Back in this entry I asked if anyone had any questions to ask that I could answer here since I’m committed to writing daily through November. Luckily for me I got a few questions, so here you go.

Lisa asked: Are the schools in Montreal all french? And if so does Hayley have issues with that? I’m considering a move to Quebec from Ontario but with 5 kids all in an English school I worry about them being able to adjust. We are in Ottawa and they do speak french but not all day everyday in school.

The schools here aren’t all French but they don’t have all English either. Hayley doesn’t attend a French school, she attends a French Immersion school where they learn part of their material in English and part in French. Some schools start that way immediately and others start later in the school grades, but all “English” schools are actually French Immersion. It’s good, because without knowledge of French you’re basically looking at doing bill collection or telemarketing. Some companies will overlook your actual practical ability of French as long as you have it on paper but it’s extremely difficult to get decent work without it.

However, if you were schooled out of Quebec, you will be in a position where you have to school your children in French. The only reason Hayley didn’t have to go to an all-French school is because both George and I were educated in French Immersion schools. You have to show proof of it to register.

Yes, it’s a bit fascist, but don’t get me started. In the end, it’s a good thing because of the better opportunities it opens if you have both languages.

Serina asked: What did you do before you were a Mom? And what kind of band is George in? Does he travel much?

I did many things before being a mother but the last job I did before getting knocked up and having kids was at a recording studio that no longer exists. In fact, that’s how George and I met. The studio never made enough money to be a standalone success so the owner created a web design/development department. George was the studio engineer who created musical magic. I was hired to do web design. Eventually I ended up working more for the studio as they moved me into doing marketing and PR work as well as basic reception duties up there. I even wrote lyrics for several songs on George’s CD while there. In the end it was unfortunate that I moved out of web design because eventually the studio started falling due to a lack of funding and I was laid off. Alas. But then I had kids so I would have quit anyway. The studio completely closed up shop about half a year after I left.

George plays all kinds of music on his own. He’s into blues and lately (I like to think it’s my influence) he got into the new country vibe. A lot of his own music kind of crosses over and could be played on a variety of radio stations. The band that he’s actually in plays some rock and roll, some 70s rock, and some blues. He doesn’t travel though, he plays locally. He does occasionally play further away, like he did for Canada Day when he played in Ottawa, but he doesn’t have to stay overnight. The one overnight gig he had this year was when we all went camping when he was booked at a private party so we got to go too. There was only once that he played very far away, when he managed to get booked to play in Houston, Texas. He was gone for two nights, which sucked. I’m glad he doesn’t travel to play.

You can hear a great cover George did r(ight here in our little apartment studio) of No Woman, No Cry. Still one of my favorites.

Stay tuned for more questions tomorrow. In the meantime, feel free to ask more some more!