If in case you have been following me on Instagram, you’ll know that this journey to Paris was a REALLY large deal for me due to my worry of flying. Although Paris seemed magical within the films, I actually didn’t suppose I might ever see the Eiffel Tower with my very own eyes as a result of I could not envision myself surviving the flight and the anxiousness of touring. I do not even actually like touring inside my very own metropolis for an entire day not to mention a overseas metropolis. I’m a real homebody and although it might have been good to have some new surroundings for the Gram, I do not suppose I’ll ever actually have the journey bug.
In 2021, it was determined that I might be the brand new Chaumet Boutique Supervisor at my work. I might nonetheless be the supervisor for Birks, however I might tackle this extra position because it was nonetheless a reasonably new model in Canada. We had a slightly small house for Chaumet on the time, however as a result of we had been upgrading to a full blown boutique in December 2022, it was determined that the brand new house wanted a devoted supervisor and workers. A part of being a supervisor for Chaumet was the chance to attend the Worldwide Retail Seminar (IRS) which might be in Paris (although I’ve heard it adjustments areas yearly!). After I heard this, I used to be instantly struck with worry and I did not actually suppose it was occurring even when my flight was booked! It wasn’t till I had resort reservations and an itinerary that I began to consider it was actual! Primarily each time I considered this journey, my abdomen would lurch and I might be consumed by anxiousness. I even requested to resign as supervisor and was instructed in a not so good manner that that was not an choice and realistically, who of their proper thoughts would flip down an all-expenses paid journey to Paris with an attractive jewellery model?! So, a few month earlier than I acquired a prescription for some low-grade anti-anxiety treatment, acquired the Calm app, obtained three forms of Gravol and talked to a therapist (who mentioned I used to be uber ready and to make use of logic to speak myself out of my fears). I will not lie although that for the entire week earlier than the flight, I used to be a ball of nerves. I wakened with butterflies in my abdomen and I went to mattress with them. I misplaced 4 lbs and needed to power myself to eat as a result of I additionally did not wish to get sick earlier than the journey!
My husband had already been in Europe for nearly 2 weeks and once I mentioned goodbye to him on the airport, he mentioned to me “The subsequent time I see you, can be in Paris!” He met me at my resort after I had landed and it was such a aid to see him and know that I had made it to The Metropolis of Love! I solely had an hour of sleep on the aircraft so I used to be fairly out of it, however I used to be solely going to be in Paris for 4 nights so I knew I needed to make it depend! The day I landed, there was a welcome cocktail social gathering on the resort at 6pm so I took a fast nap beforehand, instructed myself to be social and meet the opposite 130 boutique managers! As a traditional introvert, there have been MANY moments on this journey the place I wanted to psych myself up, however in the long run I knew that because the beginner supervisor, I might both have a “meh” journey or do my greatest to make it as memorable as potential. Clearly, I selected the latter and truthfully, as soon as I gave into the occasions and chatting with individuals, it was simple to overlook how drained I used to be or how shy I felt. I simply needed to dive headfirst and DO IT and never suppose an excessive amount of about it. I had three days with Chaumet that went from 7:45am-10:30pm the primary two days after which we ended round 3pm on the final day in order that we will run off and discover Paris.
On the primary day, the gross sales assembly and welcome breakfast had been on the Théâtre du Palais-Royal, inbuilt 1784, and was initially a puppet theatre. It seats 750 individuals and is now used as a playhouse for varied reveals. It felt quite a bit just like the Moulin Rouge period and seeing a pink velvet curtain full with pink velvet chairs was really fairly cool to expertise.
We later went to Cafe de la Paix, constructed within the 1800s, and host to many visitors together with the likes of Victor Hugo and Ernest Hemingway. We had an extremely filling lunch and dessert that I want I might have doggy-bagged (I heard that this does not actually occur in French eating places)!
Subsequent, we had been off to 12 Place Vendome, house of the Chaumet flagship retailer and Atelier aka the place the jewellery is made! I had been dying to see Place Vendome as that is an iconic luxurious procuring space and residential to the Ritz. We spent about 2 hours testing new jewellery releases and seeing how a tiara is made! It was so informative and I really feel like I acquired to know the model so significantly better!
That night time we had dinner at one other iconic Parisian place known as Maxim’s! Established within the early 1900s, Maxim’s has performed host to many worldwide celebrities like Marcel Proust, Brigitte Bardot and Barbara Streisand! The vibe of this multi-floor restaurant is classed as very Artwork Noveau and there was a ton of leisure throughout the cocktail hour main as much as dinner. There have been enjoyable individuals like these guys right here and even make-up artists giving us some further glitter for the night time!
All of that was on the primary day from 8am to 11pm so I used to be fairly exhausted by the top of the night time. I left when the social gathering was nonetheless occurring as I needed to maneuver previous the jet lag as shortly as potential and fortunately, I slept proper via the night time!
