Another Wonderful Gray Day in Paris
By Cass
By Cass
Winter in Paris is gray, cold and rainy. But as I always say, a bad day in Paris beats a good day in Lynchburg, VA. I just finished my first week working and living in Paris full-time. In answer to the top three questions I’ve gotten this week:
Do you have a place to live yet?
I looked at TEN APARTMENTS on Tuesday with my relocation agent. By the end of the day, my head was full to exploding. I looked at one place with a view of the Eiffel Tower, but it was on the ground floor, with the kitchen in the basement, so I passed. Finally, I narrowed it down to two contenders, both furnished: a huge (by Parisian standards) three-bedroom apartment with 130 m2 and no balconies, and a gorgeous smaller place in the quiet 14th arrondissement with a HUGE balcony big enough to grill, dine and entertain on with almost no closet or storage space. I submitted an “expression of interest” on the larger place in the 16th arrondissement. No balconies, but spacious bedrooms, and a ton of closet and storage space, including a walk-in closet with my name on it. And it had fireplaces in the living room and master bedrooms. Both units’ kitchens are bigger than the two-butt kitchens we have in Lynchburg. I hope to find out by Wednesday if they accept to rent it to me. If so, I could move in as early as the week of Feb. 8. That’ll give me time to do a full inventory of what’s there and what we need to bring from home.
How was your first week back in Paris?
I arrived at dawn Monday, Jan. 18, just in time to attend a 9 a.m. meeting and it’s been non-stop since then. I’ve had a dinner scheduled with friends and colleagues every single night, including Friday night after an all-day, off-site meeting, and none of them ended before 11 p.m. Uncharacteristically, I slept until about 11 on Saturday morning, before meeting an old friend and colleague for lunch on the Champs Elysees at 1 p.m. Afterward I met my culture coach (same guy that gave us the family expat training) for a couple of hours at a favorite spot at Charles de Gaulle Etoile (the infamous rotary around the Arche de Triomphe). It was a fortuitous time to debrief with him, enabling me to share observations and situations that occurred during my first full week on the job. Afterward, I headed back to my apartment-hotel, stopping at the market to pick up a few necessities – wine, flowers and Coca-Cola Light!
It’s been a quiet, leisurely Sunday afternoon in Paris. Had a hot bath this morning, and have been able to catch up on some work all afternoon. I cooked for the first time in my hotel: pasta with a yummy pesto and fresh salad with local pears, and a Sancerre white wine. I talked with Kian and Niall today. They haven’t seen the photos of the apartment I sent to Sid, but Niall actually asked questions about the place. His curiosity was a very good sign of his interest in his new home. I assured him that yes, we could get a TV for one or both of the guys’ new bedrooms.
When will the family join you?
Depending on when the apartment I’ve selected becomes available, I will return to Lynchburg last week of February to pack up, and then move the family to Paris the first week of March. While I’ve missed my family and friends this week, I appreciate the 24x7 time to settle in, work and get situated in my new job without infringing on family time. I look forward to returning to Lynchburg end of February to pack out, meet with folks and tie up loose ends. However, I will always feel tied to my hometown, and the people who know me best.
Cordialement a vous tous!
Do you have a place to live yet?
I looked at TEN APARTMENTS on Tuesday with my relocation agent. By the end of the day, my head was full to exploding. I looked at one place with a view of the Eiffel Tower, but it was on the ground floor, with the kitchen in the basement, so I passed. Finally, I narrowed it down to two contenders, both furnished: a huge (by Parisian standards) three-bedroom apartment with 130 m2 and no balconies, and a gorgeous smaller place in the quiet 14th arrondissement with a HUGE balcony big enough to grill, dine and entertain on with almost no closet or storage space. I submitted an “expression of interest” on the larger place in the 16th arrondissement. No balconies, but spacious bedrooms, and a ton of closet and storage space, including a walk-in closet with my name on it. And it had fireplaces in the living room and master bedrooms. Both units’ kitchens are bigger than the two-butt kitchens we have in Lynchburg. I hope to find out by Wednesday if they accept to rent it to me. If so, I could move in as early as the week of Feb. 8. That’ll give me time to do a full inventory of what’s there and what we need to bring from home.
How was your first week back in Paris?
I arrived at dawn Monday, Jan. 18, just in time to attend a 9 a.m. meeting and it’s been non-stop since then. I’ve had a dinner scheduled with friends and colleagues every single night, including Friday night after an all-day, off-site meeting, and none of them ended before 11 p.m. Uncharacteristically, I slept until about 11 on Saturday morning, before meeting an old friend and colleague for lunch on the Champs Elysees at 1 p.m. Afterward I met my culture coach (same guy that gave us the family expat training) for a couple of hours at a favorite spot at Charles de Gaulle Etoile (the infamous rotary around the Arche de Triomphe). It was a fortuitous time to debrief with him, enabling me to share observations and situations that occurred during my first full week on the job. Afterward, I headed back to my apartment-hotel, stopping at the market to pick up a few necessities – wine, flowers and Coca-Cola Light!
It’s been a quiet, leisurely Sunday afternoon in Paris. Had a hot bath this morning, and have been able to catch up on some work all afternoon. I cooked for the first time in my hotel: pasta with a yummy pesto and fresh salad with local pears, and a Sancerre white wine. I talked with Kian and Niall today. They haven’t seen the photos of the apartment I sent to Sid, but Niall actually asked questions about the place. His curiosity was a very good sign of his interest in his new home. I assured him that yes, we could get a TV for one or both of the guys’ new bedrooms.
When will the family join you?
Depending on when the apartment I’ve selected becomes available, I will return to Lynchburg last week of February to pack up, and then move the family to Paris the first week of March. While I’ve missed my family and friends this week, I appreciate the 24x7 time to settle in, work and get situated in my new job without infringing on family time. I look forward to returning to Lynchburg end of February to pack out, meet with folks and tie up loose ends. However, I will always feel tied to my hometown, and the people who know me best.
Cordialement a vous tous!
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