23 Jan Ask an Au Pair: Tinuke finds great remedies for le mal du pays
This week, we asked the questions to Tinuke, a 28-year old from California. She lives with her host family in the 16th arrondissement. Here are excerpts from her responses.
What inspires you about Paris?
The live music scene.
What tools, information or tactics did you find helpful in supporting yourself and the children after the terrorist attacks in Paris?
We watched the news together and reflected on safety, gun usage and the importance of having a strong community and not giving into fear.
What is the best way to meet Parisians?
There’s a language exchange called “Franglish” that many Anglophones and Francophones utilize quite frequently. Check out this Meetup.
How do you improve or master your French language skills?
By watching children’s movies and getting a better grasp on the pronunciation and nuances of the language. Most films are usually quite straightforward and easy to comprehend.
What is your favorite neighborhood?
Republique or Le Marais
What is your favorite café and/or the best meal you’ve had in Paris so far?
I was experiencing some real homesickness and wanted to have some plantains, so I went to African Kitchen and had some delicious West African food. My friends and I spent about 2 1/2 hours there laughing and having a good time.
What is your favorite shop?
BHV Marais (They have everything)
What is your favorite museum?
L’Orangerie
What do you dislike most about living in Paris?
People are quite distant at first (I had wished that the generalizations and rumors about Parisians seeming snobby weren’t true), but a few attempts at trying to make friends may yield successful.
The rules of eye contact are very different here among strangers.
The cobblestone can be dangerous… I’ve witnessed at least half a dozen people fall while simply walking down the street.
Have a map, even if you’re afraid it makes you look like a tourist– the snail shell layout of the city can be quite confusing even after months of residing in the same area.
What advice would you give to incoming au pairs?
Communicate clearly with your host parents on a daily/consistent basis and do everything that you can to be on good terms. They really are hard-working people who just want for someone to spend quality time with their child(ren).
And be sure to connect with friends and family from home while here. Le mal du pays is very real.
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.