Literature & Travel: Alternative Learning

Literature is my cheap way of traveling. Instead of forking out $500 a plane ticket, I pay $15-30 for a book. It's also an opportunity to live vicariously a life of adventure. One that you would like to try on for size, for a week-end or just to change it up, without the risk. It is also a way to broaden the mind and learn in an alternative way.

Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat.Pray.Love Author

I frequently read about women of the world. Maybe there is a desire somewhere, to change the world, even just a little. I long to be a world traveller, that's no secret. But could I drop everything to move across the world? I doubt I would. I prefer the safer route of working a job I love, then punctuating it with spontaneous trips and  culturally rich vacations. That said, I love to daydream about worlds away or differing from my own. Which is why I love to read about stories taking place in foreign countries or reading auto-biographcial novels about how travel changes one's life.


My love for this type of literature was latent, discrete. It came out of the closet when I read Eat. Pray. Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert. It grew when I read Buddha and it continued to grow after The Woman Who Fell From the Sky by Jennifer Steil. One wouldn't be surprised to hear I'm currently reading Indigo, the story of the colour that changed the world. I believe that reading is a  fantastic educational tool, both as a language exercise and a cultural one. 


Travelling really builds character as it constantly shifts your frame of understanding and provides perspective. Unfortunately, despite what we might say about "anything's possible", that "anything" may not always be possible at any given time. I believe I can work towards travelling more. And I do. Meanwhile, I read to broaden my mind, feed my imagination.

The Woman Who Fell From the Sky spoke to me as it told the story of a professional journalist who moved to Yemen to teach a team of aspiring and practising journalists how to improve their reporting. Although her tale was personal, it made any similar experience feel accessible. That is key to opening one's mind to other cultures, to travelling and in some rare cases, to other life styles.


I have never read so much in my life. Not as a child, nor when I was in school or even as a university graduate. It's now that my mind is open to deeper learning. My father is an avid reader and a cross-word athlete and yet, he has not pursued post secondary education. He is one of the brightest and curious people I know. I don't believe our education system is deeply flawed, I believe society at large expects too much of it. There is truly something to Mark Twain's famous quote: "I never let my schooling get in the way of my education." True, lasting learning has to come from the heart; there is only so much your parents or your school can give you. You need to run with what you have and when that's not enough, seek what it is your heart longs to know.

Vegetarian, not Alien

I haven't been a vegetarian for very long (it'll be a year in September) nor have I cut out fish. No matter your reason for chosing vegetarianism, you'll inevitably go through some rough phases and period where you wonder about your place in an omnivorous society.


I grew up in a family eating all types of foods, including meat. I've never been a huge fan; I only ate extra-lean, well-cooked meats. I grew to like the taste, but the sight of raw meat (or the feel of it) and the preparation always turned me off. The idea of hunting or picturing an animal dying to be on my plate would make my stomach churn. I pretended I had no part in the process. In a way, you'll say, it was an easy choice for me to cut it out. It was, and it wasn't. I grew accustomed to certain meaty tastes (i.e. bacon, anyone?), I forgot how gelatin was an insidious ingredient (i.e. in yogourt and marshmellows) and I took for granted social rituals, especially surrounding holidays.

Paul McCartney - Famous & successful vegetarian

It was like stepping into an entirely different world. Restaurants, office lunches, travelling snacks hors d'oeuvres at gallery openings, offered far less options than I was use to. Most restaurants would tell me "we have salad" (which meant they had a green leaf salad with next to nothing in it) - as though I were a rabbit, giving me the most disconcerted look. I could read their expression: "Why in all the world's bounty would you want to be vegetarian, lady?" For the first few months, my extended circle of friends kept forgetting about my choice. Even though it wasn't intentionally neglectful, it felt like my decision mattered very little to anyone but to me.


My first Thanksgiving and my first Christmas were rough. My mom was very supportive and incorporated  plenty of vegetables, protein rich dishes and baked me a salmon pie. However, my father was still in denial about my "quitting meat". I had to bring my own vegetarian option as a main course and was offered a few veggies. The smell of the turkey and meat pie filled the houses I went to. Maybe I'm wired all wacky, or maybe it's the effect of years in my Noth American omnivorous culture, but I still thought the smell of a roast was mouth-watering. Fortunately, my friend Victoria invited me to her (Polish) Christmas Eve and luckily, most of their traditional dishes are vegetarian or fish-based. There was hope.

Celebrity Vegan - Natalie Portman

If you're wondering why I chose to become vegetarian (pescetarian as it stands) this would be about the time I asked myself the same question. It's a combination of factors. Meat didn't sit well with me. I couldn't digest it, I couldn't sleep properly, I couldn't loose weight despite my very active lifestyle. I couldn't prepare meat on my own without needing to distract myself from the idea that this was once an animal... I personally felt like a hypocrite. Yes, I believe in animal rights, but I also believe that this is a personal choice. However, I do feel strongly that a mainly carnivore diet has many negative effects on environmental sustainability. If everyone reduced their meat consumption and integrated more vegetarian options, no one would have to "give it up", except if we wanted to, of course. 

