19 Apr Ask an Au Pair: Jessi shares her favorite way to spend free time in Paris
This week, we asked Jessi, a 23-year old from California. She is living with her host family in Nanterre, a close suburb of Paris. Here are excerpts from his responses:
What inspires you about Paris?
I love being in a city that is simultaneously filled with history and modernity. The fact that you can walk down a street and pass buildings older than the United States as well as stores selling the newest in fashion, technology, or media shows how Paris is a city that embraces both the past and the present.
What do you dislike most about living in Paris?
As someone living in the suburbs, I dislike that the public transportation, especially for the suburbs, stops relatively early, even in the evenings.
What is the best way to meet Parisians?
Meetup.com events
How do you improve or master your French language skills?
Try to speak French as much as you can, even if people speak English with you! (Unless it’s obvious that they can’t understand you due to your accent or something else like that.) Most times French people talk to me in English, they’ve been perfectly fine that I continue to speak to them in French, and that way we both get to practice speaking our foreign languages.
Also, read the daily newspaper on the metro!
What is the best meal you’ve had in Paris?
A three course dinner at Pomze (109 Boulevard Haussman). It’s a restaurant with apple-based dishes and great cider pairings for each course.
What is your favorite neighborhood?
The Marais
What is your favorite café?
La Fine Mousse (craft beer bar)
What is your favorite museum?
The Louvre
What advice would you give to incoming au pairs?
If you have any questions or concerns for your host family, be sure to address them right away and remember to communicate with them. I’ve been incredibly fortunate with my family and never had any major problems, but the few times small issues have come up, I’ve always talked to them about them immediately and as such, I’ve never had anything major develop.
Take advantage of Paris as much as you can while you’re here! During the day, you have a lot of free time, so go to museums (most are free), walk around to see historic sites, and more!