Today is my first expat blog hop brought to my attention by my friend and fellow blogger, Mary Kay.
Here's what happens:
1. I tell you something about me
2. There's something in it for you
3. You get to discover new blogs that are also participating (and see what fun treats they are giving away!)
#1. I tell you something about me & expat life...
Paris vs NYC? I honestly can't answer that question yet. You all know how much I loved living in New York and sometimes my heart aches to go back to the City That Never Sleeps. But then there are days where I'm walking around Paris, exploring something new or doing a repetitive errand that just keeps getting easier each time, when I look around and just can't get over how beautiful Paris truly is.
So far we've been here for almost nine months and the biggest thing I've learned so far about expat life is that remembering that things aren't meant to be perfect and that it takes a long time to feel comfortable somewhere - especially when you know you're going to be there for awhile. So if you're considering a big move sometime soon or if you've just done one, take a deep breath and know that with time, the difficult things will soon seem easy.
So far we've been here for almost nine months and the biggest thing I've learned so far about expat life is that remembering that things aren't meant to be perfect and that it takes a long time to feel comfortable somewhere - especially when you know you're going to be there for awhile. So if you're considering a big move sometime soon or if you've just done one, take a deep breath and know that with time, the difficult things will soon seem easy.
#2: There's something in it for you...
Do you like Paris? Do you like New York? As much as I do?
Have you seen this awesome book based off the Paris vs New York blog?
Do you want it?
Here's what you have to do:
1. Follow my blog (if you don't already)
2. Follow me on Twitter (if you don't already)
3. Leave a comment telling me Are you Paris or New York? Or both? And why?!
4. Don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!
The giveaway ends on Friday at 5pm.
PS: I'll ship the book to the USA as well (the forward is in French)
#3. You get to discover a few new blogs!
Thank you for taking part in the blog hop.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to New York, and even though I've lived in France for more than 5 years, I've only been to Paris once! We lurk down here in deepest rural Creuse.
You're right, it does take time to settle in to a new country, and it's best to be relaxed about it rather than let it stress you. France never hurries.
Thank you Steph for setting it up!
DeleteI haven't lived in either, but after a few visits to both, I feel like I'm a little bit of both- but maybe it's just because I'm indecisive, or maybe it's because I love greasy pizza and cupcakes just as much as I love macarons ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Erica - nice to meet you! Yum! NY Pizza!! I could for some of that right now. I hear you on a little bit of both.
DeleteVery nice! I really enjoyed your blog throughout all the time I have spent on it! thanks for sharing such an informative and nice blog with. I am really aknowleged by the content provided by you on this blog.
ReplyDeleteliving in nyc
Hi Kelly! Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoy it and be sure to come back!
DeleteI'm both, it just depends on how fast I want to walk!
ReplyDeletehello! i agree with you. In NY, you do have to walk really fast and in Paris you just have to try to avoid all the people that won't get out of your way - or better yet the ones that just walk into you. People have said to me before how they think that Parisians walk quickly and I just don't get that at all...
DeleteVisiting via the Blog Hop, will be back for more. I have visited Paris more than New York, but have loved both cities. New York actually has a lot of old architecture and you just have to love the water towers that still exist on some buildings.
ReplyDeleteHello there! I adore the water towers and actually have a framed photo that I took once and of an old New Yorker cover with a water tower illustration. I love looking at them on a summer night during a sunset!
DeleteJust another Blog hopper popping in to say hi.
ReplyDeletehttp://stevebichard.com/
Hi Steve! Thank you. Im looking forward to reading your book!
DeleteHi there, from a fellow blog hopper. I think I'm slightly more Paris, though I do love New York's pizza, energy, and endless possibilities. I just got a copy of the book yesterday, so if your random prize selection committee picks me, you can give it to someone else to enjoy. :) So true about things being difficult at first - I'm on the front end of a one-year stay (only 2 weeks in) and am loving it, but it is hard at times. Some days I miss San Francisco (and the coffee and burritos) so much, so I know how you feel about missing New York. I'll be back to read more! And will share you on Twitter, too.
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca, welcome to Paris! I can't wait to see how your year unfolds! My cousin JUST moved to San Fran last week. You'll have to let me know of some great restos she can check out!
DeleteHi - in all honesty I lean towards Paris but as I've only been a visitor to both places its probably not a great basis for making an informed opinion and really they are quite different when you get past the energy of city life. Its been fun to "hop" with you today
ReplyDeleteHi Janine, No worries about picking paris! They are so different. Thanks for "hopping" by!
DeleteHow fun!!!! You guys are going to have so much fun!!! Whoop it up!
ReplyDeleteHmmm...okay, Paris v.s NYC?
New Yorkers don't hate me but I'm doing it....I pick Paris. There, it was just like pulling off a band-aid. I feel better.
Why? In NYC, I had a good salary but still lived in BK with a roommate, I worked 60-70 hours a week (weekends too), drank way more than I do in Paris from stress and lack of imagination because my energy was sucked up at work..and the worst, dating! I dated such creeps, and wasn't having enough sex (if any). Perhaps it was just me, I'm unlucky in my hometown..who knows?
In Paris, I'm broke yet well fed, my NYC skinny and sharp body filled out with bread, wine and life experience. I see beauty every time I turn a corner due to my eagerness and energy to explore, and dating (minus some hiccups that I now find more funny than tragic) has been much easier...more direct. And yes, I have more sex in Paris. Coquine, indeed. : )
Don't get me wrong Paris is FAR from perfect, but I prefer this lifestyle to NY.
Oh Ella, I love your response. And I love your comparisons. I knew you'd pick Paris - but that's OK!! No hate here. And yes, the Paris lifestyle over all for sure is much calmer...
