Ode to "Ten things I hate about you"

I know you hear this all the time, specifically when someone refers to the passage of time, but… I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since we moved to Paris! I could use the old cliché, “time flies when you are having fun.” On the other hand I can’t say that every minute or day or month has been fun. So, I think it is more logical and appropriate to realize and say that time flies no matter what you do, whether you are having fun or not. The passage of time is constant… tick, tick, tick… we cannot stop it… all we can do is live, make memories, make mistakes, learn from our mistakes, make new friends, keep old friends, discover new places, go over and over to places that we have already been to, do things we enjoy, do many things we do not enjoy… live, love, laugh. 

I cannot say that Paris is the perfect place to do that. I cannot say it, because I think that there is no perfect place out there. Everyplace I have lived or visited so far has had their pros and cons… and Paris, although it’s Paris, is no exception. So on this, the 1^st anniversary of our most recent move, I wish to reflect on my sojourn in Paris by  listing 10 things I like and don’t like (in all fairness) about living Parisian.

Likes:

1. Oh la la! They have good bread and pastries here! “Pain au chocolat”, need I say more! Oh yes! And the cheese!

2. Walking is like heaven. I feel so safe when I walk because I am always surrounded by people and never alone. Even better, there is always somewhere to walk to. 

3. The architecture is amazing!!! Haussmannian buildings are exquisite, charming, and everywhere!

4. I joined a great club for English speaking expatriate mothers called Message Paris and it has been my saving grace. It is full of amazing people with stories similar to mine. I am so grateful for their company and cheer. And I have to admit, their English. LOL.

5. There are so many parks and children’s activities. I live 3 blocks from a café for moms with little ones. It has a play area and good salads; how else could I enjoy a “cup a” with friends. 

6. I can never get board in a place like this… there is always something to visit. 

7. I live close to family and my mother in law can watch Adrien so that Tristan and I can pretend to be childless from time to time. ;)

8. My mom bought me an early Christmas present when she was here… Sennelier oil pastels… so I have been able to discover a new medium as an artistic outlet for me, and hey! In Paris I really never run out of subjects to draw references from. 

9. Your neighbors always wish you a “bonjour” or “bonsoir.” 

10. Bisous! (French kiss each other when greeting) It’s just so lovely!

Dislikes:

1.  Customer service or even service with a smile… ha… what’s that! I can’t remember anymore!

2. This language is so hard for me to learn! Who came up with French grammar! If I ever meet them… they will get a piece of my mind! I am sorry, but objects do not have a gender… they are inanimate! 

3. It’s a big city so obviously the air is not as fresh as in the country side despite the fact that it is constantly raining!!! Especially  on days you plan to have a picnic in your favorite park. 

 4. Some people seem to think you are an inconvenience because you dare to crowd the street, the metro, the bus, or a store with your stroller and your toddler. Sometimes understandable, but hey, it still annoys me!

5. There is no 1€ menu at McDonald’s or at any other fast food restaurant. On the upside it means I opt for healthier food choices when out an about. 

6. Sometime I do feel that I live a little too close to family. ;) But hey gotta love ‘um! 

7. The French system, like the American one, doesn’t put a very high value on education you received outside of their country. 

8. I miss dill pickles, and black olives, and Reese’s peanut butter cups, although, my recent obsession has become peanut m and m’s, which they do have here. 

9. It is really hard to learn a system that is completely different from that you knew before when you don’t speak the language. Also, a little crazy for a country to expect people to integrate with only having 40 places offered in the French courses through the Paris city hall and like 3,000 applicants each semester. Feels like I am running in mud sometimes! 

10. Lastly to draw from an old favorite, “But mostly I hate the way I don’t hate you, not even close… not even a little bit… not even at all.” 

Paris is amazing! I mean A M A Z I N G! But! I miss my family and friends like crazy!!! It’s really hard to live so far from them and maybe if I did hate Paris, but really hate it, then I would be living back in Squarefield, California right now. I guess I am better off praying for a great leap in scientific technology and tele-transportation. LOL. Wouldn’t it be utopia if your favorite places and people could all simultaneously be in the same place? Basically, I am starting to ramble a bit, but I mean to say that I love Paris, and despite it’s faults, every place has them, it’s a really great place to live, and my only real complaint is that all of you guys… you know who you are, are not here with me. Paris is awesome! So hurry up and come for a visit… and I will be doing my best to go home for a visit soon too! <3 to all!!!