I'm an American who's lived in Paris for nearly a decade. These 8 things have surprised me about living in the French capital.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

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• I'm an American who's lived in Paris for almost a decade. My time here has been full of surprises.
• Here, it's common to take really long lunches — and locals really do pick up fresh baguettes often.
• Many locals dress stylishly around the clock, which inspired me to build a capsule wardrobe.

Shortly after I turned 25, I asked myself: "If you could live anywhere, where would it be?" The answer was always Paris.