Asking any Parisian where in the world he’d like to live, you will get the same systematic answer: New York.
It is every Parisian’s dream to live in New York.
Parisians like to think of themselves are culturally superior. As all people of culture, they shape their perception of reality on cultural masterpieces: in the case of New York, landmarks like Home Alone 2, You’ve got mail, The Devil wears Prada or Friends. Parisians want to be a part of this New York reality: they want to be meeting their friends for coffee at Central Perk.
Many Parisians make the step of actually going to New York. For most of them, it is like opening Pandora’s Box. New York is as vibrant as Paris is asleep; it’s as young as Paris is old, as fast as Paris is slow. They were charmed by the beauty of Paris, now they can’t resist New York’s sex appeal. Paris is every Parisians’ wife. New York is their mistress.
Parisians know how living with your wife gets old.
At this point, it is important for Parisians to proclaim their love of New York. NY gear is very popular, especially amongst the younger generation of Parisians. The I Love New York T-shirt is a must. Worn properly, it is considered very chic in Paris. Less stylish people (see picture) will opt for a NYPD T shirt. FDNY gear is exclusively reserved for the gay community in Paris.
When talking about New York, it is important for Parisians to use the words “energy”, “opportunity” and “big”. These terms will help them display their advanced understanding of local social norms. Because such are Parisians: into social norms and way beyond clichés.
Useful tip: In Paris, stating that you prefer Paris over New York will make you sound old and boring.
Sound like a Parisian: « New York, c’est vraiment super, y a une énegie… »
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Tags: America · cities · New York · sarkozy · T-shirt · tourism · travel8 Comments
8 responses so far ↓
J’adore, et c’est tellement vrai…
Bravo!
j’aime les gens talentueux qui ont de bonnes idées
et malheureusement tu fais partie de cette catégorie.
alors j’ai rajouté ton lien, sorry.
lol
merci Oliver d’apprécier mon travail
tu peux écire mon lien comme sur google : STYLE AND THE CITY . COM - PARIS
Si tu es dispo, profitons de l’été pour prendre un verre.
Kamel
STYLE AND THE CITY . COM - PARIS
I’m amazed! Your version of NYC for a Parisian is so true.I would have written the same with different words. I’m in France right now, and YES I miss the energy of New York. The more I live in NYC, the more I think that for me, France is now a place to be when you get older. In NYC, I live, in Paris, I go slow, I sleep, I enjoy life in a different way. I’ll take a look to your website later.
Everything about this blog is so true, I can’t believe a foreigner knows so much about Parisan life!
Aideen… I hate to disappoint you, but I’m not quite a foreigner…
A very familiar story. Just this week, a guy at La Poste came back from his holiday in New York. Of course he was wearing an “I love New York” t-shirt. And I see a few guys jogging in the Bois with the NYPD or NYFD t-shirts on…And all the other French people I know who’ve been to New York talk about the energy there. I lived in New York for eight years, so perhaps they’re mistaking neurosis for energy.
To me, but I am only a Lyonnais and now San Franciscan since 1 month for my work, I was more Pandoras box in litteral sense of the term aka not a great experience versus expectations.
I guess the wonderful New York is maybe not as wonderful as the Paris that remains quite picturesque even when it is crowded and not sunny.
Don’t be so French… merci!! I try to ‘keep it real’ as they say in your hood ;-))
Style & the City… Merci bcp pr ces genils commentaires! A bientôt j’en suis sûr!
Anne Corons… Thank you for your kind words. Funny to notice that you are fully in the NY mindset and that the idea of going slowly, sleeping and taking the time is something for ‘when you get old’!!
Paris Parfait… just seems that the energy gets lost somewhere on the plane to Paris!!