My time in Paris
As the days led up to my first trip to Paris, I was eager. Eager to experience a new culture, to learn about the social makeup of France and most importantly, to prove or disprove the notion that Parisians are apprehensive of American tourists. These desires are what led me to the UF in Paris program, and my group and I intended to utilize discourse surrounding basketball to explore them.
Upon arrival, I was immediately greeted with pleasant and meaningful interactions. Each resident I spoke with reciprocated my enamorment and was more than happy to answer any questions I had. At restaurants, I conversed with waiters and waitresses, picking their brains on French delicacies and their personal experiences working in the Parisian restaurant business. At shops and corner stores, I delved into the value of items often considered “trinkets,” and through conversations with sellers, came to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of Parisian marketplaces. The interpersonal aspect of a trip is often lost amongst the new sights, sounds and food one experiences, but for me, it wasn’t. I made it a point to interact with anyone who was willing, and it made for an extremely pleasant and rewarding experience.
My favorite, and probably most productive, conversation centered around the topic of sports. The first occurred at the Parc des Princes while watching the spectacle that was Paris St. Germain vs. Man City. In an atmosphere that provided energy incomparable to anything I had ever experienced, I could have simply sat and taken in the once-in-a-lifetime event. Instead, I fell into a conversation with the person standing next to me (you don’t sit much during a match like this). Hugo, a born-and-raised Parisian, provided me great insight into the impact sports has on French culture. Soccer’s impact was obvious – all you had to do was look up at the 60,000 Parisians who had grouped together for a common cause. It could’ve been first thing Monday morning or midnight on Saturday, they would fill up Parc des Princes to cheer on their Paris St. Germain. The interesting anecdote provided by Hugo was how the rise of basketball and rugby only furthered sports as a mechanism to bring the French people together. He admitted that France, like a myriad of other nations, was not without divisiveness and internal issues. However, when sports were on, all else was forgotten. France fostered a sports culture much like the United States. The camaraderie was undeniable, stretching beyond club allegiances and rivalries. Whether in a stadium or a small café with a television airing a match, sports had a unifying effect—one that seemed to transcend social or political differences.
Beyond the lessons in culture, cuisine, and sport, my time in Paris taught me something far more personal. Traveling has a way of shifting perspectives, and this trip did exactly that for me. I stepped out of my comfort zone, engaging in conversations I may not have sought out before, and found a sense of connection in a foreign place. I learned that no matter where you are in the world, curiosity and genuine engagement can be met with warmth. The apprehension I once had about how I’d be received quickly disappeared, replaced by confidence in my ability to adapt and immerse myself in new experiences. Paris didn’t just teach me about French culture, basketball’s emergence in France or Parisians’ attitude towards Americans —it taught me about myself.
Category: NBA in Paris
Tagged: NBA in Paris Paris Sports@CJC Study Abroad
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