© Photography by Madison Kennedy

Most of you know that I left Los Angeles because I got into an art school in Paris. Although this is the perfect place to study art, it’s been a difficult challenge for me to adjust… here’s a couple things that are the worse for someone who’s lived in California;

– There is no Whole Foods ! Forget about trying to buy tasty organic and varied foods, that are actually offered in enough quantity for consumers so they can choose, and that also suits all kinds of specific diets : there is no such thing ! So, good luck trying to find an avocado that isn’t too lame, or getting raw nuts that aren’t worth way more than they should;

and you know those awesome “prepared foods” departments in most grocery stores in California ? Well, there’s none of that in Paris… it’s a nightmare trying to keep up a healthy diet here. Don’t even start searching for kale, or blueberries, or mango : it’s like unicorn food, and basically a miracle if available. It’s like they want people to eat bad stuff.

– Barely any Starbucks, and not easy to come by… okay, so Starbucks is not a healthy place to get a drink, or whatsoever, but I’m totally addicted and need it : I just love getting my favorite drink there, even though it makes me obese. It’s my main indulgence. To me, it’s just awful that they don’t offer the same stuff or cup sizes, and it’s over-priced like insane…

Seriously, the differences between the Starbucks in L.A. & Paris are actually shocking. & why can’t they be found in more obvious places ? Some are hidden, like you have to literally follow a labyrinth of tiny streets, and you get a headache from searching them out.

– There is only two Apple stores in the city LOL ! I’m not even gonna comment on that… actually, I have to because it’s annoying; but what the hell ? Getting an appointment at one of those two Apple stores’ Genius Bars when you have an issue, is a matter of weeks, and if you come without an appointment, they just don’t deal with you.

The worst is when they’re both completely booked, and there’s zero place left, you end up having to take an appointment in one of the Apple stores outside Paris aka. so far, you don’t even want to know. Look, this is not how Apple is supposed to work, or treat their consumers : YOU NEED TO OPEN MORE STORES, HELLO !

– They don’t have IMAX theaters or D-BOX seats… and if you want a good enough seat for a movie’s opening day, you need to come at least an hour or two earlier and get in line, and just wait forever before they decide to finally let you in (which is usually 10 / 15 minutes prior the screening starts) : what a joke.

Need to add that the movie theater UGC on Champs-Elysées let some people in without minding everyone else who was already in line during the Star Wars first official screening, and they weren’t selling special tickets for that. When they let in the people who were actually in line for it, all the middle seats were filled by those nobodies, and checking later I found out that for real, they weren’t selling special “middle seats” early entry tickets.

WTF ?! I’ve been boycotting their movie theaters since then, way to ruin my first The Force Awakens screening. As an ACTUAL Star Wars fan, I woke up super early to get there and wait in the cold, wearing Star Wars themed clothes; those people who took all the middle seats weren’t even looking like they cared 1/10 of how much I did to see it… I would have appreciated a warning from UGC regarding their seating choices, and searched out another movie theater to enjoy the experience after waiting YEARS and prepared for it. This was so low, disrespectful, and freaking miserable to do.

Thankfully, I found a movie theater (the only one) in Paris that offers assigned seatings. It’s Pathé Beaugrenelle, and it’s become my favorite spot because I don’t have to get in line for anything, I just buy my seat and go. Not only that but that movie theater can play movies in 4K, 7.1 and Dolby Atmos sound. Also, I found out they have two movie theaters close enough to Paris, with IMAX projections and D-BOX seats – it’s like reliving, being able to see a movie how it should be seen. The Gaumont Pathé theaters are actually cool. I mean, for Paris.

– The weather is depressing, it’s cold and gloomy… there’s nothing more to add about this topic since there’s no beach, the sun only comes up once in a while, the rest of the time clouds cover the sky and it feels like living under a cage, and I think I’m becoming claustrophobic. It’s not good, what’s the point being in such a beautiful city if it’s always faded by rain and pollution ? I can’t seem to find that charming, though I tried.

Word count 836… maybe I should take a break now, and write the rest another time ? Or not, it’s already too much complaining as it is. I didn’t realize it was bothering me so much until I started writing some of them down. It actually feels good sharing these stuff, because in my case ranting is like a healthy habit 🙂 Anyway, I’m not gonna share the rest that’s been on my mind because I think what I should do instead, is try to make it work in Paris while I’m exiled from L.A.

PS. I love you Paris, you’re a magical city ! I’m glad to be here, and what we’re studying at my art school is giving me the tools I need for my future. It’s just some days I wonder if I’ll ever make it and survive outside California 😦 it’s a big challenge for me.