FRENCH LOVE IN MANHATTAN – HOW TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH PARIS
So, do you want to jump into conversation more easily and worry less about struggling for words when you are speaking with natives, but you are not yet ready to immerse yourself in Paris?
What if I told you that you can have a French immersion retreat in New York City with me?
Experience French love in Manhattan.
If you want to create the best version of yourself, don’t hide in the comfort zone, come out and play – you will surprise yourself as if you’d witness someone else’s adventure.
Check out the article below, to see some common traits you can find when you play the right tune between Paris, New York and, most importantly, yourself, and watch the video for some French worth playing with.
(This week: the verb JOUER – to play)
NYC received me like a rogue lover – we didn’t see each other for a while, which made our rendez-vous even more intense. And, like any passionate amant, he’s taxing me for the absence. Does that upset me? No, because he’s right – I had deserted him. I’m back now, and more ready than ever for a committed relationship with him.
When you need a space to clean up the ‘Be eS’ from your life, come to NYC.
If you want to be seen exactly for who you are, and find out what vibe you are advertising, while getting an instant tough-love feedback, then come to NYC.
If you crave to express your personality without worrying that you may cause trouble, instead receiving such a unique, wordless love from the people that share the same wave-length with you, that’s when you should come to NYC.
We are fascinated by the Eiffel tower, but may have no idea how much Paris we have right around the corner: Le pain quotidien, Prêt à manger, Bryant Park (designed in the traditional French style), Café MacarOn, French Morning magazine are just a few (I am, of course, leaving a secret or two for my French immersion here with you).
What do Paris and NYC have in common, in my view?
The people let themselves seen and be affected. They inspire me to have an attitude – to make a statement through a choice of clothing, words and facial expression. They subtly draw me in to look and listen.
They create a voice, an attitude so original, it makes me think it’s part of a survival mechanism. Otherwise why would they perfect it so?
If you blend in, you’re spiritually dead, you label yourself as a victim. Only a prey blends in with the environment. Look at your shirt, coat, house, choice of words and hats (if any) – do they cry ‘nice‘? Then you are blending in. You may not want to be outrageous, but you may want to find your own golden balance, where personality meets subtlety (read ‘personality’ twice).
Reach it, and it’ll become the point of no return.
The people of Paris and New York will tell you what you advertise. Is it rude? I believe that it’s the very core of what a friend should be. If you advertise old age – they’ll tell you so. If you advertise insecurity, they’ll let you know they see it. Don’t be offended, if anything, be thankful. Just shift gears: as soon as you’ll advertise what you want to be known as, they’ll tell you, just to make you happy. They are a loyal mirror of your soul, and will keep you accountable for who you are. Don’t try to put on a mask (it works in other cities), because they’ll see through it and smile.
This soul gymnastics excites me so much, that I find it hard to not strike a conversation with each and every one of them. This may seem a little easier to do in NYC than in Paris, but do observe them, and you’ll notice that your voice is not taken yet.
Paris has beauty in its buildings and mysterious romance in its people; NYC exhibits a rough visual display and its people show unabashedly their raw feelings. Paris is the subtle version of New York, or New York is an unapologetic version of Paris (with less kissing in public).
Can we have a mix of the best of both worlds?
A good friend of mine told me once that, if we don’t find it, we should co-create it. But what if it already exists, and our eyes are not yet expecting such a perfect combo?
I’m on a quest to create a space that has the best of both worlds. Would you like to be part of it?
Having a perfect crème brulée at the trattoria around the corner from my apartment on the 20th, and a place called “Trois canards” on the other corner of the same block may be enough of a proof that Paris is everywhere in NYC, he’s just playing hide-and-seek.
One more thing. As a judgmental human being, I have a conditioned notion about what is considered to be ugly and beautiful, and I’m amazed how the NY attitude, as well as the Paris attitude, transcend all that. Actually, ugly translates into “no attitude”, “no statement”, stands for “nothing strong enough to be noticed”. These two cities don’t let you be ugly – you’re in good hands!
How about your own city?
If you want to learn how to be in the moment, practice it in one of these cities, where everybody is part of the game. If you want to create the best version of yourself, don’t hide in the comfort zone, come out and play – you will surprise yourself as if you’d witness someone else’s adventure. Avoid having expectations – the reality will surpass your imagination.
Don’t say that you are ‘fine‘, and never try to be ‘nice‘. You won’t get away with it, and soon you’ll be called to tell the truth. Be authentic and make a statement, your statement, the one you were born to make.
And don’t forget that the love is harder to receive than the hate – it demands you to give it right back, and, oh, là-là, is that ever scary! 🙂
WARNING!
You may find that your bad self comes out a bit – hold on to it, you may need it 😉
Llyane
p.s.
