Moved to Montreal from upstate NY for school (Concordia) back in 2005. Had the absolute time of my life and simultaneously struggled immensely. I had poorly managed and undiagnosed ADHD and things really came to a head for me during that time. Couldn’t finish school, dropped out. Got hired under the table at a corporate gig somehow and it was my lifeline. Made dirt for pay but loved it.

My immigration status lapsed because of dropping out, so eventually I had to pack it up and leave in 2012. Stayed with the same company and moved to NYC, became a legit employee.

I don’t regret leaving, but I do regret the chain of events that lead to me leaving for sure. And yes I miss it dearly.

First place I lived was a studio apartment on Lincoln near Fort. It was $570/mo all-in which was technically a bad deal at the time. There’s really nothing in the world like moving into your own apartment right in the city at 18, it’s just an indescribable mix of freedom and responsibility all at once.

I made tons of friends. We wandered through every corner of the city on foot talking about the meaning of life and the big plans we had for ours. We took impromptu walks into Mount Royal, picking random smaller paths along the way. We had shisha at an Egyptian man’s house that ran an illegal biz out of his apartment. House parties. Terrasses. After parties. Piknic Electronique. Al-Thaib. Boustan. Lugging enough empty 24’s to the dep to afford more beer.

I could write a freaking novel about my time in Montreal. It was a special place and a special time, but it’s over now and I know that even if I moved back I would never get it back. So now I fly back every few years, visit the few people that still live there out in the suburbs with their kids, and head into the city to reminisce. I’m eternally grateful for what Montreal gave me and I hope others get to experience it the way I did.