Some of my biggest connections from my time studying abroad in Paris come from my identities.

Street art by the Persian Poet I found.

The Passion of Paris  

Arriving from a much smaller city, my study abroad program was my first opportunity to truly interact with other people like me and to find a community.

Exploring a new street with Mick (left, American) and Elio (right, French).

One of the most interesting things about the groups I spent my time with was the international aspect.

My selfie at a picnic with friends. From left to right: Naomi (German), Louise (French), Mick (American), Elio (French.)

Every group was a mix of French people and immigrants, which made for a unique exploration of the city and culture. I found that, even though everyone had lived in Paris for different lengths of time (30 years, 7 years, a year, 4 months, etc.), there was always something new and interesting to find, and that everybody was interested in finding.  

Purim celebration at the Jewish Art and History Museum.

Parisians, A People of Passion 

My favorite among those I found was the LGBTQIA+ community. While I knew that France, and especially Paris, is a pretty open place, I still felt nervous about how being transgender would affect my study abroad experience. My worries were very quickly assuaged by warm and endlessly kind friends who were eager to show me their favorite community spaces and invited me to join them at numerous events.

Pride event at Place de la Nation.

It was with them that I got introduced to the French style of activism. Everyone I met was endlessly passionate both about LGBTQIA+ rights and about social issues in general. In the middle of my time abroad was the height of the strikes against the new retirement law. People were happy to explain the situation to me, recommend reading, and clarify why even younger people or other specific groups were getting involved and the importance of that intersectionality. 

Political sticker on a traffic light. "The bourgeois want to make us die at work. Retirement at 60, for everyone."

Many of these deeply fascinating and philosophical discussions were held over equally wonderful and delicious food abroad. Whether with friends, my host family, or anyone else in the communities around me, mealtimes in France were an event.

Waiter carrying a tray of food at Bouillon Repulique.

Dinners lasted for hours and focused on savoring each bite as well as the conversation. While each person I was lucky enough to spend time with had their own intense passions, the love of food is what drew them all together.

Lunch break at a weekend cooking class.

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