Greetings from Paris! Here is a short first blog post about my initial experience of this beautiful city of Paris.
One thing that I experienced in Amsterdam that I wonder whether I would experience here in Paris is interacting with the people of Paris like we did in Amsterdam. While it is true that we were set in an environment where it was very easy for us to interact with Dutch students in Amsterdam due to the nature of the project and working with other student at the University of Amsterdam, we also did some practice where we went up to random people to ask them questions or, our prototyping team specifically, asking tourist for trash to help clear the waste off the streets of Central Station. I wish we could talk more to the people who we share this busy city with.
One feeling I hope to feel in Paris is, surprisingly, at home. Although I am technically a student studying here for two weeks during the summer here, I would like to feel like I am still a part of the city. I definitely would like to go do the tourist-like things but I want to absorb a the meaning and the culture of Paris like a sponge, and when that happens, I would feel like I am at home away from home.
Outside of the course, I am excited to look at the many historical monuments and shopping. It is not surprising that Paris is the most visited city in the world, since there are so many sites to visit, places to go, things to experience, and foods to eat! One of my favorite places to visit while at my time at Amsterdam was the Rijksmuseum, and so naturally I can’t wait to visit the iconic Louvre museum also.
For me, the best way to explore a new city is by saying yes! This is crucial: whenever I experience a new city, I want to be less driven by fear but more by curiosity and the willingness to try new things (of course, if that thing is not going to harm me). I spend more time sleeping and taking naps in Amsterdam than I would like to admit, so I would like to change that here in Paris and explore more places without getting my phone or wallet stolen!
One happy memory that I would like to make while I am here is the food I eat. There are so many food options to explore here and as much as Paris being the best country—and perhaps city—in the world for pastries and baguettes, I would like to try so many good food and let my mouth experience the same amount of Paris-ness as my eyes would. Another, relating to the academic setting I am in, is I would like to really be a helping hand for my client. That would definitely be a more rewarding experience especially proving to myself that I can be a competent engineer wherever I am. Hopefully during that process I could use some of the skills and things I learned in Amsterdam to use!
That is it for today but I will be back to share more about Paris!!