Pairs: What I Love, Hate, and Miss

I’ve been compiling these lists for a while now. Surprisingly, they haven’t grown very long. I am, after all, just living my normal life here. It’s not a vacation. I watch TV, I take naps, I lounge around somedays. Sometimes I am so taken with the beauty of this city just walking around it that I can feel my heart rate kick up and my stomach knot a bit, reminding me of how far I have come. Some days Im tearful and lonely would give it all up to be nearer to people I love. Whenever a person asks me about how amazing a time I am having here, I of course say that it is an unbelievable experience. But, like normal life, there are parts that drive me crazy as well — like, I’m-going-to-rip-my-hair-out, mind numbing, crazy. Here’s what I have so far.

What I love:

•  Public transportation. I know this isn’t unique to France, but it’s severely lacking in the states. Taking a bus isn’t even a realistic option where I come from. Here, you can get from one end of the city to the under for (basically) a euro and some change. I pay about €100 for my monthly transportation pass, which allows me to go anywhere in all 5 zones (so, Paris and surrounding areas) and my job actually reimburses me for half. I’m saving so much money on gas it’s ridiculous. 
• Beautiful live music on the metro. Accordians, violins, trumpets… Some unbelievable talent while I’m just trying to get to the bank. I’ve always hated the radio, (I didn’t even have one in my car back home) but now I think I’m forever spoiled by live music. 
• Canvas bag, or no bag. Carry your groceries home or pay for plastic. Thank god! Every country needs to be a little more concerned with the environment and enforce this. My mother always brought her own bag when she went shopping back home, but she was usually met with eyebrow raises and looks of judgment. Here, it’s embraced and encouraged. 
• Beer and wine in public. When you buy a bottle of wine at the store here, if you ask them to they will open it for you. Some places will even give you some plastic cups. There is no taboo with alcohol here like there is in the states. It’s a wonderful thing. 
• The fashion. Everyone here looks amazing. Every street is a runway. Living in a fashion capital has been so inspiring. 

What I miss:

• Driving. Don’t get me wrong, public transportation is amazing, it’s number one on my love list. But besides the fact that driving gets you places quicker sometimes, it was just sort of fun. (I didn’t think I would ever think that.) I know the pros of public transport completely outweigh driving a car. This is just a sort of weird thing you don’t think you’ll miss until it’s been months without it. Get me behind a wheel. 
• The beautiful innocence that was life before the constant worry of pickpockets. I mean, I am from Metro Detroit, so luckily I know well enough not to be dumb. But constantly needing to be in check gets tiring. (Phone? Keys? Wallet?!)
• All night diners. Or any type of drunk food. No 4 a.m. Leo’s for me. No 4 a.m. anything, really. This entire city shuts down so early.
• Autumn. It’s going to be hard to keep this short. There’s not much greenery here in the city, so beautiful colorful fallen leaves are severely lacking. I couldn’t make a pile to jump in even if people wouldn’t look at me like I was crazy. And there’s no Halloween spirit. Well, a bit. It was like a flame you’re fighting to keep lit but that ultimately dissipates. I fled to Madrid for Halloween, where everyone was in costume. I couldn’t bare to witness the shame that would be taking place here. Not my favorite holiday.A small PSL will cost you €5, Theres about one apple orchard (hours away,) and kids legitimately don’t know what “Trick-or-Treat” is. Stubbornly, I spent a full 30 minutes getting my students to perfect the phrase. Sorry ‘bout it.
• Also, Detroit. Family. Home. Walks at Henry Ford Estate. Eastern Market. Home cooked meals. 

What I hate:

• All things related to French paperwork. Anyone in France who’s job it is to get something done on time. All French bureaucracy. This is singlehandedly the most frustrating thing about the country. You’ve heard of the French Joie de Vivre, right? Well, apparently they apply that to everything. Oh, you need to get paid? Oh ok first I drink wine zen I send ze paperz. Oh you need me to respond to zis email? Ah, but zeir are baguettes to be eaten! Mon dieu! I would say more, but I don’t think my blood pressure can handle it. 
• A complete lack of personal space. It caught me so off guard at first. I’ve gotten like 23 lap dances from people getting off the metro when it wasn’t really ever necessary. Come on. You should have bought me dinner first. 
• Small portions. I now know why the French are all so thin. They eat like, a cracker and call that a meal. I get that we are way too gluttonous in the states, but here it is way too little. And since Paris is the most expensive city in Europe, you’ll be paying 20 euros for that cracker.