DeleteI love both, it's cheaper to get to Paris though so I expect I'll be going baack there sooner than NY.
ReplyDeleteYay! You love both!!! yeah... flights these days are crazy!! What's going on with that? I hope you get to go back to both Paris and NY sometime soon!
DeleteI've never been to NY even though it's so high on my travel wishlist, but I have lived in Paris for six months a long time ago and loved it, so I guess that makes me Paris :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sabrina, nice to meet you via blog hop! Well I'm sure when you do get to NY you will love it.
DeleteBonjour madame Lady Lancelot!
ReplyDeleteAs we are preparing for our next trip to Paris I discovered Mary Kays blog which led me to your blog. Been following for a while to discover the off the beaten path ideas to add to our list for our next trip to Paris.
NY has never been on my list, Paris has been since my first trip in 1976!!!
Aurevoir from Canada
conrad
who is willing save you courier fees and pick up the book in exchange for a Berthillon ice on Ile St. Louis for Sir and Lady Lancelot when we will be in Paris for 2 weeks in September (-:
Conrad, I love how you're negotiating for the book! If you offer Sir and Lady Lancelot some Pozetto Gelato the temptation to pull your name out of the hat may prove too difficult to resist! Yes, it really is that good!
DeleteHi Conrad! So nice to meet you and thank you for reading! You must be so excited for your return journey to Paris! It's OK that NY has never been on your list :)
DeleteAs MK said, you do make it tempting to just by chance "pull" your name out of the hat! Either way, I hope that you have a wonderful trip and hope to hear from you again soon!
-Kristen
1. I follow your blog - and love it!
ReplyDelete2. I follow you on Twitter - and love being able to Tweet at you!
3. I'm all Paris because I don't have any connections with NYC. Plus, being from the central part of the USA, I get annoyed that French people (and the world in general) think that there isn't anything between the East and West Coast. It's either NYC, Miami or LA! Not being from any of those places, I'm naturally upset that the Midwest is so often overlooked. C'mon, we're the breadbasket of the country!
Having said all of the above, please include my name in your drawing because I'm a fan of Paris vs. New York. And since Conrad is offering bribes, may I tempt you with some champagne?!? ;) Just teasing!
Happy Expat Blog Day - I'm glad that you decided to join the fun.
Hi MK! You make me smile all the time! I knew you'd be Paris... and you know that I know there is a midwest and clearly acknowledge it! I'm proud to be from Pittsburgh, the gateway to the midwest! Please the Ohio River begins in Pittsburgh which flows to the Mississippi! Of course I will still include you and I hope that we get champers sometime soon book or no book!
DeleteHello from a fellow blog hopper, who is also following via RSS email and on Twitter. I would have to say I am Paris - never been to NY (yet).
ReplyDeleteHi Jacqui, Nice to meet you! Paris it is!! I hope someday you do get to NY and if you are planning a trip, I'll have to give you a few little tips!
DeleteI've been to NY twice, a long time ago when the Twin Towers were still standing, and absolutely loved it. I also love Paris but in a different way. I now live in SW France for 15 years and love that, too, although it's quite different. Nice to meet you via the blog hop.
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa, nice to meet you as well! Two great cities, but oh so different. I have yet to explore SW France, but Sir L and I are doing 2 weeks in August in Cap Ferret. Does that count as part of SW France even though it's by the water?! There is just so much to see and do in this country, I get overwhelmed thinking about it!
DeleteThis is fun! I want to blog hop too :)
ReplyDeleteNow down to business:
1. I follow your blog
2. we tweet
3. super tough because I grew up in NY, miss it something fierce, and my mother ingrained in me from the time I could speak that it was the greatest city ever, but Paris is Paris, so can I say both?
4. sarainlepetitvillage@gmail.com
coucou! of course you can say both :) You know that's the camp I'm in as well. Well... almost. when are you coming to paris to visit us city gals!?
DeleteThis is the third time ge tried to do this which should tell you how much I love you and your blog! Damn you iPad!!
ReplyDeleteBut, I already follow you here. I just added your tweets, and I've always loved the Paris v NYC thing and it's cool artistic expressions. I'm maybe more of a NYC girl just cause I miss home and I'd love to have a good bagel and shop in English.
Conjugatingirregularverbs@gmail.com.
And Adge is super close. I hope you are having fun. Sorry there's not much sun.
A xo
Hi Aidan, thanks for the comment - three times over! A good bagel... seriously! There is a shop near Alliance Francaise and they have the WORST bagels but it's called "Bagels and Brownies." Oh well.
DeleteI didn't realize how close you were to Agde...although my geography in France is a bit, well, really bad.
Keep in touch! x
Hello, Even though I'm late... too late, I just want to say that I love New York AND Paris. I've been to Paris en 1979, only once, and to NY twice. I'll be in NY for the third time, at the end of May, with my daughter to celebrate her 30th birthday in NY. A mother-daughter trip. Of course, I enjoy your blog ! I'm from Québec and I have to say that I prefer Québec City much more than Paris or NY... sorry, this city is so beautiful and have the charm of European cities.
ReplyDeleteMerci pour ton blog ! J'adore le visiter !
Joanne
clojohann@hotmail.com
Hi Joanne, Nice to meet you and thank you for reading and commenting. Enjoy your mother/daughter trip!! Those are the absolute best and I can't wait for my mom to come back to Paris so we can have another one! We used to do two a year in NY. I've never been to Québec City but I've heard many wonderful things. If you want any recos for NY, let me know (unless your daughter lives there too and then of course she I'm sure is in the know!)
ReplyDeletenice idea.. thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete