to household items, to . . . Tires! Lol! It's a great store! We'd go up to Vancouver to Canadian Tire to buy our son's hockey gear. I'm glad you have a more permanent space coming soon. 😊👍

[@elisabeth8739]

Love CT ! Always my first stop for household items.

[@VivPhotography]

Two toilets are definitely necessary, and while I lived in eastern Europe for 6 years people there also wanted more than one. If someone is showering/bathing in the bathroom, its nice to have at least a WC where someone could use the toilet while the other room is being occupied (or someone else is using the other toilet!). Also, re the dryer, I can't believe anyone would give you crap for that. You're right in that in summer clothes dry fast, but not in winter. It's awful trying to air dry clothes in the winter as it can take more than a day for it to dry...esp when it's a whole family and not just a single person your whole apartment would be taken up with drying racks.

[@paulagaudet7528]

I don’t know why I cringed when you commented that americans prefer quantity over quality. This generalization seems to be common but I find it harsh and not my experience. I’m glad you’re enjoying your new experience ( mostly). There are strollers with big tredded tires that work well in the snow. Ask around for a store near you. It’s a small cute thing and unimportant but in Canada, the English pronounce Montreal “Munt Ree’ all”. No O sound. Not logical but true. We do the same with Toronto where the first O is essentially silent. “tronto

[@dantescave1]

Well, because millions of us are not stereotypical mindless ‘consumers’, but educated, cultivated, gracious, kind, thoughtful people with good manners, & do not value quantity over quality. I guess it depends on where & how one is raised. With 260 million there are plenty of each variety to be found I’m sure.

[@robertcu3184]

Friendly tip - locally, Montreal is pronounced MUNtreal (in english)

[@klondikechris]

The lack of ceiling lighting is a newer thing in Canada. Well, 70's, and 80's is when it began. It frustrates me! I moved into a condo in Ottawa, bought before it was built. I asked to have ceiling lights added to every room, which surprised the builders.

[@richiecabral3602]

I can see why you would think a second bathroom might be excessive, or even wasteful, but if someone else is in the shower, or say your daughter's being given her bath, whatever, and you really have to go to the bathroom, you'll be thankful for a second toilet! Maybe that's just me, and I have a bladder the size of a peanut, but I couldn't imagine a second bathroom ever being a negative. Even if it was rarely used. Plus, I think the purpose of it is also supposed to be that were you to have guests, they wouldn't need to walk through your bedroom to use the bathroom with all of your personal things out.

[@destinydeems]

At hotels (Fairmont San Francisco, Hotel Drisco Pacific Heights, Hotel Los Gatos) there are always king-sized beds which is such a luxury. Here at home, we have a double bed (54" wide) which is fine for us as we are small-framed/thin people. Yet, at hotels, there is a feeling when one can spread out!

[@monica4791]

My husband and I have a 2 bedroom flat in England and we have 2 full bathrooms. One is our en-suite and another bathroom. Your new flat looks lovely :)

[@nancynewman6592]

Parisians are not the same size as many Americans, and our Canadian purchase culture is very similar to the US. I also think that in no time, you will wonder how you ever got along with just one bathroom in France :) This temporary apartment looks quite luxurious to me. The older ones have tiny cupboards, tiny kitchens etc, with mostly closed off rooms.

[@TreenaBeena]

I assume you had shutters in France. Do you miss those? Personally I do when I’m in the US. I feel safer with them.

[@ancabarbulescu2330]

Good for you! The apartment is so much better compared to the Paris apartment! Enjoy!🎉

[@elizabethnilsson1815]

If I understood right you moved about December last year (2022). Now it is February I miss you already. Greeting's from the UK who watch your vlogs

[@michaelwhite2600]

I know it must be wonderful to be closer to your family. Airfare is so much more affordable than living across the pond. I always had a twin bed when I was a child. If you wanted to create more space in Eleanor’s room, you could get one, but it already sounds like she loves the queen size. I was just thinking about her toys and other things . I hope you are adjusting well. I’d love to see a video on the French language differences . I know that has been a trip! Thank you again for all of your awesome videos!

