But Why France?

Рет қаралды 9,667

Күн бұрын

If you didn't know why I ended up in France, and I didn't know what I was doing when I got here. Get access to my guide to Paris at go.parisinmypocket.com/aKAAqi and help me make better videos at / jayswanson 🥳
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My name is Jay Swanson - I'm an American writer living in Paris on an artist visa. Paris (yes the one in France) has been my home for years now and I have every intention of staying here for as long as they'll have me. I write science-fiction and fantasy, vlogged daily for 3+ years, and love pizza a little too much. Now I make videos about visiting Paris, traveling in Europe, and try to share what I've learned along the way. I hope you enjoyed what you found.
Links are affiliate links where they can be - meaning if you click through them and buy something, I'll get some pennies. Thanks! (The FTC wants me to tell you that up front)
Patron Producer: Karen Lee
Edited by: That sando
Music by: ‪@dcuttermusic‬

Пікірлер: 145

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

I do love living here. Want to find all those places I've stumbled across and accumulated across the years? It's all at parisinmypocket.com

@lorraine6947 5 ай бұрын

Would have love to know the reason(s) why you love Paris and why you prefer living there over Nice.

@lohphat 5 ай бұрын

This is my plan too. After being "reborn" in Paris in 1996-1998 my goal is to return permanently.

@olafrotkohl5898 5 ай бұрын

Hiya, Jay, fellow American immigrant here, living in Normandy, but only a 2-hour train trip to Paris. I absolutely love the city. People ask me what to do there, and for me, it’s just being there. I love to wander with only the vaguest intention. Never am I disappointed.

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

The wandering here is the best 🥂

@davidmeusnier9430 5 ай бұрын

@@JaySwanson Wandering, je viens d'apprendre un nouveau mot. Ca se dit autant chez les anglais que chez les américains ?

@brodocassel 5 ай бұрын

@@davidmeusnier9430oui

@andyshacks7812 5 ай бұрын

That’s exactly what I love about the city !

@shinyshinythings 5 ай бұрын

@@davidmeusnier9430Good question … I think a British person would use ‘wandering’ in the same way as an American. (Wasn’t it Tolkien who wrote that ‘not all who wander are lost’?)

@KibbitUpIt 5 ай бұрын

Seems like Paris attracts a lot of writers and artists. Proud of yah

@lauxmyth 5 ай бұрын

Small confession. I sometimes watch to see Paris and sometimes to see the pupper. Hearing your thoughts then are a bonus. Frankly, your GoPro has seen some of the best sidewalks and benches and railing of Paris.

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

🥂

@Sportkite1111 5 ай бұрын

OMG...that escalator shot at 5:17. You are a video sorcerer!

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

😆

@seanrenken491 5 ай бұрын

Jay, so glad my girlfriend (now fiance) watched your videos before we celebrated our engagement with a trip in Paris. Seriously helped us understand the city and how to get around and experience the best Paris has to offer. Much appreciated!

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

You're so welcome! Thanks for continuing to watch 🥂

@Paul_C 5 ай бұрын

You know, I like I can get lost in Paris without remorse because it is today's personal journey I'm on. And the story writes itself. Oh well, just an observation 😊

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Always nice getting lost for the fun of it =)

@frankkownacki1364 5 ай бұрын

Jay, it's your love of exploring mixed with your love of your city that makes you the excellent guide. I was going back for a visit last year and found your videos before my trip. I ended up burning through as many as possible and learned some great things. I also picked up your guide and used that as well. There are TONS of videos and guides on Paris to consume, but your love of the city shows in the unique things you pick out to share, which really stands out. This is why over 1/2 a year later, with no future trips planned, I still come back to see where you are in your own adventure. Good luck and keep moving forward. We'll be here watching. (That sounded creepy, sorry.)

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@JWinParis 5 ай бұрын

The camera on the metro escalator 😵😎

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

🧙‍♂️🥂

@larrykinglk 5 ай бұрын

Funny... When you say "...a vibe, it'a feeling, when I'm here I feel at home...". As a Parisian I have the exact same feeling in NYC... Ok, Manhattan and Brooklyn probably a bit more than the 3 other boroughs, less "gentrified', but they all share the atmosphere of a "ville-monde", a city that is a whole world in itself.

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

They seem like sister cities in soul

@larrykinglk 5 ай бұрын

Very true

@electricsexpants 5 ай бұрын

Jay! My wife and I got back from Paris on Sunday, your guidance and advice man, thank you so so much ❤ Hopefully next time we get to buy you a drink as a thank you

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Happy I could help!

