I'm an American resident of Paris, too. When I first moved here almost 30 years ago, I noticed and joked that, "Whereas an American will consider the weekend as a pause in the work-week, a Frenchman views the work-week as an *interruption* of the weekend!" I've realized that my first impression wasn't wrong . . and I've grown to agree with the concept!
haha on dit aussi trouve un travail que tu aimes vraiment et tu ne travailleras jamais de ta vie .plus facile à faire en france ou on a des aides et moins de pression pour gagner de l argent surtout si on ne vit pas à paris
Hermano, You brought a knife into a gun fight: your American mindset. Latino countries work differently: we take two hours lunch, we love our vacations/time, we ride our bike contrary to cars for safety reason. When my American friends visited my home country, they had a bad time not realizing cultural differences outside USA. I have a simple advice: Relax and enjoy. Replicate what you see. Peace and love ❤️
"c'est pas trop mal" maybe the French like things unfixed so they can appreciate the good things when they naturally come around without any input and the slow life of course, maybe something that is broken doesn't need fixing cause that frustration you build up every time it doesn't go your way is funny and romantic and confusing and beautiful too, or maybe not, cause maybe fixing is too much work once you start
Glad you called out the obvious drawbacks of this city. It's NEVER all rose-tinted glasses anywhere. So many TH-camrs in Japan also called out how life is not like in an anime. The same applies to Paris. The city has A TON of things that need fixing and are infuriating. Talking as a Parisian born here.
Just a word of advice from an American that has lived in Europe for many years. It is not just Parisians that are closed to making friends with foreigners, it is people that are natives in other cities. If you want to meet people, go out on the weekends and talk to twenty people. Be open and honest to them that you really want to converse and have friends and would like to meet up with them sometime. You will have a good friend or two after about a month of doing that
I found the answer to the contresens bike lanes-and it actually makes sense! In narrow streets that have to be shared by bikes and cars, having bikes and cars travel in the same direction causes cars to speed up while they’re passing bikes. When bikes travel in the opposite direction, though, it causes cars to slow down while passing bikes. It’s a tight fit either way, but I do prefer to have cars slow down while they pass me.
It's also better to "see the threat" going towards it. Same goes for pedestrians. I live in UK where it is not so and I still can't get used to it after 10 years! Missing EU...
as a Parisian cyclist, let me just add something : most streets are one-way for cars. However, bicycles are most generally allowed in both directions. it's not really a question of "contresens". There is a white marking on the ground so that the cars understand that the bikes are allowed to ride opposite way. But, bicycles can also run in the direction of cars!!
I’m Greek and I spent a semester as an exchange student in Paris with the Erasmus Student Exchange Program and ohhh.. boy! I debunked a lot of myths I had in my head as this incredibly romantic, straight out of a Disney movie magical place. Up until then I had visited the city about 5 times but it’s a lot different to experience it as a tourist and a whole other story to live there.Most of your points are accurate (I kinda justify the stairs of the metro because their subway system is quite ancient and a lot of the times there are other factors that contribute in installing an elevator like the ground conditions and a lot of the stations being close to the Seine) Regarding the Parisians, I totally agree because all the friends I made in my time there were foreigners who had moved to the city years ago. As for vacation time, I would say it’s not a Paris thing but a European thing in general because in Greece you CANNOT expect to do business in August man! Most of the businesses are closed unless you work in the hospitality industry. I think I kinda prefer it though because I recently moved to Toronto and you guys(Canadians and Americans in general) are on the opposite side of the spectrum!! You hardly take any time off! Anyways, I rambled too much! Great video as always man! 😊😝
love your comment.I think maybe this don't bother with business in August is a partial European thing. We certainly don't have that in Germany but I've experienced that a lot in Stockholm. Also in Sweden I think it's more like July and August, but maybe not as drastic as it sounds in Paris and Greece. But I kinda love that take a break don't bother attitude. It's as if it is okay that you take time for yourself cause everybody does it. At least from my experience in Germany a lot of people go on holiday for 10 to 14 days during the summer and whoever stays behind has to manage everybody else's stuff too... so in a way the no business in August seems dreamy at least to me ^^.
I agree it’s probably not a unique thing to just France but to Europe in general when it comes to vacation time. I moved to Sweden from America and it’s a similar situation here. In July the vast majority take long vacations. But I understand here because the winters are long and warm weather short. I have started to adapt to it. Looking forward to when I can take 5 weeks vacation a year 😂
I’m British. I grew up in Bordeaux, and I work part time in Paris. EVERYTHING on this list is soo accurate! I couldn’t have said it better myself! 😂 not exaggerating at all!
How does living in Bordeaux compare to Paris? I’ve been to Bordeaux a few times and loved it but I don’t know if it shares some of the same issues as Paris since I haven’t spent a long time there. I’d imagine it’s more laid back at least.
@@josephduke5186 I just wanted to ask the same question as I visited Bordeaux a couple of months ago. However, I did notice that in Bordeaux the customer service is much better than in Paris. They are quite polite, shops, and restaurants. I think it is a large city vs smaller town mentality. But the bicycle lane was a horrible surprise.
PS: I lived in Manhattan for 38 years. I found the French to be friendly, enjoy beautiful outdoor spots, the most amazing food and, a quality of life not prevalent in the US. Very family oriented. I loved the fact that often when I dined out I would see the entire family, mom, dad, kids, extended family and their pup! I for one would adjust to living very well in France.
I live in Italy. A few years ago a friend and I took a vacation in Paris for a few days. We stayed in Montmartre and ate in the cute restaurants there. Because we were speaking English at our table (I'm assuming this to be the reason) a man with a woman at a very close table next to us, leaned over and said to me in a very thick French accent "Do you know what you are eating? What those are?" with his finger literally over my plate. I replied yes, of course, they are razor clams, we have them in New England. At which point he got a snooty look, turned away and ignored me completely haha. Presumption and arrogance no doubt. I know very intelligent and nice French people, so I am not stereotyping. Just sharing an experience I had in Paris.
@@Karen-ul9hd Of course, like most major cities in the world, this is true. But the national culture of a country is the same to some degree everywhere within it.
As a Frenchman living in the midst of rural France, this is music to my ears, especially post offices that are only open when you're at work. Mentalities are really different from one region to another and a popular expression says that "Paris isn't France" :)
I don't know if these suit your brand, but I dove to see 1. What you're doing with your place 2. Day in the life videos, what daily living in Paris is like 3. Candid conversations with French people, opinions, different ways of thinking 4. Your favorite spots in Paris
i wish someone would do conversations on the street with french people, instead of always talking about personal perspective just go out and ask french people questions on the street. if i had more confidence i'd do it but i'm too introverted. i have written lists of excellent questions someone could ask them. so if anyone wants to do this and are looking for idea please ask me and i'll give you my lists. and not just Parisians but to go around different cities and towns to get perspectives from all areas of france because people are very different all over france.
I wish every part of the world would be as laid back as Paris, or France in general. I love that they prioritize life instead of work/business. that's how human are supposed to live their lives ☺️
yeah, way healthier. And I think I read somewhere that french(&others similar countries) are as productive as others. Sure you need to schedule a little bit more, but I think it's better for every one in the end
I agree, I'm from Australia which does have more of a British mindset - work hard/play hard - and I love that there's more of a balance in France. At the moment everyone is on summer break and are surprised if you are still working lol
I absolutely relate to a shop being closed even though it LITERALLY says on their website and on their shop window that they are open. Yet I go there and find them closed more than once during the week when they are supposed to be open.
These days, post-pandemic and with COVID rampant everywhere, people can’t always be open when they say they are. France has gotten as many as 250,000 new cases diagnosed on a Tuesday after a weekend with big events. Same everywhere. It’s probably COVID, the culprit.
I am not French and I lived in Lille for a short time. I laughed so hard at your rant about shops being closed! During my 9 months, I tried to go swimming at two different pools that were relatively close to my house. It said the pool was open on the website, it said it was open on Google, my french friends would be like 'yeah that's such a nice pool, I go there all the time'. Well you can guess what happened, I prepare, I make the trip to get to this pool, I get to the door, there is a handwritten paper 'Fermeture Exceptionnelle'. UGH! Maybe I should have tried more often, but after 5 times, I was so done with this, I never swam in France. HAHA
I attended school in Paris way back in 1975-76 when there were still lots of Old Paris to be experienced. Yes, there were tons of annoyances, like things closing at lunch time, needing a jeton to make a phone call, then finding out the phone is broken, travel all the way across town on the metro only to discover the museum is on strike or closed for renovations, people constantly correcting my French and looking at me funny because I wasn't a la mode with my clothing. I got back now and the French are much more friendly and welcoming, it's easier to get around but the magic places are still all there. I remember the good stuff vastly more than the negative.
The unicorn issue applies everywhere. People in their home cities already have their social networks and are not particularly interested in making new friendships, particularly with people who might well be transient. I have moved to several different cities in several different countries, and this is the same everywhere - expats and outsiders always find it far easier to form friendships with other expats and outsiders.
i had the same thing happen to me in australia. albeit it was partly my fault but still, it always stuck in my mind, australians are very friendly generally but it's so much easier to stick in your groups
im convinced french administration will one day push me to the point where i break down, lash out, catch a charge, and end up in french jail. my story as to “what caused it” will be so long that it will just be ignored or people will just think im exaggerating. 😅😩 many things to look forward to in my near future in paris. anyway, everything else france does: SO WELL DONE AND BRAVO FRANCE!
I'm following YT in Germany, and discover they're complaining a lot against the German administration ( slow, number of paper needed and don't forget one, hours of opening or strict hour of meeting...) and the deutsche Bahn ( Germain train ). It's not just a french thing ! 🤣
@ Damon Dominque 30 yrs in France and I have never had a problem with French bureaucracy. All that is necessary is organisation and research (don't bring copies if they ask for originals). With Internet it is even easier as you can go to the appropriate site and find out what documents are necessary.
I'd happily hang out in French jail with you guys. Moving there in a few months (if my visa process goes well) and I'm sure I'll have to fight someone along the way.
@@brigittelacour5055 yeah depends on where you are in germany but mostly this is true, some states are better with it than others. Berlin hast to he horrible, Bavaria where I live is not very good but rather okay. Bahn always has a few mins of delay, ICE Trains tend to be very problematic
I live in France for more than 10 years now, I was looking last year to move maybe to another country. The first country I looked into US. After I saw the most complex visa system I've ever seen in my life and how few vacation days you get and how few protection as employee you get, I changed my mind very quickly. For other countries I lokked into afterwards I made it one of the first points to check - social protection and work life balance. I'm already quite anxious person, it would be just horrible for my mental health to be constantly worried to loose my job, to make insane amount of hours and not enough time to recover and reset. I do find sometimes annoying that places are closed because of work hours limitations or vacations, but I always choose to have more time for me and for others to have the same.
@@bethkellum4308 it really depends on personal preferences, priorities and goals. Looking into other countries to maybe move to I realized what's important to me and what was less. For some US could be their dream country.
There are abundance of jobs in the US and it's so easy to start a business here, not like a red tape filled Europe. I'm from Europe and don't want to live there for that reason - red tape for business owners. Here, in the US you can start a business quickly and easily, So many opportunities!
I’m so glad that you brought up people with disabilities getting around in Paris. I’m not disabled, but it all became very apparent some of the things they go through when my foot became severely injured and I was forced to walk with a major limp while my fiancé and I were traveling abroad. When we got to Paris it was the worst thing walking three flight up our Airbnb and down. It made realize that Paris is not friendly to people who are injured or are disabled. These are things I’d never notice before so it was good to get some perspective on the situation.
I lived in Paris years ago (1983-1994) and it’s interesting how much has remained the same! Your comments regarding the numerous “challenging frustrations” (on a good day) you mention in your clip is spot on, unfortunately! One can at once dread and almost fear the frustrations of getting the simplest things done…as you’re well aware. Yet, I loved my time there and wouldn’t trade it for the world as I’m sure you can equally appreciate… after all, you’re still there as I would be too if I were you. I subscribed to your channel and look forward to more videos. Cheers, Burrill
One less obvious drawback I’ve found is that people *don’t always* react well to happy people in Paris, because it is assumed that you’re a tourist on holiday or an American and a lot of people are (quite fairly) sick of their home being treated as primarily a tourist playground -> I have to just stop caring about these people liking me, because I refuse to stop smiling. NB: I am in Paris often, for long periods of time, with my partner and her Parisian family and friends, and I love France and Paris and will probably live there for a time, but probably not forever.
Yes, as to their responding negatively, if that’s the right word, to being to happy, or smiley, or friendly. It’s as though it’s an affront of some kind! Hahaha
Hello my young friend, I really admire you! I can be your mom since I am much older, but love watching your stories. You are super smart, wise, sociable, honest, so much fun and you can be a role model for your generation. Everything you said about Paris and Europe in general are absolutely true. You manage to make me laugh today. From someone who speaks several languages, BRAVO. Good luck, who knows maybe one day I run into you in Paris and say hello. Be safe👍
Yes, it is absolutely correct. Paris is not France just like New York City is not the USA. There are countless gems 'en province' and people are delighted to see foreigners and try their very best to welcome them decently? Ever heard of Langres? Dijon? Lille ? Nancy ?
Paris is beautiful but rough. I didn't like the atmosphere at all and that was before Christmas. It was a horrible experience. I went to small towns/villages close to Swiss border and I loved it. It's a big country, I want to explore more and I'm glad I didn't write it off because of Paris.
As a seasoned traveller and having lived in many exotic places around the world, I have to say that London is my favorite city. I lived there 25 years ago and recently visited when my daughter did her semester abroad there. It has all the old world charm, culture and art that Paris has, but much less of the negative aspects that you describe living in Paris. In London, parks are literally everywhere including the city center and they are not just a token green space but the type of park that you can get lost in. Most people are polite to a fault and the service in restaurants and shops is very efficient and friendly. There is much less pollution compared to 25 years ago with many electric cars, buses and far fewer smokers. There is much less traffic than before and many more pedestrians. My daughter walked to uni on a daily basis and had no problem taking public transportation everywhere (clean, safe, efficient and accessible in most places with escalators and elevators galore). To pay, you can simply tap your credit card on the card reader as you enter. People seem to take the time to socialize (vibrant pub life) and appreciate nature and good food, art etc. but not excessively in terms of vacations and lunch breaks and ridiculous unpredictable office hours. I made many friends when I lived there including Londoners but I will admit that like all big cities, it can be challenging. All in all, London is a world class city that has European sophistication but with New World business models that values customer service. I would live there in a heart beat if I could choose to live anywhere in Europe.
I agree with you but can you honestly tell me of any huge metropolis that doesn't have slums or poorer neighborhoods with some form of degradation. Please direct me to that place cuz I would love to live there!!
Having myself lived in London for 5+ years in a row and intermittently ever since, I 100% agree with you. Also a fellow seasoned traveler. My favorite city in the world as well, and in terms of public transport, it can't be beaten! Tremendous system and always considering all kinds of mobility needs. London for the win!