[@MyLittleGreenHairdedMermaid]

Airfare is more affordable.... where do you live. If you live in the US, let me tell you, its way cheaper in Europe. Canada is super expensive for airfare

[@michaelwhite2600]

@@MyLittleGreenHairdedMermaid I live in the U.S. Montreal is like a domestic flight price wise for me compared to flying to Paris .

[@MyLittleGreenHairdedMermaid]

@@michaelwhite2600 So I just looked it up..... flying from Montreal to the US is cheaper. I live in Western Canada and usually have to go through Calgary, the most expensive airport for fees in North America..... so my numbers are different than someone in Quebec or Ontario

[@michaelwhite2600]

@@MyLittleGreenHairdedMermaid Yes I live in the east . Same time zone as Montreal.

[@wenDesigner]

Yay! Happy for you!! ❤❤😊

[@thatcherdonovan7305]

Really doing the French expat in Montréal thing... living on the Plateau, going to Décathlon, etc. Those immediately will mark you as from France here haha. As far as the kitchen island, I've lived here for a long time and have never seen one, ever. Maybe they exist in more upscale apartments, but I've been to à fair few of those too and still never seen one.

[@dantescave1]

Common in America in every kitchen! Watch American decorating home & apartment tours, movies or television… almost all have an island!

[@thatcherdonovan7305]

@@dantescave1 I grew up in Minnesota, my family never had one. They're not common in lower middle class houses and houses older than maybe 40 years old.

[@lauraramsey9000]

Haha we had the opposite problem with the bathrooms. We had a 4br 2.5 ba house in Belgium then ended up in temporary housing 2br 1 ba in QC for 4 months. Of course we had so many instances with our then 5yo and an adult needing to use the bathroom at the same time with me crossing fingers and toes that our daughter could wait long enough for her turn. Now thankfully we have 2.5 baths again in our QC house. The 2nd bedroom in temp housing was also a queen size and it was weird to see our kiddo in that after a toddler bed in Belgium. Now she's 6 and has a full bed in our house which is perfect. So glad to have closets and larger, better-performing appliances now that we're back in North America too. We don't have an island but it's an L-shaped kitchen with a very wide counter on 1 side that acts as an island with room for 2 bar stools. Glad you found permanent housing and can move in quickly. We also had to buy the plastic thing for our boots and had sticker shock with all the winter gear we had to buy when we arrived. Fortunately our daughter is small for her age and is getting 2 years out of that winter gear we bought 14 months ago, because yes they do indeed go out up to -30°C! On the other hand her school and my work are kept so warm that we are only wearing lightweight, long-sleeved tops inside. We boil if we wear sweaters. Keeping buildings above 19°C in the winter was blasphemy in Belgium so that was a big surprise for me arriving in Québec too.

[@missmakoti9702]

I'm Belgian and before the energy crisis, nobody I know heated their place lower than 20°C. The average temperature would be 20,5°C-21,5°C. It's only now, that energy prices have gone through the roof that people have started lowering the temperature of the heater.

[@heatherfrasch4757]

I also miss the walk in closets and dryers while living in Europe 😅

[@LizzyS57]

In the UK we have very small flats, but washer/dryer in one is very common for this reason. Is this not how it’s done in rest of Europe? 🤔 It just seems like quite a convenient solution for small space. Can’t imagine drying everything without it tbh (especially in winter!)

[@berlinorama]

Here in Germany almost nobody has a separate dryer unless they live in a single-family house. But combination washer/dryers are not that common in apartments. Few people have the option to pipe the hot air to the outside and the condensation washer-dryers are not that energy efficient, which people are very concerned about;-)) I look forward to the day when someone develops a really efficient combination washer-dryer, which would be great for towels and bedding.

[@sandihunter1260]

I love analuisa jewelry. Great pieces.

[@kka887]

I live in the Trois-Rivières area. Bienvenue au Québec from another American in la belle province !

[@pumpjackpiddlewick]

Beds. I forgot about bed sizes. Yes! The only time I have seen a king size bed in France was the master suite of a chateau.