@gailhutchison7374 5 ай бұрын

I've been to Paris only 4 times, but, to me, it feels like home. When I leave it, a part of me fears I may never get back. It's part stunning beauty, part grubby gutter dog, part a lot of other things. But never boring. Thanks for doing your vlogs. I somehow stumbled onto your stuff and get to travel through your experiences. It gives me joy.

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

It's definitely all these things - thanks for following along!

@visitingsantafe7036 5 ай бұрын

Thank you for all the Paris scenery you show!

@jenfnp 5 ай бұрын

Cooper is like your silent sidekick. Love it!

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Silent yet deadly 🐶💨

@Sportkite1111 5 ай бұрын

I always see a little thought bubble above his head. Oh the things he's thinking!!

@erikat5678 5 ай бұрын

Thanks Jay! Love the morning affirmation talk! I LOVE Paris and agree, it’s a great city and I always enjoyed being there!❤

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

You're so welcome!

@amyspeers8012 5 ай бұрын

As someone else noted, I have seen a change since your citizenship interview. I wonder if being more settled-and that’s not the right word-is making a difference for you. My husband’s old company brought us here. He has now made his own company and we are waiting to hear on our new visas. I feel about my area as you do about Paris. Two couples have become my neighbors because I talk so lovingly about my sweet village.

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

The visa struggles take a greater toll on some of us for sure 🥂 All the best there!

@AlbandAquino 5 ай бұрын

2:45 There's another category... "Imported Goods" 😂 Let me elaborate... I'm French, met my now wife on an online dating website. I was getting bored and wasn't able to find someone interesting "locally", so I started looking at profiles from all around the world. Just for fun. And that's when I came across the profile of a woman that was funny as hell. Sent her a message roughly saying: Hey! I had a look at your profile and I had a blast reading your bio. Best of luck from Bordeaux! 8 months later, she moved to France. The rest is history...

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Well done sir 😆🥂

@tranquilityseeker 5 ай бұрын

"...Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth and when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.” - David Bowie

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

🥂🥂

@PokhrajRoy. 5 ай бұрын

1:09 This is such a frame. Brilliant!

@melissaalbert5784 5 ай бұрын

Well, now I have to subscribe. I’ll be visiting Paris for the first time this summer, and after stalking the channel for entirely too much time this morning, it’s obvious Cooper is in the tourism business so you help him make videos while occasionally hijacking the channel.

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

😆😆 Thanks for subscribing!

@Desvilleux 5 ай бұрын

Hi Jay, I've been a subscriber since your 5000 subscribers days. I learned how to navigate the metros in Paris because of your videos. If not for you, we could have been scammed while buying the tickets. Thank you for the guide. Your videos are always helpful and since it's done from a place of genuine concern, it feels like the old youtube.

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sticking with me! I'm glad I was able to help 🥂

@EdzoBotjes 5 ай бұрын

i like how your vibe changed after your citizens interview. ❤🎉

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Haha did it?

@susangalpin4967 5 ай бұрын

@@JaySwanson yah.. little bit.

@Clockx1 5 ай бұрын

Oh wow!!!! that transition at 6:18 so smooth 👏👏👏

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Thankee

@alisonherbert3938 5 ай бұрын

Now you have me hooked - waiting to hear about the next writing project...

@sheilaalcantara7738 5 ай бұрын

You seem very optimistic and happy. Wishing you luck with your upcoming endeavors

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!

@agyos 5 ай бұрын

MDR! Outstanding! Brilliant! Everything: lights, camera, action, mood, music…everything! Extremadamente enjoyable! Made my day…thank you! P.s. I have your journey to France book…looking forward to your upcoming work of fiction. Sci-fi is good, if you’re sticking to that genre…but I’m pretty sure I’ll enjoy whatever.

@robinolson8836 5 ай бұрын

Right on Jay! 7:59 being your fullest self and revealing to the world! My decision on this just happened too. Woohoo!! Been watching for years now and it’s awesome to see your growth and happiness. 😊

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Thank you! And thrilled you're feeling on a similar page!🥂

@NaudRuun 2 ай бұрын

Slick transitions 😎 Keep being you Jay And yes write more please

@rebaralle 5 ай бұрын

Just love your point of view bc being in Paris was for me so confortable that it became a dream worth pursuing for the last decade. It’s just where you feel good at, isn’t it? Never felt like that in a city before… every city has its on vibe and Paris has matched for me. Also, I was considering move somewhere else in France before, but your experience in Nice made me rethink that 😂

@danfrost5927 5 ай бұрын

Loved these insights, Jay!

