I recently had the opportunity to meet with one of the readers of the blog over lunch. We discussed some of his strategies for staying in France but since he had just recently arrived I asked him to check with … Continue reading
You Can(‘t) Go Home Again
“What do you miss the most?” My friends smile, anticipating a favorite dish, a favorite place, or a particular time of year. “Well, you guys, of course,” I say quickly, hoping to deflect the question from my true answer: “Nothing.” … Continue reading
A Trip to the Police Station
I apologize for the very long break from the blog. It was an amazing summer — my second spent working in the spectacular beauty of Switzerland (here’s one of my favorite images from that time). I kept a journal, but … Continue reading
The Friend Turnover
I’m midway through my second year in Paris and I’ve begun to experience something I rarely did during my time in the States: losing people to moves. When I was younger this was because I was always the one on … Continue reading
The Guy Who Stole My iPad
He hangs out at night on my street with three or four of his friends. They smoke, drink, and talk about nothing, as 25-35 year-olds are wont to do. Whenever I pass him, and we manage to make eye contact, … Continue reading
Starbucks in Europe
Americans take it for granted that they can sit in most coffee shops or Panera-like establishments and work for hours, after buying one token item of food or drink. If the place is busy enough or you don’t plan to … Continue reading
I Live in a Different Paris Than You Do…
“And you know, Paris is all metro and work and the run-around.” He used the famous idiom “Metro-boulot-dodo” which is a colloquialism that is literally “subway-work-sleep” that indicates the grind of life for many in the City of Light. We … Continue reading
Learn French in France? Not So Fast!
I often tell people that I studied French prior to coming here but I truly learned French whenever, over the years, I was in an immersive French environment (as in during my teenage visits to Montreal). For those who think … Continue reading
Forgetting My Passport
A huge pit formed at the very bottom of my stomach. A hot flash of embarrassment started at my chin, ducked below my eyes, and lurched forward onto my forehead, spilling down my cheeks. These physical reactions usually accompany the … Continue reading
Little Entrepreneurs and a Sunday Stroll
I’ve often said that Paris is built for walkers. The subtext there is that it’s a dream for wanderers. Have some free time and nothing on your agenda? Just take a stroll. If it’s a particularly cold day, you might … Continue reading