Submitted by Allison Quintanilla on the 2016 winter session program in Paris, France sponsored by the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies…
It is hard to believe that only one week ago, I was arriving to my apartment in the Latin Quarter of Paris, France, with my suitcases in my hand and no clue what to expect. I have already learned and experienced so much that I can’t fathom what I will feel like three weeks down the road when I have to say good-bye. This week was a whirlwind, filled with trying to figure out how to navigate Paris via foot, Metro and RER, getting accustomed to French culture and trying to deal with the language barrier as a non-speaker of French. My classes have been very long, but very interesting and what a better place to learn about a subject I love than in the city that has made a huge impact on the fashion industry. Our program provided us with French lessons, so I have been fortunate enough to have able to pick up some French to eat and shop. Luckily, a lot of people also speak or understand some English, so that helps. I have been able to do so much in the past week, like visit the Eiffel Tower, Champs d’Elysee, and go to the ballet.
One thing I have noticed in particular is that Paris has a very similar feel to New York. Everyone is very modern and chic, and it’s also a mixture of different ethnicities and cultures. The French seem to do everything slower here though. Life is definitely more relaxed and slower. You don’t take food or drinks to go, and it is considered poor manners to eat as you are walking on the street. Your time is meant to appreciate your company and the food and drink you are eating. Also, almost every street has a boulangerie (bakery)/ patisserie (pastry shop). As the cuisine is a little different here, I have definitely tried things I would not have otherwise like veal and certain vegetable dishes. Overall, Paris is a vibrant city and I am very excited and fortunate to continue to learn more about fashion, the city of Paris,and the people who reside in it!