First Impressions of Paris

My first impressions of Paris were definitely not your average Parisian experience.

After an exhausting 24-hour delay, we finally got to Paris and it was everything and nothing that I expected.

A few days before I left for Paris, a friend of mine from the city had told me that many people are often taken aback by Paris. This is because as beautiful as the Eiffel Tower, Opera and Galeries Lafayette are, there is also a side of Paris that people often are not exposed to before visiting. So naturally, I set low expectations for the city to avoid disappointment.

My low expectations were initially confirmed with my first views of Paris being the "Banlieue neuf-trois" which is a Parisian suburb known for being a little rough and our neighbourhood of "Barbes" which is also known among Parisians as home to many thieves.

However, the combination of low expectations and "first views" of Paris resulted in me falling even more in love with the city.

When I finally got to see the iconic monuments of Paris, it was magical and my faith in having made the right decision to study in Paris was restored. There is so much history and stunning architecture within this city that it almost doesn't feel real.

There is a certain beauty behind the madness of this city where the iconic "Champs Elysees" is a 20-minute metro ride away from our bustling neighbourhood of Barbes.

It's only been a few days but Paris is really starting to feel like home.