As a group of my friends and I sat on the Trocadero, using Oreos as spoons for a giant jar of peanut butter, we looked around and realised that we were members of the small group of individuals who were living in the moment. As the sun sets, the Eiffel Tower glistens in a spectacle of lights before thousands of onlookers. For five minutes, she glows brilliantly, a true embodiment of the city's glamour. We had failed to actually take time to visit the Trocadero, a tourist "must," before that moment, and we were disheartened to see an ocean of phones. There were people who walked up, took a few photos, and left without ever actually letting their eyes settle on the stage before them, past the small screen of their phone. The last of the daylight slipped from the air and the tower launched into her dazzling display as we watched on, indulging in the moment. Now having lived in Paris for several weeks, I have started to realise how distracted and vain we are as a population. Walking through areas that are ladened with tourists is nearly impossible, as everyone is more focused on taking a photo of themselves in front of the area, instead of taking the opportunity to marvel at the story of the place. It goes to show that we are more obsessed with sharing our experiences than having an authentic experience, and I am trying to step away from living through a screen and live in the moments before me.
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AuthorHi! My name is Megan Gilbert, and I am studying abroad in Paris during the spring 2017 semester. Follow along! Archives
May 2017
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