The magical melting pot of Paris.

Paris is a place filled with myriad cultures, religions, languages and nationalities. We tend to view France through the quintessentially French perspective of "chateaux, champagne et croissants", but there is so much more to discover with just a little scratch of the surface.

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I spoke recently to Pakistani woman Fiza about her move with her family from Pakistan to Paris. She has family already living there which prompted France to be the country of choice for their emigration, but initially even with family support she found it difficult having no French when she arrived. Fiza moved to France as a young adult a few years ago and not long after, COVID hit and the country went into lockdown. Fiza then taught herself French through YouTube and watching French movies or television whilst she had to stay at home. 
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I discussed with Fiza the differences of her Parisian life from when she was in Pakistan. The way Fiza describes her French world is so different from many other people living in Paris I have spoken to. There is a significant difference in the worlds inside and outside the périphérique, as there is also between the "leafier" arrondissements to the more working class areas. As foreigners we often don't connect with any part of Paris beyond the tourist sites. 
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I was inspired by Fiza to try and view a different Paris on occasion in the future. She mentioned to me that her dream had always been to have a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower. She has now got to turn this dream into a reality.

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
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