Episode 17: Explore! Diving into Your Surroundings

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but as an expat it can be your friend! Join Chandra, as she walks you through the idea of exploring your city in a variety of new ways. She shares personal experiences and gives ideas for people in many geographical areas, on how you can get to know your new "town".

Plus, she shares how this mindset led to her discovery of today's "Chan Select". Listen in!

• This episode's "Chan Select": Brasserie Charlie
• Follow us on Instagram: @expatriotical
• Check out: Space Invaders
• Episode Reference: Episode 1: Who I Am and How I Started My Crazy Expat Life, Episode 5: Language is Key with Sissi Arellano, Episode 12: Take it At Your Own Pace with Michelle Packer

"Live and Travel in the Know" with Expatriotical!

Transcript

Expatriotical- Episode 17: Explore! Diving into Your Surroundings

Bienvenue, Benvenuti, and Welcome to Expatriotical, the podcast for expats, travelers, and other adventurous souls. I’m Chandra Alley and after living as an expat with my husband and 4 children in two different countries for almost 6 years, I’ve learned the arts of pivoting during pitfalls, traveling tastefully for less, and soaking in amazing new cultures without loosing your own.

Join me, as we dive into the joys and challenges of travel and the expat life in every episode!

You guys, I just got super excited about this episode today because I feel like it’s one that we are all going to explore and go on together!

And that is the topic of this episode! It’s so important to be curious about your surrounding and environments and to explore. So many possibilities can open up when you do. Granted, it is also super important to stay safe. I know that not everyone listening to this can explore safely and may be relegated to the compound they live in or may not be allowed to drive in that country, but we can also brain storm about how you can explore even in those circumstances.

And in fact, you don’t even need to be living abroad to do this… let’s call it a practice. My first experience with this and the wonders of what can happen when you explore actually happened 20 years ago. Yes, that’s right, way before living as an expat was a gleam in my eye, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue my dream of acting, and you can hear a smidge about that and a lot more about me in Episode 1: Who I am & How I Started my Crazy Expat Life.

Anyway, after being in between jobs for a couple of weeks and applying at multiple restaurants to be a server, only to be told I could only be a hostess, though I already had 6 years of experience as a server, or being told that weekend work was mandatory, which I know is a totally reasonable thing to say, but I had just come off of a job working night shifts and weekends. I had no friends and (because I was so new) and working the weekends kept me from spending time with my family, so this extravert was desperate to spend quality time with people and I knew I needed the weekends off to do so.

But I was also desperate to make some money. At every turn, it seemed like there was nothing available. Either I would put in an application and hear nothing or I would interview on the spot and find that not working weekends, was not possible.

After an interview at the Cheesecake Factory in Beverly Hills, where the manager had been keen to hire me, but said that weekends were required. I left dejected and started driving home to Culver City.

I remember being angry and crying and talking to God, telling him I just wish I could drive by somewhere and there be a sign in the window saying that a place was hiring. That way I wouldn’t waste my time fillin out a bunch of applications (which- just so everybody know is like the bain of my existense. I really don’t like paperwork.) And with a bit of attitude, I decided as I neared my house that instead of going home I would drive around the area where the movie studios were in Culver City, because if I couldn’t get a job or be an actress right then, at least I could dream.

So I turned right onto Higuera Street, instead of continuing on Jefferson Blvd. Tears in my eyes, I slowed and looked around as I drove. Trying to catch a glimpse of what, I didn’t know. A tv star, a familiar face. I mainly saw industrial buildings and small businesses. I took another right, passing Smashbox Cosmetics and as I continued down Hayden Avenue, I happened to glance to my left and out of the corner of my eye, I saw in the front window of a small building tucked between two warehouses, a small red and white sign the read, “Help Wanted”.

I couldn’t believe it! I parked and went inside and for me the rest is history. I got the job at that little restaurant called JJ’s Café, which is sadly, no longer there. But SO much came out of that one occurrence. Yes, I got a job, which I desperately needed, but God used this to open up so many more opportunities. With in a couple of months I met an acting manager, who referred me to my first acting coach and his classes. My manager at JJ’s became my really good friend and 8 months later when I needed a place to live, she let me stay with her and her sweet kiddos for 6 months.