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed!

@patriciateague8677 5 ай бұрын

So glad for channels like yours that help to make all the details of traveling to a new place a little less overwhelming.

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Glad to be helping out =)

@photolover6944 5 ай бұрын

Congratulations, Jay ! The quality of your videos is absolutely stunning !

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Thank you very much!

@jessicabracho8509 5 ай бұрын

Excited for all that you have plans and hopes for!

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Can't wait to share them!

@MicahMann 5 ай бұрын

You Rock Mister! Keep doing you. ❤

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Thank you! 🥂

@kaleidoscopeallie 5 ай бұрын

Puxxaaaaaan! Good to see ya man!

@bonriver9420 5 ай бұрын

Love watching you wander around Paris. It's such a beautiful city. So nice to see Puxan. What is he up to now?

@shinyshinythings 5 ай бұрын

“Am I in tourism???” I LOL’d.

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

AM I?!

@daviddubois7560 5 ай бұрын

I love France. I love Paris, my ancestry is there. I'll be 65 next month and entertaining the thought of retiring to France. It's funny that you say, you tried Nice first. I've been there a couple times ... Paris many times as a flight attendant. Not sure which city I wanted land.... I'll be in Paris staying in the 11th arroundesment April 4th to the 8th... coffee?

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

The 11st is one of the best places to stay. There is SO much coffee, check out my video on the 11th in my recent 20 in 20 series, and also "Paris Coffee Shops" video. There are too many to name in just one comment =)

@PAWS0810- 5 ай бұрын

my grandson is the only American electric race driver 18 years old moved during covid to germany - visas, and GED and so much more - complicated but they love it and have a awesome life probably better than in the USA.

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

that's awesome!

@selinawilsonart 5 ай бұрын

Best thumbnail EVER! Oh no, is Coop leaving town? 😂🥰🥰

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Haha it DOES look like that!

@andyshacks7812 5 ай бұрын

I agree with what you said about Paris being notoriously difficult to like . Personally I absolutely love the city but I can understand why some people don’t. I think some of the preconceptions about Paris don’t help either. Hope the writing goes well for you Jay ! 👍

@ReticulatingSplines_ 5 ай бұрын

Your metro video was probably the first one I saw

@amourflower9893 5 ай бұрын

ha ha to the part of the video where there is a table cloth on the table, I was like wow the Parisians know how to do it up right but then you were like I borrowed the cloth and your friend was even looking like wow. lol. ok Paris, I know someone who learned the language, quit their job and moved to Paris and they haven't looked back. If you asked them why they will tell you they fell in love with the country during their years of traveling. Now they have a life there and only speak of the simple and comfortable ways of fitting into Paris life. Merci

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

I didn't even borrow the cloth, it just appeared on the balcony on its own 😆

@timb.4902 5 ай бұрын

Hey brother! Is the sandwich place on Grenelle? I almost fell from my chair when I “think” I recognized the metro elevator and the views of the Tower as you were approaching the Bir Hakim station. Talking about metro instructions video, I secretly hug my Navigo cards before going to bed !!!! Thank you Jay!

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

It's near marche saint germain

@timb.4902 5 ай бұрын

@@JaySwanson Thanks a lot! Have fun in Thailand !!

@jononthejourney 5 ай бұрын

Ten Belles 👏🏼

@bjhelder 5 ай бұрын

Can we get a Cooper Channel? Life in the City of Lights?

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

🐶🍾🥂

@vanessazannis5523 5 ай бұрын

I absolutely love it when you speak French in your video! More please or maybe one video only in French…it is odd sometimes that you’re in France only speaking English and your friends only speak English in the video mostly not always. Regardless Thank you always for sharing!

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

I will try for more French! Most of my audience is English speakers and if I'm hanging with friends who are anglophones, of course we tend to speak our native language ;)

@yogisurfrunner1925 5 ай бұрын

Wait…you AND your pooch on the metro?? Just a fact check bc we are moving in 2 mos and have a 2 week stopover in Paris on our way to the Haute. Paris is an eventual consideration for us to live but knowing if we can take the dog on the metro would be a huge game changer in how much of the city I could show my hubby while we are there…(ive spent lots of time there, he’s never been)

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Oh yeah! Dogs are allowed in the metro, RER and trains. Large dogs just have to be muzzled. And I think technically small dogs should be in carriers, oops. In the bus only dogs in carriers are allowed. Service dogs are permitted everywhere.

