So as I'm writing this it's been just over a week since I got back from the best year of my life. I'm now sat back on my sofa in the UK after a full year living and working in the most beautiful city in the world. I had such an amazing time in Paris and had so many wonderful experiences.
Whilst living in Paris I spent the year working for one of the biggest media companies in the world, with quite frankly the best fashion magazine in existence ;) but as I boarded my Eurostar in June of 2013 I had no idea what would be in store for me, and soon moved into an apartment in south west Paris.
On my first evening I noticed there were a load of young people drinking wine in the courtyard, and after a little persuasion I decided I would join them for my first night out clubbing in Paris.
These gals and guys were the friendliest people I could have met and I really did have the best summer all because of them. The year followed the pattern of finding the cheapest wine Carrefour sold (1,44€ in case you're wondering), drinking it in the garden or in front of the Eiffel Tower, and hopping on the last metro to one of our favourite clubs.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uHuhELiDInP4ReHbKuOWiLrlNguL7VTQxvgoqsr7acLQcD5ckK4u-xTlZtsZLCYkByRdskaVkChhT8V3561TRFtfvuYVeTmThfOFjsftq-UbvThlgU9Rw9_Wz9j1gWydsDsFLdXlyzd1/s1600/1236595_10153189547740705_1467038234_n.jpg)
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GKeTjpHL5SViRGpw2UbVGjdLU_RwDklYAFbcJLJWFXh3RoS8-V6pHec5IpckGkSEd5CcXSkyLkqfntRuJc22ltnprLTmmVezOHtn9IjqKQvC98njX6MSpT5TRXsYgbLywUXPtX1dW99f/s1600/1098542_10153117620345354_1371081044_n.jpg) |
Wanderlust. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRoamnLdXQXZgQtQlun4dR5NbVRT6Z6TQ3t8KyPotesMQKOqVOkfJ-ZIxPQwRhb26MVD7zM7k3fKpuVDjioVqoLHM4aLn0F3KbvK0dorRfDabGPSdck2DB5p2rTs8L_rTNNP1ek9dhlFB/s1600/993617_10153018025945354_39680899_n.jpg) |
One of a million Metro Selfies....
![](https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t1.0-9/1780620_10153858217215705_2132162172_n.jpg) |
...and getting the whole carriage to join in too |
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Les Deux Sosos |
Without turning into one big cliché, I really did "find myself" in Paris. I went from the girl who insisted on buying 13 metro tickets because she couldn't remember the number 10 (why?!) in Gare du Nord to the girl who on a depressing November morning found herself in the local police station making a statement after a burglary in her apartment. (Those who know me will also know I spent countless evenings in Parisian nightclubs using my newly confident French-speaking self chatting up the local hommes).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFLH3EE7WC2w1F5d6xbnAbw6311TSiySEZ0kkxmvJRgpCvmWdFV1akpN8g_yA5b-ZVyBpW363x3w8t3RBq3y2QwWL0RNL0RDEAWYZwynalYNhljWp0fzK-BoituWb9C_JmKWPOoHBCMG9/s1600/1231493_10153194450695354_441538524_n.jpg) |
My fellow stagiaire and fave gal :) |
I was petrified to start work, a full time job which wasn't at all like an English-style internship with coffee-making and photocopying but with actual Responsibilities. I had nothing to worry about though, working in France, with it's 2 hour lunch breaks and insane number of bank holidays a year really is good fun. I was lucky enough to work with a team of beautiful, intelligent and downright lovely ladies (and a couple of men) who kept me going through the year with their good humour and insights into all things French.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWX6KAkMzScbrh_00VskSyrq4bH2Ai91-Xc7F_SRy20qbaAxdSYtLaFyUpcUdIqJzgLo7EByvMFz5Fmc51UBgHGaNnZhLasah5WeAhnazmiLGKwdZkf4Lv9JijCbiWJi-4VLBg7esWN7O/s1600/IMG_6452.JPG) |
Wine on the Ile |
Afterwork Drinks became a real thing
Talking of all things French, I have to say all the stereotypes are true. Everyone wears a beret, eats frogs legs and carries a baguette under their arm -- okay that's not actually true (apart from the whole baguette thing, I've seen them carrying up to 5 on the way home from work). Parisian women do dress in such a timeless way, they don't tend to follow fashion so much, as I would say the Parisian look wouldn't look out of place 50 years ago, but they always just look so effortlessly glamorous. Red lipstick isn't worn as much as I expected, but Parisian women barely wear any makeup, not even mascara, something I really think English women should embrace more.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DhMzZjc52Ep_oRHNY4tvwNLCMp6p88QKHtzCyZj1vi7m_yxcDKMWOVuJ1auO2KzUysJ6bWaU2so-XjQlKqYPUXit6C1e2zMEyvEzxlEZ0eJy7K2Zb2NCWOcBjsmV1DoJXPw-A8zzdIOF/s1600/IMG_6669.JPG)
The less said about French men, the better (as you can read in this post here) but I have to say I learnt to detect non-Parisians and found that French people can be really lovely and friendly, especially if they're not from Paris and I'm planning to visit the south as soon as I can.
