7 Random Facts About Life in Paris

[@ChineseAg]

Growing up in somewhat traditional Chinese family, taught to greet all my elders by title. Started with saying hi to grandparents, then eldest uncles/aunts making salutations in chronological order. Preferably all in Chinese. Now that my cousins have kids/grandchildren & we are at generation 4-6, greetings are mostly English with titles in Canto. Taught niblings to say Hi Kao-poh, Kao-gung (maternal grandmother aunt, grandfather uncle). Bien élevé 😊

[@hbeerman372]

Yes in Amsterdam we have to, first monday of the month.📢🔊🔊🔊

[@jlafunk]

Theatres: There are mezzanines and balconies when we talk about US theatres. But, in Europe (and some US theatres that want to be "fancy") they are referred to as a circle. For example, Dress Circle is a common 1st tier balcony. in essence, they're the same thing but sometimes the Circle is also a raised area behind the Orchestra seating that only goes up a few steps.

[@auntiemjo]

Fun seeing the inside of the theatre. And that air-raid info, something to remember.

[@NortherlyK]

Yeah. At our symphony, that's The Dress Circle. Not all theaters use that convention, but it's a way to distinguish different tiers of balcony seating.

[@DuchessPinkbunny]

Always love seeing you and Paul hang out!

[@karentozer1871]

Paul is correct I think, the stalls downstairs and the circle upstairs on the balcony. I remember going to see Les Miseranle in London many years back, I was seated ‘in the gods’ so high up you could get vertigo, and REALLY ITCHY seats 😂😩😩

[@susanmitchell5447]

From my Covent Garden London memories the 'Dress Circle ' ?

[@RAD6150]

We have tornado sirens that go off the first Saturday of the month. Every time I hear them, I just go "Oh, it's the first Saturday!"

[@andyshacks7812]

Love it when the clocks go forward - summer is coming yay! Cheers for the fun fact Paul, that’s definitely one to remember. You get your bins emptied every day? Wow! It’s every two weeks here!

[@ARM317]

I'm highly impressed with your piano progress! I started learning the guitar in 2021 and know how challenging learning instruments can be. Also, super cool last fact!! I need to plan a visit around the first Wednesday of the month now. I'd be interested if they were used in WWII since I believe the town was entered by foot soldiers primarily.

[@hazelhoyte7668]

1:58 🎼🎹 Yay! Congrats!🎊🎉

[@jackie8357]

Interesting facts! Good for you re learning piano, that's nice keeping booksellers alive - even Barnes and noble here in the US can't beat Amazon prices

[@willnelson3362]

I can't wait to see some travel videos! I suggest watching a few old Anthony Bourdain episodes for inspiration -- he was an incredibly talented storyteller. It's very tough to stay disciplined with weight training on the road. The good news is that you can generally "maintain" gains with minimal effort. Body weight calisthenics should be sufficient. Push-ups, pull ups, air squats, maybe some light overhead press if you have some dumbbells. No need to push to the limit for maintenance. Keep it up, Jay! Oh, and I love that beautiful old theatre. France is full of so many such treasures.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Jay’s Fun Facts make me happy. Reminds me of me. We can have a fact off. 😂

[@bbbbgtm]

Jay, just returned from Paris. Your guide (and vlogs) were a great resource. Had an amazing time!

[@annas1185]

That’s something that I’ve noticed about the younger people in my office…they don’t say good morning and hello. It’s a good manner to follow!

[@RAD6150]

And on the phone!

[@Cuttlefish233]

Thanks Jay. You always show what looks to be great food. That looked delicious, whatever it was. I'm sure it will make it into your guide.

[@Cuttlefish233]

Also, learned a new French word today. Poubelle

[@sandy.art.lapetitedoe2301]

Jay, I just love your videos!❤❤

[@ericirvin102]

Just got back from Paris. Thanks for your other video about where to get a good beer!

[@JaySwanson]

Hope you had fun!

[@bonriver9420]

Enjoyed the fun facts about Paris. The most surprising was that your income taxes are done for you. Throughout my childhood and teen years (1940s, 50s and early 60s), we would always hear the air raid sirens go off at exactly 1p.m. on Saturday afternoons. You got used to these tests so you didn't actually pay attention to them after awhile. I have started to hear them again on Saturdays (same time 1p.m.). This is in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. I didn't realize that other countries did this also.

[@JaySwanson]

I wonder if they figure it doesn't bother anyone on a saturday?

[@carmenbreit6485]

I agree, DST is terrible. Wish we would just pick one, Standard/DST and stick with it. We also test our sirens in our area here in Wisconsin, so that's not unusual to me. Every Saturday morning at 10:30. Love all the random facts and I look forward to your vlogs every morning!

