Tips for Americans in Paris

Whether you’re visiting Paris for a short period of time or are planning on settling there for a while, I’ve gathered some of my tips and recommendations to share as resources for your time in this magical city. 

Let’s start with the more basic items to take care of. Make sure to pack outlet adapters or converters. Now you may be wondering, as I did, what’s the difference? Adapters simply change the shape of the outlet, so that you are able to plug in your two or three-pronged items into France’s circularly-shaped outlets. Converters, on the other hand, change voltage. This allows you to (safely) plug-in devices that may run on a different voltage than the outlet can handle. However, I would still be careful when using different voltages, regardless of having a converter. I learned this the hard way back in January, when my hair dryer started sparking while using it in Paris, and then had to be thrown away. I recommend being very careful with expensive hair devices, and if you are staying in Paris (or Europe) for a long period of time, consider buying the products there. 

My next piece of advice would be to plan for taking out money. You can convert dollars to euros in the airport, or there are places for conversion around the city, too, but *warning* these places charge a fee for conversion that makes it pricier. The airport is probably the most expensive place for taking money out, but it can be a helpful last resort. Personally, I got a travel credit and debit card that allowed me to take money out of an associated French bank with very little extra fees. BNP Paribas is connected to Bank of America, so if you are looking for a card I would recommend BoA (which you can then use at BNP in France!). There are other banks that have similar associations, too, it just takes some searching. 

I would also recommend familiarizing yourself with some of the customs and vocabulary of the country. The French don’t tip, and on escalators (if you are not walking) you must stay to the right side so others can pass on the left. The Metro does not open automatically for all carts, so you may have to push a button to get on or off. By being aware of small customs and basic terminology, the adjustment will be less difficult. Here are some words to know: 

Bonjour- Hi

Bonsoir- Hi (In the evening)

Merci- Thank you

De Rien- You’re Welcome

Pardon- Excuse Me

Sortie- Exit

Tirez- Pull

Poussez- Push

Also, if you are a student, bring your student ID card! Most places in Paris give discounts for students (or people under 26), so having an ID is always helpful to save money! 

Speaking of saving money, the app “Citymapper” is a great way to get around the city easily and inexpensively. It gives you numerous options of transportation to get to your destination, listing times and prices. This became especially useful to me in the month of January, when Paris was amidst its extremely long strike, as the app would include which Metro lines had limited hours. I used “Citymapper” in Paris and in Berlin, and I’d highly recommend it for any public transportation in major cities. 

If you are planning on living in Paris (or another foreign city) for a while, join an expat group on Facebook! I just recently joined the American expat in Paris group on Facebook, and while I do not currently live in Paris, I’ve learned so much from what other people post. It is a great resource to connect with others who have already gone through the shared experience of living abroad. 

To connect with even more people and in-person, my biggest piece of advice would be to attend an Erasmus event. Erasmus is a program designed to connect people of different cultures and from different countries. They have all sorts of events that you can attend to meet other people. I really wanted to do this after hearing about it from one of my favorite Youtube influencers Damon Dominique. Damon Dominique (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH5mdDlZ0haTodJmSxhst2w) lives THE life, he is an American living in Paris and he posts videos that teach you so much about the culture and lifestyle in France, at least from his own perspectives and experiences. His sense of humor and style attract so many people to his videos, which is why if you have a YouTube account and any interest in France, you likely know him. 

He promoted Erasmus in one of his videos, and I wanted to experience it myself. And of course, I made my best friend Amanda come along with me. We took the Metro, and of course the stop that we were supposed to get off at was closed, so we went to the next stop and walked back. When you purchase the ticket for the bar-hop events they tell you to meet the guide with an orange umbrella at the Metro station. So, we found the man with the umbrella (sounds sketchy but it wasn’t!) and he guided us to the first location. Upon arriving, there were only three people inside. Two of the people were from London, and the third was our friend Elizabeth who I had told to come join us. Amanda and I then went to the restroom and discussed how awkward this event would be with no one there. Although it didn’t feel like we were in the restroom for a long time, when we walked out the place was crowded (pre-Covid times), and we were surrounded by others to introduce ourselves to. We met SO many people from all over: England, Scotland, Ireland, the U.S., France, etc. It was so much fun. Throughout the night we kept following our guide to new locations and the night finished at a nightclub. When walking into this nightclub, we were greeted by a musician who we had JUST met a few weeks prior at a different place. What were the odds! Overall, for around 10 euros this was a great experience and I’d highly recommend Erasmus to anyone looking to meet new people while abroad. You can usually find the events on Facebook pages for Erasmus or online by searching for Erasmus in a specific country. That night, Amanda and I also met two French girls, Margaux and Eva, who we met up with a few times throughout our semester. They are the best, and we definitely made lifelong friends from this night. I’ll insert a photo of Amanda, Margaux, and I below. Margaux, if you’re reading this, je t’aime! Et tu me manques beaucoup. J’ai hâte de te revoir.

Alright, that’s all for now:)

À bientôt, 

Julia