I met a woman whose corporate head quarters was right next door and when I decided to go back to school and changed my major to Theatre, and I needed a job the was conducive to going to college, so I got a job at one of her store locations.

And even small things, like the carrot cake recipe that I love that people rave about, it came from that café. All because I decided to explore!

Here in Paris, exploring has looked like me, going to a certain side of the town of to look for shoes or boots or something, I can’t remember exactly what I was looking for and since I was over there, I decided to keep walking around because it was such a cute area. And I ended up finding an adorable decorations and homegoods store, a fantastic creperie, for those who don’t know what that is, it’s a restaurant that serves crepes, and also gallettes, which are the savory version of crepes.

And as I looked across the road I saw a restaurant with beautiful Art Nouveau stained glass windows and bright yellow awnings covering the outdoor seating. The name Brasserie Charlie (I’m going to say Brasserie Charlie) was written across the entrance and I thought to myself, “I want to go eat there with Chris”, my husband, “sometime”. And about a month later we found ourselves with a day where I wasn’t busy and he was working from home, so we headed there for an exquisite lunch date. Spoiler Alert: This is our “Chan Select” for the episode and I’ll tell you more about Brasserie Charlie later.

But continuing on with exploring. Another fun way to explore could be to do a city bus tour of your new town. Yes, I am implying that you be a tourist in your own city, especially if you are new. I did one of Paris with my Mom when she first came the and really did enjoy it. And it was a great option for my mom because her mobility can be limited at times.

But an even better way to explore, if you can, is to walk. I really love the metro system here in Paris, it is fast, efficient (for the most part), and relatively inexpensive, but the problem is, most lines run underground (which is normal, it’s a metro, it’s a subway), so you get from point A to point B without seeing all the things in between and can feel quite turned around when you come up from the metro station.

So, if I am out and about and my next destination is only maybe one or two metro stops away, and I have the time (and because this is Paris, it’s not raining too much) I walk. I get to see all of the gorgeous architecture, cool monuments and statues, and even restaurants or stores I’d like to come back to. And I get some exercise.

AND a huge bonus, is that you get to see the people. That makes me sound silly, but I like to people watch! The native Parisians doing their thing, living their lives and you get a nice taste of the culture. And as a little perspective on things, Parisians really like to people watch too.

And as one more added bonus, if you have kids in tow, is a fun game that I learned about called Space Invaders. Space Invaders is an app that you download onto your phone. It is a game created by the mosaic artist named Invader. Who had the idea to take images from video games and quote unquote “free” them by bringing them into the physical world in form of mosaic art.

So whether he does it under the cover of darkness, or in a mask, Invader puts up his pixilated tile mosaics, many of images we all know and recognize such as Mario and Luigi from Super Mario Brothers, the Mona Lisa (worth 300 points- which is my biggest score yet), all over Paris.

And now all over the world, as he had put up 4171 space invaders in 83 territories around the world to date. My kids absolutely LOVE finding them. It keeps them active and in tune as we walk around Paris simply running errands.

I will note that there are copy cat “invaders” and if you scan too many of them, on occasion you will get inappropriate language that pops up in the app, but I don’t let me kids see that and I just tell them it was a miss and we move on to try to find another.

And I will admit that I play the game without them, because deep down I am still a kid at heart! I will be sure to include the website for Space Invaders in the show notes so you can check it out for yourself!

Another new way to explore your city, that I just did for the first time ever a couple of weeks ago, is to sign up for a race. A 5K, a 10K, or whatever “K” you feel like doing. By recommendation by friend Nikki, who is an avid runner, I signed up for the Paris 10K. It was only like 24 or maybe 28 euros and she said that is was beautiful and great way to see Paris. And man was she right.

We started at the Arc du Triomphe, ran by the church at Madeline, and coursed by the glass pyramid at the Louvre. I saw glimpses of the Opera, the obelisk at Concorde, and Hotel Invalides. Then we ran through 3 tunnels, along the Seine river gazing at the Eiffel Tower as we went and then up a steep hill (think of me as the Little Engine that could at point in the race- we were about 8 kilometers in), to Trocadero and then rounded it out finishing almost exactly where had started.

It was a blast! It had a festival or party type feel and the views I got running down the middle of the street seeing both sides of things equally was amazing!

