365 Days In Paris: Bienvenue Chez Mon Blog
Posted by: Leonora Epstein
Filed in:
relationships
12:00PM, Monday August 24th 2009
Nothing spells quarter-life crisis more than turning your world upside down to move to France without much thought as to how it will affect your career, happiness, relationships, or bank account.
I am about to turn 24 in a few days. And a few days after that, I’m packing up my life into two suitcases (somehow) and moving to Paris for a year. While I don’t quite fit into the mid-twenties bracket when the quarter-life crisis traditionally sets in, I knew about six months ago that it was beginning to happen.
Two years out of college, the regularity of my life had become puzzling. On the one hand, I realized how I was settling in with the idea of being a “grown-up.” On the other, the lack of transitions was starting to get to me. It’s ironic how you spend the first 22 years (if not more) of your life in transition with markers of beginnings and ends. Change, to me, was a comforting constant.
During this two-year period, I began dreaming of Paris. I’d spent my junior year abroad there. It wasn’t the most fantastic year of my life, and I even left the city thinking I’d never be able to live there again, but, yeah, I changed. A lot.
In bed, at work, on the train, at the bar, or whenever, I felt stagnant. I started escaping to Paris in my mind. Then one day, I was snapped out of my reverie. I was lamenting to a friend in passing (OK, or maybe she’d heard this story a million times before) how, “Le sighhhhh, I just want to be in Parissss. ...”
“You know what, Leo?” she said in a sharp tone, “Just go. If you don’t want to be here, don’t be here.”
She sounded annoyed and her words stung me. But only momentarily. Why don’t you go? I asked myself. The time would be now, after all, before I settled in (ugh) to whatever my next “serious” job would be and before I got involved in a “serious” relationship (or worse, had kids! Crazy!).
I started planning. And man, did it take a lot of planning. I moved back in with my parents to save money (talk about regressing), had to gather massive amounts of paperwork for my visa application, and figure out a place to live. The time it took to get everything together became almost embarrassing, as I had joyously announced to everyone one day, “I’m moving to Paris!” When I was still around a few months later, people started asking, “Are you going or what?”
Please let this not be a repeat of “Revolutionary Road,” I prayed, hoping I wouldn’t back out and look like a failure.
But somehow, I managed to pull it all together. I even got extremely lucky and landed an incredible apartment—no joke, it is in the exact center of Paris, with a view of the Seine and the Notre Dame a mere two blocks away.
As much as I may feel (and sound) lost, I do know I’m more together than I’d like to believe. And, while I basically have been in a constant panic for the past month, I’m more than excited.
My goals for the year: become fluent in French, push myself to make friends, eat good food (but hopefully not gain 25 pounds like I did the last time I lived in Paris), and write a lot. I’d also like to learn how to really be comfortable alone. Then again, I really want un homme as well. I can have both, right?
So this is the beginning of my blog, “365 Days in Paris.” I hope you read along as I try to make it in Franceland, and (I won’t lie), hopefully, fall in love. If not with a guy, then with myself.
TheFrisky.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network
_jsw_
wrote on August 24 2009 @ 11:13 am: [report]
Good luck, Leo! I look forward to reading about your experience there. I wish you the best of luck in falling in love with yourself (well, not in a narcissistic way, of course), because it’s a lot easier finding the right significant other when you first feel good about who you are. Be sure to include pics when you blog. I’ve always wanted to see Paris, and, perhaps, someday I will… but until then, I’ll rely on your camera and sense of what’s interesting to be my eyes in France.
writergirl
wrote on August 24 2009 @ 11:27 am: [report]
Good luck. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to do what you’re doing. I was actually just in Paris over the summer briefly, and was in the area of your apartment. It was beautiful and nice and full of good restaurants and some seriously neat shops.
Enjoy! It is good to do it now. If you didn’t, there’s a good chance ten years from now you’ll be sitting there saying, “I should have…”
River
wrote on August 24 2009 @ 11:43 am: [report]
Go you!
