LA VIE: I had a funny conversation with the self-designated “life in France” coach today. I met her in a French immersion class. I won’t use her name at this time… her opinions about people’s attitudes are the focus of this post. She revered the American adaptive mindset as “an absence of color.”

LA VIE: The world knows Paris is the “City of Light” and has a lot to offer. As an American Expat living in France for the over nine months, I feel there’s a lot to discover about France without giving into the “tourist mindset.”

LA VIE: I have started traveling quite a bit in Europe; especially central and southern France. This week’s list is comprised of travel words related to my upcoming travels to Austria, city of Versailles, and the city of Nice, France.

LA VIE: I work with a diverse group of people from all over the world. The office is comprised of 17 nationalities and a mix of over 20 languages. As I dive into my French lessons, my co-worker Denis (native French) has opted to send me 4-5 French words to learn every week.

LA VIE: With so many stores closed on Sundays, I rearrange my plans as needed. I am one of the few people who enjoys a lot of variety so I’ll continue exploring Paris and adjust my expectations… Bonne weekend!

La Vie: I enjoy media - all forms. When it comes to the ever-loving “idiot box,” I enjoy television shows, news broadcasts, and cable television originals. Watching television in Paris is quite interesting. I have to learn more… (Je dois en savoir plus).

LES CAFÉS: International travel has many rewards which includes experiencing new tastes and flavors. From time-to-time, I simply want something “familiar” without having to go to a chain restaurant or an American exported brand.

LE MODE DE VIE AMÉRICAIN. At the time of this post, I am learning a lot about French culture from my co-workers (thanks Mehdi, Paul, Aminata, and Marie-Pierre) so depending on when you read this, my views likely have changed.

LA VIE: This is the second post in a three-part series about obtaining an apartment in Paris. To read the first post, click here.

As previously mentioned, obtaining a “flat” in Paris is rather hard. It’s all about supply and demand. One critical hurdle I dealt with is obtaining my French bank account.

LA VIE: Let’s cut to the meat of this post… PARIS HAS GREAT SALES (SOLDES)! Now, I can back up and explain a few details: Paris has two major sale seasons - July and January. Sales last about 6 weeks and merchandise is discounted 50-70%.

International travel safety is important. Wrapping your luggage - is it worth the price?

LA VIE: Exploring Paris reveals some of the traditional, yet pleasant things about the French. I adore their ability to be mobile and simply enjoy life. As I enjoy the thousands of people walking around the city, I’m still a newbie and wander around alone. Aside from a few friends as work, I’m very young in the meeting new people stage

Although the size was smaller than I expected, I admit the taste was full-bodied and I was satisfied afterwards. Très petite, indeed!

LA VIE: I have to admit, America spoiled me on one-stop shopping and mega strip mall conveniences. Being able to buy groceries, tires, books, and get your nails done in one giant strip of land has its benefits! 

LA VIE: Before moving to Europe, I had dozens of people provide me their tips on navigating the continent. Their remarks were comical and at times seemed more like watch outs. Although I usually don’t read too much into other people’s opinions, the one remark that was the most consistent was the lack of ice used in Parisian cafes and restaurants.