Are you crazy for going to Paris? 10 reasons you’ll say “Non, je ne regrette rien!”

When I decided to move to Paris, the folks from my home town in Northern England didn’t always get it. I remember overhearing a colleague at my leaving party saying quite literally “Who the hell would want to move to Paris? I mean why? It’s dirty, polluted, crowded, unfriendly… ” bla bla, you get the picture.

Like with any new experience, you’ll always get other people’s stories and opinions as you’re about to take that leap of faith, whether you wanted them or not, right?! Often these negative contributions leave you doubting your intentions as you envision your new adventure.

Luckily for me, there was no question in my mind – I wanted to move to Paris. My entire life, I wanted to move to this city; nothing (or no one) was going to stop me. Destiny was calling and I could hear her loud and clear. But at that time, I had trouble articulating the specific reasons why I wanted to make the jump.

“There are only two places in the world where we can live happy – at home and in Paris”

Ernest Hemingway

15 years into living my Paris dream, I have a lot more clarity. These reasons could help you if you’re thinking of moving but wavering, or if you’re here in Paris but can’t remember your “why” for coming to the city of lights.

10 reasons you’re right for wanting to move to Paris

1. To learn French

There’s nothing like full immersion for learning a language. With a move to Paris, you’re surrounded by French and there’s no hiding, no getting away, no practicing later. Unless, of course, you make a concious effort to escape it… many people do. They surround themselves with fellow Anglophones and never really jump head first into an immersive, lingustic experience. And I get it, it’s really, really hard.

The hardest but most effective way to learn is in social situations. I spent many an awkward evening with groups of French people, losing track of the discussion, not knowing what to say or when to laugh or why we were all laughing…(what the heck is going on?!), only to get back home and slump into bed feeling confused and goofy. But if you accept that’s it’s going to be hard, that you’re going to be very vulnerable for a while, and that you’re going to be exhausted from the brain power required, the fluency will come. I can’t pinpoint when or how I became fluent, but I know I couldn’t have done it without living in Paris.

It’s difficult to explain the advantages of learning a second language fluently as an adult. It expands your mind, like going to see a film in 3D for the first time. Each language represents life and culture in a slightly different way. Having a second language (especially as an adult) unlocks another perspective, previously unknown to you. It also gives you a better appreciation for your first language and the unique aspects of your own culture.

2. To diversify your world view

Known as the birthplace of democracy, France is a melting pot of different cultures and political ideologies. There is nothing that the French love more than to talk politics. They’re always interested in voicing their opinion and they want your opinion too, especially as a foreigner with an objective viewpoint.

Of course, this can get a little stressful when you’re not used to articulating a political opinion in your first language, let alone French! Many a time, I have been sitting there during a social evening, happily listening to the others debate different political points, sipping my wine and minding my own business when that inevitable moment comes. Tired of their own arguments, they all turn to the quiet one (me) and ask… “et toi, alors? L’anglaise – t’en pense quoi?” ….. (criquets…).

These conversations and other elements that deepen your world view are constantly on display in Paris. It’s rare to spend any time there and not witness one of the many manifestations (demonstrations or protests) or “manifs” as they are referred to by locals. It’s quite impressive to watch the marching and chanting first hand – democracy in its purest form.

Landmarks like the Panthéon, l’Académie Française, l’Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame are all in your line of sight from the streets of Paris. There they are, standing proud in what they represent, their raison d’être. You can’t help but feel that they’re all looking back at you as if to ask…. “et toi, alors? T’en pense quoi?“

“Paris is always a good idea”

Audrey Hepburn

3. For those pinch-yourself moments

For those of us under the charm of Paris, we’re infatuated. When you’re living in the city of love and light, you never know when you’re going to experience one of those pinch-yourself moments. But you will, and it’ll keep you here. And you’ll keep coming back for more.

Here are the common pinch-yourself moments that I still get 15 years on:

• Every time I see the Eiffel Tower (yep, every time)
• Sitting on a café terrace watching the world go by
• Crossing the Seine on one of the more scenic bridges
• Travelling 10 minutes to go to an amazing concert
• Going to the opera, walking down Rue Mouffetard on a Sunday (my favourite place)
• Picnicing on the banks of the Seine across from Notre Dame on a sunny evening
• The list goes on…

For many of us, living in Paris is a dream come true. It’s not always perfect but these special moments remind you why you came in the first place, how special it is and how lucky you are to experience the beautiful city of Paris. And for those shining positives, she’ll always get our forgiveness.

4. Paris is a bite-sized capital

Many would argue that what makes Paris so special is its size. Tokyo is 2000km², London is 1600km² and Paris? 100km²! Why is this an advantage? Though Paris is intense, it’s not as overwhelming as you might expect. If, like me, you come from a small town and you’re ready to live in a foreign city, Paris is a good choice.