Vegetarian Lasagna

I made my decision by telling myself this was a temporary choice and it is for most people, but I firmly believe I can make this work for a really long time. With appropriate protein replacements and planning, not only can my daily routine of food preparation be nearly effortless, I could also easily adapt to traditional holidays. I found that knowledge is power; did you know red lentils replace ground beef wonderfully in most recipes? My inner Garfield threw a party as I could now have a hearty lasagna.


Support is incredibly important. From other vegetarians, but also from your social circle. Your friends and family need to be aware of dietery restrictions and substitutions, veggie-friendly restaurants and ensure to involve you in holiday and event meal planning. My brother use to be vegetarian, but essentially, my family and partner are meat-eaters. Fortunately, Scott makes tremendous efforts to accomodate my lifestyle by reducing the amount of meat we store at home, cooking vegetarian dinners for us both and informing our hosts of my diet. He's even quicker to ask waitors about their vegetarian options when we walk into a restaurant. That is the type of support that makes the omnivore/vegetarian relationship work! 

North Indian Curry - Vegetarian

I've learned a lot about my body, about blood types, about protein and about cooking. I've learned the differences in types of vegetarianism (ovo-lacto, vegan, pescetarian) and the motivations that drive many of us to this choice. Many ethnic foods are surprisingly vegetarian friendly. So there, I have the world on my plate, from Thailand and India, to Italy, Ethiopia and Mexico.

The obstacles do not discourage me. They stimulate me: how can I thrive when all these factors act against a lifestyle I chose because I believe in it? I just need to create new traditions, adapt old ones, find new restaurants, browse cyberspace for new ideas, get one trusty cookbook and keep reminding people that this is a legitimate lifestyle choice.


As many vegetarians joke, when you get down, remember there is no meat in chocolate! :-)

That Boy Red inside all of us

Back when I was working for the AOE Arts Council, that is when I started meeting interesting artists in need of tips for self-promotion. Unfortunately, part of the problem in building a career in arts has often more to do with a lack of business and marketing knowledge than it does with a lack of talent or opportunity. This said, as the Communications Coordinator for AOE at the time, I frequently met with these local artists to discuss their target audiences and strategize on their next moves. This was a very stimulating but also very tedious task. Occasionally, I met an individual with a lot of drive and I felt even more encouraged to share my professional tips. Ottawa Award winning author Rachna Gilmore is one of these people.

I first met Rachna at an AOE Meet'n'Munch and we chatted briefly about the writing and publishing business. She struck me as a lively woman, with a bright mind and buckets full of curiosity: for learning, for life and for people. Over the space of a couple of months, we chatted about new ways to reach out to her demographic: youth and schools. Her books are both researched and well-written, accessible and relevant. Having known tremendous success with The Trouble with Dilly, we wondered how to promote That Boy Red, a historical novel about an 11 year-old boy growing up in PEI, in the Depression. The whole book was based on anecdotes her father-in-law would recount. I thought the book would basically sell itself: it's dynamic, it's fun, it's realistic and it speaks to Canadians. And what a hook to say this was based on family stories! As a thank you, Rachna offered me a copy of my own to read. It's a few months later, in preparing my trip to PEI for a family wedding, that I decided to crack it open.


To my surprise, I couldn't put the book down. At best, I expected a charming story with a few chuckles. What I got was a captivating tale of a fiery lad with a thirst for life. He is hard working, curious and has a temper but a good heart. He gets caught in these crazy adventures but in the end, he's a good kid who loves his family. I laughed out loud and I even read a few chapters to Scott - who loved the chapter on the Outhouse Bandit. The protagonist somehow reminded me of my childhood, despite having grown up in the 80s-90s in a city, near the capital. That is to say, I can't help but think there is a Red in all of us. The narrative flows, the dialect comes through, the drama is balanced with humor and the tale is believable. I highly recommend That Boy Red to any child, teen or adult needing to connect with this youthful spirit.

A trip to PEI

Bridge in Summerside, PEI. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé 2011

My short adventure to the Maritimes took me to Prince Edward Island. The catalyst was a family wedding, but the greater motivation was definitely the thirst for travel and discovery. 


I found out the Island is divided into four major areas, including the famous Cavendish, known world-wide because of the tales of Anne of Green Gables. We drove on the Confederation Bridge and into Gateway village; we had ways to drive still as we were staying in Waterford, in the North West part of the Island.


We stayed in a cottage on the water front. We enjoyed a walk on the golden beach with red cliffs, even in a misty rain and an unfriendly breeze. Our arrival day aside, we had absolutely beautiful weather. The Islanders told us we brought the sun.

