Almost Parisienne is not your average trio of expats in Paris.
Hanna, the stylish Swede from Gothenburg, Maya, the cool L.A. girl and Sutanya, the electric New Yorker, recount their lively experiences in the French capital, now their home of several years, through short videos shared on their eponymous Youtube channel.
”We’re living in Paris, taking it one day at a time, each writing our own stories here, learning a new language, adapting to a new culture and living out our dreams. No one said it would be easy, but they also didn’t mention how exhilarating it would be.”
And exhilarating it is. From the early days of their friendship to every tidbits of cultural and social wonders or oddities that make their journey so peculiar, we fell in love with the casual chic and inviting atmosphere of their reunions, as well as the honesty of their testimonies, which many of us expats can relate to.
So, uncork that bottle of Chablis. Savor that Brie. Make yourself comfy in that chair while we serve you a little taste of Paris in the style of our new favorite “filles” (French for ‘girls’)
What brought you to Paris in the first place? Was it a planned or a spontaneous move?
Maya: My boo and my Masters. Even though I had planned to do school everything was pretty spontaneous in how I was actually going to live and survive here
Hanna: I was 15 years old the first time I visited Paris and it was love at first sight! A few years later I decided to “try” out the city by doing “Erasmus” and studied here for 6 months. After the program, I returned home to finish my studies, worked for a year to save up some money and packed my life in one suitcase to moved to Paris.
Sutanya: Life and adventure brought me here. It was equal parts planned and spontaneous. Once the decision was made to move everything happened so fast. It didn’t really feel real until the plane landed in Paris and I said to myself “Oh wow, this is happening”.
Which arrondissement do you live in and what do you find particular about them?
Maya: I just moved to the 18th and I really love it. It is really diverse. In one direction you’re in little Africa, the next you’re in Montmartre, which has so much charm. I also like that it is a bit removed from other parts of Paris, so it is pretty low key.
Hanna: I recently moved to the 11th, after living in the 20th for five years. I’m still geographically very close to the 20th. What I love about my area is the diversity! I can buy fresh products from all over the world at the market, eat the town’s best Bò bún in Belleville (a.k.a. Chinatown), go for a drink at a hipster joint like “Les Triplettes” and relax in one of the many beautiful parks of the area.
Sutanya: Like Maya, I live in the 18th. I’ve lived here since I moved to Paris 3 years ago. To me it feels like the “real” Paris. There aren’t many tourists, lots of small family owned shops and restaurants, and people actually talk to each other! It is a special little community and I feel right at home.
Can you share with us your favourite things to do in the city of lights?
Favourite shopping spots:
Almost Parisienne: We love exploring Paris! There is always something to do and see like exhibitions, concerts, music festival, gastronomy and of course meeting amazing new people.
Maya: I don’t shop much for clothes anymore, unlike someone I know (cough cough Sutanya). However, I love to do some food shopping, roam little épiceries (grocery stores) in Belleville, outdoor markets, and floral shops. I also love decorating my place, so second hand shops and cool concept stores are also my faves.
Sutanya: Ha! She’s right about this one. I love everything from the small boutiques to Zara. If you shop outside of the big brands the items may be a bit more expensive but the quality and craftsmanship is always worth the price.
Hanna: The Marais is my favorite area to shop in Paris. You are sure to find something for everyone including big brands, small boutiques and vintage shops.
Coolest or cosiest hang-out venues:
Maya: Current favorite place to hang out is La Recyclerie. It is an all-in-one kind of place; bar-restaurant, they also host cool workshops and events, and have a cool community garden.
Hanna: I have so many go-to spots and it kind of depends on the season but a current favorite is an amazing rooftop bar-restaurant named Le Perchoir in the 11th arrondissement, offering a beautiful view over Paris.
Sutanya: Oh la la! This may take an entire page, but my current favorite is Sunset! It is a tapas restaurant in the 18th that has a cool New York City vibe and great locally sourced food. We’re definitely going to dedicate an episode or two to this topic, so be sure to follow us to learn more about where we like to chill and hang out!
Sutanya, you’ve built yourself the reputation of an apéro connoisseur. What does an apéro à la Sutanya looks and taste like?
Sutanya: Ha! Oh man! I’m giving myself a reputation. I hope I can live up to it. It depends on if it is at home or out.
At home: Astrud Gilberto playing in the background (I know she’s not French but the silkiness of her voice goes well with the setting, trust me) or something more French like a mix of Serge Gainsbourg, Françoise Hardy and Jacqueline Taieb. A few good bottles of Côte du Rhone, cheese from the fromagerie (the cheese shop, no supermarket cheese here), charcuterie from the boucherie (butchery), exceptional bread and my girls! That’s all I need.
At a café: Outside seating. Good wine. My girlfriends. Great mixed platter with meats and cheese.
French people are quite the charmeurs, but do they live up to their reputation?
Almost Parisienne: Both yes and no. Because we live in Paris, our references are solely Parisians and we know that it doesn’t illustrate the diversity of French culture. That said they are quite charming, very outgoing, outspoken and overall nice. However, you do need to grow a thick skin in order to pass the initial “can we be friends?” Once you do you become friends for life.
In relation to your Swedish (Hanna) and American (Maya, Sutanya) backgrounds, how different is the Parisian black community and its culture compared to your respective homes?
Almost Parisienne: Wow! That’s an interesting question that we could discuss for hours. The Black culture in Paris is more visible as opposed to Sweden, also due to France’s historical background. This was the first time I lived in a city where there were so many black people and a visible Black community. Back home, the Black community mostly garners East Africans and after moving here, I’ve learned a lot about West African cultures. It has inspired me in being more unapologetic about celebrating my roots, which I did not have the courage to do in Sweden.
How do you experience Paris, not just as expats, but also as black women?
If you were to move back home and could take one thing from your Parisian life with you, what would you pick?
Hanna: Hard just to pick one thing but I would choose to bring back some bad ass Parisian attitude with me. People in Sweden are a bit too reserved for my taste and I just love how people in Paris don’t give a damn and just do their thing.
Sutanya: Not answering this one because I don’t even want to entertain the idea of going back anytime soon. I’m not even going to put that idea out into the universe! Ha!
If you had to relive your Parisian experience all over again, would you do anything differently and if so, what would it be?
Maya: As I mentioned before I didn’t fully have things figured out before moving here. If I could do things differently, I would save more before moving to make the transition a bit easier. But on the other hand it kind of forced me to make things work. I think I would have liked to avoid the panic and stress of ‘how to pay rent and eat’ from the get go.
Hanna: Gosh, I think I was anything but rational when I decided to move to Paris with a budget that could only cover rent for three months. I just thought, “I will figure the rest out when I get there”. So, the only thing I regret is not saving up enough before moving. However, the struggle of making ends meet was a good experience and I learned so much about myself!
Sutanya: There are a few things I would have done differently. I would have been more focused about learning the language. Once you start to understand and speak French it enriches the experience so much more. I wouldn’t see my Americanness and accent as a hindrance (that was all in my head). I would live in the present more and not compare it to my life in the states.Like the girls, I would have been more budget savvy and thought things through.
Thank you KRULL Magazine for featuring us and creating a space for women that look like us to just be.
2 Comments
Emily
what an interesting article as an Afro-French.. i moved to paris as a teen from Gambia and felt so stiffled by the lack of diversity… i swiftly moved to london and havent looked back since.. i visit often and notice how paris has changed and reading this gives me hope actually 😀
Alyssa
I loved this article!!
I’m a francophile who dreams of living in Paris, so it’s especially nice to see these beautiful black women doing so! It’s very interesting to learn about the city through their perspectives.