When I arrived in Paris, I experienced three things that truly surprised me.
The first shock was how slow people seemed. I don’t mean slow in their thinking, but slow in their walking and working, as if they had all the time in the world. I mostly noticed this while I was walking around the city and shopping for groceries. People appeared very relaxed and unbothered. In fact, if you see someone quickly overtaking others on the street, you can almost be sure that person is a tourist.
The second shock was the way some people treat their city. I was surprised by how often I saw trash lying on the ground. It made me wonder why people would throw things on the floor when it is their own environment. I even noticed workers leaving rubbish just a short distance from trash cans without picking it up. Situations like this might explain why Paris sometimes struggles with rat problems.
The third shock was related to language. Many people did not seem comfortable speaking English, and even when they tried, they quickly switched back to French. I understand that it can be difficult to step outside of your comfort zone, but making an effort can make visitors feel more welcome. I experienced this personally when I went to get a haircut. At first, people did not seem interested in speaking with me. However, when I visited a barbershop that specializes in cutting the hair of dark-skinned clients, I was welcomed warmly and felt much more comfortable. After the haircut, I even felt like a model.
For anyone reading this in a few years and thinking about going on an Erasmus exchange to Paris, I would say it is definitely worth it. Paris is only a little bigger than Ljubljana, so there is no need to worry about the size of the city. Soon enough, you will start to feel at home there. Forgot to put this in the text people are friendly if u respect them dont just go out and be like a rude American.
