By Regan Crisp
In Retrospect
I arrived in Paris confident and convinced that after putting in some hard work and solid reporting I would return home with a healthy list of sources and all the quotes I needed to bring my stories to fruition. Now, 10 days later, I can see that my journalistic nativity was clearly a result of both sleep deprivation and prolonged cabin pressure.
I still hadn’t settled on the topic of my feature story on our last day in Paris. In the grips of extreme exhaustion and a sadness having to leave France so soon, I was feeling lost on more than one front. Fortunately, it’s impossible to leave Paris without having grown culturally and intellectually. For me, the stories lie more in the experiences that found me that in those that I looked for.
‘Gaza’ Spelled Out In Candles
Paris is a feature-writer's dream. The city is overflowing with history, art and culture. Perhaps most intriguing is how the French approach the world differently—they have a consideration to detail I’ve rarely seen in the United States. Parisians seek out the best in all aspects of their lives, whether it’s the best wine, clothes or education. In their humble strive for perfection the French have an appetite for protest that is inspiring to witness. In the last few weeks that protest has been centered on the conflict in Gaza. Parisians blocked traffic, streamed through the Metro and lit up the city with public outcry while we made our way to various cultural landmarks. If it hadn’t been for a scheduled trip to Doctors Without Borders, which I nearly missed thanks to Metro security, it may have never occurred to me to write about what I witnessed. Finally, the topic I chose for two of my stories was also probably the most newsworthy.
C’est la Vie
I’m glad I saw as much as I did and didn’t waste a second in Paris, even if I was left without time or energy to generate and research new story ideas when my old ones fell through. In the end the stories mercifully came to me, in the form of a press conference. I only wish I’d had more time to expand them and to take advantage of the inspiration that Paris has to offer.
In Retrospect
I arrived in Paris confident and convinced that after putting in some hard work and solid reporting I would return home with a healthy list of sources and all the quotes I needed to bring my stories to fruition. Now, 10 days later, I can see that my journalistic nativity was clearly a result of both sleep deprivation and prolonged cabin pressure.
I still hadn’t settled on the topic of my feature story on our last day in Paris. In the grips of extreme exhaustion and a sadness having to leave France so soon, I was feeling lost on more than one front. Fortunately, it’s impossible to leave Paris without having grown culturally and intellectually. For me, the stories lie more in the experiences that found me that in those that I looked for.
‘Gaza’ Spelled Out In Candles
Paris is a feature-writer's dream. The city is overflowing with history, art and culture. Perhaps most intriguing is how the French approach the world differently—they have a consideration to detail I’ve rarely seen in the United States. Parisians seek out the best in all aspects of their lives, whether it’s the best wine, clothes or education. In their humble strive for perfection the French have an appetite for protest that is inspiring to witness. In the last few weeks that protest has been centered on the conflict in Gaza. Parisians blocked traffic, streamed through the Metro and lit up the city with public outcry while we made our way to various cultural landmarks. If it hadn’t been for a scheduled trip to Doctors Without Borders, which I nearly missed thanks to Metro security, it may have never occurred to me to write about what I witnessed. Finally, the topic I chose for two of my stories was also probably the most newsworthy.
C’est la Vie
I’m glad I saw as much as I did and didn’t waste a second in Paris, even if I was left without time or energy to generate and research new story ideas when my old ones fell through. In the end the stories mercifully came to me, in the form of a press conference. I only wish I’d had more time to expand them and to take advantage of the inspiration that Paris has to offer.
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