There's not much about Paris on here, so I'd like to contribute a few thoughts about it. To put things in context, I was born in France but spent most of my life abroad, and when I go to Paris I am somewhat of an outsider (even though I do have a small social circle there).
1) The easiest are the foreign girls
Paris has a reputation for being a "romantic" city, I can't understand why, but it's a fact that pretty girls from across the world come to Paris to live the Paris dream.
The reality impact when they arrive is so hard that in Japan they call it the "Paris syndrome", when idealistic japanese girls have their dreams crushed by the city, and go into depression.
When you come from CDG airport through Gare du Nord with the RER B, most illusions will go away fast, it's one of the shittiest places in the first world.
In short : it's dirty, overpriced, people are cold (big city stuff). Weather in Autumn is depressing.
The positive : all these foreign girls are there in solitude, and if you speak a little bit of english and talk to them in a positive way, that puts you above most french guys.
It has happened to me that I was in a club (Rex), opened 10 sets, and all of them were foreigners. Not sure there even was one French in the whole club.
2) The french lover myth is a myth : useful for me when I'm abroad, but really it's BS. Like all the marketing around France to sell fermented grape juice, and handbags.
French guy looks like this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWZiL2liTrM (north of France)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9nJHPZCLys (Paris)
3) Clothing is super important in this city, even for the guys.
When I'm in Paris, I always feel like I have to spend money on expensive clothes. It's not optional, it's more important than having muscles.
French girls dress well, and they expect guys to do the same.
The only culture which comes close to this is Italy. I'd say Northern Italians are closest to the French in terms of mentality. Appearance is very important, and more important is to be classy ("classe") rather than be sexy.
4) There are no real parisians. I already pointed out that there is a huge percentage of the populatioin that is foreign. But even amongst French people living in Paris, most of them are from other cities and come to study, or to work.
It's possible to have a good time in Paris, even though I believe it is a tough city. However 2nd tier cities in France are much more welcoming.
1) The easiest are the foreign girls
Paris has a reputation for being a "romantic" city, I can't understand why, but it's a fact that pretty girls from across the world come to Paris to live the Paris dream.
The reality impact when they arrive is so hard that in Japan they call it the "Paris syndrome", when idealistic japanese girls have their dreams crushed by the city, and go into depression.
When you come from CDG airport through Gare du Nord with the RER B, most illusions will go away fast, it's one of the shittiest places in the first world.
In short : it's dirty, overpriced, people are cold (big city stuff). Weather in Autumn is depressing.
The positive : all these foreign girls are there in solitude, and if you speak a little bit of english and talk to them in a positive way, that puts you above most french guys.
It has happened to me that I was in a club (Rex), opened 10 sets, and all of them were foreigners. Not sure there even was one French in the whole club.
2) The french lover myth is a myth : useful for me when I'm abroad, but really it's BS. Like all the marketing around France to sell fermented grape juice, and handbags.
French guy looks like this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWZiL2liTrM (north of France)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9nJHPZCLys (Paris)
3) Clothing is super important in this city, even for the guys.
When I'm in Paris, I always feel like I have to spend money on expensive clothes. It's not optional, it's more important than having muscles.
French girls dress well, and they expect guys to do the same.
The only culture which comes close to this is Italy. I'd say Northern Italians are closest to the French in terms of mentality. Appearance is very important, and more important is to be classy ("classe") rather than be sexy.
4) There are no real parisians. I already pointed out that there is a huge percentage of the populatioin that is foreign. But even amongst French people living in Paris, most of them are from other cities and come to study, or to work.
It's possible to have a good time in Paris, even though I believe it is a tough city. However 2nd tier cities in France are much more welcoming.