Markets, Islamic Cultural Center, and Swimming
After visiting the radio station yesterday, we had the rest of the afternoon free, which was a welcome break after many busy days. Students used the time to rest, catch up on school work, or do laundry.
This morning we met for class, then headed out to visit two public markets in our local neighborhood (called Sainte-Foy). First we visited Les Halles de Sainte-Foy, an upscale market that includes a pizzeria, several sandwich shops, and many vendors of prepared foods, meats, cheeses, or pastries. There were delicious temptations around every corner! Students had many options to choose from for lunch.
Next we went to the Sainte-Foy Public Market, which is a farmers market selling fruits and veggies, honey and jam, and homemade items like cookies and popcorn. We all were struck by the fact that although it's a farmers market, it's held inside a permanent building, rather than an outdoor space with tents or awnings like the kind most of us are used to at home.
After the markets we visited the nearby Islamic Cultural Center (Centre Culturel Islamique du Québec), which has served the Muslim community of Quebec City for the past 30 years. That community includes about 20,000 people, mostly immigrants from about 20 countries around the world. Our gracious hosts at the center welcomed us with juice and tasty Middle Eastern treats, then spent more than an hour and a half with us discussing the history of their religion and its basic tenets. The presentation was very informative, and became animated as some of the women from the mosque joined to add their perspectives. We were able to make connections to beliefs from other religions we have experienced on this program (such as our visits to Sainte-Anne de Beaupré, or the Quaker meeting house in Putney). Some students also reflected on similarities and differences to their own religious backgrounds. Overall, we learned a lot and were very touched by the kindness and generous spirit of our hosts at the CCIQ.
In the late afternoon, some of us used our free time to check out Station de la Plage, a brand-new pool and recreation area that's part of Promenade Samuel de Champlain. It's an infinity pool built into the landscape overlooking the Saint Lawrence River, with a sandy sunbathing area, snack bar, picnic area, splash pad with fountains, and miles of boardwalks and paths for walking, biking, or rollerblading. We appreciated the opportunity to cool down in a beautiful and scenic spot.