At the ripe ol’ age of 23, I did the same thing—packed up and moved to London. I had spent a year in the UK during my junior year, and although I had a decent job and was living with a not-so-stellar-in-retrospect sig other, I just knew deep down it was time for me to keep moving.
So, the time is dwindling down (I move back to the States in the beginning of October) and man, can I say that the time here has taught me quite a bit.
I’ve lived on my own in a major metropolis in my very own flat, I’ve made friends, traveled Europe, contributed to three major institutions of archaeology as a consulting researcher, and been on enough romantic encounters to write a series of saucy romance novels. But the best thing I’ve learned over here, and even more so than my one year in Edinburgh, is that I can do anything. Seriously, the empowerment that comes from following your dreams is amazing.
My one word of advice? Even if you get lonely (and you will, especially 2-3 weeks in), remember that you’ve got friends and family who love you and are living vicariously through you—so the less time spent moping the better! When I felt like that, I’d take a walk on the south bank of the Thames and realize just how much of a charmed existence I have.
Good luck with your experience, and I wish you all the best. Bon courage!
ICYHOT338
wrote on August 24 2009 @ 11:45 am: [report]
Sigh..jealous!
mayorbubbles
wrote on August 24 2009 @ 12:05 pm: [report]
i can’t WAIT to read this!!!
annkit
wrote on August 24 2009 @ 12:24 pm: [report]
How exciting!! I’m jealous
Can’t wait to read the blog!!
powplz
wrote on August 24 2009 @ 12:32 pm: [report]
Don’t take too many clothes in those two suitcases - you’re going to find great stuff while you’re there. Have fun!
Lauren Fritsky
wrote on August 24 2009 @ 01:09 pm: [report]
You’re an inspiration! Have the time of your life. I’ll be following this and your other blog.
workerbee
wrote on August 24 2009 @ 04:21 pm: [report]
I am sooo jealous! I have literally been aching to pack up and move to Paris recently! This feels like another one in a long list of signs. Unfortunately I have a child and ex here so I can’t just pack up and leave. Have an incredible time, remember to live every day to it’s fullest. It may be just one year but you never know, it could end up being permanent. Either way, you don’t want to regret a single minute.
Steph9668
wrote on August 24 2009 @ 04:36 pm: [report]
Enjoy it to the fullest!
I am just about to move back to the US after an almost 4 year stay on the French Riviera. Kinda packed up and left on a whim like you are doing now. One of the greatest experiences of my life. Take advantage of Europe as well! It’s wonderful to be so close to other countries.
I haven’t lived in Paris but if I can help you about living in France I’ll certainly do my best. Feel free to send me a message if you need!
Pamela
wrote on August 24 2009 @ 06:26 pm: [report]
oh la la!!
the best of luck in paris
julseymp
wrote on August 24 2009 @ 10:37 pm: [report]
Wow! So inspiring…bonne chance!
loveitlala
wrote on August 25 2009 @ 06:16 am: [report]
Yay, I did the same thing by myself to a Latin country. Make yourself talk to people every day, because gets so lonely. Honestly, I wouldn’t do it again but you never know until you try!
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on August 25 2009 @ 01:34 pm: [report]
@Lenora: Don’t fall prey to what happens to a dozen Japanese per year, oh now! Paris doesn’t live up to my romantic expectations! I need therapy!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15391010/
Eve
wrote on August 26 2009 @ 09:00 am: [report]
I wish you the best of luck - I’ve moved countries a few times now and loved it each time, despite the difficulties and the culture shock. You’re right, change is quite addictive
I don’t know Paris very well, but I’m a native of France, so if you’ve got any questions about language or the customs or whatever, feel free to ask (though I’m guessing you already know a fair bit, having lived there before). I’ll be following your blog too
GreatSmile82
wrote on August 26 2009 @ 10:37 pm: [report]
I totally hear you about quarter life crisis! That’s what I’m going through now. I’m going to Paris, England and Scotland in October. I’m not adventurous enough yet to live there but I’ll be there for three weeks. Maybe I’ll see you! lol