Growing up in Paris

I always call myself the expat kid of our Amayzine family. The one who always hopes that when someone new joins our editorial team and we do a round of introductions, they won't ask me where I'm from. With just ‘the Netherlands’ as an answer, people are often not satisfied. But I personally don't think it's necessary to share my entire upbringing every time. When I then say that I was born in London, you naturally get: ‘Oh, are you British?’ ‘Uh, well no, not really.’ But ask me where I feel most at home and I will always say: ‘Paris.’

Paris has captured my heart, just like it has for many others, from a young age. I was seven when I first moved there with my family. A huge change after living five years in Ankara. But that infatuation was immediate. It was certainly difficult when we were relocated to Copenhagen with the family after three years. Another fantastic city, but Paris, boys and girls, Paris is my greatest love. So when we were allowed to return to Copenhagen after four years, my heart was whole again.

Last summer, I took my mother back to the city that has been her home for eight years for a long weekend for her birthday. You should know: my mother has a jealous-making travel history. When she worked for KLM, she got to explore a lot of the world, and when she later lived everywhere in the world with my father as a diplomat, her passports got quite filled with stamps. But ask her where in the world she returns with so much love, and her answer is the same as mine: Paris. Do you now understand that the travel bug runs in my family's blood?

Paris remains magical

We did our usual round through the city. Always starting at the WHSmith store on Rue Rivoli, past Le Palais Royal and the Louvre towards the other side of the Seine to one of our beloved old neighborhoods, arriving at Rue du Bac via Boulevard Saint Germain to have a glass of wine at Café Saint Germain. That never gets boring.

But god, yes, where I wanted to go with this story. Paris was a learning experience for me. What have I learned in the seven years that this city was my home? A lot, very much. Among other things this:

• The French, they are not that bad.I actually like them a lot. Maybe I have the advantage that I can speak a bit of French which makes them seem a bit friendlier, but honestly? Tourists in the Netherlands can sometimes get under your skin too.
• The French have a great memory. When my mother and I went to our usual falafel place (where she always went with
  my father) in Le Marais last summer, the owner recognized
  my mother. And you should know: my parents left
  Paris in 2008.
• You will forever be spoiled when it comes to bread. No one does it like the French.
• That it's so much cooler to just give one kiss instead of three. Those three make no sense to me anyway and often you end up lingering a bit, because then the other person only wants to give you one and it gets really awkward when you go in for another.
• That Parisian style you want so much? You'll never achieve that. Not even if you've lived in the capital for seven years. It's just in the blood of French ladies.
• You can eat as many baguettes, cheese, eclairs as you want, because if you live in Paris, you spontaneously walk a lot more (the city is too beautiful not to do that). You burn off those calories in no time. Therefore,
  you never have to wonder how those French ladies always stay so
  petite.
• No matter how many times you've seen it, every time the Eiffel Tower sparkles on the hour, you stop what you're doing and go watch. Preferably with a glass of red wine.
• Paris remains magical.

From Paris with love. Because yes, that's where I am now. Amayzine does Paris, and I am the happiest girl on earth.