Rusty Anchor. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

We spent the better part of our time there driving around, seeking sights to see, things to do and locals with whom to chat. We drove through Skinner's Pond and saw Stompin' Tom's house. We went to Cavendish and Summerside. We even signed up for Deep Sea Fishing. An idea I half-regretted for the number of flapping fish and fish guts I hadn't accounted for... serves me right I s'pose. The photos I took from the trip overall were fantastic (I'm still going through them). 


We also visited the Green Gables house, made famous by L.M. Montgomery, and we stopped by the Glass Bottle House in Mont-Carmel. On our way out, we had breakfast in the capital: fishcakes at Maid Marian's, a local restaurant in Charlottetown. 


The family activities enabled more bonding with my man's clan - an opportunity I was happy with which to be presented. As for the wedding itself, it was a delightful (and short!) ceremony and a low-key reception in River Mills. The guests were so welcoming and kind and all were in a festive mood. Scott and I even got to dance!

(c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé 2011

My trip was made even more interesting by the fact that I was reading, parallelly, a novel by Ottawa writer Rachna Gilmore, about a PEI boy growing up on the Island in the Depression. But, That Boy Red is for another post.

From the West to the East Coast

I love to travel. I love everything about it. The discovery, the sense of adventure, the people, the food and music, the transportation, the spontaneity, even the waiting in transit and the mishaps. This year, I could not leave the country for some customary globe-trotting, but I am definitely one to seize opportunities when they come my way. Actually, I swim out to my ship frequently, I don't wait for it to come into harbour. This summer, the wind blew my sails from West to East.

In July, Scott was sent to Vancouver to work on a conference for about a week. Due to a very fortunate combination of circumstance, I was able to follow. Actually, I prefer, to say I bumped my own rather blurry plans to visit Vancouver to this summer, as there were good odds of this trip being a successful one. My brother Tristan often says: "Mercedes, why do you rush to go overseas, when there is so much of this beautiful country to see?" He's right. Travelling, much like charity, should start at home.

I'd taken a few trips to Europe and of course, I had been to the States, Mexico and Cuba all by 2009. But how much of my homeland had I seen? Well, I'd been to Montreal and Québec countless times. I have only been to Toronto a few times as a professional and I'd only really toured through the many picturesque regions of Québec in 2008, back when I worked a Liaison contract for the uOttawa. Since then, I hadn't ventured much out of Ottawa or Montreal. Friends lived in Vancouver for the past year or so, but I couldn't afford the plane fare nor the time off.

With Scott working there, lodging came with the deal and thanks to my avid traveller friend Phil - who also happens to work for Air Canada - I found a ridiculously good ticket deal! Effectively, there were no more obstacles keeping me from drifting to the West Coast. Cold weather aside, I loved Vancouver. How can it be so cold in July? I don't mind the rain so much, but I hadn't exactly packed for 15 degrees Celcius ! I guess that serves me right for not checking the weather network. Oh well.

Vancouver Art Gallery, (c) Ahmad Kavousian (Flickr)

I explored on my own; visited art galleries, namely the Vancouver Art Gallery, Granville Street, cycled through Stanley Park, danced at the Show Boat, had sushi at Shabusen, met local swing dancers and shot plenty of photos. Together, Scott and I made our way to the artsy Granville Island, brunched at Café Medina, walked through Gastown, we dined at the seafood Mecca Joe Fortes, we surfed the free wave when our friend Lisa got us into the Aquarium. We also visited the UBC campus, the Nitobe Garden and Wreck Beach (clothing optional)...we took off our socks - My my!

I guess I'm grateful for Scott in more ways than one. Not only does he enhance the quality of my life with his friendship and love, but travelling together is also a delight. I must admit also, that he provides me with the "excuse" to travel to these places with specific targets: when/where/why/what to do/with whom? I had a choice and I chose to experience something new. That's what it's all about. This past spring, we also found out that a cousin of his was tying the knot...in PEI. I heard the Maritimes calling, even then and my heart skipped a beat.

Anne of Green Gables, PEI Tourism.

The August wedding is happening this week-end, finally. My suitcase is packed with the essentials: clothes for unpredictable weather, fancy outfits for the wedding (I bring two, I don't know my crowd!), a few products and of course, my camera gear. Digital and Mini Diana are my companions. they are witnesses to my adventures. In preparation for my departure, I read a bit about The Island, I am half way through That Boy Red, a novel by local award winning author Rachna Gilmore and I've been listening to a Celtic satellite radio station. WHAT? To me, a trip is like Christmas; I get in the mood and I feel very enthusiastic about the whole deal. Whale watching, local arts & crafts, Cavendish & Anne of Green Gables, red sand, potato-parade and scary lobsters; I won't eat. Honestly, I wonder about food that looks like it could either escape my plate or worse, fight back.

Based on my relationship to each coast, respectively instigated and in utero, I gather that Vancouver will have been for the Art, and Charlottetown, for the Heart.

The wind is rising, I'm set for the Island adventure...