Since leaving Quebec over four years ago, my French has suffered. I
never considered myself to be perfectly bilingual but my French was
good enough that I could do jobs where the vast majority of my day was
spent speaking French to customers and coworkers. I think I'd struggle
if I were to be put back in those positions now, at least initially.
My French isn't lost - it's just buried deeper and, when I try to use
it, I find myself searching for words that I know that I know. The
strangest thing is that my accent hasn't faded in the least so I come
off as a francophone from Quebec that can't speak French.
 
Since realizing that my French is fading, I've taken some proactive
measure to try to retain it. I speak French to the people in my office
who are also from Quebec. I watch Habs games in French on RDS (and
chuckle when the announcers apologize for Anglicisms... only in
Quebec!). I make the most of the French learning opportunities offered
at work.
 
My impression is that these efforts are paying off but I'd like to
explore other ways to practice my French. One possibility: blogging in
French periodically... I'd better dust of the Bescherelle.
 
Il est tard. Bonne nuit.