Even though I’ve been a capital city dweller for some time now, I still get overwhelmed when I visit other capitals. Paris has skewed my sense of proportion; I wrongly assume I’ll be able to walk around a whole city in a day or two. Hello blisters and fatigue on day one!

You can anywhere in Paris within a short space of time on the metro and if it’s a sunny day and you decide you’d prefer to walk or bike, the distance is probably doable. Meeting up with friends, heading out to a restaurant, visiting an art gallery it all feels quite effortless when you’re living in Paris. When friends and family come to visit (and they will!), it’s easy to create itineraries for all the major landmarks on their list.

It’s so small that these surprising things happen after you’ve lived here for a while: you actually bump into people you know, you can picture the metro lines and work out a rough route to anywhere in the city, you recognize areas of Paris when you see them in films or reports, you know all of the little quartiers and, like a local, you have your list of favourite spots.

5. Mind-blowing culture at your fingertips

You will never be bored in Paris. There are 130 museums in Paris, numerous world-famous monuments, and countless theatres and art galleries. Having all of this within a short distance of your home is indeed mind-blowing. But in fact, a common trap that many fall into is living in Paris and not taking advantage of what the city has to offer.

It’s said that most Parisians have never gone up to the top of the Eiffel Tower! Incroyable!! The lesson is, and I stand by this one as a longtime expat, to always be a tourist. Don’t take it for granted just because it’s at your fingertips now. Make the most of it.

6. Paris is good for your health!

One day it’ll hit you – I am walking so much every day, I have never walked so much in my life! Something about Paris pushes you to walk, walk, walk. It could be the beautiful scenery you drink in every time you venture out or happening upon a delicious bakery around every corner or discovering a beautiful cobbled street you didn’t even know existed. Or maybe it’s the people-watching, eyeing the fascinating types of people you see. Or or maybe you simply hate the metro. Whatever the reason, conscious or not, we all end up pounding the streets of Paris on a daily basis with a little spring in our step.

The team of teachers at our English school, Le Bus Anglais, is full of happy walkers. We end up navigating the entire city getting from one teaching venue to the next and dropping a kilo or two in the process.

There is also an abundance of local markets with many stalls selling organic produce. Your first visit to the local market can be quite the experience. It’s very crowded with there’s a lot of shouting going on, but definitely worth it for a vrai Parisian lifestyle.

7. The food in Paris

If there’s one advantage that trumps all others, it’s the food. Breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack, refined or uncomplicated, there are many options; the hardest thing is making a choice! The food is generally expensive (and not great in the touristy areas), but inevitably, the gem in your quartier will emerge and you’ll become a regular, ordering your go-to dish.

It’s worth saving up for a culinary treat now and then. You can have some amazing and reasonably priced dining experiences in Paris, especially if you happen upon the restaurant of an up and coming young chef. One of the most amazing experiences will be at a Michelin-starred restaurant. You’ll be dining out on stories from that well into your old age.

8. You’ll develop a new appreciation for your living space

One thing that Paris doesn’t have a lot of is space. Finding a place to live is a challenge and when you do find one, it’s probably going to be smaller that you’re used to. But that’s okay, you won’t be spending most of your time confined in those walls.

The lack of living space will, however, leave you with a strong appreciation of every square meter or foot. I’m lucky to live in a relatively big apartment nowadays but at one point, we were a family of four (two babies) living in 50m². Now that’s a tight squeeze! Arranging and tidying our place was like solving an impossible puzzle.

They say that every person needs at least 25m² living space to be comfortable. I agree and I’ll never take living space for granted again!

9. You get to reinvent yourself

If you’re living in the same town you grew up in, chances are it’s hard to shake off the identity you’ve built up over the years. Moving away gives you the opportuity to throw off that cloak and see who you are out of that familiar context.

So many teachers who have come to work at our school over the years have discovered facets of themselves they would never have thought possible. Something about living in Paris and speaking in French aids this transformation and leads to you reinventing yourself and living your best life without the expectations or limitations that you (or others) put on yourself.

“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.”

Thomas Edison

10. For the life-long memories

However your time in Paris goes, one thing is for sure – taking the leap is an achievement in itself. You will never wonder “what if?” What a beautiful lesson to pass onto to the next generations – if you went out and conquered the world despite all odds, they can too. An amazing adventure in a beautiful city is, in fact, a gift of self-improvement through adversity and resilience.

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”

Ernest Hemingway

The memories you create in Paris will last you a lifetime. If you’ve had the experience of living in here, wherever you go, whatever you do, your life will be forever entwined with Paris. You’ll always be able to travel back here in your mind’s eye, walking through the beautiful streets, sitting at that café terrace, pinching yourself at the beautiful views.

Once you’ve experienced the city, it’s yours. Enjoy it.

Now that you’re ready to say au revoir to your hometown, learn the nuances of saying hello in French!