Ah, bah ouais Pari. The city of love in August feels a little different—perhaps it’s because Parisians have fled to the countryside or that the Olympics have boarded up most of the attractions or maybe it’s because—for the first time—I can speak the language in a foreign city. Sure, I had visited before, but this time, I wasn’t just here to sightsee; I was here to live, even if just for a little while.

I went to Paris for a remote work trip, thanks to home swapping. But balancing work with the urge to explore a city like Paris is a delicate act. The flexibility of remote work meant that I could have spent every day wandering the streets of Montmartre, losing myself in the art at the Louvre, or indulging in the best pastries the city has to offer. But the reality is, some days I simply stayed in, went to a nearby café to work, and didn’t venture far beyond my temporary neighbourhood.

I’ll admit, there were moments of guilt. How could I be in one of the world’s most beautiful cities and not be out exploring every single day? But then I realised that what I was doing was exactly what Parisians do—living. Some days they work, some days they relax, and not every day is filled with grand adventures.