Hey everyone!
I recently moved from Strasbourg to Paris, I wanted to change to a bigger city, but mainly for job opportunities since I landed a job here. My expectations where normal, neither high nor low. And although I’m having a relatively good time, I feel like something is off, don’t know if that has happened to you.
I had some many problems the first 3 months in Paris that I had enough of it, and in Strasbourg I had even worse problems since I didn’t speak french at the time, all the paperwork when you arrive to a new country, shitty job etc. But somehow, I found myself enjoying the city and my life much more there. But now, I feel like I’m really not enjoying my time in Paris, I’ve tried focusing so much in the opportunity that I have to live here, and all the good things I have. But even when I do this, I feel like I’m forcing myself to like it, it’s been already 7 months that I feel like this.
Have you been in this situation?, do you believe your gut can tell you when is not the place for you?
Any advice would be appreciated :)
Paris is a nice playground getaway for a few days, I really can’t imagine why you’d give up living in the Alsace for that…
I’m always a bit baffled when people expect to be ‘welcomed’ to a big city containing millions of people with busy, hectic, stressful lives. It’s not just Paris - it’s any city on that scale.
What you’re probably realising is that your needs are better met in a smaller city, and that’s a perfectly reasonable conclusion to reach (and one with which I can totally identify, having just downsized from London)
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Do you now speak French? If not, you’re going to have a bad time.
Edit: Just to add, Paris is an international city where one can get by without speaking French. However, building a life and assimilating to a point of feeling local (and not an outsider) will require French. If one doesn’t speak French, this is the best opportunity to start learning and practising. Taking in-person lessons with others is a good step towards building a local network. Also, signing up for hobby groups helps one meet people with similar interests.
Paris is the city that wants to kill you, every single day. It’s a cursed place, really. I know I’m French. 🤣
Welcome to Paris