OMG you just described Athens Greece! The smoking, the allergies to working, the August shutdown, the noon hour siesta, and the lack of eye contact when you need the cheque. Having spent much time in Athens I only spend time with friends from Canada, even my own relatives in Athens have trouble making time for me. I love your channel and I fully enjoy your journey. Congratulations on purchasing your home in Paris.
I spent 6 months working in Greece in summer 2010 and this is so accurate. I'm from Slovakia where people are very strict when it comes to being always on time (actually, if you are on time you're late, you should arrive early), they try to do as much as they can while at work but then once work is done, people go out hiking, cycling, gardening, DIY, fishing...there's always something going on. But in Greece, I learned that people don't care that much if you're late and they are happy to do ''nothing'' after work lol
Great video! One note about work-life in France/Paris- 35 hours is on paper, but not the norm (from what I have seen/experienced). 35 is for contracted hourly workers. Sometimes hourly wage workers may work extra and do so without getting paid overtime because the culture makes a money conversation very uncomfortable/it is just the norm now so employers expect it. Business professionals are not working with 35 hour contracts at all. People in finance, banking, consulting, etc. are working much much more than 35 hour weeks. It's not a US work culture, but I don't know any full-time workers here that are working 35 hours.
@@coal.sparks its simple : you cannot. Or you work like a slave and live in the suburbs. Something Americans dont realize when they talk about Paris problems, is that we already know we cannot solve them. Most parisians are just bourgeois
@@coal.sparks we usually move to the suburbs when we have Kids because it's too expensive in Paris itself. Some arrondissements are cheaper than others
Wow, the deliveries. I love how that they tell me that the delivery will arrive at any time between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m., and it's expected that I'm supposed to be at home at all times to pick up the delivery. And whatever you do, don't expect La Poste to actually deliver your package. They'll lose it as a matter of principle.
As a French living in Berlin, I can relate on the friends part. All my friends here are foreigners or germans who traveled. So unless you live with local roommates or study at university, it'll be hard to make local friends, especially at our age when the adult life takes a lot of time. Some of your examples are some of the reasons why I've never wanted to live in Paris haha. I prefer going there as a tourist!
Yep it’s a feature of many big cities. I lived in Berlin for 3 years and all of my friends were expats and some Germans who lived abroad before and are not from Berlin.
Pour ma part j'ai bien remarqué cet effet aussi en Allemagne...J'ai vécu à Hannover et effectivement mes seules amis était des étrangers. Pareil pour le sud de la France...
I must have been lucky. I met a French guy on the plane going over and met his friends at school, his parents, even his former girlfriend. By the time I left I was thinking in French and could argue in French too.
I'm British and I spent my working life teaching French (and German). I fell in live with Paris at 14 on a school trip and I still thrill at the sight of that city, its photogenic beauty and cultural monuments. It oozes history and effortless style. If I don't revisit at least once a year, I feel deprived but it was a couple of years after that first immersion in Paris when I went to stay with a French family in Burgundy that I gained the French perspective of their own capital. My hosts criticised Parisians for being arrogant, snobbish, patronising and rude, a race apart almost. You only have to delve into French literature, as I later realised, to appreciate that there's long been a tension between Paris and the provinces. A stereotypical view of the French in general by Brits is not unlike the provincial Frechman's view of Parisians, namely, that they're rude and unfriendly, but so can many Londoners be too in the eyes of British people living outside the capital - cold, introverted and superior. My experiences over many years have made me realise that there are two things that set you up to "fail"when you visit Paris (and France....or Vienna ....or Rome, or Amsterdam....or Madrid.... or Berlin),cthat is, a closed mind and an inability to communicate. By this last one I mean, of course, the ability to speak French (or German, or Spanish etc etc), however modestly, hesitatingly or badly. In my case, this eventually opened many a figurative door, from Calais to Carcassonne, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nantes, Toulouse, in villages, hamlets, in banks, supermarkets, filling-stations, museums, bars, châteaux, on buses and trains, on campsites and hotels....everywhere. The language is the key to that figurative door and the French, irrespective of region, age or class, will come more than half way to meet you - even in Paris. I think this little video about things that annoy and irritate about Paris is accurately observed and a fair comment on that amazing city but with all its niggling shortcomings, Paris is still the most beautiful, most magical, most awe-inspiring and most alluring city anywhere - and I've travelled widely around the world. I'm reminded of a French saying with which I strongly identify:- "Chacun a deux patries: la sienne et la France" ("Everyone has two native countries: his own and France")
I have to disagree. When quebecois ppl visit France we’re treated so poorly even though we speak French. Matter of fact we’re treated worse than an American who only speaks English as they despise our dialect…
So true! When people visit Berlin, they think that's Germany. Whilst the germans that are not living in Berlin - the majority 😀- dissociates themselves from Berlin, as it's not typical german at all. I know a ton of germans that lived in Berlin for a while (mostly when younger, me included) and nearly all of them left Berlin after some time.
the next time you meet these people, tell them this: only 30% of Parisians were born in Paris, in fact most "Parisians" come from the provinces, the suburbs and abroad.
I feel you on the unicorns. I lived in Paris for a year and a half, and in that time 90% of the friends I made were from the U.K., and the other 10% were from anywhere but France. Like, that's cool and all - good people are good people. But, come on! I had grand visions of having an epic French romance, meet a cute Parisian girl... Yeah, that never happened. 😒 In other news, the concierge in my building was never not around. Nothing got into that building without going through her first.
The thing about the unicorns thing of Parisian people (talking as a French who lived 5 years in Paris) is that basically we hate speak another langage and we re just shit in English. And another thing is, I found this pretty common around the world that becoming friends with native people of a city, wherever you are is really hard imo 🤷♂️ I experienced this in Montreal, Barcelona, Stockholm for instance, and every native people have already their group of friends and only foreigners are opened to new friendship
Most of the things you describe can be accounted on the fact that Paris is a very old city. And so, normal stuff elsewhere isn’t necessarily suited to historic Paris : buildings are old (not suited to install AC), the metro opened in 1900, most infrastructures are outdated. Work hours can change from one industry to the next (always call by phone to make sure something is open, it takes less than a minute and saves a lot of time and energy). Bicycle lanes are built in old, narrow, historical streets, it’s not ideal and we’re still far from a 0 car Paris, that point is 100% true. Plus bicycle culture isn’t a given, yet. Vacation time is another à la carte topic. Depending on the convention collective of your compagny, you will have the 5 weeks garanteed plus maybe; 10 RTT, X jours d’ancienneté, récup’ and bonus time-off (in sectors like the banks, telecoms, transportations…). It’s not everyone that benefits from those privileges. Culturally, paid-vacation time is an important social victory of the 20th century, so french are very attached to it. The metro : old lines, pic hours during the day, what can you do ? All around the world, metro lines can get crazy packed (hello, Japan) 🤷🏽♀️ Something a 30 min. adaptation to your schedule can change your daily commute. Good things exists or are coming : line 14 will soon have 8-wagons trains and is PMR accessible, new lines are being dug as we speak, automatisation of lines are on-going :) Bright side : stairs will help you keep fit from drinking wine and eating delicious croissants 🙃 Joke aside, I travel will a huge backpack, it’s way more practical than a suitcase. Smoking : yep, I agree it’s the worst 👎🏼 Gouvernment isn’t doing enough to put a stop on cigarette consumption. Green spaces : have you been to Cour Saint-Émilion ? It’s quite nice for a picnic, a sieste or just reading a book under a tree. But yeah again, old/historic city with narrow streets to stop enemy incursion. Boulevards are wide only because they allow for a full cavalry charge (Hello, 19th century Haussmann) 😅 You should visit the Musée Carnavalet, you will better understand the history of Paris (which is very interesting). Real parisians : those are rare creatures ! Not that many people are born and raised in Paris for many generations 🤫 Mainly due to the cost of living when you have a whole family. Bad service : true, true and true. It’s usually much better in smaller bars and restaurants de quartier ;) You will learn to be polite but very firm with waiters so that they understand you’re not to be fu**** with. Don’t bother with the addition, go the counter and be done with it 😂 To each their own, there is room for improvements, always 🙏🏼🇫🇷
Your photos and posts are beautiful. Your article on your TH-cam page is very nice and beautiful. The posts and pictures you shared caught my eye and they are great. I added you but failed. If you don't mind, send me a friend request or message me on messenger and I'll be happy to hear from you. Thank you and stay safe.
The stairs in the metro station are a little hell when you have a big luggage with you,but there are always people who offer help with the luggage on the stairs 😹which is great 😹
Oh yeah, u made lots of good points here, in your reply! The only thing is about smoking: cigarette packs a very expensive now, and of course it is banned to smoke in public places, so there are less and less smokers here!
@@wolfiesasha887 lol, yes it is, but u can smoke on the terraces of the restaurants, for example.. probably not to ruin completely their business! Also It reminds me of another point: poops in the streets. In Paris, now it changed a lot, since a huge public campaign of ads was ran in the city, so people now have all their little bags when they go outside with their dog. At least, it is true in most places I've been too, and it definitely changed in general, for the better :-).
I've lived in France (not Paris, but another big city in the middle of France) for 10 years, and could relate to every single point you made here, and that's why I left 😅. I'd say Paris and France in general are still great with a lot to see and to experience as a visiter, but to live there and dealing with these issues on daily basis is really a pain in the ass.
As someone who was born and raised in San Francisco (a city that attracts ALOT of newbies) I can attest that when I was younger, I would make friends with people who originally came out from out town to live in our fair city. And you know what? They only stay in SF for a couple of years and then complain about how expensive it is here and off they go to another city. I don't blame the Parisians because it is not worth the emotional bandwith to get to know someone (or rather, many someones) who is going to move somewhere else anyway.
My experience in Paris was definitely a juxtaposition of constantly feeling like you're living la vie en rose while getting incredibly infuriated because of the simplest things. I remember charging my metro card and it charged my account the 80 euros but didn't actually activate the pass. This was the most nightmarish process because there is no electronic record of the transaction... just the tiny billet with warm ink that wipes as soon as you touch it?? Never resolved that.. but also the simplest pleasures felt infinitely more enjoyable there so I loved the city at the same time. Definitely agree with a lot of these and would love to see a video on what you love about Paris.
Oh no.. nothing worse than dealing with the ticket office in the metro... they're so unhelpful. I live in Paris and despite the drawbacks, I can't help but love living here. It's the simple pleasures as you said, like watching the sunset over the seine with friends and a paper cup of wine :D
Speaking as an American who has also spent a significant amount of time in Paris, I couldn't agree more re: difficulty receiving packages and doing business. International travel is a great way to fall in love with other cultures but it also helps you appreciate the luxuries of home.
I'm actually French, and don't stop to say at my foreings friends that Paris isn't like in the movies, isn't that romantic, clean etc.. For people who live in the luxe, they can have beautiful hotel, beautiful views.. but for "normal" tourist, it's more than different. I hope you love France and you enjoy it 🤍 send you so much love ! ( sorry for my english bruuuh)
The first time I visited Paris and on the first night we went out to dinner, I was looking at the menu and was surprised by the prices of the food especially since the restaurant didn’t appear to be fancy. So the waiter comes by and I ask, in French, if the plates are for sharing ( which in my mind would an explanation for why the prices seemed so high. Well the indignation that came at me was next level. I think he was as offended by the question as I was by the prices. We ordered, we ate, food was ok, never went back and aim to never go into a restaurant that didn’t have menus posted outside and that we always looked at before sitting down. We’ve also experienced having to wait, be ignored at cafes in Paris and your advice to just get up and walk to the next one is good. Like there are so many of them, in this case you’re totally voting with your feet. Don’t beg people to take your money…that’s my motto.
Totally agree on the smoking issue. During my visit my friend got sick because everywhere we went there were people smoking all around us. I wanted so badly to enjoy a coffee sitting outside of a café and every time decided to stay inside. 🤷🏼♀️ But I still loved the visit.❤ AMAZING!
Nathaniel, I was directly involved with Sister Cities in Caen for many years and still have great friends there. What you describe about Paris, I think is endemic to large cities where life is so pressured and where the very dense packing of people, I think, does cause a certain mentality of sticking together with those you know and trust. I think natives of New York City and its inner-Borroughs might agree. I think your search for "Parisians" may be offbase because, Paris, like most great cities is a city of people from somewhere else. Anybody who has settled in Paris, London, or New York, for instance, are "real residents" after a few years. I do enjoy your videos and hope you enjoy your life in Paris.
Spot on insight. I have observed the same behavior in large cities and cities with transient populations (like D.C.). You don't see this behavior in other French cities.
Add Taipei and Hong Kong to that list too. These are cities where people go to seek work opportunities often times right out of college; living with friends or family to make the rent and working hard at establishing their careers. Or they are higher level managers with families moving to take positions at the company headquarters. So one can see how tight communities within the city might be. Foreigners hanging out together and speaking English or their own language as a group is seen as its own community; they often live in the same neighborhoods as well. Sometimes these foreigners say shitty things about the place they are living while hanging out in a group in public, thinking that the locals don't understand them- surprise, some of them do. Working with locals at a company, living in a neighborhood where you might be the only foreigner, or joining some sort of club/activity such as cycling, Vespa club... helps one to get to the know the locals and doing it by yourself so you seem more approachable. Tim Ferriss must have made some local friends as he learned to dance the Tango in Argentina, don't you think? My closest friends of over 20 years in the foreign country I live in are from this country. I feel my experience is much richer for these friendships than the relationships I ever had with the other foreigners that passed through, staying one or two years, hitting up the pubs and telling the same stories year after year after year. "Hey man, I was at this beach in Bali... "Hey man, I was at this beach in Thailand... Doesn't one want to live abroad in order to experience life abroad, not just live in a foreign country surrounded by their fellow countrymen?
I'm an American (Texan) who lived in France (Paris and Caen) for two years and NYC for 3 years. I noticed many similarities between Paris and New York during my time in both (the blunt condescending attitude, general grumpiness from the locals, the packed subways and horrible body odor during the summer months, stairs everywhere, etc). Smoking has ceased a lot in NYC though, unlike Paris. Which I just chalked up to "hey they're French, it's just how they do" lol. The constant "vacances" and 2 hour lunch times can be a nuisance, but I'm American so it's something that totally goes against our work ethic, making it difficult to comprehend. Having said that, I know I'd love all the vacation time if I were French so probably just jealous ha. Think with any large, packed city, you have people literally fighting for their space, and it results in a perpetual poor attitude. Even I, while in NYC, got a bit dismissive after a while when tourists would always ask me how to get to the Empire State Building or wherever. You're trying to get to work and you simply just don't have the time to stop, and you become part of the environment you live in, it happens. My 5 years in Los Angeles gave me the attitude of "Chill out, I'll get to it later", which is the laid back vibe of that city. All in all, I still love Paris and NYC, there are so many great things about each and, imo, the good far outweighs the bad as you stated. And I would suggest anyone who has the means to spend time in both cities. You will definitely learn a lot if anything.
