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Ever since the invention of the internet I am fan of those “10 things lists”. It’s always encouraging to see that others are struggling with the same oddities, or to totally dissociate yourself from certain groups thinking “what the heck is wrong with people, jeez!”
After living for more than 10 years in Paris (I came here very, very young as I am obviously not in my mid thirties) I still think rather often that people around me are weird, like.. REALLY weird but just a wink later I embrace this culture (Apéro should be mandatory on every damn day) and I feel as home as never before.
But there are some things that came as a surprise, to the good or the bad and never that serious:
- Everyone eats more than you, drinks more than you and is, and always will be slimmer than you. Living in Paris without being Parisian or having an eating disorder means you are doomed to be big(ger). Deal with it. (You need to, really. Best BEFORE having kids, otherwise you risk to punch some random 45kg mom of 3 with a baguette on one point)
- Everyone will look better than you, or at least make you feel like they do. But let’s be honest, if you did not come to Paris to work in Fashion, with Fashion or as Fashion.. they most likely are. And that should be ok! Very high standards are applying and chances are high that you loose. Get over it.
- An average family dinner/lunch lasts at least 4 hours , if you are invited for lunch AND dinner, you have around 1h in between the last digestif of lunch before starting the apéro for dinner. Use this time wisely, it could be 6 hours until you are released.
- You think the bureaucracy is crazy where you’re from? LOL… Be prepared to carry a copy of every damn document that was ever created on your name with you, at all times. Always
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- People are paying with cheques. Really, they do. Until now I believed it´s something that disappeared in the 80’s. It didn’t. Not in France.
- Don’t think that Online Banking is a thing. It´s not. Don’t even bother to try. You might come from a place on earth were you can initiate a payment with one click to whatever bank account you want. Keep it as a nice memory in your heart, dream about it and send a cheque (it is possible that it changed at some banks though; it did not at mine).
- Get (mentally) prepared to be exposed to food that you never even thought could exist or be anywhere near you. Oysters, Champagne and foie gras… but as well bone marrow, rillettes, andouille and half raw kidneys. This is the stuff you find in random restaurants, THIS is normal.
- It´s considered appropriate to pay unbelievable amounts of money for macarons or chocolate and, even though you might laugh about it at first and call it ridiculous; sooner than you think you will find yourself queuing in a 50m long queue to give Pierre Hermé your credit card and your soul.
- People expect you to know everything about your country; its culture, its music, its writers, philosophers, painters, history, politicians, voting system, grammar… And they want to talk about it. With you! (maybe I am just unlucky or extremely not knowing shit about anything, but I have been in some awkward situations).
- People don’t speak English. That’s fine, it totally is. Just adjust your expectations and don’t think: it´s a capital, everyone speaks English! They don’t. They simply don’t. Unless you speak french, then they answer in English.
(check the following clip to learn french in 1 (ONE!) word, I can assure you, it works)
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10 Things I wish I'd known before moving to Paris
OMG … I love this ! especially 5 – 7 and ten and the one word video !!
I was utterly shocked when two years ago we decided to spend our holidays in Provence and the landlady asked ‘un chèque’ to guarantee the booking….me too I thought cheques died in the late eighties….I asked at my bank, the woman didn’t know, she had to ask at the headquarter, then she called back and explained my options …fortunately, the landlady accepted us to guarantee the booking by bank transfer 🙂
Vive la France ! P***** !
I know, right? It’s not the first time that I hear that and I am always surprised; especially when working in tourism, they should be used to it by now that France is the only country using cheques by now ^^
All so true! I was dating a French winemaker for about a year, and working for a French importer. Luckily I didn’t have to spend most of my time in Paris (I got to be in Provence) so the uber gorgeous fashionistas weren’t as scary but still…
I love living in Paris but here are really so many women that make you constantly feel bad about yourself 😀 I take it rather lightly but sometimes… it really sucks :p
This was so funny! I especially love #1 & #2. When I took a group of 6th graders, I warned the boys not to wear their normal oversized tees, gym shorts, and sneakers. Being “know-it-all” 6th graders, they didn’t listen. When the 6th grade girls started making comments about how handsome the French boys were, my boys started trying to tuck in their big shirts and pull up their baggy shorts.
aww thats awesome 😀 Thanks for sharing this!
