The French Know What They Are Doing

And I’m taking notes for when I return home

Carly Newberg
Globetrotters
Published in
6 min readNov 11, 2024

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The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. Photo by author.

My mom and I arrived in Paris about a week ago and have been staying with my cousin and her fiancé, originally from France.

They live in a tiny apartment in the city, not far from many of the famous monuments, museums, and attractions. Every day has been filled with adventure and we’ve been having the time of our lives.

Being that it’s my first time to France — and Europe in general — I’ve had many culture shock moments.

For instance, I didn’t realize how many people actually smoke here. I just assumed it was a stereotype. However, I can now confidently confirm it’s true. There is an abundance of outdoor seating at every restaurant, with ashtrays on every table.

Even the beautiful women smoke and tracking down a “tabac” shop takes only a moment. It’s part of the culture. And although I’m not a smoker and never plan to be one, there are many other traditions the French have inspired me with.

Keep reading and you’ll find out what exactly I love about this country and its people so far.

They walk everywhere.

A lot of people in the city don’t own cars and even if they do, they walk everywhere; to the grocery store; to and…

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Globetrotters
Globetrotters

Published in Globetrotters

We are a group of ordinary yet extraordinary travel lovers sharing our experiences of exploring the world with the world.

Carly Newberg
Carly Newberg

Written by Carly Newberg

Yoga teacher / freelance writer / mental health advocate writing boldly & bravely about relatable life experiences.

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