[@monicabarnett9231]

Congrats again on your move! Never been to Montreal, but I’d like to! Not too far from NYC, at least no oceans to cross! 😊😂

[@DollyJohanne]

Thank you for sharing and very interesting. It could have been in Norway in a newer place. Maybe not two full bathrooms, not sure, but the rest maybe. At least more than the Paris apartment. Love from Johanne, Norway 🇳🇴

[@dantescave1]

Lack of lighting is cheaper for builder. I’ve lived coastal California, Oregon my whole life & large islands are convenient for crafts, cooking, meal prep & meals, desk- versatile in apartments. They’re very common here.

[@camilleranc9732]

haha I live in the same area (plateau/ Mile End), it is really nice, walkable with everything close by. I might see you at the park!

[@davidgill2520]

Bonjour, the underground city is really a mix of tunnels that link the metro with the downtown core of offices and shopping. It wasn’t a master plan design but mishmash of tunnels at different times. I don’t see it as a city…

[@LePhil79]

Don't feel "guilty" for the energy used from the washer / dryer (called "laveuse / sécheuse" in Québec, instead of "lave-linge / sèche-linge" in France), in Québec it's mainly hydro-electricity, which is more environmentally friendly (and a lot cheaper) than coal, gas or nuclear energy.

[@dantescave1]

In rental market, if just roommates instead of family, a bath for each bedroom makes sense & privacy.

[@MrStan0630]

When my son went to daycare they would play outside in very cold weather. Things can get out of control if they are indoors for too long.

[@Louisefenner]

I don’t need two full bathrooms but definitely two toilets for more than two people.

[@mayoloramon7530]

Did you sell your apartment in Paris?

[@TMD3453]

Lovely place! The size things are definitely North American. But what about European romance and intimacy? Trend really is toward two baths preferred in newer places, like your building looks. Your new place sounds great, too. All the best

[@GorgieClarissa]

did you sell your apartment in paris or are you renting it out?

[@g.970]

I remember growing up with one toilet. If my sister and I both needed to pee then one had to use the sink or shower. I am very happy to have three full bathrooms for two people. One on the main and two on the second floor. It’s very American

[@carolannaitken5812]

Nice apartment. Two bathrooms for a two bedroom apt. is unusual. It must be a newer building. Re Lighting- with the exception of the living room the rest of the rooms in apts. that I have rented have had overhead lighting.

[@katybug1966]

My friends and I call huge kitchen islands "continents"!

[@kittyfarkas]

Nice video but some things aren't as said. I live in USA and have cousins in Montreal, 1st cousins .Some have island kitchens and large beds, most don't unless living in newly built apts.Apts. two bathroom apts also not common.

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[@lorimartin4476]

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[@rockinchik06]

Personally, I think our kitchens and islands tend to be much bigger bc N Americans have a more prevalent house-party culture. Also, ppl love to cook at home as restaurants are so expensive (tax and tip too). N America is also so big, family and friends tend to live much farther away, and we don't have a very good public transport system. All together, it's hard to meet a lot of friends and family in a public space bc of distance and expense. But house parties allow everyone to congregate together freely & comfortably, make food together (very family oriented pastime, in the US at least), play games together, and just spend quality time together. They can be a little much when u don't really need the space, but as someone who likes to cook and have family and friends over, I would love an island, even if a little big, haha.

[@susanhochstrasser4975]

What did you do with your apartment in Paris?

[@elisabeth8739]

For your new apartment, Maison Simons is great for cute quality linens and decor stuff

[@pr6369]

Yess ! Maison Simons is such a nice shop !

[@coldinmn1494]

Hi Kate, sorry if you already answered this, but did you sell your Paris apartment? Have a good day!

[@patlafr]

C'est dans les constructions assez récentes qu'ont retrouve 2 salles de bain souvent 1 pour la chambre des maitres et une au centre de l'appartement sinon dans les plus vielle construction la plupart du temps il n'y en a qu'une seul

[@bvignola2907]

Je vois que vous étiez à l'ouest du centre-ville. Peu de vie de quartier. Peu de charme. Ce sera plus sympathique et convivial où vous serez. Vous allez aimer.

