var currentValue = lastValue = 'Select a Province...';
var myStatus = false;

$(document).ready(function(){
    var timer = null;
   //We're ready to process code 
    $('.province').hover(
        //hover over
        function(){
            clearTimeout(timer); //clear the 'Select a Province' status change if we're selecting a province (higher priority)
            currentValue = $(this).attr('alt');
        }, function(){
            //Change after like a second of being off
            timer = setTimeout( function() {currentValue = 'Choisissez une province...';}, 1000);
        }
    )
    setInterval('checkStatus()', 250);
});

function checkStatus(){
    if(!myStatus && currentValue != lastValue){
        myStatus = true;
        lastValue = currentValue;
        $('#provinceSelect').fadeOut('slow');
        setTimeout( "$('#provinceSelect').html('" + currentValue + "')", 600);
        setTimeout( function(){$('#provinceSelect').fadeIn('fast')}, 700);
        setTimeout( function(){ myStatus = false;}, 1000);
    }
}