[@jessicalemelle]

They test the air raid sirens every 1st Saturday in Detroit at 1pm I can imagine what he said you cut and now I’m thinking maybe I shouldn’t have posted our schedule 😂

[@MsWAlexander1]

Hey Paris has something in common with Minnesota! The state tests their sirens on the first Wednesday of the month here too! Though it’s at 1pm and used to signal severe weather. 😂

[@JaySwanson]

No way! Must be confusing when they test it during severe winters

[@MsWAlexander1]

@@JaySwanson yeah. When they first started doing them year round (during Covid) it was super strange. Now it’s just an “oh yeah, it’s the first Wednesday…” 😂

[@matchamate]

Having daylight in the French summer until like 10pm was a little weird to get used to but it was pleasant at least.

[@JaySwanson]

love the long summer days!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

4:26 Jay was right: It was a great fun fact

[@PokhrajRoy.]

6:31 I’m still giggling 😂

[@amedeunuabona]

How are you stepping out a metro, with your camera ready and it never getting stolen LOL! 5:19

[@warped2875]

It is amazing, ...just try filming like that in a major US city, like L.A., Seattle, or NYC, and it would be gone before you turned around.

[@gigiatlas2364]

Don't believe everything (bad) you hear, Paris is in reality pretty safe

[@chrisallen1745]

I'd guess he is hopping on right when it arrives, then turning around to make it seem like he's getting off ;)

[@JWinParis]

For me it's the dress circle and if there was one more above it that would be the upper circle😊

[@heliedecastanet1882]

Orchestra = parterre. Dress circle (a word I did not know, so thanks !) = corbeille. Balcony = balcon. And the top and cheapest area, just under the roof is called "le Paradis", but I could not tell you what it is called in English - maybe "in the Gods"…

[@PokhrajRoy.]

5:07 Such a meta moment

[@dfrankpgh]

Daylight savings time is so weird. Do they talk about (halfheartedly) abolishing it in France like they do in the US? It's so odd being in Paris in the winter and it not getting light until 9am or so. Great job with your piano practice! You're doing great.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

8:58 I think it’s the ’dress circle’.

[@Steve-om2it]

LOL we had the air raid alarm go off when we in Paris on top of the Galeries Lafayette. Everyone stopped and was looking around at each other like what the hell is going on.

[@JaySwanson]

must have been a little scary!

[@heliedecastanet1882]

The ushers are paid with tips in private theatres, but not in public theatres. So you are right : if you go to a private one, bring some change.

[@JaySwanson]

Oh I didn't know that!

[@JCF072344]

Oh, yes, the semi-annual clock annoyance. Same everywhere.

[@warped2875]

Not in most of Arizona, they don't change their time, ...except on the Navajo rez, they do. Also, Hawaii does not do DST, either.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Pauly Poo will have some truly *FUN* facts Edit: We weren’t disappointed

[@carolbrenner3121]

What is the brand of your piano?

[@PokhrajRoy.]

1:35 “If I had ever learnt, I should’ve been a great proficient. So would Anne, if her health would’ve allowed her.”

[@kellyt105]

They test the sirens on the first Wednesday at 1:00 here in MN as well. I'll never forget CNN was live on the air during the George Floyd murder trial when they went off and they all started freaking out not knowing what it was.

[@hellomynameisnicetomeetya5514]

What is the situation in Paris like considering the fact that the national security alert system has been raised?

[@JaySwanson]

Nothing obvious changes much for locals on the day to day, might just a see a few more patrols / heightened security

[@bassclefpaco]

Are you practicing with a metronome?

Hi Jay! Speaking of trash pick-up.... I've heard that the reason people do not pick up after their dogs in Paris is because there are robots that come along to pick it up. Is that true? If so, could you get some footage of the Parisian poop robots? Thank you!

[@PatriciaBrooksCourageCatalyst]

I don't know about Paris but in my village in the south of France there is a man who rides around on a moped equipped with a vacuum on the back that sucks up the poop.😂

[@JaySwanson]

Hmm not as far as I know! People have gotten better about it in recent years because they starting fining people when they caught them...

[@gigiatlas2364]

We used to have them (moto-crottes), they were not robots but some bulky vehicle driven by a guy, who would vacuum dog poo. They took them out years ago.

@@gigiatlas2364 Mystery solved! Thank you!

[@JBugz777]

6:28 - "... Il y a quelque-chose ????? avant?" - What do you say in the middle there, before his answer?

[@bruin_tea_et_ecriture]

I think it’s jamais savez avant.

[@DavidS5118]

Always thought this fact was strange.... There is only one Stop sign in all of Paris....

[@JaySwanson]

love this one

[@SanBrunoBeacon]

6:29 "Before coming to Paris, I didn't think it would smell like piss" He should go to San Francisco, California, it smells like piss plus other bodily excrement...

[@britt-sen]

wow, every month....we only test twice a year.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

DST sucks and it sucks more because I can’t do math

[@dfrankpgh]

Daylight savings time is so weird. Do they talk about (halfheartedly) abolishing it in France like they do in the US? It's so odd being in Paris in the winter and it not getting light until 9am or so. Great job with your piano practice! You're doing great.

[@heliedecastanet1882]

Well, in winter, it is the original time, actually. The one that was created was for summer. If we kept that time throughout the year, we would get light in winter at 10am.