First Time Living In Paris - The Truth
I think we all can agree that this year, as well as the past couple of years, have been a lot. Especially in terms of mental health, navigating covid, political instability, and aggression in many regions. On top of those factors, we have our day-to-day lives; the jobs we work, the families we have, university, etc. As for me, I am getting ready to graduate from my master’s program in December. It has been a challenging experience, but it has also flown by so quickly, that I wish at times I could turn back the clock. I felt myself moving at a million miles an hour applying for jobs, writing the blog, working on the book, and doing school work. Taking a break was something I never let myself do. To me, rest was for the weak and if I wasn’t always on the go, I wouldn’t achieve my dreams. With that being said I didn’t have much time to prepare for Paris. The day I was supposed to leave finally arrived and off I went, still processing the entire year and my next steps as a twenty-two-year-old.
The first thing Paris did was teach me patience. As many of you may know or have experienced, the dining situation is far different. The waiter isn’t at your beckoned call, waiting on your hand and foot. You cannot sit there and be rude about your meal or expect the ‘customer first’ rule many people experience in the United States. Although I knew this, I still found myself waiting for the check, getting fidgety, and getting cranky. I was simply ready to go when my food was finished and had said everything I needed to, so no I did not want to wait another hour for my check. But, my inability to be patient affects me in almost all aspects of my life and needs to be addressed. So I told myself to figure it out, and to learn some to patience for once.
By the third meal, I began to realize how wonderful it is to really get to know the person you are with. When you look around in cafes and restaurants in Paris, people are actually talking - not staring at their phones and ignoring each other. Paris is certainly teaching me patience, the beauty of conversation, and that slowing down is necessary. Personal growth and healing are so beautiful in this city.
Paris is the city of love for a reason. I see couples everywhere embracing each other, friends waltzing around the city together, and the most beautiful landscapes and architecture, I can’t help but fall in love. Every time I travel to a new place, I learn more about myself. Paris has done nothing but make me fall in love with the woman I am becoming and the life I am creating for myself. It has shown me beauty, simplicity, love, kindness, and how far Bonjour can take you.
The French language is nothing short of beautiful. The way it quietly whispers in your ear and eases the soul is something my native language will never do. French isn’t a language to be scared of but to embrace with gentleness, and for record, the French are not rude, but they do not take disrespect or naiveness, which is something we should all live by. Of course, I am sure there are some who are rude, but that is the case in every single place on Earth.
One of my favorite things about Paris is that it is a wonderland filled with different people, cultures, and languages. People from all over come to visit this exquisite city. Whether it is for a family vacation, study placement, work opportunity, weekend visit, or a lifelong dream, people from all over are enjoying the city of Paris.
I live in a small studio apartment with my roommate outside of Paris. It is cozy and small and at first, I thought there was no way I could learn to live like this - but soon enough I realized I had everything I needed and more. My kitchen and fridge were the perfect sizes for fresh fruits, veggies, some pesto, pasta, olive tapenade, wine, and juice. I love my home and the calm streets that surround it, but I also enjoy the hustle and bustle of the center of Paris.
There is something about sitting on the metro and realizing how beautiful this life truly is. Walking along the beautiful streets filled with people from places both near and far is something that makes my heart smile. I haven’t fallen in love in a long time, so thank you Paris. Thank you for your kindness, patience, independence, beautiful language, and cozy homes, Je t’aime Paris.
“A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.”
