Paris: La Vie en Rose or La Vie Morose?

Gertrude Stein said: "America is my country and Paris is my home town." Well this is exactly how I feel (except that Switzerland is my country, not America.) I love Paris, I feel at home here. It's a big enough city so that you don't feel claustrophobic, yet it's still cozy. You live in your little neighborhood called an 'arrondissement', where you have the local butcher, a fish market, a bakery... Everything is there and stays there. That's the beauty of Paris, it hasn't been sucked into globalization - it keeps its identity.

That could be a problem however, as not being a big player on the international economic scene won't make the country grow. And current French President François Hollande certainly isn't helping. He is maintaining the country under a static socialist deadlock. Personally, I didn't care much up to now, as I was a student enjoying the beauty and cultural wonders of the City of Lights. But now that I am actually looking for a job, I'm not so sure I want to stay here anymore, as I don't see myself slaving away for no more than € 1,430.22 a month (Smic 2013).

But there are other aspects that make Paris an 'unattractive' city to live in. Here are the top 5:

1. The Smells

Any normal human being living in Paris will agree that the city stinks. It's beautiful, but it stinks. Be it the dog poops lying around on every street corner or the smell of urine in the métro, the city is full of icky smells.

2. The Social Demonstrations

Every week something new surfaces. The RATP workers aren't happy because they aren't getting paid enough, so they close down half of the métro lines in protest. Gay people want to get married so they block half of St. Germain to protest in favor of gay rights. The teachers at the Sorbonne are unhappy with their working hours, so they refuse to teach for a couple of days, forcing the university to close. Don't get me wrong, all of these causes are noble, but do they really have to make such a mess?

3. The Parisians

This is perhaps the most popular topic when you ask someone why they don't like Paris. The Parisians can indeed be obnoxious. They love to complain. This falls into point number 2, but it goes further than social demonstrations. It's in the everyday life. The weather is bad, they complain. The weather is good, they complain. Their job, their relationships, the traffic, the tourists, Parisians love to complain. They won't do anything about it, like leave their job or move to another city. They simply enjoy complaining.

4. No Elevators

Okay so we're not talking about New York or Shanghai, where there are about a gazillion floors. But still, an elevator here and there wouldn't hurt. I live on the 6th floor so I know what I'm talking about! But on the bright side, walking up and down these stairs is my daily cardio!

5. The Lack of Taxis

Last but nor least, there are no taxis in this city. If you go out clubbing on the weekend and hope to catch a taxi around 3-4 am, then you're optimistic! Better have a back-up plan.