You're right in comparing Paris to New York, and the Parisians to the New Yorkers. Have you left Paris to visit the real country in the provinces? Different people, generally much friendlier, not so stressed - unless naturally you go to other touristic traps like the Riviera in summer. This being said, as a Frenchman and a European, I'm deeply attached to our "work to live, not live to work" culture; just relax and enjoy your free time. Overworking yourself ans others is simply counter-productive. Do you know that the French are considered as being among the most productive people when at work? A sound professional vs private life balance is the key - time to rest and remove stress, time to work without stress.
@@jfrancobelge Bonjour Sir! You are so right. France is beautiful and their are other places for a foreigner to explore then Paris. I have plans to leave the USA and move to one of France Provinces. I'm already looking into Aixe, Bordeaux, etc. Your country is so beautiful and I can't wait to leave for Paris soon. I will hopefully be a student studying French as a Second Language.
Hey, I'm an upstate New Yorker and I think the City people are great. I fell and got knocked out in Boston and no one helped me at all. When I came to, everyone was standing around taking pictures and videos. I got tripped at an intersection n NY City and what seemed like hundreds of hands lifted me up like I was a feather and put me back on my feet. People came at me from all angles to ask me if I was okay and to return every nickle and do-dad that fell out of my purse.
I've been a fan of your channel for a while, and I've seen your progress in France throughout the years. I got accepted to a college exhibition program in France and will be in Paris for two weeks. It's extremely surreal to get the chance to experience the environment you live in. This is great information that I will keep in mind. Looking forward to see what it's like for myself.
Even Paris has changed! When I lived there in the mid sixties, the guardiens were called concierges and they were on duty 24/7, as they lived in the ground floor apartment right next to the entrance. The concierge was actually often the middle-aged wife of the man, who maybe had another day job.
Those people were paid but now nobody wants to pay them, and they can't stay in the ground floor apartments anymore. Life is more expensive and less easy than it used to be. So there it is.
My sister and I vacationed in Paris back in 2008. We loved Paris. It helped that we knew some French and I surprised myself and was able to converse better than I thought. The French do appreciate when you try, even just saying Bon Jour. I found the majority of people very nice. A few were rude but no more than if I was in a large US city. I would go back again but physically not a good idea since Paris is definitely a walking city but so beautiful. Thank you France.
We just got to Paris mid-June to spend the Summer here and work remotely from the States. So far, the biggest downer has been the theft in this city. Most people would assume I mean pickpocketing, but it goes well beyond that. Within 24 hours of arriving, our rental apartment was burglarized. The Paris police department was surprisingly very helpful and friendly. After we relocated and shook that nightmare off, 2 weeks later a package we had delivered from UPS had been partially torn open and an item stolen. While it’s possible that we have just been unlucky (we are doing all of the things possible to not stick out), I have to say that neither of these situations have ever happened to us in the States, and we’ve lived in NYC, Chicago & LA. The delivery experience has been spot on with what you’ve said and while our building has a ‘Guardian’, they are rarely there to accept packages. We’re hoping that our next 2 months are better than the first. Otherwise, I will admit that the city is beautiful and certainly has its charm, and the food is beyond amazing.
I am French but live in the USA. I came back to France in MAy after 10 years… and the FIRST thing i realized and complained about is the service ! You have to raise your hand to catch the attention of the waiter, and what we realized real fast is that once we have the waiter we order the drinks and food at the same time because otherwise it takes another 10 or 15 mn to get his attention. Then I taught my wife, who’s American, to raise her hand and say “L’addition SVP” at the end. This is great when you are a Parisian and you have time, but when you’re a tourist and you’ve a limited time it can be very frustrating to waste 2 hours at a Bar/Restaurant 😅
I specifically asked to pay first to avoid the wait. They would bring my food and payment machine at the same time. Love it, lets you not worry about getting their attention and enjoying your meal. You can leave whenever you want
I'd love to see the opposite video about what you love from your unique perspective. Not the tourist point of view, but a more in depth perceptive perspective
Nathaniel. Parisians and French people are out of touch with their emotions. Not kidding. I have been an expat off and on since I was 5 1/2 years old and struggle to understand why my countrymen can be so stubborn and rude, and so kind and humorous and generous at other times. I love this video. Thank you for make it. Not all French women smoke. My mom doesn’t and I don’t either. Unfortunately my daughter got addicted to nicotine and vaped for a little while. She isn’t anymore. I love France and the regions that my parents are from. But I could live wherever God sends me.
Thank you for this video! I’ve been to Paris a few times, the last time I was there they couldn’t find my friends suitcase at the airport. On our last night there I happened to be in the lobby at midnight when they delivered it. Since we were leaving the next morning, we almost lost missed getting the suitcase. Your comments about how poor they are delivering things put a new light on this episode. Merci❣️
It sounds like he just needs more opportunity to meet people and adapt to the fact that most european countries don't become friendly with foreigners quickly, it takes time.
J ai vecu a paris presque 10 ans et franchement ce video ne m etonne pas. Nathaniel a raison. Les parisiens 100% se mélangent pas trop avec 'les autres'.
You accurately captured what my family and I experience and don’t like about Paris. It’s a beautiful city but it does have some flaws. This video was honestly one of my favorites that you’ve done and I hope you make more candid and entertaining videos like this 🙏🏻
I was born there in the late 40's and took all the opportunities to leave and moved far away. Now live in Northern California Bay Area for the last 41 years. You describe the issues of this beautiful city marvelously well. Thank you for sharing
I'm in the end process of moving to Paris but I know the city / French people well already (fluent in French) and could not agree more with everything in this video. It's an amazing city that gives you so many beautiful moments/feelings but just like NYC (where I'm moving from), it has its fair share of negative things about it. Great work!
Paris is fabulous, not perfect. And no systems are efficient until the user understands them. When an American arrives in France with American assumptions, it’s frustrating. But any Latin country is organized this way and they are fine with it. You will find that as a smiling American speaking French you will get consideration à grumpy Parisian won’t get. Just remember always, even the most beautiful isn’t perfect, it’s just the most beautiful! You will never want to leave to live anywhere else until retirement….. like me. I lived there a total of 23 years including the last 21. I miss the food, the trees, the Metro, the cinemas. Just live it and it will love you. 🇫🇷🥂
I find it so interesting that a lot of the points you mention can also be applied to Berlin, even though it's a totally different country. The problem with bike lanes, locals not excepting foreigners, the opsession with finding green spots in the city, bad service people. I guess big cities in Europe can be similar.
you're right in most of the points, but the green areas? Berlin has a lot of parks and they're amazing! is one of the things that keep me alive here :D
@@dannbaron Probably depends on where you live. But most parks in the city center are just overcrowded green patches where people don't clean up after themselves. And people are obsessed with making their balconies or "Hinterhöfe" more green. If you want to experience nature you would have to go to outside areas like Grunewald, Tegel or Müggelsee.
I'm an American living in Rome and this is all so relatable! Lol. I've been an expat for 15 years all over the world and I'm still not 'used' to it, but my sense of humor around most of these issues has improved. Thanks for the video!
Omg watching your video I can feel my stress rising just hearing the things you dont like about living in France. I am Canadian and have lived in Spain and now for the past year in France and I can say both countries are equally as frustrating. I live in Montpellier. I find the south to be more laidback but the ppl are More spicy lol I love it.
En tant que parisienne qui vit actuellement en Amérique latine je trouve cette liste hilarante! Ma liste des trucs que je déteste à Paris est interminable mais complètement différente de la tienne ! La plupart des choses que tu listes en négatif sont des positifs pour moi (le métro, même s'il pue, les pistes cyclables, la clope, les serveurs..). Le seul point d'accord ce sont les parcs qui ont en plus le toupet d'être grillagés et fermés la nuit!
I think it really depends, like many cases, in the people. I visit Paris 4-5 times a year - almost all the experiences were super positive. I live in Belgium right on the border and so we spend A LOT of time in France (every week). Paris is different from the rest of the country- because there are so many people, so many different cultures- and SO many tourists. If you will go to the touristic places- there is more chance that the servers will be less nice to you. But in most places we always received good service (in restaurants I mean). I'm TOTALLY with you about the smoking. As someone who really hates cigarettes- it's almost impossible to sit on a terras and breath clean air. The metro as well. If you're older, have a physical difficulty, even if you're with a buggy for a baby or a toddler- it's not easy. Something else that can make me mad is the amount of scammers around the touristic areas. It is INSANE. But after all that said- if I had the possibility- I would probably move to Paris, for sure.
I love your Blog/Vlog, I love France & I'm not even French, they have an air of worth, style, & importance like Americans, but in a different way. I also have an encyclopedia of things I hate about America where I'm from as well.
The thing with the restaurants is 1. They don’t like to hire enough of serveurs 2. They don’t like to pay them well 3. Not many young French are encouraged to work in this branch. So you have like 2 grumpy serveurs for one big restaurant in Paris, when in NYC it would be 6 happy waitresses.
1:18 If you think the food delivery systems are bad now, then you would have REALLY hated it before. I moved to France in 2001 and having food delivered was practically unheard of. Compared to how things were before, I feel like the French have really stepped up their game when it comes to having food delivered. I don't doubt that there is still stuff to be worked out but it's infinitely better than before.
@@paulhamrick3943 ah ok. I thought he was just talking about having things delivered in general. If he was talking about package delivery, then yeah, that sucks too.
Hey, i haven't watched your videos for few months and can see some changes, for example you are now much more confident in front of the camera! Great video, will come back for more :)
Hey Nathaniel, do you find people in France equally positive and friendly as in Mexico? I've lived in Mexico for two years and people there smile at you, say hello in the street, and overall are very hospitable. I've been to France too but a long time ago so I don't remember lol
My personal travel experience (5 times in France) has been nothing but positive, even in Paris. Shop owners remember my face more than they do here in the U.S. . "How are you doing," is an empty phrase in the U.S. Go to France, and Paris, say bonjour to everyone you meet at a shop and you will be treated fine.
i've definiely felt the same in mexico. the people in general are super warm in every city/town that I've visited there and it makes me want to go back again really soon. Im not sure about Paris since I've never been there but whenever I've met Parisian or french people in general they tend to stick with their people and quite cold to foreigners compared to other nationalities.
The French protect their rights so don't have to softsoap foreigners. They work the strict minimum and concentrate on their leisure. Because they can. The more needs you have covered, the less you feel the need to please others.
I couldn't agree with you more in the overall sense about Pairs. I felt the same as I have lived there briefly back in early 2000's and decided I couldn't live there. However, I must say I did not have such rude wait staff experiences. I found it being polite, smiling and speaking a little French (even though, my French is very limited) really made a difference in how they treated me. Moreover, when I was hospitalized for 3 weeks there, the doctors and nurses treated me very kindly.
On 2014, I visited Paris with my husband, my parents, sister and her husband. My husband and I hated it (ok not HATED but disliked it) I could see the magic everyone talks about. Funny enough, this video talks about the exact same things we noticed 😁 We want to give Paris a chance though, we are planning to go back during Spring.
I'm a brazilian who lived in Paris for a couple of years, and I have to say I love the labor rights in France. If anything, on the contrary: for me having too many parisians in my circle was what scarred my sanity. I would hate the romanticization of melancholy within them and how they can come across as gloomy narcissists whilst thinking it's sexy. As for cigarettes, totally agree.
Let me try to explain N0 5, bike lanes sometimes go in opposite direction as the car so that bikers can more easily see when a cars drives towards them and they have enough time to react if they see the car going straight toward them. Obviously, if there is a bunch of motorcycles that takes space, it defeats the purpose but at least you get the idea for the lanes in opposite direction.
I can see you are camouflaging yourself with the white and black stripe shirt! it's just harder to get friends as you grow older people just get busy with their lives and their friendships are already established and filtered to even smaller groups. Love your content man keep it coming.
Thank you for taking the time to do this video. I live in New York City, came here 8 years ago from Europe (Romania ) and I want to do a similar video. Big cities come with their big problems. I visited Paris twice and the architecture and the culture are impressive, but there was some downs too. You got a follower!
I came to this channel because I was curious about what foreigners thought about Paris and most of the things you mentioned are on point. Especially the density and lack of green space
My biggest complaint about Paris is the fact that it's just so CRAMPED UP. I am always so amazed when I come back home to my Eastern European country and realize I can eat lunch without overhearing the next table's entire conversation or having to stand in line to sit down at a coffeeshop. From elevators to the metro seats, everything is tiny and it feels suffocating sometimes.
Plus, go to, let's say CZ or RO, and the feeling us very different, i.e. way more relaxed and free. After the terrorist attacks France is about to become a control (freak) state (or is one already): cameras, facial recognition paired with AI, robocops. Liberté, egalité, fraternité? Forget about that.
Over the past 10 years, I have lived in 5 different countries and 7 different cities (among them also Paris) and I would be surprised if you last in Paris for more than 5 years. Nice thing is that you can rent out your place any time, go somewhere where else and just visit the city occassionially whenever you fancy. All the best!
I don’t know about anyone else, but I think it’s so easy to romanticise big cities, especially European cities, (not that there’s anything wrong with it); but it’s always refreshing to hear about the daily challenges or differences from other cities. It’s also really interesting to me to see what it looks like for a normal person to live their normal life, in these big famous cities like Paris. Really liked this video :)
You're right, Paris does get romanticised a lot! I think he made some interesting points but there are definitely solutions available to some of the issues he brought up.
As a Londoner I was watching this & wandering what he was really complaining about until the Metro, that does really confuse me here in London you can just top up your oyster & just go, the navigo system is so much less efficient than what we have, but generally as a Londoner, Paris is just so much better & more chill than London, other than the fashion where we embrace individuality in terms of style which is so much interesting. Otherwise Paris is so much better in terms of Lifestyle, food & living. Also as an ex-smoker I really do appreciate that the French haven’t given up on the joy of a cigarette, there is nothing like a coffee & a cigarette its so chill (too be fair I am older so maybe I embraced the advertising more) & I think you are missing the joy of just chilling beside the canal in the evening it may not be a green space but its so nice to just chill in the evening with a beer & other souls discussing life beside the Canal.
The bit about grumpy waiters annoys me the most - the point where you try to make eye contact so that you can ask for _l'addition_ is probably my most stressful experience in Paris.
Lool, I'm Italian and I lived in the US (moved back to Italy recently). I can totally relate 🤣. Even though Italy it's not French, it has its own ways to be stuck in the 13th century...
I just recently went to Paris and London (by EuroStar which was amazing btw) and I preferred London to Paris. Also, not being able to make friends is not a uniquely Parisian thing. I heard a lot of people saying the same thing about Swiss people and we don't have the same amout of tourists coming through our cities. Finally, I found Paris to be dreadful during the winter months when I lived there a few years back. It is much nicer if you can get out of those tiny apartements and acutally enjoy the architectural and historical beauty that the city has to offer.
I agree, I've been living in Paris for 10 years and I had more trouble making friends with like-minded people during my year in London than here. Where in Switzerland are you from? I visited Zurich in 2020 and fell in love with your country. It's so beautiful and clean, compared to Paris haha.