In terms of French women being so slim, it's true. I think I can count on one hand the amount of people that could be counted as clinically obese that I saw on my year there. I think it's due to the fact that food really is appreciated, with long lunch breaks and lighter dinners, and no snacking in between being really common in France. Unfortunately I struggled with this and would get really hungry by dinner time and end up eating my weight in baguette and Camembert but oh well, on n'a qu'une vie !
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L'Eclair de Genie. GO GO GO. |
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All this came to just over 3€. I LOVE FRANCE. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejsti1b1epqeyfEO0cI0AFr97RBuMezWbKiUQXZkacSxsmtpAOBsU_CPrXbJAQ87rFo5urNOIPU_taD6ZgzJidC18YXWrCiCIaf4YSNW23AkmOY4VBYDvbE1WxYn6bSyZgsq5e_5mJtgV/s1600/IMG_6662.JPG) |
Twinkie's Breakfasts. Again, GO GO GO |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEWt4dHITacQpr1G0-uUDdgfNIL_juDDTC2Sn0ctA3xkT2l9D-DwT_rwlG1bXHavsFJf0cGQGoibPnFGTNCAV3qdudw-VD_VNR0fO1q3sIhBVCTNekbDNu0QY3FAcEDhBfz2lfSmzvzBX/s1600/IMG_6599.JPG) |
My leaving party, complete with Percy Pigs, naturally. |
Before I head on my next adventure, I just wanted to share with you some more of my favourite photos that I've taken on the most exciting, unbelievable and unforgettable year of my life.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnRvaVVTaKtrnPKhc33NGCquz2NGDQb7X-I-eqPC7B7hugAySKVvjC-6TGFoedJDVdyeCgDbEiLIp42Z9_PB_YaV3PW9cwHPCQcR8dlQJl-F9beirldGWNTe3-MXelPaZtCQhe1sXYKdO/s1600/IMG_6507.JPG) |
Making friends with the Parisian bus drivers |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nlFrNVJYntlSZzrALn85EfIFCFJzhqwXq1d3wlIEiQcVHTMYhPbpYxvJPY-DVPu4pTFolUq6ICoiNzmy6y8uUfX9CjA5wG84DeGn0uo89fp8SZoR0fnVOswTPUuxwac2WYOt9vhZ5fwG/s1600/IMG_6309.JPG) |
Seeing London Grammar live at We Love Green Festival |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9zLG6zbiqOZUq0MEGgSwR80e2br-k53jU66S1ED7NwPWlDGmh-jMR1YyPf83KjvLVtHbjU-MJXLzMdf26Lp-QjAUYYRqqrYBIcvMZ-yAQw1B7-WlAvbLXo5bfnsVx0qSzbaDCJtFjRkB/s1600/IMG_6327.JPG) |
Best views, but read my review here |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfgCBYVOGBEzv4bpMExq2lLlKcF9kbVVYVBQaJGGDhsHfBtYs7j0qUBSiu7sqXcxsJGxlQrQh7WkhEM0PAcbheiav_9vYpkoDr9-pWMdQ_yq2z_InttjrRUqP0whMtTIWEi6jSgFKEhGe/s1600/IMG_6335.JPG) |
Me and my boyfriend |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg5H8TzpG6TMPJOBkhe2u3OuyNu6Rwz3QBeXrY3T-28hThCal3B9_jERzQK_40GVXflsUVGR7LbtaZUBb1cTlvSsbEfPm0f2452wR3Z7WDAfPXUPvkcxnSsYX_jLtHje9FPCOUluf7gNA/s1600/IMG_6357.JPG) |
Random building, but pretty, no? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEML4gpbO6cP-sQl4anVM_6OQAjyEiXzi4gfR3lKhWaovqvcdjynjmPPKHsFmFH238GfLWj8ksjSsKXvyGpv49tZKt5Ab1G16yYGFF0SRtF3VuD4wMzYvOMRHVNBweh3jb95Jq6uYOkiTu/s1600/IMG_6560.JPG) |
