31 Jan Ask an Au Pair: How Sascha overcame the stress from the Paris attacks
This week, we asked Sascha, a 24-year old from Michigan. She lives with her host family in the 2nd arrondissement. Here are excerpts from her responses.
What inspires you about Paris?
The architecture and the culture. The fast-paced city life here is mixed in with the Parisian attitude toward leisure. It’s unique to any other place I’ve been.
What tools, information or tactics did you find helpful in supporting yourself and the children after the terrorist attacks in Paris?
I think meeting up with friends and fellow au pairs was the most important thing to help stabilize me after the attacks. Talking about how we felt (mostly scared) and what we planned on doing. Especially in the first week after the attacks, there was a pull to return home and be with your family in the States, but talking with other au pairs it made it a reality that we all actually wanted to stay in Paris. Leaving right away would have been rash and ultimately a regretful decision.
What is the best way to meet Parisians?
Finding a conversation partner. They are easy to find in groups on Facebook and even on Tinder.
How do you improve or master your French language skills?
Studying outside of class and forcing myself to speak the language with natives. It was really difficult and embarrassing at first to mess up the language, but it has only improved my conversation skills.
What is your favorite neighborhood?
The Marais
What is your favorite shop?
Les Petites Hautes
What is your favorite museum?
Musée d’Art Moderne
What is your favorite secret Paris spot?
Bibliothèque Charlotte Delbo
What do you dislike most about living in Paris?
It can get really heavy sometimes. Taking occasional weekends out of the city (once a month-ish) has helped relieve the stress that you don’t realize is building up. Getting fresh air and seeing new sights helps you appreciate Paris more when you return.
What advice would you give to incoming au pairs?
Save your money and travel. Just outside of Paris are tons of beautiful cities.
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.
Read more from the Ask an Au Pair series.