@@cecily_alice I live just outside of Bern which is a bit smaller than Zurich. It has a refreshing river (Aare) which a lot of people use to cool down during these hot months...
I was in Berlin during a heatwave….I will never never NEVER complain about the NYC Subway again in this lifetime. It may be dirty, but goddamn, at least there’s AC there, and everywhere else in August….🥵
Wow. Your observations on the frustruations of Paris resonate with me so much, even back to my first summer in Paris 40 years ago! For the most part I love Paris, but as they say, "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
I unfortunately had a terrible experience in Paris which had nothing to do with any of these reasons. People were so rude in the interactions I had, and I found people always staring and giving me dirty looks which I assume is because I'm a fully covered poc 😭 I felt really down and anxious the whole time I was there.
@@saaa.aa9578 that's not their perspective. You would have to look into their history and understand their culture a bit more before judging their value judgments made in their country. In any case, they are very much forward about it and have passed laws about religious symbols of all kinds in government, schools, etc. However you can wear what you want on the street, you have the choice, but people don't have to like it. What you will get will range from polite, silent toleration to outright hostility like what you experienced. People who go beyond this, who harass or worse are breaking the law.
I really like the video! You are not wrong about Paris. It is good information for people so they are not surprised when they finally do visit. We have a holiday home in Normandie, and run into the 2 hour shutdown all the time, got kicked out of a Brico store when they turned off the lights once😆
Aha, man, I'm French and I'm back in France (not by choice, was in Ukraine before) for like 2 months now. I usually spend no more than a month per year here. I travel 90% of the time. That video is ON POINT bruh. Honestly, I don't know why you are living in Paris (I'm from Bordeaux which is so much better, yes, it's 100% biased) but ok, Paris has a charm I suppose :). My partner Yana, Ukrainian, started learning French and therefore getting more into the "culture" and she is literally complaining about all of this Ahah. Me too by the way. Well, I'm to the point where I'm not even living here anymore so, yeah... Anyways, I'm sending that one to Yana, great content! Here are some thoughts from a local, but before, Paris is not the most beautiful city in the world because it’s Bordeaux :). That looks so much like Paris that half the Parisians live here now (2h TGV from the capital) and it's also called the little Paris because it looks like it (Haussmannian architecture). 1. 🚚 Deliveries That is EVERYWHERE in France... Our post office is managed by "fonctionnaires" state employees that have ZERO incentives to do their job because they can't be fired. They have a master key to open doors by the way if you have one of those RFID things on your doorbell, but even with that, they seem to be physically incapable of opening them… 2. 🤢 French are allergic to work You nailed it. Not much to add here, it is 100% true, period. The French love to say, especially to Americans, that they work to live and not live to work. Nope, they are just lazy fucks. 3. ⚽ Vacation time is basically all the time Yes, and especially during summer. Nothing works in France between July and August. And if a religious-free day happens to be on a Thursday the national sport is to take Friday as a free day to have a 4-day break. 4. 🚴♂ Bikers vs. Cars Yeah lol. France wants to be "progressive" and look "green" so we have city bikes you can rent in every major city and bike lanes. But, those are new in the grand scheme of things. We want to copy Germany which has as many bike lanes as there are roads and the culture that goes with it because it's been like that for ages. But not in France, nobody cares, so if you drive a bike, you risk your life. The car will insult you, pedestrians will insult you, everybody will insult you aha. 5. Ⓜ The Metro That is a Parisian thing mostly as it's the biggest we have, but every other place that has a metro or a tram or train or whatever, same shit. If you are disabled in France or need to walk with a suitcase, just stay home. 6. 🚬 Smoking Jesus, honestly I think we are the most retarded people on the planet with that. If you smoke you have a 50% chance of dying from a smoking-related disease and now there is even an alternative to normal cigarettes like a vape that doesn’t smoke, but no, in France we want to smoke the worst shit, and pollute everybody else with it. 7. 🌳 Green spaces Yeah... We have beautiful parks, but, they cover like 0.01% of our urban space... 8. 🦄 Parisians are unicorns Aha, let me rephrase that one for you. Parisians are assholes. Anyone not from Paris in France will confirm that one. 9. 💩 Bad service That is probably one of the most annoying things to me and it's directly related to #2 sadly. If you don't want to do your freaking job which is "serving customers" wtf dude... The service in France is the most ridiculous I have ever seen and I've been living in many many places from Central America, Asia, Eastern Europe, etc... You get to pay a premium anywhere you go with the lowest quality of service possible. And Frenchs don't care because they don't even know what good service is... On a final note, about friendship, Yana is living the same thing. All the friends she made are rather foreigners or French that travel which to be honest just tells you that you are on another level/world/view and that in the end, it's probably for the best. I personally have friends from my student years and to be honest, we have very little to share anymore. They are into 9 to 5 routines with kids and concerns that are completely disconnected to mine so, I don't think you lose too much here. French love French, French food, the French language, and French culture which 100% limits their world views compared to someone that travels and speaks & reads English. You get to listen to content, authors, etc… that will eventually be translated into French years after if ever. Okay, that was a bit of a rant, but hey, that was fun :).
I’m an English guy living in Lyon for the past 7 years and I can relate to a lot of this. Especially the bit about places being closed randomly. It’s like they don’t want to make money!
I follow you since years and never commented anything. But I couldn't just let this video pass by. I am a European expat in Paris, I honestly think your point of view is a little bit too American somehow. However I do share the pain of all the stairs and struggle for disabled people The rest is just Europe, and the beauty of not being such an anonymous city :)
Just came back from Paris and the last thing about forgetting that they gave you the check is soooo relatable. I had to sit there for like 20 mins trying to make eye contact with some waiter while occasionally trying to sort of wave my hand at them in frustration. It literally happened to us every single time we went out to eat somewhere 😂
There must really be a French waiter's school that teach a course on ignoring your customers. You get an "A" if you can successfully ignore your costumers even if he's right in your face.
It’s totally a thing I don’t get it - except the staff doesn’t care about getting a good tip. My defense is to carry plenty of cash and just leave it on the table. Then there’s the problem of getting the check in the first place. More than once, I’ve gone to look for the server after a long spell of not seeing a server. I ask ever so politely and they produce it at once.
I just moved to Munich from the US and the work/vacation culture was such a shock! I am legally required to take 6 weeks worth of vacation in the fiscal year in Munich, and in the US I never took my full vacation allowance.. and in Munich I can only legally work 40 hours a week with time tracking. Oh and everything is closed on Sundays and by 8pm all other days. Totally relate to you lol.
I would only work for a U.S. company in Germany since local salaries are ridiculously low and taxes are insane. I have also found that German food also sucks. I take months long vacations saving-up every year here in the US and also between jobs.
As a French i am definitely agree with you ! Even if i had millions to buy a flat there, i wouldn't ! I feel definitely more connected with foreigners than French people... I am so glad to hear those points from you, because so many people in other countries think that it's amazing to live in Paris ! I think (and of course i can be wrong) but The Netherlands or Berlin would be way better for you
Hi Nathaniel, As a long time Londoner who originally came from South Africa I enjoyed your post on Paris. It can also be excrutiatingly difficult to do business in Paris, they make you sign NDAs before you even discuss the weather because they know they are going to try to rip you off and they want to muzzle you before the process commences. But to be fair the Parisian disease of thinking they are the only ones who know what is going on, is also true of New York. While making friends with the locals in Paris is tricky, which is equally true of London, regional cities like Lyon are a very different story. Lyon is a welcoming and warm city. It is not an arsehole-free-zone, nowhere is, but it is a wonderful city to live, with great restuarants and a super convenien location for European travel. To be fair to Paris it has enormous charm and incredible cultural depth, museums, libraries, experts, shops, fashion, food and architecture that is endlessly inspirting. London's Tate Modern may win on numbers of visitors but art and design is more integrated into Parisian life.I agree with you that a lot of Paris' soft power as a city - like London - comes from the fact that it is an international cross roads with lots of expat residents. Anyway, pluses and minuses notwithsanding, I simply love France, with an instinctive visceral, it-makes-me feel-great kind of love. That says a lot.
Well-spoken, thank you. I'm American and believe, rightly or not, that it takes either much more privilege or financial risk for us to travel to and across the Continent than for, let's say, an Englishman. So, whenever I decide to see France, it may very well be my only time to visit, and I'd like to make it worthwhile. How long is reasonable to truly experience places like Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and anywhere else that absolutely must be visited?
@@bordaz1 If you think you only have one shot at visiting France I wouldn’t go for less than 2-3 weeks and I would mix modes of transport. List your passions and plan carefully. Frankly it’s all amazing but I would not leave without seeing the French Alps. Many of the things that people love about France are pretty evenly spread across the country. Try to learn a bit of the language before you go. Enjoy!
I am French, living in Paris for 10 years now and this video is hilarious ... this is soooo true 😂 everything single things mentioned in this video here is absolutely correct... Parisians are unicorns 🦄 👏👏
I studied my Bachelors in Paris and stayed there for a few years. I felt every single thing you described. At the end I got depressed and moved to Shanghai. I think it's time for you to start thinking about your next destination ! 😎
Regarding the bad service: Frenchman who grew up in Sweden; from my experience this can be a misconception foreigners easily make, to us they seem really rude but it would seem we (foreigners) simply approach the situation wrongly. We lack confidence. You have to shout to the waiter and raise your hand up in the air very dominantly to get attention. Also the way you ask for the menu might come across as passive aggressive or even rude, specially if you're already annoyed that the waiter didn't notice you. French people can get very fixated on word choice and etiquette. Simply starting with can i have the card versus, good evening, how are you doing? Would it be possible to get a card and already ordering the drinks to save the waiter another trip will probably result in a very different outcome. I think if you don't grow up in a french household it can be very hard to understand how choice of words is so critical to communication for french people. They'll often over interpret what you're saying but won't really show you directly that what you said ticked them, instead they'll use the same choice of words or even mannerisms back but in a much more pronounced way. And that's were a lot of foreigners assume french people are rude: they're giving you the attitude back. Another french person would pick up on this and then clear any misunderstanding by asking if everything is okay and clearing what they meant. Just be a lot more dominant (less shy) when going to a restaurant when ordering and don't forget the waiter is primarily a human being in France whom you're also supposed to greet and not just someone there to serve you. Forget the idea of service altogether, start seeing the waiter as a friend, and you'll probably have a way nice time in France. I'll add about being shy: growing up in Sweden I'd be very shy compared to Frenchmen when visiting relatives in France. From my experience, people can interpret it as you not thinking they're doing a good enough job to put you at ease or host you, that you don't enjoy your time with them or that they intimidate you. It's very hard for the open Frenchman to comprehend you might like them but still keep a distance to them. They pick up on the walls one sets up very easily.
It's funny this came up in my feed the day after I returned from 8 days in Paris. I was there for a work trip, so my time was split between work, and exploring. The heat was disgusting this past week- and basically I agree with everything you said. I did get to enjoy Paris during Bastille, and that was amazingly wonderful. The positives still out weight these complaints, so thats great!
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I'm an American resident of Paris, too. When I first moved here almost 30 years ago, I noticed and joked that, "Whereas an American will consider the weekend as a pause in the work-week, a Frenchman views the work-week as an *interruption* of the weekend!" I've realized that my first impression wasn't wrong . . and I've grown to agree with the concept!
haha on dit aussi trouve un travail que tu aimes vraiment et tu ne travailleras jamais de ta vie .plus facile à faire en france ou on a des aides et moins de pression pour gagner de l argent surtout si on ne vit pas à paris
You’re saying that like it’s a bad thing.
Life should be about life.
We also used to say, if you fly Air France you feel like you are going to work and the crew flies on holidays
@@Lapusso650 (re: "You’re saying that like it’s a bad thing." Then you must have missed reading my last seven words!
@@chickenitsa oh sorry. I misunderstood
Hermano, You brought a knife into a gun fight: your American mindset. Latino countries work differently: we take two hours lunch, we love our vacations/time, we ride our bike contrary to cars for safety reason. When my American friends visited my home country, they had a bad time not realizing cultural differences outside USA. I have a simple advice: Relax and enjoy. Replicate what you see. Peace and love ❤️
the most frustarting part is that i feel like so many of these issues are rather easy fixes 😩 but any advice is just met w “ben bah c’est comme ça”
That's probably the most french thing I've ever heard of
"c'est pas trop mal" maybe the French like things unfixed so they can appreciate the good things when they naturally come around without any input and the slow life of course, maybe something that is broken doesn't need fixing cause that frustration you build up every time it doesn't go your way is funny and romantic and confusing and beautiful too, or maybe not, cause maybe fixing is too much work once you start
Wow, that hurts, but so true.
So true !!!
What! I just realized it was DD after I hit reply!!! hahaha
Glad you called out the obvious drawbacks of this city. It's NEVER all rose-tinted glasses anywhere. So many TH-camrs in Japan also called out how life is not like in an anime. The same applies to Paris. The city has A TON of things that need fixing and are infuriating. Talking as a Parisian born here.
Yea...he's still in the honeymoon phase....
You don't want to hear about America then it will make you vomit
¿Could you name those TH-camrs? I find it absolutely ridiculous that anyone would expect Japan to be like animes.
Le pire de tout à Paris ?
C'est les parisiens 😏
@@Fuk_Zat_Tek😂
Just a word of advice from an American that has lived in Europe for many years. It is not just Parisians that are closed to making friends with foreigners, it is people that are natives in other cities. If you want to meet people, go out on the weekends and talk to twenty people. Be open and honest to them that you really want to converse and have friends and would like to meet up with them sometime. You will have a good friend or two after about a month of doing that
Developing trust I would say
I found the answer to the contresens bike lanes-and it actually makes sense!
In narrow streets that have to be shared by bikes and cars, having bikes and cars travel in the same direction causes cars to speed up while they’re passing bikes. When bikes travel in the opposite direction, though, it causes cars to slow down while passing bikes.
It’s a tight fit either way, but I do prefer to have cars slow down while they pass me.
Also it’s better if you see a car making a mistake you can brake and avoid it. If the car is behind you and in the same direction you can’t do $hit.
Voilà!
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
True. They have this in Montreal too and I find it actually useful once you get used to it.
It's also better to "see the threat" going towards it. Same goes for pedestrians. I live in UK where it is not so and I still can't get used to it after 10 years! Missing EU...
as a Parisian cyclist, let me just add something : most streets are one-way for cars. However, bicycles are most generally allowed in both directions. it's not really a question of "contresens". There is a white marking on the ground so that the cars understand that the bikes are allowed to ride opposite way. But, bicycles can also run in the direction of cars!!
