Tom: "It’s a myth that French people are unfriendly"
British alumni share their French experience with us.
Discover Tom’s story!
Tell us a bit about yourself (where you’re from, what you do, what you have studied in France, and where)!
I’m from the West Midlands, and have been in France permanently since 2016. Before that, I spent a year teaching English in the Loire region on my gap year and did a couple of internships in Paris while at university in the UK. The company with which I did my internship offered me a job when I graduated, and I spent a little over three years working for them in marketing. After realising it wasn’t for me, I decided to go back to uni and started a masters in art history at the Sorbonne last September.
Why did you choose France?
To begin with, I just wanted to go abroad and have a different experience. I was good at French at school so it seemed like the obvious place. But now I don’t think I could see myself going back to the UK. It’s a cliché but the food plays a big part, I also love having apéro on the canal with friends and how walkable Paris is. It’s really easy to go to the coast or the mountains by TGV, so you can have some pretty cool trips away as well. I’ve found it’s a myth that French people are unfriendly, they’re a lot of fun and have a great sense of humour.
How did your stay in France change who you are and impact your career?
I’ve been in France for nearly five years, which is most of my adult life. Being here has undoubtedly shaped who I am. I think Paris has made me more resilient and more curious. In terms of my career, going to galleries and exhibitions encouraged me to pursue what I really want to do. A pivotal moment for me was an exhibition called Au diapason du monde at the Louis Vuitton foundation in 2017. The art there was so cool. I went back maybe five times to re-watch Cyprien Gaillard’s Nightlife and after that going to art became my big passion. It’s a great time to be going into the contemporary scene as Paris seems to be taking off at the moment, having somewhat trailed behind London, New York and Berlin for quite a while.
Your favourite word in French?
Friche : it means an abandoned site. It’s somewhere nature can thrive in an urban setting, and it’s also a place where anything is possible. Check out the Petite Ceinture when you can.
We hope you enjoyed your French culture shock! Any memorable cultural fact, experience?
I think the number of young people who smoke. There are still quite a lot whereas my experience of the UK is that it’s not something people of my generation do anymore.
What is your favorite French meal?
Champignon bourgignon : it’s the vegetarian version of bœuf bourgignon. (I use Jamie Oliver’s recipe…)
Have you brought back a French souvenir with you?
I have a UK souvenir at home here in Paris. My grandparents were geordies and so is my best friend — he got me a sign that says « welcome to wor hoose » and it’s hung proudly in my hallway.
Any French habit you have kept?
Looking people in the eyes when you toast. It’s bad luck if you don’t.
Share your motto with us!
Honni soit qui mal y pense : to be honest it’s the first thing that came into my head, but it’s a good one. It’s the motto of the British royal family, a relic of our Norman roots. So it reminds us that the French are our distant cousins. I take it to mean “Don’t judge!” which is a great call to always stay true to yourself and not to worry what others will think.
