7 Lessons I Learned Coming of Age in Paris

"Moving to Paris at sixteen, with no friends and little French, wasn't simple - but it was a dream I'd had since I was ten. I planned to master the language in a few years and attend a French university, following in my great-aunt's footsteps. The process was frustrating and required hard work, but after two years in Paris, I was accepted into a licence droit (bachelor's in law) at Université Paris Cité."

"You know the stereotypes about complicated French bureaucracy and administrative procedures that leave expats ready to pull out their hair? They're 100 percent accurate. Even French people can't keep up with the constantly changing rules and regulations. When I applied to university, I discovered that as an American international student, I had to submit my application more than three months before the French student deadline."

I moved to Paris at sixteen with little French and no friends, aiming to master the language and attend a French university. After persistent effort and two years in Paris, I gained admission to a licence droit at Université Paris Cité. Living in France required learning to navigate complex, changeable bureaucracy, meeting unexpected administrative requirements, and submitting materials well ahead of local deadlines. The experience forced self-reliance, careful research, and resilience in resubmissions or appeals. I experienced cultural adjustment, shifting social behavior when speaking a second language, and steady personal growth while settling into life in Paris.

Read at HiP Paris Blog