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VOL. 63 ISSUE 6

Page 1

DECEMBER 12, 2024

VOLUME 63 / ISSUE 6

Finding Destiny in Paris www.protemgl.com

LE JOURNAL ÉTUDIANT DE GLENDON / GLENDON’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

photo: Destiny Chan

By Destiny Chan English Editor

It happened. Paris. Or maybe I happened to Paris. Or Paris happened to me. Either way, it was like a collision—messy, thrilling and completely unforgettable. We may have never been destined to meet. A child from a low-income family raised by a single parent visits the most famous city in the world? She was never even allowed to go to Burger King, let alone distant exotic places where her friends went on flights and all-inclusive cruises. She had never been a tourist. She attempted to assume the role for a week, but it never quite fit right without feeling heavy—dripping with privilege and guilt. Her mind berated itself for over-extravagance and called for humility. How can you be in one of the most beautiful and expensive cities when you left your family behind? Everything you knew? Her thoughts ruminated on all of those people more deserving, more worthy and more hardworking that should be here more than her. As much as I felt confused and had imposter syndrome like Selena Gomez’s character at the beginning of the great film, “Monte Carlo”, I also remembered why I had felt such a pull to come here. In the movie, she wistfully dreams of travelling to Paris and saves. This dream got her “through the last four years of pep rallies and cheer squad.”1 “Imagining myself walking along the Seine and standing on top of the Eiffel Tower. And having it all just make me different.”2 Her mom immediately follows up with a sigh and says, “Honey, it’s not magic. It’s not going to turn you into a whole different person.”3 But…didn’t it? Welcome to the sixth installment of my column “Finding Destiny in France”,

METROPOLIS

Finding Destiny in Paris..................................1, 4 & 5

where I explore various topics such as culture shocks and new experiences. I’m a Glendon student currently spending a gap year in Montpellier, southern France, as an au pair, providing after-school childcare for my host family in exchange for room, board and pocket money. I’ve covered topics including au pairs, French school lunches, goûter, female solo travel, government screen time limits and daily life in a small village. My final article of the year will focus on Paris, one of the most visited, romanticized and iconic cities in the world. During my first trip to Paris, I discovered its appeal to tourists. The city boasts beautiful, uniform architecture, famous landmarks and many free attractions to explore. Additionally, its smart urban design ensures ample green spaces, such as spacious parks and plazas, accommodating large crowds without overcrowding. The city receives approximately 50 million tourists annually4, making it easy to feel as

EXPRESSION Time-wasting and Chasing .......3 Noël d’enfance............................3 Ode to Summer..........................3 When Souls Leave the Body......3

SANTÉ & BIEN-ÊTRE Muffins aux bleuets et citron....7 Gâteaux au citron.....................7

if people from all over the world constantly surround you, hearing many different languages all the time. During the two-week-long Toussaint holidays in October, I had a week off work to visit Paris. Although six days may seem long, it gave me enough time to fully explore the city as a tourist. Having never been a tourist before, I wanted to enjoy every moment of this potentially once-ina-lifetime trip. I used all the pocket money I had earned during my first two months of work for 5 nights at a hostel and train tickets. Paris was calling for me and my inner child loudly. In part thanks to the escapist, aspirational, delusion-filled romantic comedies such as “Monte Carlo” and “Emily in Paris”. From standing in awe beneath the Eiffel Tower and tasting my first bowl of French Onion soup to wandering through the exquisite art of the Louvre and the Musée de l’Orangérie and waiting in line

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for the Mona Lisa to revelling in the presence of Notre-Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Château de Versailles and staying 6 minutes away from the Sacre-Coeur, I saw virtually all the touristy sights that one should see on their first trip to the city. Paris, similar to downtown Toronto, is a big bustling city with fast-paced walkers, holein-the wall shops and shockingly expensive real estate. The best meal of my trip was at Kodawari Ramen (Tsukiji), a Michelin-recommended Japanese fish market-themed restaurant. This place has been on my bucket list for years and it did not disappoint. The waitstaff dressed as fish vendors and welcomed guests with loud Japanese greetings. The flavours of broth, soft soy egg, sardines, pork, dashi and noodles all blended together perfectly—dancing and intertwining together like professional ballroom dancers. It was an unforgettable experience. I also had a great bowl of sweet potato chili noodles at Zhao and enjoyed a delicious bowl of cold Korean noodles with women I met at my hostel. Eating Asian food or any other cuisine besides French in Paris may seem counterintuitive. Unfortunately, I found all the French restaurants I visited to be overpriced tourist traps, serving uninspiring food such as burnt bœuf bourguignon, dry crêpes and mediocre crème brulée. The water was also overpriced at €8 per bottle. At the end of the day, after eating a meagre breakfast and lunch of croissants, baguettes and jam that I took from the hostel breakfast spread (which also had milk, orange juice and a hot drink), all I was craving was a nice filling big bowl of soup and noodles—my comfort food, which I’m so thankful the city could provide! (Continue on page 4 and 5) 1. Gomez, Selena. Monte Carlo. 20th Century Fox, 2011. DVD. 2. Ibid. 3. Ibid. 4. “Paris Tourism Statistics.” Road Genius. Last modified July 24, 2024. Paris Tourism Statistics. https://roadgenius.com/statistics/tourism/france/paris/

ART & DIVERTISSEMENT

ACTUALITÉ & OPINION Les Droits des Femmes..........10

JEUX / GAMES Crossword/Mots croisés......11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ISSUES & IDEAS Merry “Consumermas”...........10

CAMPUS LIFE Academic Pressure................12

Noël: Nous redevenons enfant...8

Kendrick Lamar: “GNX”.........8-9


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