04 Mar Ask an Au Pair: Hailey encourages au pairs to leave expectations behind
This week, we asked Hailey, a 22-year old from Minnesota. She lives with her host family in the 8th arrondissement. Here are excerpts from her responses.
What inspires you about Paris?
Paris inspires me because it is always moving, and it can be so different based on where you go. Living in the quiet and upscale eighth arrondissement seems worlds away from Belleville or the Latin Quarter where my au pair friends and I spend our free time. It is really refreshing to live in a place where there is always something new waiting to be found.
What tools, information or tactics did you find helpful in supporting yourself and the children after the terrorist attacks in Paris?
I found listening to be a helpful tool. I kept my ears open to how my host parents were talking to their children in response to the attacks, and I tried to be there to listen to the children if they wanted to talk about it. I kept an ear out on the streets, taking the metro, and listening to the radio to stay up-to-date and be vigilant. Listening also helped reassure me that people were going on living their lives after what had happened.
What is the best way to meet Parisians?
Say “bonjour.” Be open to striking up conversations. Don’t let your less-than-perfect French keep you from being friendly. You may find some Parisians who are patient, who want to help you learn and meet new people, and who are just as curious about your culture as you are about theirs!
How do you improve or master your French language skills?
Finding people to speak strictly French with has by far been the most useful way to improve.
What is your favorite neighborhood?
Montmartre, Belleville, Saint Germain-des-Prés
What is your favorite café and/or the best meal you’ve had in Paris so far?
I had a delicious salad with fried goat cheese and gnocchi at Le Poncelet in the 17th. The galettes from La Crêperie des Cannettes in the sixth are gourmet yet affordable. Le Dernier Bar Avant la Fin du Monde in the 1st is a great break from haughty cafés — it has a sci-fi theme and is packed with board games!
What is your favorite shop?
Monoprix, Librarie la Fontaine
What is your favorite museum?
Musée Carnavalet, Musée de l’Institut du Monde Arabe, Versailles
What is your favorite secret Paris spot?
There is a sparkling water fountain under a certain bridge over the Seine — I won’t tell you which, but if you find it, you’ll thank me!
What do you dislike most about living in Paris?
A lot of things are expensive, and some of the people can be downright cold. These both took time to get used to.
What advice would you give to incoming au pairs?
The fewer expectations you have coming in, the better. Let Paris become what it is for you once you get here. Do not try to make it fit the ideas you had flipping through guidebooks and Google images. It will not always be perfect, but it will truly be your own experience of the city.
ASK AN AU PAIR SERIES
Get to know Paris, from an au pair’s perspective. Our “Ask an Au Pair” series was so popular that we’ve decided to continue it with our next round of au pairs! We pose a dozen questions about the City of Light to those who are seeing it with fresh eyes and learning all of its wonderful intricacies. And, we decided to expand this series by adding a question about adapting to life in Paris after the 2015 terrorist attacks.