It has been more than three weeks since we landed in Jakarta, Indonesia. I hope to be able to continue this blog in one way or another, but for now, we have been way too busy trying to settle in. So far we are merely surviving in this bustling city, not (yet) really enjoying what it has to offer!
I started the below list a while back, but did not have the time to complete it before I left. But I wanted to upload this on my blog, to mark my days in France!
Things I will miss about living in Paris:
- buying freshly-baked, still piping-hot baguettes every evening.
- beautiful cityscape: my favourites are the views of white/grey buildings tinted with pink right before sunset on sunny afternoons, streets lit up with festive decorations during Christmas season, and the Eiffel Tower glittering on the hour.
- well-dressed men and women: I just love seeing bright (yet tasteful) colours on older women, and men sporting fashionable scarves in Paris. It depresses me whenever I see middle-aged or older women who have just let themselves go; they often dress in drab, shapeless clothing.
- flower shops everywhere: it is difficult not to pass a florist while strolling along the streets of Paris. Whether for gifts or to add a splash of colour on a grey day, there are opportunities to buy flowers anywhere in Paris.
Things I will NOT miss about living in Paris/France:
- customer service (or lack thereof): why are people so rude in this country??? In no other country I have lived, does one need to pay to reach customer service of a consumer product! AND being put on hold so long on the phone, when I am paying by the minute to reach someone who could potentially solve my problem!
- dark, dingy, smelly metro system.
- frowns and furrowed eye brows of French people trying to understand my poor French.
To add, after my short time in Jakarta--things I already miss about Paris:
- being able to walk across the street to a bakery.
- being able to walk a few minutes to reach the closest supermarket to buy almost anything I need.
- being able to go for walks in parks that are located all over the place!
- fresh cheese and wine. I haven't had any since we left Paris.
- the great range of organic products that we could purchase, almost anywhere.
