Louise Binns shows us around Montreuil

Louise Binns shows us around Montreuil

Have you checked out Louise Binns’ Instagram yet, Lou in Paris? We fell in love with her feed full of delicious treats in Paris (like this amazing deconstructed millefeuille) and just had to feature her on Our Paris Stories. This week, Louise takes us around her neighborhood in Montreuil, the eastern suburbs of Paris. Interestingly enough, during the times of Louis XIV and Louis XVI, Montreuil was known as the “Peach Walls” which provided royalty with fruit. A fitting home for such a food lover, right?

What’s your Paris story?

I ended up in Paris mostly for my relationship. Back in June 2009, I had just graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in French. For various personal reasons I was ready for a break from the U.K. A job as a teaching assistant with the British Council was lined up for me in the south of France. But one French man put a spanner in the works! John and I met in the summer of 2008 on a summer camp for French teenagers in the U.S. but no sparks had flown due to a) the fact we both had partners at the time and b) sleep deprivation (it’s brutal). Over the course of the next year, we both became single and started hanging out whenever I spent time in Paris. Seven and a half years later, we’re still together and still Paris! The London campaign has started however – I’d love us to experience working and living in the U.K. at some point.

Tell us about this spot you chose.

Whilst I love sharing favourite Paris spots / Paris moments with friends on my Instagram, I’m much less forthcoming about sharing photos of Montreuil where I actually live – it’s a question of privacy as I’m quite protective of my personal space. I absolutely love the loft apartment where I live with John and going to my local market on the weekend, after a long run in the Bois de Vincennes. These are my rituals in my friendly neighbourhood that provides a peaceful break from the city. (In French, Montreuil is often described as “populaire” which in this context means “working class”. It’s a diverse neighbourhood with many different cultures living side by side).

What is a typical day like for you here in France?

My alarm clock goes off at a different time, depending on the season : ) In the summer, I’ll set it for 6:30/7 am and squeeze in a run before heading to work. In the winter, I’ll sometimes drag myself out of bed at the same time for a morning yoga session (7 euros for 1 hour at Yoga Factory) but it’s harder! I then head to work – in 2016 I decided to quit my comfortable office job for communication agencies – where I’ll start my day checking the latest news / trends in social. My commute is 45 minutes so I always have a book / magazine / podcast handy to pass the time!

I started a new job at the beginning of this year so I’m in the process of integrating into a new French environment and getting to grips with the client. Some days my colleagues and I head out for lunch together but other days I grab a sandwich in front of my desk and head out to stretch my legs in the neighbourhood (Batignolles) which is new to me. The evening can involve a drink/catch-up with friends, heading to Shakespeare & Co for a literary event, enjoying a quiet museum that stays open later than usual, or home, sofa and Netflix : )

What do you like most about living abroad?

The fact that there is still an element of surprise even after 7.5 years. There will always be a new French cultural tick to discover (for better or worse), a new wine to try, a new regional accent to hear, a surprising interaction that you have with a French stranger. I still feel like I’m learning here, which can sometimes be a double-edged sword (exhilarating vs frustrating) but is ultimately very rewarding. It’s always interesting to have a point of comparison with home. The U.K. isn’t far but culturally it functions differently to Paris. For example, I’ll pick up Glamour or Marie-Claire U.K. and read articles about how to deal with panic attacks or how to handle your female friendships. Their French counterparts come across as a little more self-assured: sure, you’ll still be able to find diet tips and the latest Hollywood gossip but you’ll also find a lot more fashion and less practical advice pieces. I think it’s great to have both perspectives as it makes life that bit more rounded.

There’s also a lot of humour to be found in life as an expat. Making mistakes in French is something I can be incredibly self-conscious about but they’re unavoidable and it’s a good lesson to learn to laugh at yourself! For example, when you find yourself in a boxing class and the instructor asks you whether you’re right or left handed but you’re flustered and don’t hear what they say so just respond with “I’m Louise”.

I’m not the first expat to say this, but I feel like I stick out as a British expat in Paris. Then when I go back home I’m also not from there anymore (my formative adult years have been spent in Paris). The positive side to this is that people in both places are curious about you! I also love having a place for my sister and friends to come visit because it is a beautiful city with a heck of a lot to offer in terms of culture.

What challenges do you face as an expat?

Sometimes it’s a bit frustrating doing the big things in French – I often feel a bit behind others or more dependent on my boyfriend because it’s my second language. I’ve gotten used to being the only non French person on holiday, in the office or at a soirée – it’s therefore normal that I don’t understand 100% of what is going on around me but it doesn’t always feel comfortable.

How do you meet people in Paris?

The majority of my expat friends here were made through my blog or social media. It often starts out with the odd like or comment before exchanging messages and scheduling a coffee date. Following certain hashtags or going to Instagram meet-ups are also great ways to meet like-minded people. MeetUp can also be quite useful for expats – be warned, you will have to wade through some dodgy groups – with book clubs, concerts, museum trips and workout groups advertised. I think there’s a gap in the market for a Tinder app but for friendships. << There’s BumbleBFF but it’s not so popular in Paris yet. >>

Meeting people here is not unlike blind dating – it can be hit and miss. You may love someone via their Instagram photos / blog then the reality of meeting them is underwhelming (in extreme / rare cases). Just because you’re both in the same boat of living abroad it doesn’t automatically mean you have a lot in common! OR your gut feeling about somebody was spot on and you’ve found a fellow cultural / design / food / cocktail fiend who you get to share this adventure with. It often works out in a positive way and that is one of the great things about social media : )

Reaching out to people for my blog series “Loulou meets…” << including our girl Anne Elder! >> used to be scare me as I assumed everybody would say “no” – happily it’s the opposite so if that can encourage anybody to put themselves out there then I’ll sleep a bit better tonight.

What advice would you give to others wanting to move abroad?

When you first move to Paris there will be a lot to get to grips with concerning the French system. Especially if you’re not connected to a student faculty. It’s a little bit more complicated to open a bank account or rent an apartment as an expat. Trial periods at work are much longer but once you’ve signed a permanent contract it’s almost impossible to get fired. Making friends here is completely different (think perseverance and long term success).

My best advice would be to take it day by day and celebrate the small victories! Go easy on yourself, do your research and always make sure you have a bottle of wine handy for any occasion. Don’t be afraid to ask questions either – there is a thriving expat network in Paris so get on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook and ask those questions.

Don’t forget home – keep a balance between your new home and back home can help on the lonely days. Back in 2009, I threw myself a little too hard into integrating here. I now schedule regular Skype dates with my sister and friends, and make sure I socialise with my Anglophone friends here even if it is a smaller group than my French friends.

And be proud of yourself – moving abroad and getting to grips in a new culture with a foreign language is no small feat!

How can people continue following your story?

Blog
Twitter 
Instagram
Email for questions: [email protected]

1 Comment

  1. March 13, 2017 / 8:06 pm

    Love this interview, Lou!