06 Feb Ask an Au Pair: Holly encourages au pairs to dive right in and has found her own ways to meet Parisians
What inspires you about Paris?
I love the quaintness of Parisian streets; there’s always something hidden on every street!
What is the best way to meet Parisians?
To meet French Parisians I’ve found that it’s quite easy to start up a conversation with some locals at the parks or museums! I’ve gone to a couple of expat groups from Meetup and that has been a great way to meet other expats here. I’ve been attending the American Church in Paris and that’s been a great way to meet American Parisians!
How do you improve or master your French language skills?
Try to consume as much French as possible! When I first got here I regret not jumping straight into the language. It’s certainly important to just go for it and not worry about the mistakes. It’s hard to get over the mental block of not wanting to make mistakes or being worried that I can’t fully explain myself; however, once I did French started getting a lot better for me! Also the bouquinistes along the Seine sell books that are quite inexpensive and it’s a great way to start reading in French!
What is your favorite neighborhood?
Montmartre and the 7th
What Can you describe a best meal you’ve had in Paris?
Treize has an amazing American brunch. Bocamexa has amazing tacos and guacamole.
A favorite bar or café?
I love the Printemps rooftop café. Amazing view of Paris without a ton of tourists!
Favorite shop?
Naf Naf (adorable clothes) and Cultura (great selection of craft supplies)
A favorite museum?
Musée des Arts Décoratifs
What is your favorite secret Paris spot?
I really love walking along the seine and finding a bench to read on. It’s usually quiet and always very relaxing; I could stay for hours!
What do you dislike most about living in Paris?
Store hours. I find it frustrating sometimes when I want to buy something on a Sunday or after 8pm and find that many of the stores are closed.
What advice would you give to incoming au pairs?
This is such a great learning experience! When I first arrived I avoided any situation where I would have to order food or use French because I was afraid it wouldn’t be understood. Then I learned that with every cultural difference (including language) I would just have to dive right it. It’s really interesting to learn about the cultural norms between countries and it has certainly made me more cognizant of not only French culture but American culture as well! Definitely be prepared for culture shock and dive right in!
ASK AN AU PAIR SERIES
Get to know Paris, from an au pair’s perspective. Our “Ask an Au Pair” series was so popular that we’ve decided to continue it with our next round of au pairs! We pose a dozen questions about the City of Light to those who are seeing it with fresh eyes and learning all of its wonderful intricacies. And, we decided to expand this series by adding a question about adapting to life in Paris after the 2015 terrorist attacks.