13 Feb Ask an Au Pair: Flora lives la vie Française on an au pair budget
This week, we asked the questions to Flora, a 19-year old from England. She lives with her host family in the Malakoff, just outside of Paris. Here are excerpts from her responses.
What inspires you about Paris?
The endless amount of things you can do for free! A lot of museums offer free entry for students under 26 but I love to just walk around with my iPod in my ears. Paris is so small that you can easily walk from one end to the other! Other things that cost no money are browsing the flea markets at St Ouen and Porte de Vanves or the many bookshops that are scattered around the city!
What tools, information or tactics did you find helpful in supporting yourself and the children after the terrorist attacks in Paris?
I found talking to other au pairs incredibly helpful as we were all going through the exact same unique situation together. With supporting the children, the main priority was communicating with the parents to see how they wanted to approach the subject.
What is the best way to meet Parisians?
An overcrowded bar
How do you improve or master your French language skills?
Practicing as much as possible and getting over your fear of making mistakes. Whenever I learn a new word I make sure I know how to spell it because that is how I remember it!
What is your favorite neighborhood?
The Marais (groundbreaking I know!) the 10th and 11th
What is your favorite café and/or the best meal you’ve had in Paris so far?
Places I have gone back to a lot are Mamie Gâteaux in the 7th and Le Loir dans la Théière in the 4th. The best croissant I have ever eaten was from Sébastien Gaudard on Rue des Martyrs and Cafe de l’Industrie is a really good place for a very French meal on an ‘au pair’ income.
What is your favorite shop?
Le Bon Marché. For the amount of time I spend in there I’m not actually sure if I’ve ever bought anything. Vintage Bookstore on Rue Pavée and Librairie Galignani are also fun to browse!
What is your favorite museum?
My children’s school is between the Musée Rodin and Musée d’Orsay so I spend a lot of time at both before picking them up. However I love the collections at the Pompidou and Musée d’Art Moderne. The l’Orangerie and Jacquemart-Andé are also incredible!
What is your favorite secret Paris spot?
Moonshiner! The speakeasy hidden behind an Italian restaurant. My friend showed me the little square next to the Delacroix museum one evening which feels really hidden and special. I also love to sit inside Saint-Etienne-du-Mont behind the Panthéon.
What do you dislike most about living in Paris?
I grew up in the English countryside so sometimes the lack of wide open spaces really gets to me! Taking the RER B to Parc de Sceaux is a good remedy however.
What advice would you give to incoming au pairs?
This really is a unique situation and whether you are living-in or living-out, communication and thoughtfulness with your host family are essential! In regards to Paris, make the most of your surroundings and try to do as much as impossible- which includes just ambling around!
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.