By: AVA WOFFORD
Staff Writer
Paris Syndrome. I know what you’re thinking, what is Paris Syndrome? Paris Syndrome is a sense of disappointment exhibited by some individuals when visiting Paris who feel that the city was not what they had expected. The condition is commonly viewed as a severe form of culture shock. This usually results in vomiting, hallucinations, and common fainting spells.
Why does Paris Syndrome happen? Let’s be clear here, the glitz and glamor of Paris aren’t real. Paris is usually a fantasized location of travel due to the idea of love and luxury, however, this is nowhere near the truth. Paris is like if you took New York and turned it up a notch. Paris is filthy. It has some of the most pollution in the world with trash flowing out of broken trash cans that are never cleaned up. The streets are filled with homeless people and have a strong smell of urine. Crime rates in Paris are unbelievably high and pick-pocketing is a huge deal. Paris also has the problem of being overly crowded. While these are major problems in Paris they are never addressed or brought up. Instead, people would rather show the commercialized side of Paris which causes travelers to expect something great out of their trip. This causes such a shock that they get genuinely sick.
Overall, while Paris isn’t what you might have expected, you should still go. Travel is a great way to learn and see new experiences and perspectives. If you want to go to Paris, you should go. Before visiting however be sure to research and understand what you are getting yourself into. You should watch out for tourist traps and stay out of places with high crime rates. The best way to enjoy yourself without getting Paris Syndrome is to just understand the environment you are walking into.
