I moved to Montreal to be with a man I met on Xbox. It was a bigger culture shock than I expected.

Fri, 02/09/2024 - 05:05

a woman standing in Montreal — Melissa Rebelo-Sauve married her Canadian husband in July 2020.
Courtesy of Melissa Rebelo-Sauve

Melissa Rebelo-Sauve relocated to Montreal after marrying a Canadian she met online.
She navigated the complex process for permanent residency and embraced learning French.
Life is more affordable and the food is great, but she misses some parts of the US, like Thanksgiving.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Melissa Rebelo-Sauve, a 44-year-old pet sitter from Massachusetts. The following has been edited for length and clarity.