I’m Greek and I spent a semester as an exchange student in Paris with the Erasmus Student Exchange Program and ohhh.. boy! I debunked a lot of myths I had in my head as this incredibly romantic, straight out of a Disney movie magical place. Up until then I had visited the city about 5 times but it’s a lot different to experience it as a tourist and a whole other story to live there.Most of your points are accurate (I kinda justify the stairs of the metro because their subway system is quite ancient and a lot of the times there are other factors that contribute in installing an elevator like the ground conditions and a lot of the stations being close to the Seine) Regarding the Parisians, I totally agree because all the friends I made in my time there were foreigners who had moved to the city years ago. As for vacation time, I would say it’s not a Paris thing but a European thing in general because in Greece you CANNOT expect to do business in August man! Most of the businesses are closed unless you work in the hospitality industry. I think I kinda prefer it though because I recently moved to Toronto and you guys(Canadians and Americans in general) are on the opposite side of the spectrum!! You hardly take any time off! Anyways, I rambled too much! Great video as always man! 😊😝
love your comment.I think maybe this don't bother with business in August is a partial European thing. We certainly don't have that in Germany but I've experienced that a lot in Stockholm. Also in Sweden I think it's more like July and August, but maybe not as drastic as it sounds in Paris and Greece. But I kinda love that take a break don't bother attitude. It's as if it is okay that you take time for yourself cause everybody does it. At least from my experience in Germany a lot of people go on holiday for 10 to 14 days during the summer and whoever stays behind has to manage everybody else's stuff too... so in a way the no business in August seems dreamy at least to me ^^.
I agree it’s probably not a unique thing to just France but to Europe in general when it comes to vacation time. I moved to Sweden from America and it’s a similar situation here. In July the vast majority take long vacations. But I understand here because the winters are long and warm weather short. I have started to adapt to it. Looking forward to when I can take 5 weeks vacation a year 😂
My man! U spoke the truth👏🏼
In the US it's predictable. If there is a holiday expect someone to take a long weekend vacation..
Can you describe the myths you had before ?
I’m British. I grew up in Bordeaux, and I work part time in Paris. EVERYTHING on this list is soo accurate! I couldn’t have said it better myself! 😂 not exaggerating at all!
How does living in Bordeaux compare to Paris? I’ve been to Bordeaux a few times and loved it but I don’t know if it shares some of the same issues as Paris since I haven’t spent a long time there. I’d imagine it’s more laid back at least.
@@josephduke5186 I just wanted to ask the same question as I visited Bordeaux a couple of months ago. However, I did notice that in Bordeaux the customer service is much better than in Paris. They are quite polite, shops, and restaurants. I think it is a large city vs smaller town mentality. But the bicycle lane was a horrible surprise.
5th🎉
PS: I lived in Manhattan for 38 years. I found the French to be friendly, enjoy beautiful outdoor spots, the most amazing food and, a quality of life not prevalent in the US. Very family oriented. I loved the fact that often when I dined out I would see the entire family, mom, dad, kids, extended family and their pup! I for one would adjust to living very well in France.
Agree!
@@thefernwehtype hear hear
I live in Italy. A few years ago a friend and I took a vacation in Paris for a few days. We stayed in Montmartre and ate in the cute restaurants there. Because we were speaking English at our table (I'm assuming this to be the reason) a man with a woman at a very close table next to us, leaned over and said to me in a very thick French accent "Do you know what you are eating? What those are?" with his finger literally over my plate. I replied yes, of course, they are razor clams, we have them in New England. At which point he got a snooty look, turned away and ignored me completely haha. Presumption and arrogance no doubt. I know very intelligent and nice French people, so I am not stereotyping. Just sharing an experience I had in Paris.
Paris is not like France. Paris is like Paris.
@@Karen-ul9hd Of course, like most major cities in the world, this is true. But the national culture of a country is the same to some degree everywhere within it.
As a Frenchman living in the midst of rural France, this is music to my ears, especially post offices that are only open when you're at work. Mentalities are really different from one region to another and a popular expression says that "Paris isn't France" :)
Interesting. I felt like that in Toulouse and other areas of France. Easier, nice feeling in those places. Paris too many tourists and expensive.
Ah bah c'est clair que Paris c'est pas la France 😂
I don't know if these suit your brand, but I dove to see
1. What you're doing with your place
2. Day in the life videos, what daily living in Paris is like
3. Candid conversations with French people, opinions, different ways of thinking
4. Your favorite spots in Paris
Yessss!! Great ideas! I’d absolutely love to see that as well!
The virus update via Paris..
Definitely my favorite stuff that Nathaniel does, especially #1!!!!
i wish someone would do conversations on the street with french people, instead of always talking about personal perspective just go out and ask french people questions on the street. if i had more confidence i'd do it but i'm too introverted. i have written lists of excellent questions someone could ask them. so if anyone wants to do this and are looking for idea please ask me and i'll give you my lists. and not just Parisians but to go around different cities and towns to get perspectives from all areas of france because people are very different all over france.
@@Leila2023_ has anyone on line or on you tube done that? Sounds like a really good idea regardless. I hope Nathaniel used your idea.
I wish every part of the world would be as laid back as Paris, or France in general. I love that they prioritize life instead of work/business. that's how human are supposed to live their lives ☺️
Americans are definitely overworked. I'm from Indonesia and I'm happy that this country sits in the middle between relaxing/productivity
It's not just France all of southern Europe is exactly the same. Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece are all exactly like this as well.
@@amcmillion3 France is not a southern country...
yeah, way healthier. And I think I read somewhere that french(&others similar countries) are as productive as others. Sure you need to schedule a little bit more, but I think it's better for every one in the end
I agree, I'm from Australia which does have more of a British mindset - work hard/play hard - and I love that there's more of a balance in France. At the moment everyone is on summer break and are surprised if you are still working lol
I absolutely relate to a shop being closed even though it LITERALLY says on their website and on their shop window that they are open. Yet I go there and find them closed more than once during the week when they are supposed to be open.
These days, post-pandemic and with COVID rampant everywhere, people can’t always be open when they say they are. France has gotten as many as 250,000 new cases diagnosed on a Tuesday after a weekend with big events. Same everywhere. It’s probably COVID, the culprit.
Can you call ahead and ask?
@@94forbesk for sure a good idea to call ahead if its a small local store and not a big brand
It's like that in Italy, too!
@@michaellaval-lindley4482 Seriously? 😂😂😂 Covid?!
I am not French and I lived in Lille for a short time. I laughed so hard at your rant about shops being closed! During my 9 months, I tried to go swimming at two different pools that were relatively close to my house. It said the pool was open on the website, it said it was open on Google, my french friends would be like 'yeah that's such a nice pool, I go there all the time'. Well you can guess what happened, I prepare, I make the trip to get to this pool, I get to the door, there is a handwritten paper 'Fermeture Exceptionnelle'. UGH! Maybe I should have tried more often, but after 5 times, I was so done with this, I never swam in France. HAHA
I attended school in Paris way back in 1975-76 when there were still lots of Old Paris to be experienced. Yes, there were tons of annoyances, like things closing at lunch time, needing a jeton to make a phone call, then finding out the phone is broken, travel all the way across town on the metro only to discover the museum is on strike or closed for renovations, people constantly correcting my French and looking at me funny because I wasn't a la mode with my clothing. I got back now and the French are much more friendly and welcoming, it's easier to get around but the magic places are still all there. I remember the good stuff vastly more than the negative.
The unicorn issue applies everywhere. People in their home cities already have their social networks and are not particularly interested in making new friendships, particularly with people who might well be transient. I have moved to several different cities in several different countries, and this is the same everywhere - expats and outsiders always find it far easier to form friendships with other expats and outsiders.
i had the same thing happen to me in australia. albeit it was partly my fault but still, it always stuck in my mind, australians are very friendly generally but it's so much easier to stick in your groups
im convinced french administration will one day push me to the point where i break down, lash out, catch a charge, and end up in french jail. my story as to “what caused it” will be so long that it will just be ignored or people will just think im exaggerating. 😅😩 many things to look forward to in my near future in paris. anyway, everything else france does: SO WELL DONE AND BRAVO FRANCE!
I'm following YT in Germany, and discover they're complaining a lot against the German administration ( slow, number of paper needed and don't forget one, hours of opening or strict hour of meeting...) and the deutsche Bahn ( Germain train ).
It's not just a french thing ! 🤣
We need a collab, friends 🤗🤗🤗
@ Damon Dominque 30 yrs in France and I have never had a problem with French bureaucracy. All that is necessary is organisation and research (don't bring copies if they ask for originals). With Internet it is even easier as you can go to the appropriate site and find out what documents are necessary.
I'd happily hang out in French jail with you guys. Moving there in a few months (if my visa process goes well) and I'm sure I'll have to fight someone along the way.
@@brigittelacour5055 yeah depends on where you are in germany but mostly this is true, some states are better with it than others. Berlin hast to he horrible, Bavaria where I live is not very good but rather okay. Bahn always has a few mins of delay, ICE Trains tend to be very problematic
I live in France for more than 10 years now, I was looking last year to move maybe to another country. The first country I looked into US. After I saw the most complex visa system I've ever seen in my life and how few vacation days you get and how few protection as employee you get, I changed my mind very quickly. For other countries I lokked into afterwards I made it one of the first points to check - social protection and work life balance. I'm already quite anxious person, it would be just horrible for my mental health to be constantly worried to loose my job, to make insane amount of hours and not enough time to recover and reset. I do find sometimes annoying that places are closed because of work hours limitations or vacations, but I always choose to have more time for me and for others to have the same.
US is unliveable wasteland after living in the EU. Good luck my dear american friends, stay strong.
I am trying to persuade my husband there are better places to live than the US
@@bethkellum4308 it really depends on personal preferences, priorities and goals. Looking into other countries to maybe move to I realized what's important to me and what was less. For some US could be their dream country.
There are abundance of jobs in the US and it's so easy to start a business here,
not like a red tape filled Europe. I'm from Europe and don't want to live there for that reason - red tape for business owners. Here, in the US you can start a business quickly and easily,
So many opportunities!
@@travellifefree I am happy you have found the country that suits you 🙂
I’m so glad that you brought up people with disabilities getting around in Paris. I’m not disabled, but it all became very apparent some of the things they go through when my foot became severely injured and I was forced to walk with a major limp while my fiancé and I were traveling abroad. When we got to Paris it was the worst thing walking three flight up our Airbnb and down. It made realize that Paris is not friendly to people who are injured or are disabled. These are things I’d never notice before so it was good to get some perspective on the situation.
I lived in Paris years ago (1983-1994) and it’s interesting how much has remained the same! Your comments regarding the numerous “challenging frustrations” (on a good day) you mention in your clip is spot on, unfortunately! One can at once dread and almost fear the frustrations of getting the simplest things done…as you’re well aware. Yet, I loved my time there and wouldn’t trade it for the world as I’m sure you can equally appreciate… after all, you’re still there as I would be too if I were you. I subscribed to your channel and look forward to more videos. Cheers, Burrill
One less obvious drawback I’ve found is that people *don’t always* react well to happy people in Paris, because it is assumed that you’re a tourist on holiday or an American and a lot of people are (quite fairly) sick of their home being treated as primarily a tourist playground -> I have to just stop caring about these people liking me, because I refuse to stop smiling.
NB: I am in Paris often, for long periods of time, with my partner and her Parisian family and friends, and I love France and Paris and will probably live there for a time, but probably not forever.
This was hilarious. Basically you’re saying that if you seem happy while in Paris, people will assume you don’t live there.
@@moniq56 When you put it that way 🤣🤣 Has someone told the Parisians?
You know its just that french people dont smile ? Just normal
@Yvette Wingate because you cannot satisfy everyone, and its a disappointement for us french too :/ just be normal, not friendly lol
Yes, as to their responding negatively, if that’s the right word, to being to happy, or smiley, or friendly. It’s as though it’s an affront of some kind! Hahaha
Hello my young friend,
I really admire you! I can be your mom since I am much older, but love watching your stories.
You are super smart, wise, sociable, honest, so much fun and you can be a role model for your generation.
Everything you said about Paris and Europe in general are absolutely true. You manage to make me laugh today. From someone who speaks several languages, BRAVO. Good luck, who knows maybe one day I run into you in Paris and say hello. Be safe👍
You should definitely explore other places in France. I personally believe a lot of cities are waaaaay sweeter than Paris. Paris is dense and rough.
Noted 👍
Yes, it is absolutely correct. Paris is not France just like New York City is not the USA. There are countless gems 'en province' and people are delighted to see foreigners and try their very best to welcome them decently? Ever heard of Langres? Dijon? Lille ? Nancy ?
All big cities are!
Paris is beautiful but rough. I didn't like the atmosphere at all and that was before Christmas. It was a horrible experience. I went to small towns/villages close to Swiss border and I loved it. It's a big country, I want to explore more and I'm glad I didn't write it off because of Paris.
As a seasoned traveller and having lived in many exotic places around the world, I have to say that London is my favorite city. I lived there 25 years ago and recently visited when my daughter did her semester abroad there. It has all the old world charm, culture and art that Paris has, but much less of the negative aspects that you describe living in Paris. In London, parks are literally everywhere including the city center and they are not just a token green space but the type of park that you can get lost in. Most people are polite to a fault and the service in restaurants and shops is very efficient and friendly. There is much less pollution compared to 25 years ago with many electric cars, buses and far fewer smokers. There is much less traffic than before and many more pedestrians. My daughter walked to uni on a daily basis and had no problem taking public transportation everywhere (clean, safe, efficient and accessible in most places with escalators and elevators galore). To pay, you can simply tap your credit card on the card reader as you enter. People seem to take the time to socialize (vibrant pub life) and appreciate nature and good food, art etc. but not excessively in terms of vacations and lunch breaks and ridiculous unpredictable office hours. I made many friends when I lived there including Londoners but I will admit that like all big cities, it can be challenging. All in all, London is a world class city that has European sophistication but with New World business models that values customer service. I would live there in a heart beat if I could choose to live anywhere in Europe.
You’re describing either the city centre, or the south east. So much of London is a literal slum. I’m out. It’s disgusting here 😂 Sorry.
I agree with you but can you honestly tell me of any huge metropolis that doesn't have slums or poorer neighborhoods with some form of degradation. Please direct me to that place cuz I would love to live there!!
If you don't wanna see the chavs, thieves, drunks, all the stabbing crap, etc... Yeah it's a great place to live
Having myself lived in London for 5+ years in a row and intermittently ever since, I 100% agree with you. Also a fellow seasoned traveler. My favorite city in the world as well, and in terms of public transport, it can't be beaten! Tremendous system and always considering all kinds of mobility needs. London for the win!
Amsterdam for me. Prettier, just as many parks, easier to get around, same shtty weather. But to each their own.
OMG you just described Athens Greece! The smoking, the allergies to working, the August shutdown, the noon hour siesta, and the lack of eye contact when you need the cheque. Having spent much time in Athens I only spend time with friends from Canada, even my own relatives in Athens have trouble making time for me. I love your channel and I fully enjoy your journey. Congratulations on purchasing your home in Paris.
