The first time culture, language, and localization expert Salvador Ordorica visited two of Paris’ most famous sights, the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe, he was overcome with an overwhelming sense of disappointment.
Ordorica founder of global translation company, Ordorica: “It felt like Disneyland in terms of crowds and charm. It was not what I had expected of Paris.” The Spanish GroupTelling Travel + Leisure.
Emily Cooper had moved to ParisThe French capital is a magnet for tourists from around the globe. They flock there to see the magnificent Mona Lisa in the Louvre and the Chateau de Versailles. What happens if you arrive in the City of Light and Love, but it doesn’t live up to the picture you painted? You are not alone. There’s even a name for it—the Paris Syndrome.
Hiroaki ota, a Japanese psychiatrist who worked in France in the 1980s, coined the term. He, as well as other experts, concentrated on the experience of Japanese visitors, who described symptoms such hallucinations, dizziness, and anxiety due to the real-life disappointment in the city.
Reddit, and other forums are full of this term today. It’s a way to express the frustration that comes with not being able to use the hashtag #Paris on Instagram.
Ordorica studied at the prestigious Parisian University Sciences Po. “Paris has been marketed in movies, on social media and through luxury branding, so people have an idealized image of a city full of beauty and romance,” she said. Travelers can feel let down when they step onto its streets and discover that it’s a real city. There are bad weather days, traffic and moody residents, along with the beauty.
“When people expect perfection, and then are confronted with the reality of Paris on a daily basis, it can be a shock,” he added.
It’s worth remembering before you go that Paris is not just the leafy Île Saint-Louis, where you’ll find Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral or the charming, music-filled cobbled streets of Montmartre; it’s also home to over two million people.
“Paris has a chaotic, poetic quality. It is grumpy but generous. It’s a normal city like any other. Ordorica added that the city has its fair share of annoying people, traffic, noise and political problems. “Yes, it is stunning, with amazing architecture, delicious food and beautiful scenery, but it also has a more imperfect side. You will enjoy your trip even more if you do this.
Maybe we can take some inspiration and ideas from the younger generations, who do not own smartphones or have a social media platform that reflects their views. My husband and myself took our two daughters for the first trip to Paris in 2013. They looked up as we emerged from Gare de Montparnasse to see the Eiffel Tower rising above the skyline. I’ll always remember their gasps in wonder and awe. They will not, I’m sure.
After living in France for more than 15 years, I’ve visited Paris countless times. Seeing the city with my children was like a new discovery of its wonders, imperfections included.
