By Louise Devillers > Let’s debunk the Paris myth! Or maybe not… Because Paris under the snow is much more stunning than any Eiffel tower snow globe that you could bring back to your grandma, 百聞不如一見as we say down here! Parisians, really that terrible? Why should foreigners be drawn to believe this (well-grounded) stereotype? Maybe because of our loud enthusiasm and overblown wonder, Taiwanese must assume that we live in dreadful cities where people are ruthless and self-centered… But here, as we enjoy our daily life in Taipei it is far from observing the beast in its natural habitat! Would you be brave enough to look under this cultural shell? Well first, I give you the right to criticize everything that I’m going to write as I bear the status of some who is « French NOT coming from Paris ». Nevertheless, you can interpret these holy words as benefiting from an outside hindsight essential to the cruel but nonetheless true description that I’m about to make about my fellow citizens. Let’s think of Parisian people as a wax strip on a hairy leg (it can happen to you as well guys, no one is immune from weird situations): shield yourself quickly for the great dive you’re about to make in this new « cultural bath ». « Dieu a inventé le Parisien pour que les étrangers ne puissent rien comprendre aux Français. » Alexandre Dumas Here is your survival guide: You will not… Start a conversation with a stranger in the metro… or be prepared to receive an icy look you won’t recover from. Ask for information… as a contemptuous and deafening silence will follow your question. If you really have to ask something, dont ever -EVER- begin by speaking another language than French… or you’ll just attract the wrath of the patriotic heart residing in every French chest. Walk slowly… if you don’t want to suddenly land under the wheels of a car or be pushed by the pedestrian walking behind you (whoever is living in Paris is in a hurry, don’t ask me why). Wait for the little man to turn green at the pedestrian crossing… well you can, but you’ll just look like the perfect law-abiding-stupid tourist. I could actually continue like this for hours: you should not smile, stare at people, or play the accordion. Am I exaggerating? Maybe. But maybe not. So, be careful. « L’être qui ne vient pas souvent à Paris ne sera jamais complètement élégant. » Balzac And as the frog kissed by the gracious princess transforms himself into a handsome prince, touched by the beauty of the city I have no choice but to turn into your utmost diligent tour guide for a Christmas you’ve never dreamt about. Christmas markets You are definitely not from France, you don’t speak the language, you don’t even know what our Western Christmas is all about. And still, you strive to be one with France and its -sooooo- romantic culture (I never heard France was a romantic country before coming to Taiwan…). How come? Well, let’s say that we have a thing for Christmas markets. Here is the actual French point of view: you wake up one morning and the streets have overnight dramatically changed, small wood chalets have emerged from the ground. Have Hansel and Gretel moved in the neighborhood without you noticing it? Then you remember: the logical association is of course Christmas=Tourists=Folklore. So side by side with other French tourists -much more friendly than the Parisian local population- you learn to appreciate the Christmas business… Oh sorry, the Christmas spirit! Because Paris is a synonym for culture And here I’m definitely not kidding. As we all know, Paris is not the most affordable city and is as merciless economically for students as for the rest of the population. Hopefully Christmas is our moment of grace. We students, eager to deepen our cultural knowledge, have the privilege of free access to museums and expositions. Therefore, you will be asked to make a detailed presentation on Victor Hugo’s life and work, a summary of the history of the city of Paris, some sketches of the Asian art collection of M. Cernuschi, and a comparative study on the Jewish Holocaust from a French historical perspective (cheer up guys, it’s Christmas!). Paris = Luxury? You all have heard about the Christmas windows of the Galeries Lafayette. Just to be sure you have understood the concept: you won’t actually see Chanel models in the store window. In reality, the best Parisian decorators build scenes displaying enchanting settings revealing one more time what Christmas is all about. So if you wanted to admire the latest Cartier jewelry you still have to go to Place Vendôme. Nevertheless, as Paris Christmas windows are on your not-to-be-missed list, you’ll be glad to hear that there are actually several exhibitions spread all over the city. What’s more romantic than a skating rink and a merry-go-round? Although Christmas in France is what we can call a familial gathering, you cannot deny the romantic character of an outdoor ice skating moment in front of the Paris town hall in rue de Rivoli. Christmas is the opportunity to play Peter Pan and return to childhood while enjoying a merry-go-round ride, magic is much more effective when riding Prince Charming’s white horse on a traditional wood structure. And above all, Paris at Christmastime turns itself in the « ville lumière » when entire avenues and neighborhoods become illuminated by daring or traditional light structures. I think you will have understood by this time, Paris at Christmastime is indescribable no matter how many details you add to your story. Let’s conclude by saying that one of the purest gifts Paris can give you for Christmas is simply -and so naturally- snow. So run outside, enjoy traditional snowball fights and build as many snowmen as you can with your siblings. I’ll wait for you down there! « Ajoutez deux lettres à Paris : c’est le paradis. » Jules Renard Hearing one hundred times is not as effective as seeing once. God invented the Parisian for foreigners never to understand French people. The one who does not come often to Paris will never entirely become elegant. Victor Hugo’s House, Place des Vosges. The Carnavalet Museum featuring Paris history. The Cernuschi Museum and its Asian art collection. The Holocaust Memorial (Mémorial de la Shoah). Galeries Lafayette, Les Sales Gosses at Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville, Burberry at Printemps, and Bon Marché. City of lights. Add two letters to « Paris » and it becomes « paradise ». a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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