HELLO BEAUTIFUL EXPLORERS!!!
If you follow me on social media, which you totally should, you would know that I’ve been out of the country on my study abroad program. So far, I’m living in Paris to study fashion but I’ve made day trips to London and Antwerp. However, for this blog post, I’ll be telling you about the culture shock that I’ve had while in Paris. So let’s get started:
- COFFEE.
There’s only one coffee size and that’s TINY. As a coffee lover, be prepared to cut back on your caffeine intake. In France, when you order a “café”, you’ll automatically receive a cup of espresso (with no milk or sugar) that’s as big as your fist. If you can’t drink straight espresso then you MUST order a “un café aux lait avec sucre” which translates to a coffee with milk and sugar.
- Shhh…
French people are very quiet and reserved, especially when they’re on the metro. I’ve experienced getting rude stares or glances whenever I rode the metro with a group of girls that were having some loud conversations. Just keep in mind to be quiet and respectful whenever you’re taking public transportation. - What smells?
Watch where you step! I don’t think there’s a law in Paris against picking up after your dog. I live in a local area and there’s always dog poop on the streets. Street cleaners will pick it up eventually but always mind where you walk.
Side note: dogs in France are SO well-behaved!!! I’ve never heard a dog bark or growl here and most of them don’t need leashes when going for a walk. - Corner to Corner
Crosswalks are 80% not corner to corner- it’s weird. They’ll most likely be in the middle of the pavement or just slightly off from the corner. This is just a small detail that I noticed but I wanted to add it into this culture shock post because I’m not used to crossing the street this way! Ah! - Parlez-vous anglais?
“Do you speak English?” Most French people that I’ve met, whether in stores or shops, don’t speak fluent English but they will try their best to communicate with you. The stereotype of French people being rude and hating Americans is so untrue- while here, I haven’t encountered one rude French person. They’re all lovely people who kind of just mind their own business. (They’re nice and aren’t afraid to smile!) - Which floor?…
Apparently, 0 will most likely be the main lobby (or ground floor!) Other floors can go into the negatives though which isn’t something you normally see in America… - Split the check
Going out in a large group can be tricky sometimes because they never split the checks in France. Have no fear, you can still pay separately! You’ll just have to calculate what you owe from the main check. - Watch the time!
Most stores, pharmacies, and bakeries will open late and close early. I don’t have an estimate of when stores usually open but most stores will close by 6pm! Also, everything is closed on Sundays except for certain districts. Strange, isn’t it?
That’s all I have for right now! I’m in love with the city of Paris and will most likely write another blog post towards the end of my trip about some of the best places that I’ve visited while here. Sorry I haven’t been posting but ya girl is still traveling/studying!
Au Revoir!
Jessica