We are planning to visit Paris next year, you give us cool infos. Let us know more about this wonderful city 🙂
I am planning to post more or less frequently about Paris.. but if you have any questions, i can try to help 🙂 I know stuff! :p
I absolutely loved this list! It was such a fun read but also quite insightful! The video at the end was a total bonus, I’m still cracking up. I’ll keep that word in mind for me next visit 🙂
awww so glad you enjoyed it! <3 Thank you !
No, you won’t have any problems as a tourist, hotels a.s.o take Visa & major credit cards, otherwhise cash, but it’s funny because France is the only country as fas as I know which holds on to these chèques 🙂
yes, exactly! I can’t think of any situation were I really need a cheque.. sometimes at the doctor it can become handy – you need to pay in advance – and some take no credit card.. but that’s about it actually. I think they are just nostalgic about everything that is related to money, maybe that’s why many people are still doing the conversion to Franc, Shops are often still showing the price in Franc as well and even on my bank statement they convert to Franc.. that’s quite ridiculous considering that we are having the Euro since.. 15 years 😀
haha this is very funny! I love Paris – I’ve only ever been for a few weeks at a time, but I dream of staying longer one day. Number 10 is my favorite “unless you speak French, then they speak English” haha so true!
Thank you so much for your comment 🙂 I hope you can come back!
hahaha loved your list!! That video is the best – who knew I could speak French. haha
thank you, I am happy you liked it 🙂
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon every day.
It will always be helpful to read through articles from other authors and
use a little something from their sites.
That video, OMG hilarious. I thought I was funny, but I’m finishing the comment, packing my bags, and moving to a cave in the Himalays. Adios!
haha I totally hear you.. as I saw that video for the first time I had as well a crushed ego 😀 😀
Wow they still use checks? That is insane. And of course they do all weigh 45kgs and eat whatever they want. Sigh.
Hahaha, you had me with the chèques!!! 🙂 I just moved to the South of France and I couldn’t believe when my bank asked me if I already had a “chequier”… It’s so has been, but the French love them. About the food… French food and local products just are amazing. You have to indulge yourself, there’s no getting around that part 🙂
thank you so much for your comment 😀 I am still struggling with some of the foods.. probably cause I am not thaaat into meat and just many french delices are with meat ^^
Ha! I hear you on the long dinner thing. We’re so used to having a relatively strict timeframe to eat that the concept of sitting down for that long sounds somewhat torturous 😉
totally!! The first times were really horrible for me; I actually did feel like getting tortured and it would ruin my entire weekend to know that I have to sit on a table for HOUUUURS on a Sunday ^^ but actually.. it turned out to be really nice after all; cause in the end; if you sit on a table and chat or a sofa; thats not such a big difference. 😀
Haha love this post! I live with a girl from Paris now, and I can agree she can eat more then me and still look better than me haha. Paying lots of money for chocolate and macaroons sounds something I would do. And yeah, they dont speak English there haha when I travelled there few years ago I had so much struggle with communication.
isn’t that unfair? They are never hung over neither! lol 😀
No online banking and payment by cheques!!! Taking time for lunch and dinner is also quite interesting. Nice tips and I will keep it in mind.. 🙂
hm I think I might check the next time how knowledgeable they are themselves 😀 But generally I do think they are very curious, at least the ppl I met so far 🙂
Paris, yes, the city of love and fashion. The experience and the 10 things you shared, seems like you have experienced a lot, before just travelling to Paris, we would make sure to learn some french and get a reply in English. thanks for the information.
Haha – interesting takeaways from your time in Paris so far! I am definitely one of those people throwing my money at macarons.
Visited Paris for a few days and I can agree on a few points. Pierre Herme was worth the wait and yes it was expensive. Goodbye credit card! Not many people spoke english at all and like you said, that was fine as we got out of our comfort zone and learned French. Apero was everywhere as you said. I think it should also be mandatory.
I so agree with a few of these. Everyone just looks amazing there and no matter how well you are dressed, you still feel that you are not upto the mark. I am glad I ain’t the only one thinking that. And yes, those meal times are like absolute leisure!
Well, I’m supposed to move with my Parisian boyfriend to Paris at the end of the year. From our visits so far (and mine, before meeting him), I kind of expect all the stuff you listed already. I imagine myself finding refuge in Shakespeare & Co. every now and then :))
oh that’s exciting!!! That’s how it started for me as well, 12 years ago 🙂 Hope you feel at home in Paris real quick.