18 Apr Ask an Au Pair: Masha uses art and creativity to get the most out of her au pair experience
This week, we asked the questions to Masha, a 22-year old from Colorado. She lives with her host family in Meudon, just outside of Paris. Here are excerpts from her responses:
What inspires you about Paris?
I love the city, culture, life, and liveliness of Paris – it inspires me to really dive into my interests, and grow.
What tools, information or tactics did you find helpful in supporting yourself and the children after the terrorist attacks in Paris?
I talked with the children about what happened, and asked them what they thought. We drew pictures of “Vive la France”, and then I listened to them – to listen, I thought, was the most effective way of healing – sharing their views about the attacks allowed the family, and myself, to heal.
What is the best way to meet Parisians?
Go out. Take art classes. Go to a cafe and start a conversation. Take a tour of the city. Join a club. There are many ways.
How do you improve or master your French language skills?
Work hard in school, make sure I understand all of the rules of the language, and ask for help if I do not understand something. I also talk to the locals A LOT – that is the most effective way of improving your French.
What is your favorite neighborhood?
The 13th! And St. Michel.
What is your favorite café and/or the best meal you’ve had in Paris so far?
An extremely good French restaurant with French cuisine in the 13th district is called Le temps des Cerise. It is so yummy! And cheap!
What is your favorite shop?
Promod
What is your favorite museum?
Musée D’Orsay
What is your favorite secret Paris spot?
Secret Bar in Chatelet
What do you dislike most about living in Paris?
It’s stressful, crowded, and sometimes smells funny.
What advice would you give to incoming au pairs?
Be prepared. Research, research research. Try your best at learning the language, learn the cultural differences, and talk as much as you can with the family – make sure you and them are on the same page. Know what to expect. And be excited! It is a great opportunity to live abroad.
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.