Since my arrival in Paris, I've made many observations. They range from pleasant surprises to rude awakenings and all are worthy of being noted. Here are 15 lessons I've learned over the past 3 weeks:
1) Baguettes can be eaten with virtually anything – cheese, nutella, jam, etc. This can quite easily serve as an entire meal as well.
2) I’ve never felt so blonde in my life. Even though Paris is very white, blondes do not exist.
3) There are pros and cons to being American…and a girl.
4) I’m craving fast food that isn’t a baguette sandwich – a Chipotle burrito would be nice.
5) French pedestrians are not cautious of drivers. French drivers are not cautious of pedestrians.
5) Bars can be misleading. When you first walk in it might look like a typical laid-back bar or pub, but go downstairs and there are strobe lights, a DJ, a dance floor, etc.
7) Pizza Hut is a nice sit-down restaurant and McDonalds sells beer.
8) Dogs, marijuana, open containers, and puking are all allowed on the metro.
9) Even wine that cost €1.80 will undoubtedly be delicious.
10) EVERYONE smokes. Everyone, I swear. Employees constantly take smoking breaks right outside their place of work. Between that and the coffee breaks at the café…seriously, when do these people work?
11) A crêpe is the most delicious thing you can eat when you’re intoxicated at 3am.
12) Miming helps A LOT. Even for words that don’t necessarily have a universal motion or gesture.
13) Groups of Asian women don’t get dressed up and hang out on street corners for fun – they’re working.
14) It’s a misleading stereotype that the French can cook. Even the French admit this. They may appreciate food, but that doesn’t mean they can cook it.
15) At restaurants, it's not possible get anything wrapped up or in a “doggy-bag” to go. It’s frustrating when I can’t eat a whole pizza in one sitting.
The more I learn about the way things are done in France, the more I'll update. Weekend recap and class descriptions will come soon.
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