I told him that in Spanish, it is called “calabacin.” Davit thought it was such a funny name that he burst out laughing, which made me laugh too! We both learned something new that day and every visit after that Davit would greet me by saying, “bonjour, calabacin!” -- it was our inside joke. Even though this is a silly story, thanks to our interactions, I was able to expand my French conversation skills and apply them to other situations as part of my meaningful cultural exchange.
In general, Europeans are more fashionable compared to the casual clothes people in the U.S. like to wear. Paris is one of the fashion capitals of the world, home to iconic and globally known fashion houses like Channel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Hermes and many, many more! So, I would say that in Paris people dress even nicer than in the rest of Europe! I knew that I needed to step up my fashion game and dress like a Parisian. Now, I know that I just mentioned some of the most expensive designer brands out there, but dressing well does not mean you have to buy expensive clothes. You can start by avoiding loungewear or “athleisure” around, as people in France only wear such clothes when they are exercising, as that is what they were designed for. While dressing appropriately is important, try doing so while staying true to your style and being creative!
