Ain't Nothin' Like a Good Haircut!

posted by Odin on Jun 17, 2009

'Barbershop' by Steffe, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License

I knew I wasn't made for blogging.  I haven't blogged in over a month now.  It's really a combination of (1) I don't always have something to say that's relevant to SeekOdin, and (2) I don't really have the time right now, what with major changes in my life (new job, lots of vacation travelling and finally coming back to Montreal after fifteen months in Paris).

Anyhow, a couple of weeks ago I was in Montreal for five days.  I needed a haircut before my brother's wedding in Nashville, Tennessee.  I have always hated going to barber shops and salons, and so I spaced my visits out as much as possible, which usually means my hair is way out of control by the time I actually decide to get a haircut.

For the past twelve years or so, I have been cutting my hair really short.  I almost always go to a barber shop or non-fancy salon, and tell the hairdresser to just do my hair with the machine (down to number 3 or so).  I just didn't want to bother with my hair in the morning.  Keep it short and simple.  By the way, I have very rough and wavy hair, so it's not like I can do much with it.

However, since I've been in Paris, I've been going to (slightly) more upscale salons, mostly because that's all there is around where I live, but also because my wife kind of forced me to.  I definitely see the difference, I have to admit; I now cut my hair much longer than I used to.  These guys really took their time, listened to what I wanted and, for the first time since I noticed my receding hairline, I actually liked my hair.

What was really annoying, on the other hand, was how much these places try to push and force you to buy their products.  They always have a way to make you feel bad if you didn't buy this or that hair treatment.  They almost convinced me that my hair was damaged and badly in need of repair.  For a few months, I actually caved in and started using their expensive crap.  But then I woke up, resurrected my old scrutinous nature, and put a stop to all that non-sense.

So now I am back in Montreal, and I needed that haircut.  I decided against going to my old barber shop, and instead walked in to La Coupe (I happened to be parked in the area for something else entirely).  Man, did I enjoy that experience!

First of all, you get a really long and relaxing shampoo/massage.  Next, my hairdresser really took his time, used techniques I have never seen before, and produced a pretty good cut.  Finally, even though they carry tons of their own products for sale, not one person mentioned anything about how "bad" or "damaged" my hair was, or that I should use this or that treatment.  That was the cherry on top of the cake for me.

Bottom line, it's really worth going to an upscale hair salon, even if you have to pay more.  And, to be honest, it's really not THAT expensive ($45), especially after Paris prices (€40 for an average place, nowhere near as nice as La Coupe).

The North American "Efficiency" Culture

posted by Odin on May 14, 2009

'DSC_0507' by g.h.vandoorn, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License

So I haven't blogged in a couple weeks, mainly because I've been recovering from a wild weekend in Amsterdam.

Last week, after more than a year spent in Paris, I finally obtained my "carte de séjour", the official government document that allows me to live and work in France.  The process was painstakingly long, convoluted and filled with mishaps.  My experience testifies to all the jokes and stereotypes regarding France's heavy and inefficient bureaucratic system.

After the dust has settled, I am now able to compare my French experience with that of the two other countries I immigrated to or lived in temporarily: Canada and the United States.

To sum up, there is NOTHING like the North American "service" and "efficiency" mentality!  In France, whether it's in dealing with government agencies, customer service reps, restaurant waiters, I have been serviced by slow, inefficient, error-prone, rude and unhelpful people, for the most part.  I really miss being greeted nicely on the phone, or having a friendly and talkative waiter come to my table for a chat or just to find out how my meal is going.

Granted, there is a flipside to this argument: employees in France (especially in the public sector) pretty much have their job for life and it's near impossible for them to get fired.  On the other hand, labor contracts in North America are much more flexible, so one might say that those "friendly" and "efficient" Americans and Canadians are only so because otherwise they would lose their job.

Regardless of their motives, I would still rather receive prompt and courteous service.  With all the unemployment in France, these people should be glad and thankful they have any work at all!  Not to mention the long list of social benefits to which they are entitled!

Personally, I'm just glad I don't have to deal with the French government anymore, for a while at least!

Ode to Montreal

posted by Odin on Feb 26, 2009

'Montreal Twilight Panorama 2006' by David Iliff, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License

I know the title of this blog is MTLRants, hinting that it's all about pointing the bad and negative side of things, but I want to start it off on the positive end by praising what I now refer to as my city, Montreal.  I say 'now refer to' because I am not originally from Montreal.

I have lived 17 years elsewhere prior to moving to Montreal around twelve years ago.  Also, since then, I have left Montreal for around a year on two different occasions, one of which is still in progress.  I have been in Paris since April of 2008, for career reasons (yes, I am running a Montreal-geared website from France, duh!), and while the experience has been enjoyable for the most part, it made me realize even more how great of a city Montreal is.  Before coming to Paris, last year, I was actually starting to get bored with Montreal, leaning towards the typical clichés that most people use to bash the city, from the cold to the lack of career opportunities and such.  So with that state of mind, I welcomed the Paris adventure with open arms.  However, after 10 months in France, I am more than ready and willing to come back home (which will hopefully take place this summer).

Keep in mind that this post is not about comparing Montreal against Paris solely.  I have lived in five cities in three different continents in my life, and I have traveled quite a lot, so my basis of comparison is broader than it may seem.

In short, of the places I've been to, only in Montreal can you find such a rich, multi-cultural mix of people that are truly integrated and equal, in an affordable metropolitan urban environment that is very laid back and that balances leisure and career at the perfect level.  That last sentence is somewhat long and probably isn't written very well (not that the rest of my blog is), but it sums up the values that place Montreal on the top my list.

First, no one can deny how multi-cultural Montreal is.  You have your Quebecois, your Anglo-Canadians, your Italians, Greeks, Arabs, Asians and others.  This is not unique to Montreal at all.  Western Europe probably has a higher percentage of immigrants from visible ethnic minorities than North America.  However, they are nowhere near as integrated and viewed as equal as in Canada and the States.  Obama's recent election win confirms this.  In France, it is very rare to see blacks or North-African Arabs in powerful or prominent positions, and England is centuries away from even seeing an Indian or Pakistani on the ballot .  In Paris, the companies I have so far worked with employ predominantly a white French workforce.

Second, Montreal is a very affordable city, compared to metropolitan cities of equal size and importance.  Everything from real estate to transportation and food is significantly cheaper than in any of the major North American or European cities.  Where else can you still rent for less than $500 a month?

Finally, Montreal is not a stressful city like New York, London or Paris.  It is not over-populated and you do not feel like everyone around you is constantly in a rush.  You are not relentlessly competing against time, space or other people.  Montrealers do not place their career on the top of their priorities, yet they are not lazy either.  They are very efficient and productive, yet they enjoy life.

To sum up all of the above, I find that Montreal really provides the perfect mix of North-American modernity with European charm and quality of life.  Our streets are clean, our buildings are new, our apartments are spacious, our people are bilingual and friendly, our metro is fast, our restaurants are excellent, our night-life is reputable and our cultural activities are plenty.  Sure, we pay a lot of taxes, our winters are long and cold, and our career opportunities leave something to be desired.  But nothing is perfect.  Yet, Montreal comes as close to perfection as possible.

So to you, Montreal, my city, I dedicate this comment and this website.

Now let the ranting begin :)