Things I Love About French People As An American Living In Paris

I was curled up in a fortress of patchwork quilted blankets, watching the elegant Audrey Hepburn illuminate my tiny television screen. It was an evening in the summertime in my early teens, and I still remember it so clearly. A summer storm had just rolled in, and as usual, my mom turned off all the lights in the cabin so that we could enjoy the storm instead of being afraid of it. We watched the lighting show, and somewhere in the middle, she must have decided that it was the perfect time to introduce me to the film Sabrina. In the film, Sabrina (played by Audrey Hepburn) goes to France and returns totally transformed. She oozes elegance with every movement, word, and way about her after she comes back from her trip. I won’t spoil too much, in case you haven’t yet seen the movie, but this movie changed me. I, too, wanted to experience what Sabrina went through in the movie. I wanted to see what she saw and go to this magical world called France!

Now, years later, I’m actually living in France. I understand why the main character came back a different person. It’s pretty difficult not to be changed from an experience like living abroad. One discovers so many new ways of seeing the world. Here are a few things that I love about French culture after discovering life in La France.

True friendships

In my experience, I’ve found that French people are not as open as Americans. Sadly, visiting foreigners who don’t understand French culture can sometimes misinterpret this. They might not be as open and enthusiastic about small talk as Americans, but when you’ve made a French friend, you’ve made a friend for life. I admire how much friendship means to the French. You are one lucky person once a French person decides they like you and consider you a friend!

If you want to know more about how to make French friends, I go into further detail about it in this article:

French people’s love for la boulangerie

I often kid with my fiance that the reason I chose to move to France was solely for the bakeries! Though we laugh about it, there is a bit of truth to the statement. Bread just wasn’t the same after I tasted what French bakeries had to offer! I love the aesthetics of the boulangeries, the convenience of picking up a pastry on my way home if I wish to, and the unlimited choices I am determined to try one day. On my way back from class, I spot people with baguettes under their arms or poking out of their backpacks. It never gets old for me. It’s a part of the culture that I just find so endearing.

Love to read? Consider becoming a member! You’ll get full access to every story on Medium. Your membership also directly supports other writers and me on the platform. If you use my link, I earn a small commission. Thank you, and happy reading!