In the Canadian province of Quebec, “Je me souviens” appears as a tagline on automobile license plates. Maybe you’ve come across it when driving, and perhaps wondered what does that mean?
“Je me souviens is the official motto of Quebec, a province of Canada. The motto, translated literally into English, means: "I remember." It may be paraphrased as conveying the meaning: "We do not forget, and will never forget, our ancient lineage, traditions, and memories of the past." - Wikipedia
That lineage, those traditions, harken back to France – that is essentially what the Quebecois want to hold on to and never forget. In that same congruence, as a new Michigander, I will always tightly hold my Polish and Portuguese heritage and my memories of living in Brooklyn and Boston.
My time in New England - having lived there for almost two decades - has shaped me in myriad ways. Boston was a remarkable place to live, historic, picturesque, cultural, and after attending Boston University I knew I wanted to stay for my career, my friends, and make my mark.
Boston's harbour at night
Boston’s colonial roots lend a particular charm to its architecture, quaint cobblestone streets, gas lamps, and many parks. Boston is also a convenient gateway to Cape Cod, Ogunquit and the Berkshires. Nothing beats seafood in New England, hands down, I forget how spoiled I was to have access to the best of the best. I took it for granted since it was so easy to come by and the purveyors were numerous. This is not the case in Michigan so I’ve been trying out some online vendors such as Sea To Table for scallops, salmon, lobster, and cod. So far we’ve been pleased with the seafood we’ve received and I’m back to making gumbo, soy-ginger salmon, roasted cod, and scallops Provençal.
It is almost a year that marks us living fulltime in Michigan. I am settling into the rural way of life, slower pace and the peace & quiet that comes with living in the sticks. I’ve traded my favorite fitted trousers from Spoke, and dress shirts for a wardrobe outfitted by Carhartt and Woolrich. Intrinsically, I have not changed, but have adapted to this new lifestyle.
Building our new life here in the Great Lakes region is a new adventure and I will always hold dear my east coast beginnings and the experiences that have shaped the person I am today.