La Vie Quotidienne

Le Pain Quotidien

Daily life in Paris has proven to be much less predictable then life in New York. In New York, I got up every day at 9 am, failed to eat breakfast, and went to class. After class, I would work out, eat dinner, waste some time, and do my work. Paris, however, is extremely different. During the week I wake up any time between 6:30 am and 12 pm. I go to class, do some work at school, and maybe have lunch with a friend. Then at some point during the day, I try to get something to make for dinner.

I think that daily routines are important. Many times, in New York, having a routine kept me sane. In Paris, it has been harder to establish any real kind of structure. In a way, that sort of fits. The French lifestyle is so much more laid back than the lifestyle we experience in New York. It generally consists of 2-hour lunches, 4-day workweeks, and copious amounts of wine.

In an effort to give myself some structure, I’ve started giving myself little tasks that I need to get in before the end of a given day. Although it does sound a little bit obsessive compulsive, it’s really helped me settle into life here. So, every morning I wake up, make coffee or tea, and go out and buy a baguette for dinner. Later, I’ll go to Monoprix, where I’ll buy something for dinner and maybe a bottle of wine if I’m going to a friend’s apartment. During the week, I make sure to do some yoga before I go to bed, in an effort to counteract my bread and cheese consumption (and I have to note that it’s been effective thus far).

When I came here, I imagined living a life like I did in New York: interning, going to school, and casual dinners with friends. Despite not living the life I imagined, I’m very comfortable in my daily life. I’m also coming to terms with having less structure. Its amazing how much you miss when your programmed to function a certain way. For the first time ever, I’m really observing the people and places around me and discovering beauty in the every day.