WTF (What the French)?

Quebec is a beautiful blend of old-world French charm and modern Canadian flair. It was cold, it was snowy, and yes, there was a lot of French, but it was also a whole lot of fun.

- RICARDO T. PAMINTUAN

Having spent most of my life in the tropics, I'm not exactly what you'd call a seasoned winter traveler. Snow, for me, had always been something that only rightfully exists in movies and Christmas cards. But when the opportunity arose to visit Quebec with my wife's family, I figured, why not?

Sure, I didn't know how to ski, my French is limited to "bonjour," "oui" and "merci," and my tolerance for cold was about as high as our office aircon. But I'm always up for an adventure, so, armed with layers upon layers of clothing and a healthy dose of curiosity and cold meds, we hit the road.

Getting to Quebec from Ontario isn't exactly a leisurely jaunt. It's a long haul, filled with the kind of drive that makes you contemplate the meaning of life and the agony of a numbed backside. The ride stretched for hours upon hours over what seemed like endless icy roads reminiscent of a trip back home from BGC to QC, on a payday Friday night.

The ONroute rest stops, complete with Tim Horton's and Burger King or A&W, were lifesavers. They allowed us to stretch our stiff limbs, breathe some fresh air, and reinvigorate our spirits. But as soon as we crossed into Quebec, the landscape wasn't the only thing that changed. Suddenly, we were bombarded with road signs in French, while radio stations blared French music and news.