Before arriving in Paris, I did not feel that the language barrier would be much of a challenge. But to my surprise, language has been the biggest challenge!
I had taken six years of French and I thought that I would catch on quickly. French is far more difficult than I imagined. It is difficult to have conversations with French speakers because most often they do not understand our American accents. Though we are a little discouraged we will continue to learn the language and enjoy the process.
A part of Paris that I do not like is how dirty the metro can be. The metro line that leads to our home in Creteil can be very dirty. Many times, people drop, or spill things and it can smell terrible. There is also a lot of vandalism and there can sometimes be people looking for handouts. We have learned to stay aware of our surroundings and have adapted to the Parisienne attitude towards the metro.
The metro also challenges us to change the friendly actions we are used to in the United States. In the United States it is not odd to smile or stare at strangers. In France, you should not stare at people on the metro because they may feel that you are provoking them.
Another part of Paris that I do not like are the areas that smell terrible. There are certain parts of Paris where the sewers smell very strongly. It can make walking in the streets uncomfortable.
Even though we face many challenges in Paris, we are trying to make the most out of our trip. Though Paris has flaws, it is still Paris! There is so much beauty to admire all around us. Paris has great food, wonderful architecture, and some of the best museums in the world. Paris has a lot to offer so I am willing to overcome the challenges that may come my way!