First Impressions of Paris: Finding Beauty in the Simplicities

French has never been my forte. In fact, I received a C+ in the first and only French class I’d ever taken prior to arriving in Paris. In an ideal world I would’ve leapt into this adventure intrepid and earnest for what awaited me in the city of love. But in the spirit of full disclosure, I was more nervous than anything. I was worried that my fashion wouldn’t be chic enough. That the mannerisms I’m accustomed to would quickly betray me as a ‘stupid American.’ That my minimal French would impede any ability to transition smoothly into this new Parisian life. As I became increasingly afflicted with all these apprehensions of the unknown, I forgot to just be excited for all the new people I would soon encounter and the new experiences I was about to gain. Upon walking the Parisian streets for the very first time, all of my prior unease quickly washed away. I finally took a pause and allowed myself to take in what the next 5 weeks of my life were about to entail. 

In so many ways Paris is precisely what I anticipated, yet simultaneously a place that you can never truly comprehend the beauty of until you’ve experienced it. In every paint-chipped building, quaint cafe, and window display there’s a charm unfound in any other city I’ve stepped foot in. I can’t help but feel a sense of magic every time I navigate my way through the streets. Perhaps it’s the unfamiliarity of it all - a city where everything from the language to the system of transportation is foreign to me. Despite this, I really have found that Paris elevates even the simplest of things. You’re carried by the echoes of a violin as you maneuver your way through the bustling metro stations. The passion of two lovers lip-locked on a street corner is tangible. The eye-catching detail of a silk scarf or brightly hued sunglasses through storefront windows is mesmerizing. The exchange of a hushed conversation between Parisians and the cigarettes that sit perched between their fingers even maintains an air of elegance. As I sat at a cafe my first evening in Paris, shoveling French cheese and buttery escargot in my mouth while street performers filled the air with their vibrant energy, all I could think to myself was “I’m never going to want to leave.”

This first week here in Paris has brought with it more than I could’ve imagined. Whether it’s speaking in French with the cashier at the neighborhood bakery or weaving my way through crowds to the 1 train, I’ve quickly been able to immerse myself into Parisian life. This isn’t to say that I haven’t felt like an outsider peering in. Yet even in spite of the language barrier, I still am finding myself growing a deeper affection for this addicting city with each passing day. In every museum I’m enamored by the gentle folds of a dress caressing the torsos of white marble statues. I’m entranced by aged, stone pillars that bear the weight of palaces that have endured centuries. More than anything, I’m continuously amazed at the beauty that every alley and avenue of this city maintains, despite the countless footsteps that have dared to wear them down.