I can’t speak for every foreigner, but I can describe the feeling that most Americans have the first time we enter a French boulangerie of any size or reputation. Wow. Followed closely by that feeling of awe is the complete … Continue reading
Author: Stephen Heiner
How Paris Quietly Became a Bike City
When I moved to Paris in 2013 one of the first things I did was obtain a Navigo card and after a couple of months of buying monthly passes manually via machines I switched to an annual pass and have … Continue reading
The Trottinette Life in Paris
I first looked into a trottinette (what the French call the platform-with-wheels-and-a-stick electric scooters) in January 2020, in the throes of yet another transportation strike (oh, for those good old days when strikes were our big problems!). I wasn’t alone. … Continue reading
To Know the Place Again for the First Time: TAIP’s Soft Reboot
Eight years and one week ago, I penned my first ever blog post on a website I called The American in Paris. It talked about my plans to leave the US and some of my thinking that led me to … Continue reading
How to Get Free Money for Your New Electric Bike in France
One of the aspects of life in French that is perhaps underappreciated by its citizens is the number of benefits on offer at any given time. Sure, the French will brag to you about all that’s available, but often, they … Continue reading
French Tax Season Concludes
It’s that time of year when French accountants have closed their offices, put do-not-disturb autoresponders in their email inboxes, and have fled town to relax. Tax season is over. I never expected to write so much about taxes on this … Continue reading
Firing SFR Mobile
This is the unwitting third in a series of “firing” articles. Once you realize that it’s definitely more difficult and hence, more satisfying, to fire service providers in France, you are far more willing to do so. Some time ago … Continue reading
My Change of Heart on Picard
In December 2015 I authored a (perhaps too indignant) piece slamming the frozen food chain Picard (and even questioning its raison d’etre). It’s Spring 2021 and I have to take back at least some of my words due to a … Continue reading
USPS to France? Be Prepared to Wait
Covid-19 has shaped many parts of our lives in the last 12 months. One way that wasn’t entirely expected (at least not by me) was the performance of the United States Postal Service. While the USPS has never been a … Continue reading
A French Telemarketing Experience
During my time in France I’ve gotten a few telemarketing calls. Once, my internet company SFR called offering a slightly better version of the home internet plan I already had. The call lasted maybe 15 minutes in total and I … Continue reading