And even though this was my first 10K, I was not alone. I passed a man whose shirt said his name and that it was his first 10K, he was most likely in his mid 60s. And I would start to get close to groups in hear clapping and I would see that somebody with a prosthetic leg was running the race, or someone with greatly limited mobility was making their way step-by-step and we would all cheer them on as we ran together. It was truly a fantastic experience!

Now for those with security limitations or the inability to drive in the country you live in. Please know that I am not an expert and I am simply brainstorming with you, so that you can enjoy the country that you live in.

My first thought is to network. Who do you know there or who do you know that knows someone that lives where you are already, that could maybe take an afternoon or morning and you could buy them lunch and they could show you around a bit.

My second thought is, with time, is that you get to know your neighbor, as you get to know your neighbor, ask them what their favorite restaurant, market, fill-in-the-blank is, and then share that you are nervous to go there by yourself and would they consider accompanying you there.

My third thought, for those that experience driving limitations is to simply plan to go on day trips with a driver and as you get to know them, I know a lot of companies do hire this. Like for example if you refer back to Episode 5 with my interview with dear friend Sissi, and she had to have a driver when she lived in China. And so maybe this is something, if you are in that kind of situation that as you get to know them, you can ask them to show you their favorite spots in the city.

And finally, to find and reach out to any other expats in the area and ask them what their experience has been like trying to explore the city. Have they felt safe and what areas would they recommend you stay away from. You can do this by finding Facebook groups, going online and searching that way.

Again, I am not an expert here, these are just thoughts that popped into my mind for trying to troubleshoot the dilemma of security and safety restrictions that you could have. You should first and foremost follow your gut and don’t do anything that you really don’t have peace about.

So that pretty much wraps up this Exploratory Episode of Expatriotical. I do want to put it out there that as my friend Michelle said, in Episode 12, “take it at your own pace”. Don’t push if you’re really are not ready, but if you feel a little flicker of curiosity, follow it, you never know where it might lead you.

Now going back to Brasserie Charlie, which I mentioned earlier is our “Chan Select” for this episode. You guys, I liked this place so much I did a post on my personal Instagram page about it. SO, I can even tell you what I ate.

The food was delightful, I had a glass wine and a starter of oeuf mayonnaise- which I’m probably butchering how to say that (which is pretty much fancy deviled eggs) over a delicious chopped veggie salad, then, because my French is terrible, I thought I ordered a veggie Croque Monsieur (which is like a sandwich), but ended up getting a delightful vegetarian dish with a creamy light mushroom sauce with toasted hazelnuts over succulently cooked potatoes with some form of delicious French cheese.

Spoken like a true American who has no idea what she is eating, but is delighted by every bite! Chris was also happy with his choices, but most of all I was thrilled with the bill, for each of us to have a starter, main dish, and a glass of wine for me, and to walk away stuffed to the gills, was bout 50 euro.

And since I am a sucker for pretty things, the inside of the building is just as beautiful as the outside. The art nouveau theme continues in the interior with 1920s era vases, light fixtures and wall art adding nuance, flair, and pops of color everywhere. The lighting gives off a feel like you are going to see a flapper girl walk around the corner at any time and the music, took me back as well, but not quite as far, as they played a fun eclectic selection of some of my favorites from the 1990s and early 2000s.

Brasserie Charlie is another place to venture to when you want something a little bit off the beaten path, away from the tourists and among the locals, but still get to eat some delicious and yet innovative French faire. As I usually mention, I am not an affiliate of Brasserie Charlie at the time of this recording, just wanting to hook all of you up with a really great place to eat!

I will be sure to include their website in the show notes, so that you can check it out and plan your next or first visit!

Thank you all so much for joining me on this Explore episode! It was fun for me and I hope it was for you too! I would love to hear some of your stories of exploring and getting to know the surroundings in your new city or country. And you can share them with me by DMing me on Instagram, my handle there is @Expatriotical. Who knows, your story just may spark an idea for a new episode or be a useful tip for other listeners!

And while you are there on Instagram, if you haven’t followed me already, please hit the follow button and stay up to date on all things new and happening at Expatriotical.

But for today, our adventure has come to an end. I’ll meet you back here again next week and until then, this is Chandra Alley reminding you to “Live and Travel in the Know” with Expatriotical.