I spent 6 months working in Greece in summer 2010 and this is so accurate. I'm from Slovakia where people are very strict when it comes to being always on time (actually, if you are on time you're late, you should arrive early), they try to do as much as they can while at work but then once work is done, people go out hiking, cycling, gardening, DIY, fishing...there's always something going on. But in Greece, I learned that people don't care that much if you're late and they are happy to do ''nothing'' after work lol
Great video! One note about work-life in France/Paris- 35 hours is on paper, but not the norm (from what I have seen/experienced). 35 is for contracted hourly workers. Sometimes hourly wage workers may work extra and do so without getting paid overtime because the culture makes a money conversation very uncomfortable/it is just the norm now so employers expect it. Business professionals are not working with 35 hour contracts at all. People in finance, banking, consulting, etc. are working much much more than 35 hour weeks. It's not a US work culture, but I don't know any full-time workers here that are working 35 hours.
Exact, and we dont have American salaries.
@@pierren___ but how do you afford to live in a city like Paris without one? I am trying to understand how this can be sustained.
@@coal.sparks its simple : you cannot. Or you work like a slave and live in the suburbs. Something Americans dont realize when they talk about Paris problems, is that we already know we cannot solve them.
Most parisians are just bourgeois
@@coal.sparks we usually move to the suburbs when we have Kids because it's too expensive in Paris itself. Some arrondissements are cheaper than others
I totally agree
Wow, the deliveries. I love how that they tell me that the delivery will arrive at any time between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m., and it's expected that I'm supposed to be at home at all times to pick up the delivery. And whatever you do, don't expect La Poste to actually deliver your package. They'll lose it as a matter of principle.
As a French living in Berlin, I can relate on the friends part.
All my friends here are foreigners or germans who traveled. So unless you live with local roommates or study at university, it'll be hard to make local friends, especially at our age when the adult life takes a lot of time.
Some of your examples are some of the reasons why I've never wanted to live in Paris haha. I prefer going there as a tourist!
Yep it’s a feature of many big cities. I lived in Berlin for 3 years and all of my friends were expats and some Germans who lived abroad before and are not from Berlin.
Pour ma part j'ai bien remarqué cet effet aussi en Allemagne...J'ai vécu à Hannover et effectivement mes seules amis était des étrangers. Pareil pour le sud de la France...
I must have been lucky. I met a French guy on the plane going over and met his friends at school, his parents, even his former girlfriend. By the time I left I was thinking in French and could argue in French too.
Just move to Switzerland, all the issues will go away. Is all so smooth, I am loving it
I'm British and I spent my working life teaching French (and German). I fell in live with Paris at 14 on a school trip and I still thrill at the sight of that city, its photogenic beauty and cultural monuments. It oozes history and effortless style. If I don't revisit at least once a year, I feel deprived but it was a couple of years after that first immersion in Paris when I went to stay with a French family in Burgundy that I gained the French perspective of their own capital. My hosts criticised Parisians for being arrogant, snobbish, patronising and rude, a race apart almost. You only have to delve into French literature, as I later realised, to appreciate that there's long been a tension between Paris and the provinces. A stereotypical view of the French in general by Brits is not unlike the provincial Frechman's view of Parisians, namely, that they're rude and unfriendly, but so can many Londoners be too in the eyes of British people living outside the capital - cold, introverted and superior. My experiences over many years have made me realise that there are two things that set you up to "fail"when you visit Paris (and France....or Vienna ....or Rome, or Amsterdam....or Madrid.... or Berlin),cthat is, a closed mind and an inability to communicate. By this last one I mean, of course, the ability to speak French (or German, or Spanish etc etc), however modestly, hesitatingly or badly. In my case, this eventually opened many a figurative door, from Calais to Carcassonne, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nantes, Toulouse, in villages, hamlets, in banks, supermarkets, filling-stations, museums, bars, châteaux, on buses and trains, on campsites and hotels....everywhere. The language is the key to that figurative door and the French, irrespective of region, age or class, will come more than half way to meet you - even in Paris. I think this little video about things that annoy and irritate about Paris is accurately observed and a fair comment on that amazing city but with all its niggling shortcomings, Paris is still the most beautiful, most magical, most awe-inspiring and most alluring city anywhere - and I've travelled widely around the world. I'm reminded of a French saying with which I strongly identify:-
"Chacun a deux patries: la sienne et la France" ("Everyone has two native countries: his own and France")
I have to disagree. When quebecois ppl visit France we’re treated so poorly even though we speak French. Matter of fact we’re treated worse than an American who only speaks English as they despise our dialect…
So true! When people visit Berlin, they think that's Germany. Whilst the germans that are not living in Berlin - the majority 😀- dissociates themselves from Berlin, as it's not typical german at all. I know a ton of germans that lived in Berlin for a while (mostly when younger, me included) and nearly all of them left Berlin after some time.
the next time you meet these people, tell them this: only 30% of Parisians were born in Paris, in fact most "Parisians" come from the provinces, the suburbs and abroad.
I feel you on the unicorns. I lived in Paris for a year and a half, and in that time 90% of the friends I made were from the U.K., and the other 10% were from anywhere but France. Like, that's cool and all - good people are good people. But, come on! I had grand visions of having an epic French romance, meet a cute Parisian girl... Yeah, that never happened. 😒 In other news, the concierge in my building was never not around. Nothing got into that building without going through her first.
The thing about the unicorns thing of Parisian people (talking as a French who lived 5 years in Paris) is that basically we hate speak another langage and we re just shit in English.
And another thing is, I found this pretty common around the world that becoming friends with native people of a city, wherever you are is really hard imo 🤷♂️
I experienced this in Montreal, Barcelona, Stockholm for instance, and every native people have already their group of friends and only foreigners are opened to new friendship
And she was not cute?
@@florentd9380 100% agree, it's the same everywhere. Expats are way more open to making friends.
Most of the things you describe can be accounted on the fact that Paris is a very old city. And so, normal stuff elsewhere isn’t necessarily suited to historic Paris : buildings are old (not suited to install AC), the metro opened in 1900, most infrastructures are outdated.
Work hours can change from one industry to the next (always call by phone to make sure something is open, it takes less than a minute and saves a lot of time and energy).
Bicycle lanes are built in old, narrow, historical streets, it’s not ideal and we’re still far from a 0 car Paris, that point is 100% true. Plus bicycle culture isn’t a given, yet.
Vacation time is another à la carte topic. Depending on the convention collective of your compagny, you will have the 5 weeks garanteed plus maybe; 10 RTT, X jours d’ancienneté, récup’ and bonus time-off (in sectors like the banks, telecoms, transportations…). It’s not everyone that benefits from those privileges. Culturally, paid-vacation time is an important social victory of the 20th century, so french are very attached to it.
The metro : old lines, pic hours during the day, what can you do ? All around the world, metro lines can get crazy packed (hello, Japan) 🤷🏽♀️ Something a 30 min. adaptation to your schedule can change your daily commute. Good things exists or are coming : line 14 will soon have 8-wagons trains and is PMR accessible, new lines are being dug as we speak, automatisation of lines are on-going :) Bright side : stairs will help you keep fit from drinking wine and eating delicious croissants 🙃 Joke aside, I travel will a huge backpack, it’s way more practical than a suitcase.
Smoking : yep, I agree it’s the worst 👎🏼 Gouvernment isn’t doing enough to put a stop on cigarette consumption.
Green spaces : have you been to Cour Saint-Émilion ? It’s quite nice for a picnic, a sieste or just reading a book under a tree. But yeah again, old/historic city with narrow streets to stop enemy incursion. Boulevards are wide only because they allow for a full cavalry charge (Hello, 19th century Haussmann) 😅 You should visit the Musée Carnavalet, you will better understand the history of Paris (which is very interesting).
Real parisians : those are rare creatures ! Not that many people are born and raised in Paris for many generations 🤫 Mainly due to the cost of living when you have a whole family.
Bad service : true, true and true. It’s usually much better in smaller bars and restaurants de quartier ;) You will learn to be polite but very firm with waiters so that they understand you’re not to be fu**** with. Don’t bother with the addition, go the counter and be done with it 😂
To each their own, there is room for improvements, always 🙏🏼🇫🇷
Your photos and posts are beautiful. Your article on your TH-cam page is very nice and beautiful. The posts and pictures you shared caught my eye and they are great. I added you but failed. If you don't mind, send me a friend request or message me on messenger and I'll be happy to hear from you. Thank you and stay safe.
The stairs in the metro station are a little hell when you have a big luggage with you,but there are always people who offer help with the luggage on the stairs 😹which is great 😹
Oh yeah, u made lots of good points here, in your reply! The only thing is about smoking: cigarette packs a very expensive now, and of course it is banned to smoke in public places, so there are less and less smokers here!
@@Rango965 i didn't knew that is banned to smoke in public places 😂
@@wolfiesasha887 lol, yes it is, but u can smoke on the terraces of the restaurants, for example.. probably not to ruin completely their business! Also It reminds me of another point: poops in the streets. In Paris, now it changed a lot, since a huge public campaign of ads was ran in the city, so people now have all their little bags when they go outside with their dog. At least, it is true in most places I've been too, and it definitely changed in general, for the better :-).
This video has a little bit of different funky vibe to it. I like it!
I've lived in France (not Paris, but another big city in the middle of France) for 10 years, and could relate to every single point you made here, and that's why I left 😅. I'd say Paris and France in general are still great with a lot to see and to experience as a visiter, but to live there and dealing with these issues on daily basis is really a pain in the ass.
As someone who was born and raised in San Francisco (a city that attracts ALOT of newbies) I can attest that when I was younger, I would make friends with people who originally came out from out town to live in our fair city. And you know what? They only stay in SF for a couple of years and then complain about how expensive it is here and off they go to another city. I don't blame the Parisians because it is not worth the emotional bandwith to get to know someone (or rather, many someones) who is going to move somewhere else anyway.
My experience in Paris was definitely a juxtaposition of constantly feeling like you're living la vie en rose while getting incredibly infuriated because of the simplest things. I remember charging my metro card and it charged my account the 80 euros but didn't actually activate the pass. This was the most nightmarish process because there is no electronic record of the transaction... just the tiny billet with warm ink that wipes as soon as you touch it?? Never resolved that.. but also the simplest pleasures felt infinitely more enjoyable there so I loved the city at the same time. Definitely agree with a lot of these and would love to see a video on what you love about Paris.
😤 its always about politic
That’s called a rip-off
Oh no.. nothing worse than dealing with the ticket office in the metro... they're so unhelpful. I live in Paris and despite the drawbacks, I can't help but love living here. It's the simple pleasures as you said, like watching the sunset over the seine with friends and a paper cup of wine :D
Speaking as an American who has also spent a significant amount of time in Paris, I couldn't agree more re: difficulty receiving packages and doing business. International travel is a great way to fall in love with other cultures but it also helps you appreciate the luxuries of home.
I'm actually French, and don't stop to say at my foreings friends that Paris isn't like in the movies, isn't that romantic, clean etc.. For people who live in the luxe, they can have beautiful hotel, beautiful views.. but for "normal" tourist, it's more than different. I hope you love France and you enjoy it 🤍 send you so much love ! ( sorry for my english bruuuh)
Ur English sounds good
@@DEY-G oh thank you !
The first time I visited Paris and on the first night we went out to dinner, I was looking at the menu and was surprised by the prices of the food especially since the restaurant didn’t appear to be fancy. So the waiter comes by and I ask, in French, if the plates are for sharing ( which in my mind would an explanation for why the prices seemed so high. Well the indignation that came at me was next level. I think he was as offended by the question as I was by the prices. We ordered, we ate, food was ok, never went back and aim to never go into a restaurant that didn’t have menus posted outside and that we always looked at before sitting down.
We’ve also experienced having to wait, be ignored at cafes in Paris and your advice to just get up and walk to the next one is good. Like there are so many of them, in this case you’re totally voting with your feet. Don’t beg people to take your money…that’s my motto.
Totally agree on the smoking issue. During my visit my friend got sick because everywhere we went there were people smoking all around us. I wanted so badly to enjoy a coffee sitting outside of a café and every time decided to stay inside. 🤷🏼♀️ But I still loved the visit.❤ AMAZING!
I saw a gorgeous girl in a cafe that I would have tried to meet until I saw her both vaping and smoking to fit in with her friends. Bleh.
Nathaniel, I was directly involved with Sister Cities in Caen for many years and still have great friends there. What you describe about Paris, I think is endemic to large cities where life is so pressured and where the very dense packing of people, I think, does cause a certain mentality of sticking together with those you know and trust. I think natives of New York City and its inner-Borroughs might agree. I think your search for "Parisians" may be offbase because, Paris, like most great cities is a city of people from somewhere else. Anybody who has settled in Paris, London, or New York, for instance, are "real residents" after a few years. I do enjoy your videos and hope you enjoy your life in Paris.
Spot on insight. I have observed the same behavior in large cities and cities with transient populations (like D.C.). You don't see this behavior in other French cities.
Add Taipei and Hong Kong to that list too. These are cities where people go to seek work opportunities often times right out of college; living with friends or family to make the rent and working hard at establishing their careers. Or they are higher level managers with families moving to take positions at the company headquarters. So one can see how tight communities within the city might be. Foreigners hanging out together and speaking English or their own language as a group is seen as its own community; they often live in the same neighborhoods as well. Sometimes these foreigners say shitty things about the place they are living while hanging out in a group in public, thinking that the locals don't understand them- surprise, some of them do. Working with locals at a company, living in a neighborhood where you might be the only foreigner, or joining some sort of club/activity such as cycling, Vespa club... helps one to get to the know the locals and doing it by yourself so you seem more approachable. Tim Ferriss must have made some local friends as he learned to dance the Tango in Argentina, don't you think? My closest friends of over 20 years in the foreign country I live in are from this country. I feel my experience is much richer for these friendships than the relationships I ever had with the other foreigners that passed through, staying one or two years, hitting up the pubs and telling the same stories year after year after year. "Hey man, I was at this beach in Bali... "Hey man, I was at this beach in Thailand... Doesn't one want to live abroad in order to experience life abroad, not just live in a foreign country surrounded by their fellow countrymen?
I agree. Same experience in London.
Nah I live in NYC. it's not hard to find someone born and bred for generations to talk to.
@@blondscientist Me too!
I'm an American (Texan) who lived in France (Paris and Caen) for two years and NYC for 3 years. I noticed many similarities between Paris and New York during my time in both (the blunt condescending attitude, general grumpiness from the locals, the packed subways and horrible body odor during the summer months, stairs everywhere, etc). Smoking has ceased a lot in NYC though, unlike Paris. Which I just chalked up to "hey they're French, it's just how they do" lol. The constant "vacances" and 2 hour lunch times can be a nuisance, but I'm American so it's something that totally goes against our work ethic, making it difficult to comprehend. Having said that, I know I'd love all the vacation time if I were French so probably just jealous ha. Think with any large, packed city, you have people literally fighting for their space, and it results in a perpetual poor attitude. Even I, while in NYC, got a bit dismissive after a while when tourists would always ask me how to get to the Empire State Building or wherever. You're trying to get to work and you simply just don't have the time to stop, and you become part of the environment you live in, it happens. My 5 years in Los Angeles gave me the attitude of "Chill out, I'll get to it later", which is the laid back vibe of that city. All in all, I still love Paris and NYC, there are so many great things about each and, imo, the good far outweighs the bad as you stated. And I would suggest anyone who has the means to spend time in both cities. You will definitely learn a lot if anything.