I found a video that shows other many more similarities of the two cities, Paris and New York:
(This article is featured in The Huffington Post, and New York in French)
NOW IT IS YOUR TURN!
Which part of this article most resonated with you and why? What is the one action that you’ll take today? 🙂
Let me guess.
Do you constantly have the feeling that you can’t hear what the French say and you don’t know how to read all the French words because they are written so much differently than they sound?
Learn 3 secrets that will help you be self sufficient in the way you pronounce French words – even if you don’t know what they mean – so that you can read that sophisticated menu in your favorite French restaurant.
Immerse yourself as you FINALLY reach your dream of becoming bilingual, learn to speak Parisian French on Skype and BREAK your language barrier!
…and now, please SHARE this article with your friends. They’ll love you for it! : )
Always in your corner,
Llyane
Photo credit: Vahram Muratyan of Paris vs. New York, A.G.Photographe
This is so wonderful! I’ve never been to NYC or Paris… they’re both in my list of places to visit. I love that you have been able to capture the essence of NYC from your POV… typically one hears NYC has a vibe of possibility, etc… but I love your approach to the city.
Houston is an underdog… Houston is underrated… maybe that is why I like it so much here. Because we know that our Texas Super Summer SUCKS and yet we stick around for all it has to offer. There’s such a laid back vibe and at the same time a strange pride to call myself Hustonian. We know we don’t make a lot of noise like LA, NYC or Chicago do… but we’re a force to be reckoned with… great idea for a future blog post 😉
Victoria, I’m so happy you brought up Houston, because I’ll be there for the winter and I can’t wait to write about it too! I’ll pick your brain so much, I must warn you, but I have the feeling that you won’t mind it at all 😉
p.s.
BTW, I love humid summers, so it may not be that bad for me, after all!
This is an awesome perspective. I love NYC and live close by but I haven’t been to Paris and am dying to go. This only solidifies that. The “advertising” piece is really interesting- I love it! It’s got me thinking about what I advertise when I show up. Thanks Llyane!
Give Paris a try, Anne!
If you don’t speak much French, then come back to NYC and really listen and watch people you are passing by – you’ll be well aware of what you are subconsciously advertising.
It may not be convenient, but trust me, this city helps you find a way to create a beautiful ad for yourself 😉
Llyane,
This video is exactly how I feel about my hometown of New York City and my favorite city in Europe (well, one of my favorites). One of the shots of New York was even in my own neighborhood. I’ve always thought the Arc de Triomphe and the Arch at Washington Square Park. Loved this!
Brenda, happy you loved it, Brenda – for me, these two cities share such a similar energy..
We’re New Yorkers who have both studied abroad for a year in Paris! We can’t help but miss Paris when we’re in NY and NY when we’re in Paris! I guess the grass really IS always greener on the other side!
Yup, Damon and Jo, NY has always a way to get under the skin 🙂
I haven’t been to either NYC or Paris, but I would like to visit some day. Your comparison between the two definitely put a bug in my ear 🙂
I love to hear that, Krystal 🙂
Oh love how you express the feel of Paris in NYC, and indeed you are the epitome of what is to love in both brilliant cities! I feel so blessed to have lived in NYC and to have visited Paris and experienced the thrill of being out of one’s comfort zone, yet feeling at home too.
Amazing cities, Jul’s – they are both romantic and apparently many people are falling for their charm 🙂
I wanted to add to my comment above…I love how you teach French in your videos. For me the different verb tenses are challenging, but having you pronounce them as well as see the words on the screen really help me remember them. French is the language of lovers and it’s lovely to my ears 🙂 How fitting for this weeks verb: jouer–to play
Thank you, Jul’s!!
In fact romance is the one thing most people are looking for when they learn the language, to feel it’s romantic rhythm to hear it’s romantic verse – in songs, movies and the very streets of Paris 🙂
Wow! I love your voice – the way you play with words in your descriptions inspires me to fall in love with language all over again and to choose authenticity and excitement, rather than ‘nice’, in everything that I do. Your comparisons between New York City and Paris are apt, although I will always choose Paris. Paris is, of course, always a good idea. I live in and write about life in a small town in Canada – Paris, Ontario. It will never have the glamour and thrill of your Paris, but it is lovely in its own pretty way! This morning I picked up a croissant at the bakery and strolled along the river…. and pretended I was in the ‘other Paris’.
So much fun, Kari, and thank you so much for your kind words – yes, I adore these two cities 🙂
Fun comparison between Paris and NYC. I haven’t been to NYC since I was 12 and Paris since I was in college. I want to return to both cities. I studied German in school, not French. Thanks for the unique perspective!
So happy you enjoyed it, Beth!
Do return to those cities – you’ll discover yourself in them.