One of the things I’ve fallen most in love with in Paris is doing my groceries in little neighborhood markets instead of giant American-style supermarkets.
Back home, I’m used to driving to a big store once a week, pushing a huge cart under, and grabbing plastic-wrapped everything without really thinking about it. Here it’s the opposite: I walk down the street and stop at a tiny fruit shop like this one, where everything is stacked in such beautiful, messy piles. Here I find everything I want and new things to taste and explore. I’ll pick just what I need for the next day or two, practice my French a bit with the owner, and leave with a small bag.
People here go three, four times a week, buying fresh bread, fruit, and veggies for that night’s dinner, and it makes food feel slower and more intentional. It’s like eating becomes part of your daily rhythm, not just another chore. I love how they truly enjoy eating, taking their time to savor a coffee, sit down, and contemplate life, the view, and the people passing by.
This is honestly one of the aspects of French life I’m going to miss the most: the sense that consumption is more local, seasonal, and personal.
Alana Seda
Fall 2025
GW Paris - Sciences Po (GW Study Program)
Columbian College of Arts and Science
Biology Major