You're right in comparing Paris to New York, and the Parisians to the New Yorkers. Have you left Paris to visit the real country in the provinces? Different people, generally much friendlier, not so stressed - unless naturally you go to other touristic traps like the Riviera in summer.
This being said, as a Frenchman and a European, I'm deeply attached to our "work to live, not live to work" culture; just relax and enjoy your free time. Overworking yourself ans others is simply counter-productive. Do you know that the French are considered as being among the most productive people when at work? A sound professional vs private life balance is the key - time to rest and remove stress, time to work without stress.
@@jfrancobelge Bonjour Sir! You are so right. France is beautiful and their are other places for a foreigner to explore then Paris. I have plans to leave the USA and move to one of France Provinces. I'm already looking into Aixe, Bordeaux, etc. Your country is so beautiful and I can't wait to leave for Paris soon. I will hopefully be a student studying French as a Second Language.
What’s a “work ethic”?
@@thetobyg He means having to work 2/3 jobs just to have the minimum, i think, although he calls it work ethic.
Hey, I'm an upstate New Yorker and I think the City people are great. I fell and got knocked out in Boston and no one helped me at all. When I came to, everyone was standing around taking pictures and videos. I got tripped at an intersection n NY City and what seemed like hundreds of hands lifted me up like I was a feather and put me back on my feet. People came at me from all angles to ask me if I was okay and to return every nickle and do-dad that fell out of my purse.
I've been a fan of your channel for a while, and I've seen your progress in France throughout the years. I got accepted to a college exhibition program in France and will be in Paris for two weeks. It's extremely surreal to get the chance to experience the environment you live in. This is great information that I will keep in mind. Looking forward to see what it's like for myself.
That's awesome! I've been living in Paris for 10 years, if you need any tips feel free to reach out. Hope you enjoy your time here!
Even Paris has changed! When I lived there in the mid sixties, the guardiens were called concierges and they were on duty 24/7, as they lived in the ground floor apartment right next to the entrance. The concierge was actually often the middle-aged wife of the man, who maybe had another day job.
Those people were paid but now nobody wants to pay them, and they can't stay in the ground floor apartments anymore. Life is more expensive and less easy than it used to be. So there it is.
My sister and I vacationed in Paris back in 2008. We loved Paris. It helped that we knew some French and I surprised myself and was able to converse better than I thought. The French do appreciate when you try, even just saying Bon Jour. I found the majority of people very nice. A few were rude but no more than if I was in a large US city. I would go back again but physically not a good idea since Paris is definitely a walking city but so beautiful. Thank you France.
We just got to Paris mid-June to spend the Summer here and work remotely from the States. So far, the biggest downer has been the theft in this city. Most people would assume I mean pickpocketing, but it goes well beyond that. Within 24 hours of arriving, our rental apartment was burglarized. The Paris police department was surprisingly very helpful and friendly. After we relocated and shook that nightmare off, 2 weeks later a package we had delivered from UPS had been partially torn open and an item stolen. While it’s possible that we have just been unlucky (we are doing all of the things possible to not stick out), I have to say that neither of these situations have ever happened to us in the States, and we’ve lived in NYC, Chicago & LA. The delivery experience has been spot on with what you’ve said and while our building has a ‘Guardian’, they are rarely there to accept packages. We’re hoping that our next 2 months are better than the first. Otherwise, I will admit that the city is beautiful and certainly has its charm, and the food is beyond amazing.
@Jérôme Vallé Maybe you should stop mass immigration of people from poor countries and the crime will stop.
@Jérôme Vallé Then the governement is your enemy.
I am French but live in the USA. I came back to France in MAy after 10 years… and the FIRST thing i realized and complained about is the service ! You have to raise your hand to catch the attention of the waiter, and what we realized real fast is that once we have the waiter we order the drinks and food at the same time because otherwise it takes another 10 or 15 mn to get his attention. Then I taught my wife, who’s American, to raise her hand and say “L’addition SVP” at the end. This is great when you are a Parisian and you have time, but when you’re a tourist and you’ve a limited time it can be very frustrating to waste 2 hours at a Bar/Restaurant 😅
I specifically asked to pay first to avoid the wait. They would bring my food and payment machine at the same time. Love it, lets you not worry about getting their attention and enjoying your meal. You can leave whenever you want
I'd love to see the opposite video about what you love from your unique perspective. Not the tourist point of view, but a more in depth perceptive perspective
You pay taxes, you have 100% cover for serious illness treatment.
Nathaniel. Parisians and French people are out of touch with their emotions. Not kidding. I have been an expat off and on since I was 5 1/2 years old and struggle to understand why my countrymen can be so stubborn and rude, and so kind and humorous and generous at other times. I love this video. Thank you for make it. Not all French women smoke. My mom doesn’t and I don’t either. Unfortunately my daughter got addicted to nicotine and vaped for a little while. She isn’t anymore. I love France and the regions that my parents are from. But I could live wherever God sends me.
Thank you for this video! I’ve been to Paris a few times, the last time I was there they couldn’t find my friends suitcase at the airport. On our last night there I happened to be in the lobby at midnight when they delivered it. Since we were leaving the next morning, we almost lost missed getting the suitcase. Your comments about how poor they are delivering things put a new light on this episode. Merci❣️
As a Parisian, I can say that we exist and we are nice people!
It sounds like he just needs more opportunity to meet people and adapt to the fact that most european countries don't become friendly with foreigners quickly, it takes time.
J ai vecu a paris presque 10 ans et franchement ce video ne m etonne pas. Nathaniel a raison. Les parisiens 100% se mélangent pas trop avec 'les autres'.
Nalia - Maybe YOU are the UNICORN that he needs! Reach out! :)
This made me laugh so much, especially for les serveurs ! C'est tellement vrai ! I'm Parisian and we can be friends !
You accurately captured what my family and I experience and don’t like about Paris. It’s a beautiful city but it does have some flaws. This video was honestly one of my favorites that you’ve done and I hope you make more candid and entertaining videos like this 🙏🏻
I hate when Google Maps says it's open but it's not! And the smoking is outraging, I'm a 100% with you on this...
I was born there in the late 40's and took all the opportunities to leave and moved far away.
Now live in Northern California Bay Area for the last 41 years.
You describe the issues of this beautiful city marvelously well.
Thank you for sharing
I'm in the end process of moving to Paris but I know the city / French people well already (fluent in French) and could not agree more with everything in this video. It's an amazing city that gives you so many beautiful moments/feelings but just like NYC (where I'm moving from), it has its fair share of negative things about it. Great work!
Paris is fabulous, not perfect. And no systems are efficient until the user understands them. When an American arrives in France with American assumptions, it’s frustrating. But any Latin country is organized this way and they are fine with it. You will find that as a smiling American speaking French you will get consideration à grumpy Parisian won’t get. Just remember always, even the most beautiful isn’t perfect, it’s just the most beautiful! You will never want to leave to live anywhere else until retirement….. like me. I lived there a total of 23 years including the last 21. I miss the food, the trees, the Metro, the cinemas. Just live it and it will love you. 🇫🇷🥂
👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽
Merci de ne pas lui lécher les bottes! mdr
La France n'est pas latine (ça veut rien dire)
@@pierren___ La France n’est surtout pas Anglo-Saxone!
@@michaellaval-lindley4482 les Francs étaient bien Germains !
I find it so interesting that a lot of the points you mention can also be applied to Berlin, even though it's a totally different country. The problem with bike lanes, locals not excepting foreigners, the opsession with finding green spots in the city, bad service people.
I guess big cities in Europe can be similar.
you're right in most of the points, but the green areas? Berlin has a lot of parks and they're amazing! is one of the things that keep me alive here :D
@@dannbaron Probably depends on where you live. But most parks in the city center are just overcrowded green patches where people don't clean up after themselves. And people are obsessed with making their balconies or "Hinterhöfe" more green.
If you want to experience nature you would have to go to outside areas like Grunewald, Tegel or Müggelsee.
Your video brings back "fond" memories of living in France, especially Paris. It's amazing how things in France are so stubbornly unchangeable.
I'm an American living in Rome and this is all so relatable! Lol. I've been an expat for 15 years all over the world and I'm still not 'used' to it, but my sense of humor around most of these issues has improved. Thanks for the video!
Omg watching your video I can feel my stress rising just hearing the things you dont like about living in France. I am Canadian and have lived in Spain and now for the past year in France and I can say both countries are equally as frustrating. I live in Montpellier. I find the south to be more laidback but the ppl are More spicy lol I love it.
Montpellier is quite nice, i used to live in Avignon few years ago, which was good time too by the way !
Bonjour ! I'm french and i love Montpellier ! Also Sète , which as an amazing market , beautiful museum like the " MIAM " , art galleries etc
En tant que parisienne qui vit actuellement en Amérique latine je trouve cette liste hilarante! Ma liste des trucs que je déteste à Paris est interminable mais complètement différente de la tienne ! La plupart des choses que tu listes en négatif sont des positifs pour moi (le métro, même s'il pue, les pistes cyclables, la clope, les serveurs..). Le seul point d'accord ce sont les parcs qui ont en plus le toupet d'être grillagés et fermés la nuit!
I think it really depends, like many cases, in the people. I visit Paris 4-5 times a year - almost all the experiences were super positive. I live in Belgium right on the border and so we spend A LOT of time in France (every week).
Paris is different from the rest of the country- because there are so many people, so many different cultures- and SO many tourists. If you will go to the touristic places- there is more chance that the servers will be less nice to you. But in most places we always received good service (in restaurants I mean).
I'm TOTALLY with you about the smoking. As someone who really hates cigarettes- it's almost impossible to sit on a terras and breath clean air. The metro as well. If you're older, have a physical difficulty, even if you're with a buggy for a baby or a toddler- it's not easy.
Something else that can make me mad is the amount of scammers around the touristic areas. It is INSANE.
But after all that said- if I had the possibility- I would probably move to Paris, for sure.
Haha I love that Paris wins our hearts despite all the drawbacks. I've been here for 10 years. Hope you'll make the move one day!
I love your Blog/Vlog, I love France & I'm not even French, they have an air of worth, style, & importance like Americans, but in a different way. I also have an encyclopedia of things I hate about America where I'm from as well.
The thing with the restaurants is 1. They don’t like to hire enough of serveurs 2. They don’t like to pay them well 3. Not many young French are encouraged to work in this branch. So you have like 2 grumpy serveurs for one big restaurant in Paris, when in NYC it would be 6 happy waitresses.
1:18 If you think the food delivery systems are bad now, then you would have REALLY hated it before. I moved to France in 2001 and having food delivered was practically unheard of. Compared to how things were before, I feel like the French have really stepped up their game when it comes to having food delivered. I don't doubt that there is still stuff to be worked out but it's infinitely better than before.
Was he talking about food? I think he was talking about packages other than food.
@@paulhamrick3943 ah ok. I thought he was just talking about having things delivered in general. If he was talking about package delivery, then yeah, that sucks too.
When I lived there, food delivery did not exist at all.
Hey, i haven't watched your videos for few months and can see some changes, for example you are now much more confident in front of the camera! Great video, will come back for more :)
Hey Nathaniel, do you find people in France equally positive and friendly as in Mexico? I've lived in Mexico for two years and people there smile at you, say hello in the street, and overall are very hospitable. I've been to France too but a long time ago so I don't remember lol
Absolutely not
My personal travel experience (5 times in France) has been nothing but positive, even in Paris. Shop owners remember my face more than they do here in the U.S. . "How are you doing," is an empty phrase in the U.S. Go to France, and Paris, say bonjour to everyone you meet at a shop and you will be treated fine.
of course not! Latinos are wayyy more friendly in the first place. That doesn't mean tho that French people can be kind when you meet them more.
i've definiely felt the same in mexico. the people in general are super warm in every city/town that I've visited there and it makes me want to go back again really soon. Im not sure about Paris since I've never been there but whenever I've met Parisian or french people in general they tend to stick with their people and quite cold to foreigners compared to other nationalities.
The French protect their rights so don't have to softsoap foreigners. They work the strict minimum and concentrate on their leisure. Because they can. The more needs you have covered, the less you feel the need to please others.
I couldn't agree with you more in the overall sense about Pairs. I felt the same as I have lived there briefly back in early 2000's and decided I couldn't live there. However, I must say I did not have such rude wait staff experiences. I found it being polite, smiling and speaking a little French (even though, my French is very limited) really made a difference in how they treated me. Moreover, when I was hospitalized for 3 weeks there, the doctors and nurses treated me very kindly.
On 2014, I visited Paris with my husband, my parents, sister and her husband. My husband and I hated it (ok not HATED but disliked it) I could see the magic everyone talks about. Funny enough, this video talks about the exact same things we noticed 😁
We want to give Paris a chance though, we are planning to go back during Spring.
I'm a brazilian who lived in Paris for a couple of years, and I have to say I love the labor rights in France. If anything, on the contrary: for me having too many parisians in my circle was what scarred my sanity. I would hate the romanticization of melancholy within them and how they can come across as gloomy narcissists whilst thinking it's sexy. As for cigarettes, totally agree.
Let me try to explain N0 5, bike lanes sometimes go in opposite direction as the car so that bikers can more easily see when a cars drives towards them and they have enough time to react if they see the car going straight toward them. Obviously, if there is a bunch of motorcycles that takes space, it defeats the purpose but at least you get the idea for the lanes in opposite direction.
I can see you are camouflaging yourself with the white and black stripe shirt! it's just harder to get friends as you grow older people just get busy with their lives and their friendships are already established and filtered to even smaller groups. Love your content man keep it coming.
Thank you for taking the time to do this video. I live in New York City, came here 8 years ago from Europe (Romania ) and I want to do a similar video. Big cities come with their big problems. I visited Paris twice and the architecture and the culture are impressive, but there was some downs too. You got a follower!
I came to this channel because I was curious about what foreigners thought about Paris and most of the things you mentioned are on point. Especially the density and lack of green space
My biggest complaint about Paris is the fact that it's just so CRAMPED UP. I am always so amazed when I come back home to my Eastern European country and realize I can eat lunch without overhearing the next table's entire conversation or having to stand in line to sit down at a coffeeshop. From elevators to the metro seats, everything is tiny and it feels suffocating sometimes.
Plus, go to, let's say CZ or RO, and the feeling us very different, i.e. way more relaxed and free. After the terrorist attacks France is about to become a control (freak) state (or is one already): cameras, facial recognition paired with AI, robocops. Liberté, egalité, fraternité? Forget about that.
Same Shit in london it’s horrible to live in
Well go to see Rome...😅
Try New York City then (wretched to say the least)
Over the past 10 years, I have lived in 5 different countries and 7 different cities (among them also Paris) and I would be surprised if you last in Paris for more than 5 years. Nice thing is that you can rent out your place any time, go somewhere where else and just visit the city occassionially whenever you fancy. All the best!