Fete de la Musique -- a load of Frenchies in the street misbehaving with music in the background basically |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-Eh41jAjeyWb7X7xpmfKcDFexFs-U5ua-9_JCtm2f_lNP_E4YIiv8IL0dkxvb_cSF63DGgfLEOzn8letgDRJzmzWjY43ro2Cp3rO76vMCgO_Qp5BsbyEqe9WwyyaAyEOVYij22N9m-cc/s1600/IMG_6619.JPG) |
My leaving present <3 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20pscoYJ9NOAxwlEelnOHLqMtmwyT-Sez_OyyA4pmxQczOuhQfBUfEUHB_tCfnTUcnFtu8CJtfwSCz-gWUwhUVvl6lImHdl0JT9-JwYYHoQKVim_QSxfQ_HDDSRS4-Xxc3GP7KrsnwiDs/s1600/IMG_6613.JPG) |
Casual selfie with the whole dancefloor |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDM6lzmKLIYso5wOeZIch3pDNZubXO8Fqdy1KOS2NfRzmy1y9RNYatsZJxvdAu34xelZOdbtymZw7hL-8AfOmQG7aVZSCd8yYXz8chKclSbqq-9ZmZhzWYf68PNoc358qsAL_Clse7mu7Z/s1600/IMG_6585.JPG) |
A view from the meeting room on my last day |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinY258V54BJONG94UU6PyRVpGxpONdozNtlg5K9Zx1SIElOCxL2CyuMXOxdo3TEuXZ76KSdiAVbWlqL94LgDJNc8qpLWWPcIqPsWqUSRqjYqFsD3J0oKluCLB3rx0sthhS6D1J806E9S46/s1600/IMG_6622.JPG) |
Chartiers -- again read my mini review here |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVz_w6nm66C2VaDRq_GgfAGMk6z0K6pMjAWhuRPr17hNWD6X2jqXRVwhkqoISzEU77XbNv4AzF1c6hcRuZY02wJWFku82odN6NN-ZA53ul8PZXKVw1zRN5WGGhqczNr7CSuJ1RtzQI69L/s1600/IMG_6642.JPG) |
My bedroom wall |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUM8_GQCWBRg5bHdD0iIyD5MW9TajB3GGU4VpvOxQdY6khwjCTl5-o0VWPLqbmd9LqAzXy1I4z0Kk_CSEId-fbgmWBSnTxIxa-9fQt6_Q63-E3SIrKqRCWFZRJRpUZy7bUH9yKpyD3vHD/s1600/IMG_6664.JPG) |
Views over Paris from the Galleries Lafayette |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4U3fNKElqJIIrWuTaQaozPKo8rOvR0Ahp8pCPF-1dViO0UwhGnru6le79eAgqBFUhv88g4L-zcHmo8qvjcyc09ZnHw3-KCS5thvwHAFfXRq3Pjnskq6qDoOt43wbW8LRpMA5Rt3KJ-s7q/s1600/IMG_6700.JPG) |
A petit apero for the journey home |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_RIvKAlPZZDT1H50nuYgxm2H6H6OtF_EwXyJNGPWFTvSTsR-EP7BN9SZWAx-kmIw-I0J6FP55yY2vxqROY-Jo9_Z-CCE1fD0qhBMItf9yYGZFCFvpMltwEsCw-vmvG78r5umDrfqkGOi/s1600/IMG_6702.JPG) |
Saying goodbye to France from the ferry |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySRuDH_-boo74lnyCDEayofQjwHM47WkODuFgsgiz6eGhZE5XNOi60tZa9KHJXEmv2p_sy45EtS__Vi3L_PKLyVhT_1fNqmL3d39nOcERTSEytjIP4KjQoibE_kWxldeKxcJh4Pon2jnV/s1600/IMG_6694.JPG) |
My two fave things |
Heading home (and not letting go of anything French)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTZRU7O4uVzdF_RC9APIHHmfJOj98tD55xm9Kt1ZQf9nhTmeWZn2WFGTiQ-86oCD6kfdTdmSWz3B8hfPfTyXBKKc3uNzVhs488q8p7WLYa-pJlzJtKWV-b1RZtgd9aI3a_PFwZAMPdDp8/s1600/IMG_6752.PNG) |
Tour de France in London |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WfQ-SQF6OXgnkOKQsi4hDEYsQE0hHrG0Q9g00E29hIX8ApnmeOEsiUZjaWRekoA-mQ4oFFKTdCXOzBGC-53XhyvltAgwuOJu4yCWplEytoqN_kmYqRXLm6vSeZaSO3B1_FvkdOn534vC/s1600/IMG_6756.PNG) |
A French Gendarme in London!!!! |
Hasta pronto ;)
Sophie
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