FRENCH EXPAT IN MONTREAL 🇨🇦 | 2-Month Update: Expectations vs. Reality

Ginger for stomach ache. Try including more fermented food to help with your digestion. Yogurt, saurkraut, kimchi, aged cheese, etc. There's helpful microbiotics in them that can help your gut microbiome

Montreal is known as City of Festivals especially in the Summer months

As someone who is in France for about half a year I can also say that the food is just different (aka better) over there (in France). I'm sure it has to do with freshness vs. preservatives. You'd think you could get around this by being a bit more selective when buying groceries but somehow it never quite works out that way (at least for me). So yeah - let's just say French food is just better. I think the word you were looking for was "biome" or "microbiome". Also your command of idiomatic English has become quite extraordinary. "All that to say that ..." - as a native speaker I don't think I would say that meaning when you said that I thought "hey her English is better than mine" :)

I’ve got be honest, I still don’t understand where you’re going with the food thing. Are you cooking whole foods or are you eating processed foods? You say you’ve been eating healthy your whole life, so are you suggesting the fruits and vegetables in North America are making you sick, or something? I just don’t get it 😂 If you’re eating whole foods, why cant you just eat/cook the same general foods you ate in France?

It would be cool to see what farmers markets they do have in Montreal.

Salut Marie! En tant que résidante sur l'île de montréal tu peux te procurer la carte accès montréal (CAM) qui te donne des rabais sur presque toute les activités sur l'île, souvent presque moitié prix. C'est une nécéssité pour quelqu'un comme toi qui aime tant sortir. L'été est la meilleur saison pour être à Montréal, je te souhaite beaucoup de plaisir.

You should google “h pylori symptoms”. I’m not a doctor or anything but kind of sounds like what you described.

Some varieties of cucumber can cause stomach aches when you eat the skin. Try peeling them and see if that helps.

So I was reading up in your symptoms and not adjusting to Canada and US food. It says to supplement your diet with probiotics and it will ease some if your symptoms.

Marie, I am OVERJOYED at how happy you are nowadays!!! Yes indeed, Montréal comes to life in the summertime. P.S. Greetings from Vancouver. I'm back in my hometown all of this week.

Marie, you have been under tremendous stress with this move and stomachs hate stress and will do this to you. I absolutely know this as fact. Yes part is new foods but a bigger part is the stress your holding in. We are not even aware of it very often.

Marie ..... the brain is a powerful thing. I'm no expert but I too will have tummy problems from time to time. This would happen when my brain was working overtime and my stress level was up. Stress comes in differenf forms. It can definitely mess with your digestive system. Your mind is obsessed with this issue. It will continue as long as it bothers you. You will have to try not being too regimental, try to chill and only eat what agrees with you. So for breakfast you had 3 acidic items and an egg. That acid will not help, so maybe an egg (or 2) and some dry toast. Best of luck Marie , I know you'll make it, and don't give up your beautiful Parisian accent. I can listen to you all day :)

Pace yourself. It takes time for your body to acclimate to the area and foods. I always travel with Imodium AD. It is a lifesaver for me. Different foods from what you are normally used to eating can react badly with some people, such as myself. Even here at home from time to time. Nerves will also cause stomach troubles. Time will help. Stay safe and have fun in all that you do. Your vest is still waiting for you when you get to it. 🤠

But "chocolatine" is the correct word in Bordeaux and Toulouse and all of southwest France. 🙂

Oh marie, head over to nouveau Brunswick, French there is.... tres special.

Probiotic pills can be very helpful to people afflicted with chronic digestive issues. Also drinking kefir on a regular basis may be of benefit. Kefir should be available in Canada as there is a Ukrainian diaspora present in that country 🐄

🤔🤔🤔…This was disturbing to hear…. Coming from an organically grown food sources such as in France, to the commercial grown farming system has moved many in America to do micro gardens. Due to pesticides and post harvest treatments (glyphosates) which most commercial stores are supplied from. Especially when it comes to spices and flavoring. I used only my home grown garlic , thyme..etc.. Another thing to consider is the water conditions in Canada. I experienced myself with IRB from the particulates of iron and sulfur in Midwest (America) tap and city water. I found by using a cheap water filter unit corrected that. Wishing you the best and enjoyed your presentation.

You're sure your stomach problems are not caused by stress? Je dis ça comme ça...

Find a doctor locally and get referred to a gastroenterologist to get all of the testing done. They can test you for celiacs and other food related disorders. I don’t think it’s the food, it’s something going on with you. If you don’t drink tap water, it probably isn’t something you got from that.

So glad you are back to being happy! Amazing how the weather can change your whole outlook 🙂. Hope you told your Mom that tattoo is a sticker? She may get on a plane to come collect you 😁. Hope you figure the food thing out, keep trying, you'll figure it out. Enjoy the summer!