10 Things about Paris, French & France

I often been asked this question many, many times: What it's like to live in Paris?

Here are my 10 observations.

Please note that I'm married to a French man, I've been living here for five years, and before settling down here I often visited Paris as a tourist with a different perspective.

1.Everywhere you go, it is aesthetically beautiful. Paris and everywhere you go in France have a certain beauty. It's not just nature or the scenery or the architectural landmarks but also how they trim the trees, decorate a restaurant, or display products in a tiny shop. If you come inside the house of a French family, you would immediately think it's curated but it is just the way they are because it is beautifully decorated with paintings, photographs, and travel souvenirs yet, it doesn't feel too over-the-top. Which brings me to the second point.

2. Effortlessly sophisticated. The French may be known for fashion and fashionable people. What I learned is that they're effortlessly trying. I think they are blessed with a good eye for how to match things together and how to put things together without overdoing it. Surprisingly, most French women don't own a famous luxury brand handbags and clothes. For them, it is important to invest in pieces that they love and look good on. But they make sure it is of great quality. They don't easily go with the latest trends in fashion because their closets are already filled with timeless clothes that survived all collections through the years. Same with French men. They all look good in neat long sleeves with a monochrome sweater on top. In makeup, French women only invest in good mascara and red or pink lipgloss. Their skin is already flawless after all.

3. Strong regional pride. French, wherever they're from have a strong sense of pride. Whether it's the food, the product, or the scenery-- they love to highlight it especially if you're having the conversation with them for the first time. Fun fact: You will know where the product is from based on the name, for example; Bordeaux wine (is from Bordeaux), Champagne (is from Champagne), Evian water, you guessed it, from Evian. The nationalistic pride only comes out of their system when they're supporting or cheering their national sports team. For the rest of the year, they keep on whining about being French and living in a French system. Haha

4. Continously curious about culture. French are life-long learners. They're very curious about the culture of other nations. They love discovering and reading about places, countries, and history while traveling or meeting a local foreigner. They have plenty of questions, so be ready to answer them. They are more drawn to museums, exhibitions, and activities that will give them new knowledge when they're traveling.

5. They start a conversation around culture and arts. Yes, especially if you're meeting for the first time. But it doesn't mean they don't like gossip, oh yes, they do. But the only way to engage a French person on your first meeting is by answering and asking questions about each other's country, culture, food, and arts. That's why it's a faux fact that French people are not friendly. They're simply not used to small talk. For them, their time is valuable so they're very strategic on how and to whom to start a conversation.

6. Complaints, frustrates, and protests. They're notoriously known for this, even around Europe. For the French, to have something to complain about is already part of their DNA given their years of history of uprisings and revolutions. The tiny little things may be absurd for us, outsiders but for them, it is something that connects to what their ancestors would have done today. As a Filipino, coming from a humble upbringing, I am always dumbfounded at how they would complain when everything is pretty much available for their comfort and more than their needs. I always tell my husband, that some of them should try an immersive life of living in a third-world country. So don't be surprised that when you come to Paris, there is a transport strike or a protest because it's a normal part of our lives here.

7. Hard to impress. Yes, they are. So it's not your fault. I believe this is stemming from their education system. But perhaps, it is somehow changing in the later generations. The French are not exactly rude or cold but they simply don't have the right emotions to express some sort of big and great gestures shown to them. They don't easily fall prey to extravagance, opulence, over-the-top, and out-of-this-world gestures or presentations.

8. Friendships and giving time are valuable. The French value and prioritize deep friendships. So it's not surprising if their friends are from preschool or middle school in their adult life. They make sure that they give valuable time to meeting them every opportunity they have. And meeting them doesn't just mean to have coffee or drinks. It means they're clearing their whole day, or whole afternoon, or whole night, or whole weekend just to spend that quality time with them.

9. Prepare to spend long conversations at any dining invitations. Yep, do prepare! For non-French people, this may be one of the surprises you will have with them for the first time. Dining invitations are not only spent for around four hours max. It will literally take up your whole afternoon to night. And the shocking thing is, you've been sitting by the dining table that whole time! They eat-- talk, talk, talk -- eat-- talk, talk, talk! Haha. The French somehow manage to strike any conversation starters when there is a long silent pause. Even when you start saying goodbyes and almost at the door, be prepared that you still have to wait for around 30-45 minutes to finally leave because no one seems to dare to break the conversation.

10. Value of slowing down and taking a break. The work-life balance in France is not fake news, it is part of their life for their sanity, for their well-being, and their productivity. And frankly, that's where I admire them. Slowing down and taking a break doesn't mean being lazy, it means they want to sit down, take their time, enjoy their lunch, appreciate the taste of their food, listen, and talk to their friends without feeling like they need to be in a hurry. Taking a break simply means having that very hour of their day to let go of the anxiousness caused by their job, and simply have the consciousness to relax at that moment, alone or with some friends. Slowing down gives them the chance to re-evaluate and create harmonious relationships with themselves and the people around them. That's why my favorite part of the year of living in Paris is around late August or early September-- because that's when the city becomes vibrant and joyful again. The Parisians are in a happier mood because they are all tan from their one-month-long summer vacation and cafes & restaurants are buzzing with joyful conversations because everyone's topic is, "So how was your holiday?"