@carolbrenner3121 5 ай бұрын

❤❤❤

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

👍🥂

@carolbrenner3121 5 ай бұрын

My favorite photo of Cooper!

@scottibass 5 ай бұрын

I'm excited for what's coming next also. Je pense que c'est une nouvelle série de livres fiction?😊

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Pas bientôt mais quand même 🥂🧙‍♂️🥂

@matthewduncan4933 5 ай бұрын

Jay, what's that t-shirt you are wearing? The one with the windmill coming out of the pocket. I assume related to Moulin Rouge. Where can I get one? I can't find it online!

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

hmmm stay tuned.... and keep an eye on my instagram over the next few weeks...

@SF-vl1ty 5 ай бұрын

Hi Jay! Which metro or train lines were you filming in? Loved the views and need to ride them some day myself. ❤😊

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

The classic Eiffel shot is off of line 6 =)

@SF-vl1ty 5 ай бұрын

@@JaySwansonthanks.😊

@PokhrajRoy. 5 ай бұрын

4:33 Still one of the most popular videos on the channel.

@jimm8682 5 ай бұрын

You should convince your Dad who visits you often , to invest in a small apartment in Paris which you.

@jimm8682 5 ай бұрын

With you….😅

@RH1812 5 ай бұрын

How the traffic! Any tractors?

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Sadly no tractors today 😆

@nitincali 5 ай бұрын

Saint-Sulpice ❤

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

V underrated 🥰

@thistlenstar 5 ай бұрын

This is tangential, but, in viewing your videos over the years, I've heard you say, from time to time, that you "wanted to become French." (or something to that effect) Thinking back, as a mere observer, I think there was was one video in particular, that made it clear you had made the transition. That was your coverage of the fire at Notre Dame. Sometimes a crisis illuminates the bonds that have been built. From that moment, it was clear where you belong.

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

thank you, this means a lot

@goodphotoideas 5 ай бұрын

What's that thing you spoke of that sounds like "oh pair."

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Au Pair - childcare

@rc9272 5 ай бұрын

👍😎

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

🚀🍾

@PokhrajRoy. 5 ай бұрын

3:47 Idk it’s less tourism and more tastemaker.

@mishellyLewis 5 ай бұрын

Hi Jay! I clicked your affiliate link to try to find the camera that you use, and the link is not working! Would you kindly provide? What type of camera you’re using? It’s got such great quality.

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Hi Michelle, we're working on a complete gear list with links on my website, should be finished today or tomorrow and findable at jayswanson.me !

@Darkeforce 5 ай бұрын

Another shot against Nice! How did Nice hurt you so badly???? LOL. The city and vibe are completely different than Paris, but still, Nice is rad. I love Paris so much, but I couldn't live there. Nice on the other hand... That's where my wife and I will be retiring. (Or thereabouts)

@chrisso35 5 ай бұрын

That fountain is in European Vacation

@supernatitube 5 ай бұрын

Jay, why you didn’t like Nice?

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Long story. I made a few videos about it back in the day 😂 Just search "Jay Swanson Nice" and you should find a few haha

@supernatitube 5 ай бұрын

@@JaySwanson Thanks! I’ll watch them.

@mosbys7062 5 ай бұрын

Maybe you covered this in a previous vlog that I missed but why didn't you like living in Nice? Is it because you wanted to be in Paris? a bigger city? Just curious because some people prefer to be in Nice vs. Paris. BTW I like these short under 10 min vlogs. Other similar vloggers have 25 or even 50 min vlogs and these are just too long IMO. I like bight size.

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Yeah, lots of reasons, but in the end the vibe suits me better. There are other parts of the south I like a lot more though

@mosbys7062 5 ай бұрын

@@JaySwanson - We really liked the vibe of Montpellier which doesn't seem to be on people's radar much. Close to the beach, great food, university town, very walkable, close to other sites, etc. Cool just curious.

@geoffh2560 5 ай бұрын

Are you secretly back on daily vlogs now? They're coming thick & fast these days...

@PokhrajRoy. 5 ай бұрын

In my case, I chose French because it had more resources around me and I couldn’t find a good Spanish course around me.

@vtecbobby 5 ай бұрын

France seems quite dog friendly, like you go into shops and cafes all the time with your dog. Is that generally acceptable in France?

@JaySwanson 5 ай бұрын

Yeah! I can't speak for all of France, but everywhere I've been. You might get a boulangerie or a pharmacie that says no, and supermarkets aren't allow, but most little shops and restaurants are totally ok.

@photolover6944 5 ай бұрын

Alson ,most of restaurants and hotals will accept dogs !