Really good advice…
I only half/disagree on the fashion part.
It is true that the typical parisian is that one dressed all in black {and neutrals} and certain etiquette. But an amazing side of Paris {that I personally love} is the chance to express yourself through fashion; yes you’ll be frowned upon by the elder/conservative french people + the clueless tourists… but self-expression is cherished here, but you do have to know where to meet others who cherish it as much as you do.
I’ve never felt more free to wear whatever I want than here in Paris! Not that I’m the most stylish or fashionable person ever but still I don’t mind the few concerned faces I get from certain people… actually if I don’t get frowned upon, I feel like I’m not doing it right :P
*PS. I have to admit, that it is probably easier for a girl to dress in extreme ways without being scolded for it than a man… so he has a really good point.
Great post by ledumpling!
So u want to make it in the big bad city of Paris? Well I have considered some of my do’s and dont’s that should put you one beret above the rest of the Parisian wannabe’s.
Let’s start with dress. Fashion is obviously of the utmost importance in Paris. Wear the wrong thing and you might just get a dirty stare or snarky remark. For example, I wore Vilebrequin shorts in late September. While I thought I looked like a walking ad for Hamptons Magazine, the rest of Paris thought I looked like I came from a Middle Eastern oasis. I was walking down Rue de Passy (Paris’ Park Ave) when a woman approached me and began to harass me. Because of my colorful trunks, she immediately knew I was not from Paris (everyone knows the Parisians don’t wear color). She asked me which Arab country I hailed from and explained that my attire was not appropriate for Paris. I played along and told her I was from Saudi Arabia, and thanked her generously for welcoming me to glorious France! And a tip for girls, do wear heels. The filles of Paris are always sporting boots or heels, even if they’re short and look like what you’re younger Jewish cousin wore to her bat mitzvah party.
Don’t fall in love with a Parisian. Rather, do fall in lust with a Parisian. American films romanticize the Parisians. Their city is amazing, but they are not. Most Parisians smoke, are too judgmental, and are difficult to befriend. Plus, if you’re a temporary resident like I am, there’s no point in starting any sort of relationship. You’re better off finding one Parisian who dabbles in the Parisian social scene and drives a vespa to show you around.
Do befriend some Parisians. But if you can’t (and you certainly do not need to), befriend your fellow expats. Isn’t that why you moved abroad in the first place - to hang out with the exact same type of people you just got away from in your home country? With that said, choose wisely which expats you befriend. Don’t bother befriending the lady with the incomprehensible French at your local ubiquitous traiteur asiatique. But feel free to befriend that trendy girl who owns the small designer friperie right around the corner. And knowing French will come in handy, so get to know thse buzz words I blogged about earlier this week.
Do spend every waking moment exploring the city. Do not be lethargic or waste time. Especially if you’re living abroad temporarily, your time and availability are limited. So, try a different restaurant each day, visit a different museum, or pick a random point on the city map and go discover. You must spend as much time as you can walking along the Seine and in the first four arrondissements. A helpful tip a friend who lived in Paris once told me was to always get off one or two metro stops before your own stop and walk home. This way, you learn the city better and get some exercise in.
When flat hunting, do live in the 3e or 4e. This is the Marais, and the Marais is where it’s at. All of the bars, restaurants, museums, and shopping are all here or within walking distance. It’s also central, so cabs to and from won’t be terribly expensive. Don’t live in the 15e, where I live. The 15e is the main bourgeois neighborhood of Paris. Though it is residential and safe, it is painfully boring and out of the way. You might as well just pick up your stuff and move to the banlieu! As my friend likes to refer to it, the 15e is Paupersville. It’s a nice area, but there are no young people, no tourist attractions, and no places open past 20h (8pm in Euro time).
Do take the metro everywhere. The metro system in Paris is extremely efficient, perhaps the only iota of efficiency that this city has. The stops are not too far apart, and it should never take you more than half an hour and one transfer to get anywhere in the city. Do register for the velibs, a public bike system in Paris. I am not one to go green and pack my granola in my Northface camelbak, but I am huge fan of the velib system in Paris. I have enjoyed biking short distances throughout the city in the past few months. It’s often a faster way of transportation when a certain area of the city is inaccessible by metro or bus. It’s also a great way to burns some kilocals after you’ve eaten one too many baguettes, which I assure you will happen. Do not take taxis here. The cab drivers often try to take advantage of foreigners, plus cab fares are exorbitantly expensive. Though it’s impossible to find a taxi in this city anyways, you still are going to need to find one at night after you leave a club, in order to avoid waiting until 5am for the metro to open. If you really need a cab and decide to call one, they start the pay meter from the time you call. So, you could have a cab pick you up but it will already have 20 euros on the bill in addition to the amount you’re going to have to pay for the actual drive. It’s nonsensical!
Do meet someone in the Parisian nightlife scene. Paris’ nightlife is SO different from New York. A friend asked me the other day: if you could change one thing about Paris, which would it be, the inefficiency or nightlife? I selected nightlife, she selected inefficiency. The nightlife scene in NYC is accessible to all. There is always a bar party, gallery opening, or industry event. Paris is completely different, and not to my liking. For a particularly good description on the topic, read this blog post.
Most importantly, do take advantage. Living abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity, not to be taken for granted. If you’re invited to an opera or wine tasting or weekend trip to the South, just say oui oui!