I don’t know about anyone else, but I think it’s so easy to romanticise big cities, especially European cities, (not that there’s anything wrong with it); but it’s always refreshing to hear about the daily challenges or differences from other cities. It’s also really interesting to me to see what it looks like for a normal person to live their normal life, in these big famous cities like Paris. Really liked this video :)
You're right, Paris does get romanticised a lot! I think he made some interesting points but there are definitely solutions available to some of the issues he brought up.
As a Londoner I was watching this & wandering what he was really complaining about until the Metro, that does really confuse me here in London you can just top up your oyster & just go, the navigo system is so much less efficient than what we have, but generally as a Londoner, Paris is just so much better & more chill than London, other than the fashion where we embrace individuality in terms of style which is so much interesting. Otherwise Paris is so much better in terms of Lifestyle, food & living.
Also as an ex-smoker I really do appreciate that the French haven’t given up on the joy of a cigarette, there is nothing like a coffee & a cigarette its so chill (too be fair I am older so maybe I embraced the advertising more) & I think you are missing the joy of just chilling beside the canal in the evening it may not be a green space but its so nice to just chill in the evening with a beer & other souls discussing life beside the Canal.
I’ve been learning French for the past few months and considering getting over there in the future, this is only selling it to me more
The bit about grumpy waiters annoys me the most - the point where you try to make eye contact so that you can ask for _l'addition_ is probably my most stressful experience in Paris.
Lool, I'm Italian and I lived in the US (moved back to Italy recently). I can totally relate 🤣. Even though Italy it's not French, it has its own ways to be stuck in the 13th century...
I just recently went to Paris and London (by EuroStar which was amazing btw) and I preferred London to Paris. Also, not being able to make friends is not a uniquely Parisian thing. I heard a lot of people saying the same thing about Swiss people and we don't have the same amout of tourists coming through our cities. Finally, I found Paris to be dreadful during the winter months when I lived there a few years back. It is much nicer if you can get out of those tiny apartements and acutally enjoy the architectural and historical beauty that the city has to offer.
Eurostar trips to London from Paris are great. A couple hours of relaxing and you’re in another of the world’s best cities. Super convenient.
I agree, I've been living in Paris for 10 years and I had more trouble making friends with like-minded people during my year in London than here. Where in Switzerland are you from? I visited Zurich in 2020 and fell in love with your country. It's so beautiful and clean, compared to Paris haha.
@@cecily_alice I live just outside of Bern which is a bit smaller than Zurich. It has a refreshing river (Aare) which a lot of people use to cool down during these hot months...
@@ricopoisson I looks lovely! 🤩
I was in Berlin during a heatwave….I will never never NEVER complain about the NYC Subway again in this lifetime. It may be dirty, but goddamn, at least there’s AC there, and everywhere else in August….🥵
Wow. Your observations on the frustruations of Paris resonate with me so much, even back to my first summer in Paris 40 years ago! For the most part I love Paris, but as they say, "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
I unfortunately had a terrible experience in Paris which had nothing to do with any of these reasons. People were so rude in the interactions I had, and I found people always staring and giving me dirty looks which I assume is because I'm a fully covered poc 😭 I felt really down and anxious the whole time I was there.
yeah, they likely don't care about your race but your hijab. It's a bit of an affront to their secular, and very anti-clerical values
You wouldn't walk around Baghdad in a bikini.
@@saintsaens21 what point are you trying to make? No one walks around anywhere in a bikini except a beach.
France should just be upfront and admit they don’t care about freedom of choice and that they want only their own way enforced.
@@saaa.aa9578 that's not their perspective. You would have to look into their history and understand their culture a bit more before judging their value judgments made in their country. In any case, they are very much forward about it and have passed laws about religious symbols of all kinds in government, schools, etc. However you can wear what you want on the street, you have the choice, but people don't have to like it. What you will get will range from polite, silent toleration to outright hostility like what you experienced. People who go beyond this, who harass or worse are breaking the law.
I really like the video! You are not wrong about Paris. It is good information for people so they are not surprised when they finally do visit. We have a holiday home in Normandie, and run into the 2 hour shutdown all the time, got kicked out of a Brico store when they turned off the lights once😆
Aha, man, I'm French and I'm back in France (not by choice, was in Ukraine before) for like 2 months now. I usually spend no more than a month per year here. I travel 90% of the time.
That video is ON POINT bruh. Honestly, I don't know why you are living in Paris (I'm from Bordeaux which is so much better, yes, it's 100% biased) but ok, Paris has a charm I suppose :).
My partner Yana, Ukrainian, started learning French and therefore getting more into the "culture" and she is literally complaining about all of this Ahah. Me too by the way.
Well, I'm to the point where I'm not even living here anymore so, yeah...
Anyways, I'm sending that one to Yana, great content! Here are some thoughts from a local, but before, Paris is not the most beautiful city in the world because it’s Bordeaux :). That looks so much like Paris that half the Parisians live here now (2h TGV from the capital) and it's also called the little Paris because it looks like it (Haussmannian architecture).
1. 🚚 Deliveries
That is EVERYWHERE in France... Our post office is managed by "fonctionnaires" state employees that have ZERO incentives to do their job because they can't be fired. They have a master key to open doors by the way if you have one of those RFID things on your doorbell, but even with that, they seem to be physically incapable of opening them…
2. 🤢 French are allergic to work
You nailed it. Not much to add here, it is 100% true, period. The French love to say, especially to Americans, that they work to live and not live to work. Nope, they are just lazy fucks.
3. ⚽ Vacation time is basically all the time
Yes, and especially during summer. Nothing works in France between July and August. And if a religious-free day happens to be on a Thursday the national sport is to take Friday as a free day to have a 4-day break.
4. 🚴♂ Bikers vs. Cars
Yeah lol. France wants to be "progressive" and look "green" so we have city bikes you can rent in every major city and bike lanes. But, those are new in the grand scheme of things. We want to copy Germany which has as many bike lanes as there are roads and the culture that goes with it because it's been like that for ages. But not in France, nobody cares, so if you drive a bike, you risk your life. The car will insult you, pedestrians will insult you, everybody will insult you aha.
5. Ⓜ The Metro
That is a Parisian thing mostly as it's the biggest we have, but every other place that has a metro or a tram or train or whatever, same shit. If you are disabled in France or need to walk with a suitcase, just stay home.
6. 🚬 Smoking
Jesus, honestly I think we are the most retarded people on the planet with that. If you smoke you have a 50% chance of dying from a smoking-related disease and now there is even an alternative to normal cigarettes like a vape that doesn’t smoke, but no, in France we want to smoke the worst shit, and pollute everybody else with it.
7. 🌳 Green spaces
Yeah... We have beautiful parks, but, they cover like 0.01% of our urban space...
8. 🦄 Parisians are unicorns
Aha, let me rephrase that one for you. Parisians are assholes. Anyone not from Paris in France will confirm that one.
9. 💩 Bad service
That is probably one of the most annoying things to me and it's directly related to #2 sadly. If you don't want to do your freaking job which is "serving customers" wtf dude... The service in France is the most ridiculous I have ever seen and I've been living in many many places from Central America, Asia, Eastern Europe, etc... You get to pay a premium anywhere you go with the lowest quality of service possible. And Frenchs don't care because they don't even know what good service is...
On a final note, about friendship, Yana is living the same thing. All the friends she made are rather foreigners or French that travel which to be honest just tells you that you are on another level/world/view and that in the end, it's probably for the best.
I personally have friends from my student years and to be honest, we have very little to share anymore. They are into 9 to 5 routines with kids and concerns that are completely disconnected to mine so, I don't think you lose too much here.
French love French, French food, the French language, and French culture which 100% limits their world views compared to someone that travels and speaks & reads English. You get to listen to content, authors, etc… that will eventually be translated into French years after if ever.
Okay, that was a bit of a rant, but hey, that was fun :).
Thanks for sharing! 😉
Say hi to Rue d'Aviau and St Emilion for me. I worked for the winemakers Édouard Moueix and Véronique Sanders ten years ago. Great times.
I’m an English guy living in Lyon for the past 7 years and I can relate to a lot of this. Especially the bit about places being closed randomly. It’s like they don’t want to make money!
I follow you since years and never commented anything. But I couldn't just let this video pass by. I am a European expat in Paris, I honestly think your point of view is a little bit too American somehow. However I do share the pain of all the stairs and struggle for disabled people
The rest is just Europe, and the beauty of not being such an anonymous city :)
Just came back from Paris and the last thing about forgetting that they gave you the check is soooo relatable. I had to sit there for like 20 mins trying to make eye contact with some waiter while occasionally trying to sort of wave my hand at them in frustration. It literally happened to us every single time we went out to eat somewhere 😂
There must really be a French waiter's school that teach a course on ignoring your customers. You get an "A" if you can successfully ignore your costumers even if he's right in your face.
In America we would just walk the F*** out
It’s totally a thing I don’t get it - except the staff doesn’t care about getting a good tip. My defense is to carry plenty of cash and just leave it on the table. Then there’s the problem of getting the check in the first place. More than once, I’ve gone to look for the server after a long spell of not seeing a server. I ask ever so politely and they produce it at once.
@@worldview730 I would do the same here in Norway 😆
Just start walking out & they'll run
I just moved to Munich from the US and the work/vacation culture was such a shock! I am legally required to take 6 weeks worth of vacation in the fiscal year in Munich, and in the US I never took my full vacation allowance.. and in Munich I can only legally work 40 hours a week with time tracking. Oh and everything is closed on Sundays and by 8pm all other days. Totally relate to you lol.
Americans: The unproductive work slaves…
I would only work for a U.S. company in Germany since local salaries are ridiculously low and taxes are insane. I have also found that German food also sucks. I take months long vacations saving-up every year here in the US and also between jobs.
As a French i am definitely agree with you ! Even if i had millions to buy a flat there, i wouldn't ! I feel definitely more connected with foreigners than French people... I am so glad to hear those points from you, because so many people in other countries think that it's amazing to live in Paris ! I think (and of course i can be wrong) but The Netherlands or Berlin would be way better for you
And we can easily talk about the dirty streets and bad smells in the subway 🤭
@@MiizuFr Exactly ! It's an abomination ! Yuk !
Hi Nathaniel, As a long time Londoner who originally came from South Africa I enjoyed your post on Paris. It can also be excrutiatingly difficult to do business in Paris, they make you sign NDAs before you even discuss the weather because they know they are going to try to rip you off and they want to muzzle you before the process commences. But to be fair the Parisian disease of thinking they are the only ones who know what is going on, is also true of New York. While making friends with the locals in Paris is tricky, which is equally true of London, regional cities like Lyon are a very different story. Lyon is a welcoming and warm city. It is not an arsehole-free-zone, nowhere is, but it is a wonderful city to live, with great restuarants and a super convenien location for European travel. To be fair to Paris it has enormous charm and incredible cultural depth, museums, libraries, experts, shops, fashion, food and architecture that is endlessly inspirting. London's Tate Modern may win on numbers of visitors but art and design is more integrated into Parisian life.I agree with you that a lot of Paris' soft power as a city - like London - comes from the fact that it is an international cross roads with lots of expat residents. Anyway, pluses and minuses notwithsanding, I simply love France, with an instinctive visceral, it-makes-me feel-great kind of love. That says a lot.
Well-spoken, thank you. I'm American and believe, rightly or not, that it takes either much more privilege or financial risk for us to travel to and across the Continent than for, let's say, an Englishman. So, whenever I decide to see France, it may very well be my only time to visit, and I'd like to make it worthwhile. How long is reasonable to truly experience places like Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and anywhere else that absolutely must be visited?
@@bordaz1 If you think you only have one shot at visiting France I wouldn’t go for less than 2-3 weeks and I would mix modes of transport. List your passions and plan carefully. Frankly it’s all amazing but I would not leave without seeing the French Alps. Many of the things that people love about France are pretty evenly spread across the country. Try to learn a bit of the language before you go. Enjoy!
I am French, living in Paris for 10 years now and this video is hilarious ... this is soooo true 😂 everything single things mentioned in this video here is absolutely correct... Parisians are unicorns 🦄 👏👏
I studied my Bachelors in Paris and stayed there for a few years. I felt every single thing you described. At the end I got depressed and moved to Shanghai. I think it's time for you to start thinking about your next destination ! 😎
😄sure, he just bought an apartment in Paris, sell it already? lol
Regarding the bad service: Frenchman who grew up in Sweden; from my experience this can be a misconception foreigners easily make, to us they seem really rude but it would seem we (foreigners) simply approach the situation wrongly.
We lack confidence. You have to shout to the waiter and raise your hand up in the air very dominantly to get attention. Also the way you ask for the menu might come across as passive aggressive or even rude, specially if you're already annoyed that the waiter didn't notice you. French people can get very fixated on word choice and etiquette. Simply starting with can i have the card versus, good evening, how are you doing? Would it be possible to get a card and already ordering the drinks to save the waiter another trip will probably result in a very different outcome.
I think if you don't grow up in a french household it can be very hard to understand how choice of words is so critical to communication for french people. They'll often over interpret what you're saying but won't really show you directly that what you said ticked them, instead they'll use the same choice of words or even mannerisms back but in a much more pronounced way. And that's were a lot of foreigners assume french people are rude: they're giving you the attitude back. Another french person would pick up on this and then clear any misunderstanding by asking if everything is okay and clearing what they meant.
Just be a lot more dominant (less shy) when going to a restaurant when ordering and don't forget the waiter is primarily a human being in France whom you're also supposed to greet and not just someone there to serve you.
Forget the idea of service altogether, start seeing the waiter as a friend, and you'll probably have a way nice time in France.
I'll add about being shy: growing up in Sweden I'd be very shy compared to Frenchmen when visiting relatives in France. From my experience, people can interpret it as you not thinking they're doing a good enough job to put you at ease or host you, that you don't enjoy your time with them or that they intimidate you. It's very hard for the open Frenchman to comprehend you might like them but still keep a distance to them. They pick up on the walls one sets up very easily.
This clears up a lot, and I like the way you explain how to look at waiters for example, and how to communicate politely.
I agree with you. When my husband and I stayed in Pairs, we never had a problem. But I was raised with not only what you say but how you say it.
amazing and very illuminating comment, thank you!
MY TWO CENTS: if you get a dog, parisians people will be much more friendly with you. Tested and approved :)
Have people in Paris , started to pick up after their dogs ?
hahaha I have also tested and approved this method! Works like a charm!
@@Jay-vr9ir the streets are definitely cleaner than it used to be, much less dog 💩!
I'm French myself and same.. all my friends are either foreigners or french that have lived abroad it's crazy I totally get you
It's funny this came up in my feed the day after I returned from 8 days in Paris. I was there for a work trip, so my time was split between work, and exploring. The heat was disgusting this past week- and basically I agree with everything you said. I did get to enjoy Paris during Bastille, and that was amazingly wonderful. The positives still out weight these complaints, so thats great!
I've been living in Paris for 10 years and the positives continue to outweigh the negatives too haha. Glad you enjoyed your time here!