[@sid7088]

Two bathrooms? You're living my dream. LoL

[@denislebrun4247]

Your videos are great ! Allow me to point out two things: 1) at 3:10 and 6:58, you say "college", where the appropriate term in Montréal/Québec/Canada is rather "university"; 2) Decathlon: all the French folks I know rush to Decathlon for winter gear, whereas you have much cheaper options at any type of local clothing store for the same items. Hope you and your family are enjoying Montréal ! 😉

[@dancing0nthe3dge]

They go outside when it's -22 F??? Jeez what. Are you sure that's correct?? My 4 year olds school does not go out below 36 F. And I'm in Illinois Chicago area so it's cold here regularly.

[@thatcherdonovan7305]

At school the kids go out every day unless they don't have adéquate winter gear or it's genuinely hazardous.

[@dancing0nthe3dge]

@@thatcherdonovan7305 that's what I mean. That kind of cold is genuinely dangerous.

[@pathallam986]

It'll be -22 C

[@anisaromano5352]

I've lived in four states in the US and even more homes/apartments and have never had a kitchen island. I dream about them. (And bathtubs, and a dishwasher, and in-unit w/d.)

[@dantescave1]

I thought everyone had one, lol… California & Oregon…look at tv, magazines, decorating etc… You’ll see so many!

[@anisaromano5352]

@@dantescave1 Yeah, it's a Fancy People thing (aka for rich people).

[@dantescave1]

@@anisaromano5352 maybe just newer builds? Those people building homes & apartments for sale or rent? I’m not rich.

[@anisaromano5352]

@@dantescave1 Maybe, I don't know.

[@Mario_QC]

Plateau Mont-Royal nickname is "Petite-France" you will not be disoriented so much lol ;-)

[@9grand]

Just do not use the dryer in summer .

[@heatherheaney4060]

If you stay long enough you guys should get your Canadian paasports. I have 2 and am in the process of getting my 3rd. Opens up lots of options

[@robelanger4242]

Are your origine UK or US ? You say you lived 13 years in France ! but you seem to be an anglo ? I am surprised that you do not use the english language. I wonder.

[@andredenauw4263]

you look alot better sinse in canada was a fun video

[@VladislavBabbitt]

Have you learned French yet?

[@TheMntnG]

so there is just more space and hence more waste. also, you‘re obviously rich and many people live mich more modest typical.

[@dantescave1]

Ridiculous. Just stop your resentment dude. Researchers have found men who make such negative comments are immature narcissistic trolls, the type who are underachievers, or unemployed, have no girlfriend or friends, more likely incels & etc. Give it a rest.

[@TheMntnG]

@@dantescave1 are you saying I‘m wrong? I have a partner and a child and success though

[@dantescave1]

@@TheMntnG Resentment of such a modest rental apartment is bizarre… it’s not like blood diamond jewelry, a closet full of slave China made Nike tennis shoes, yachts, personal jets, Royal fleets of subs & palaces, multiple residences… You must be very young or living behind your computer to believe they are splashing out. Most can’t build a hut in the wilderness to satisfy you-they’re working full-time to feed themselves at jobs in urban centers. That’s where most employment is. Good luck.

[@TheMntnG]

@@dantescave1 I know, same as me. they‘re still splashing out. its not the apartment, its the talking about it as if it would be normal/modest, when people are being homeless.

[@boink800]

Just wait until you see your first Hydro-Québec bill, it will be such a pleasant surprise (compared to France).

[@asg2833]

For sure! The exploitation of indigenous land make it possible!

[@boink800]

@@asg2833 Instead, they should have built a casino

[@aurelieb.6552]

I've never seen an apartment with 2 bathrooms in Montréal before. 🧼🚿 That's very uncommon, especially for a 900 ft² place. I have a feeling this appartment was designed as a tourist appartment hence the two bathrooms. Imagine 4 young adults travelling together and having to get ready at the same time in the morning. The owner probably had that in mind when designing this interior.

[@elisabeth8739]

I agree, 1 bathroom is the norm in a traditional Montreal apartment, they remodeled my next door neighbor apartment 2 yrs ago (i live in a quadruplex) and they added a half bath it completely destroyed the charm and flow of the apartment. Back when i moved to Mtl 26 yrs ago you could still find old apartment with the bathub in … the kitchen dating back to the 20s !

[@patlafr]

There's a lot of newer condo type housing where there is one master bath and one main/general bathroom but i agree that it is mostly uncommon on older building