Monique is a Fullstack JAVA developer expatriated to Montreal since April 2022.
She gives us her first impressions of life in Montreal as an expatriate.
Find out what she has to say and what she has experienced after several months living in North America!
A JAVA developer expatriated to Montreal since April 2022, Monique's testimonial.
Hello! I'm Monique!
I'm a Grenoble native who now lives in Montreal, and I've been a Fullstack JAVA developer at Maplr since April 2022!
What are the reasons for your expatriation to Montreal?
Headbutt!
In fact, being in my thirties made me wonder about my professional and personal future. I grew up in Grenoble and have lived there all my life, so I know the city by heart. Then I asked myself: do I stay in my comfortable cocoon? Or wouldn't it be time to break out of that cocoon and experience the opposite of what I've experienced so far?
And as luck would have it, one day a friend who lives in Montreal told me that he'd recommended my profile and that someone from Maplr was going to contact me for an interview. And it went really well. So I thought, why not?
And here I am in Montreal a few months later!
What was it like being a JAVA developer expatriate in Montreal?
I was so stressed!
As I said, I've never lived anywhere else, so the leap into the unknown was pretty complicated. Especially as it requires a lot of paperwork and I hate administrative stuff 😂
But in the end, it was more fear than harm, and I didn't have any real problems.
Did you encounter any difficulties during your expatriation in Montreal?
Not really... on the whole, everything went smoothly. I had a few problems with the bank at the very beginning, to get my credit card, but that's all! I realize I've been stressing for nothing. 😂
I found my friend who lives here and who recommended me and I found an apartment quickly, so I didn't feel lost.
You'll find lots of info on the Maplr blog blog too, it's a great help!
And Maplr's biggest strength is its community, which means you make friends very quickly!
What do you think of the support offered by Mapl?
It was Clara who accompanied me, and that reassured me a lot. She was super responsive; as soon as I had a question, she answered it! You feel safe and really guided.
I was stressed, Maplr took a huge weight off my shoulders!
What kind of reception did you get from the Canadians?
The first thing that struck me was that I immediately felt safe, especially as a woman. And the people are really nice. In fact, I have an anecdote about that!
I was on my way home at the end of the afternoon, right during rush hour. Usually, there aren't that many people on the metro, but that day it was really packed! The metro arrives, there's only ONE seat left on the train, but there are two of us on the platform. The guy looked at me and told me to go ahead, insisting that I get on, saying he'd hang the next one. That really made an impression on me! Canadians are super chill.
What do you think of the cost of living as an expatriate in Montreal?
When you compare it with France, you get the impression that everything is more expensive here, but in the end it's not so much.
On my French salary as a JAVA Fullstack Developer I was already living very well, but here in Montreal I'm even more comfortable!
While prices may be slightly higher, salaries are much more attractive, so I have better purchasing power.
To find out more about the cost of living in Montreal, don't hesitate to consult our guide. Housing, leisure activities, transportation... we've got it all!
What do you like most about Montreal?
All true 😍 I love this city!
Better standard of living, I feel safe, and Montreal is such a culturally rich city!
There's always something to do, a billion restaurants to try. It's simple, you've got it all in Montreal. What's more, the city is so beautiful, with so many tags everywhere, it's so much fun to walk around.
We have access to magnificent nature in the surrounding area, and we can go away on cottage weekends!
What is your favourite neighbourhood and why?
It's not really a neighborhood, but my favorite street is definitely Duluth Street! It's full of great bars, cafés and restaurants. I recommend Bar Suzanne and Le Réservoir, just across the street! They've got a rooftop terrace that's really hot.
To find out more about the different neighborhoods in Montreal, don't hesitate to consult our articles on housing in Montreal! 👇
As an expatriate JAVA developer in Montreal, what are the differences with France on the professional side?
I'd say I feel calmer, less stressed. Quebecers are very chill and thework/life balance is super important here. We leave at the time we want, so if my colleagues have to pick up their kids from school a bit early, they don't have to take the afternoon off, for example. We're really trusted.
Any last words of advice for aspiring expatriate developers in Montreal?
Don't let it go to your head (like me 😂) and above all, don't be afraid! At least have the courage to overcome that fear! We're capable of much more than we think. You have to give it a try. At worst, it'll last a year and you won't regret never having tried it. At best, you'll have the best experience of your life!
Want to try an adventure in Canada?
Do you want to discover Quebec, go on a road trip or explore the great outdoors? Then join the Maplr community.
Like Monique, are you looking for a position as a Fullstack JAVA developer? At Maplr, we'll help you find your IT job in Montreal, free of charge, at every stage of your relocation. Our French-Canadian team is here to guide you and give you all the information you need to start your new life in Montreal with peace of mind!
Join our community now and become an expatriate developer in Montreal!
