America Garcia, rising senior and Communication major at St. Edward’s University, has finally been able to fulfill her childhood dreams of traveling to Paris. As a lover of film and bérets, she hopes to document her time in the city of love through vlogging the unexpected Parisian culture. While in Paris, she awaits adventure, preferably with a Frenchman, and a new Parisian approved wardrobe. Below, Garcia describes what being in Paris means to her after spending so much of her youth dreaming of what it would be like to visit the city of love.
Q: So, I know that Paris has been a big love of yours for a long time. So, when did that love start? Around what age?
A: I have no idea, probably around the same time I got my first camera. Like probably eight or nine.
Q: And what was it that drew you in?
A: I don’t know. I just know that I was obsessed with it. I feel like one day I went into a Hobby Lobby or saw a painting of the Eiffel Tower. And I was like, yeah, yeah, that’s it. But like you know how when you are in middle school you have a lot of creative writing assignments? For me, everything was set in Paris. When I posted my first Instagram in Paris, one of my best friends from preschool commented, “OMG did you get married in Paris?” Because when I was little, I wrote a song about getting married in Paris. She reminded me that I would literally write songs about living in Paris. I would wear bérets every day to school.
Q: So, what are your Paris goals?
A: I want to thrift an entire new wardrobe. I want to dress like a Parisian straight up. But like, I really want to vlog my entire experience and make a really good video for YouTube. And I want to spend a lot of time by myself in cafés just writing. And I want to improve my French because eventually I do want to live here. So, like, by the end, I want to feel more comfortable.
Q: So, if you were to write a creative story now and set it in Paris, about your current time here, what would it be about?
A: I think it would be about a depressed girl, post breakup, trying to find herself in Paris. But it is always going to be about love because we are in the city of love. So yeah, post breakup, and she is like, “No boy will ever give me what I want, let me go to Paris and just focus on myself.” But that doesn’t happen because the perfect Frenchman stumbles in front of her and she has this crazy adventure with him and rides away on his Vespa to get married.
Q: What did you imagine Paris to be like when you were young versus how you see it now?
A: I feel like I thought it would be cleaner. Yeah, for the most part. I feel like this is what I imagined. But it’s giving. It’s giving Mexico City really, it really is. But like, but at least the outskirts where we are. But then when you go to the actual city, where the Eiffel Tower is and where the cool stuff is. Where the buildings are old, and the balconies have these little details. That is just how I imagined. Honestly, like, a little dirtier, like, watch out for dog poop.
Q: Have you been disappointed at all?
A: I’ve just been disappointed in myself. For not trying hard enough to learn the language. I was obsessed for so long. I ask myself, “Why didn’t I actually try to learn it?” The one thing is just not being able to communicate.
Q: So, it is no secret that you love, love. Right? Do You think there’s a combination or some sort of connection between you loving love and then becoming obsessed with the city of love when you were younger?
A: You’re making some good points. Yeah, for sure. I’m trying to think. Wait! Phineas and Ferb! I remember watching an episode when I was young where they went to Paris and talked about it being the city of love and falling in love in Paris. I feel like that was a moment for me where I was like, “Wow, the City of love.” I was like, “I want to be like Phineas and Isabella and fall in love in Paris.
Q: Did you think you would ever make it to Paris?
A: No, never. At least not until maybe I had a family and it was possible. Honestly, like a week before I was like, I’m not going to go, I’m like, this isn’t actually going to happen. I am always like that, especially since COVID-19. So, it’s like the fact that I am here. It’s kind of crazy. It feels surreal.
