I'm not going to lie. I get panicked at times. What am I doing here? How does one create community from scratch?

It isn't évident as they say in the local lingo but rather requires effort to punctuate my week with opportunities to interact with people in interesting ways, to engage with activities that may edge me out of my comfort zone.

So that was what this morning was all about. Effort. And now, mid-afternoon, my head spinning, I can look back with satisfaction at everything I did. I signed up for a McGill university "lifelong learning" course that involves in-person discussion of global travel. I also went on the waitlist for two others, including a French conversation group and a creative writing course for people who already write. I don't know what the chances are for me getting in to either of these given the program begins on Monday, but I suppose events over the weekend (I'm thinking deaths in the family and sudden poverty, neither of which is a kind thought) might bump me up the list.

In addition, I committed to helping with a writing and graphic design project also at McGill, organised our Christmas plans, messaged a woman about birding on the mountain, sent an email to a language group connecting French-speaking seniors here in the Plateau quartier with English-speakers, paid the remainder for the Costa Rican house I have rented, sorted out some tenancy issues around my place in London, reached out to an assortment of friends about this blog (feedback always welcome) and also had a couple of long calls and wrote several lengthy emails.

It was satisfying.

Then I took myself out into the 28-degree sunshine (had to get that detail in somewhere) to explore the myriad of distractions in my area, and also to buy another delicious seeded bread from Guillaume. That gave me an even more complete sense of satisfaction, strolling along Blvd St. Laurent, the terraces overflowing with people drinking cocktails and wearing sunglasses. How fabulous to be based in the heart of the city, yet with a forested and somewhat wild mountain just a few hundred metres away.

This is an adventure, I have to remind myself. A once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to get out and explore Montreal, while at the same time learning more about myself. Something to be grasped with both hands and my heart.