The subsequent day was all work as we spent a lot of the day at Chaumet headquarters in a gathering room planning for our group shows the subsequent day so no images had been taken. As soon as it was introduced that there was to be one spokesperson for the group and that the shows wanted to happen in English, I knew it might be me seeing as how I used to be the one Canadian there. It additionally threw individuals for a loop after they discovered I used to be Chinese language, however could not communicate Mandarin and had satisfactory French. What DID actually wow me at this seminar was the variety of Chinese language individuals who might communicate French, Mandarin and English fluently! What an excellent trifecta of languages to know! It impressed me to start out Duolingo once more simply to brush up on my French! I plan on being extra ready once I head again to Paris as a result of whether or not it’s for work or pleasure, I wish to go once more!
Later that night time, there was a cocktail social gathering at 12 Place Vendome plus the chance to attend the “Golden Age” exhibit which showcases Chaumet’s collaborations and inspirations from the 60-70s! This exhibit runs till Dec.2, 2023 and is freed from cost by appointment. I didn’t count on to spend a strong 2 hours there, however I used to be completely enchanted by the jewellery I used to be seeing! I’ve all the images from the exhibit on my Instagram if you’re eager about seeing extra!
The third and ultimate day of the seminar was to happen on the Louis Vuitton Basis which was about 30 min by automobile from our resort so all of us loaded up into buses on a wet morning and I needed to take this photograph of the Arc de Triomphe now that I’m obsessive about Le Tour de France! That is the place the cyclists circle on the enduring ultimate stage of the Tour so it was actually spectacular to see it with my very own eyes!
By the point we reached the LV Basis, the solar had come out and there was no rain in sight! Not like the opposite buildings we had been within the earlier days, this architectural feat was inbuilt 2014 and is an hommage and committment to artwork, tradition and heritage. The Rothko exhibit had simply began and although I did not have time to see it, it seemed unbelievable even for a non-art particular person like me!
As for the group presentation, nicely I helped write a poem which type of is smart since I used to be the one native English speaker so I used to be tapping out the beat with my fingers throughout our assembly. I by no means instructed anybody that I used to be additionally a classically skilled violinist so I form of took over on the beats and measures points of the poetry-writing, however we additionally had a very good facilitator, Marco, who stored us on monitor. I learn it in entrance of 150 Chaumet staff with the theme music to Chef’s Desk enjoying AND we had been the primary ones to go! It went nicely, I did all of it with a velvet tiara and I really feel like I massively overcame some intense public talking anxiousness although my flying anxiousness FAR outweighed public talking!
OMG after which our group received one in every of three awards! I used to be so pleasantly shocked as there have been some actually good shows on the market! We received a very lovely Rothko hardcover e book in addition to a enjoyable learn with images about Chaumet. Now, as a lot as I appreciated this present, think about attempting to fly house with a 15lbs e book! Nonetheless, I’m nonetheless VERY glad to have it on my bookshelf at house as a reminder of what I managed to perform in Paris. I’m not usually one to overtly toot my very own horn to individuals, however between the getting on a aircraft, being very social and preventing via the bodily discomfort of journey after which talking in an auditorium full of individuals together with the CEO and VP, I really feel like I’m allowed to say “Good Job Jayne!”
We ended the afternoon with lunch at Jardin d’Acclimatation after which it was time for me to say goodbye after which spend the afternoon with my husband – lastly! We had very completely different schedules the entire week as I devoted myself solely to work and he and my MIL took the time to discover the town and have most of their meals collectively.
We did not have a number of time so we determined to stroll alongside the Champs Elysees and simply take a look at shops. I had needed to see the Parisian variations of many beloved magnificence manufacturers so I acquired my images of Guerlain and Lancome which had been my favourites to take a look at. I did take a flick thru Sephora, but it surely was MADNESS and I needed out fairly shortly!
For dinner, this was the primary night time it wasn’t offered for me, I had made a reservation at La Souffle the week earlier than once I was nonetheless in Vancouver based mostly on the advice of my boss. He mentioned the final time in Paris, it seemed like an excellent cute place and that when he requested if they may seat him, they laughed in his face and mentioned they had been absolutely booked! I’m VERY glad I made a reservation as a result of I actually watched individuals get turned away in entrance of me. The restaurant makes a speciality of one factor – souffles! It additionally solely seats 20 individuals so it is tremendous intimate, however but I did not really feel like I might hear anybody’s conversations.
The souffles had been soooo good and soooo large! I needed a dessert souffle, however they had been the identical measurement because the dinner souffles! I additionally determined to attempt some escargot as though I’ve had them earlier than in Vancouver, there’s something about attempting a French speciality IN France! No regrets right here as a result of they had been scrumptious!
Our flight was at 10am the subsequent morning which meant being on the airport at 7am so we ended our night time round 9pm and walked my MIL to the practice station, took this photograph of the Eiffel Tower after which turned in for the night time. Regardless that I did not get as a lot free time as I needed to in Paris, I did miss house and my kitties. I felt so happy with myself and the adventures I had on this journey and simply stored telling myself in the beginning that I might be so blissful to make new experiences for myself as I have never had an actual journey in awhile. The pandemic actually fed the homebody in me and I used to be pleased with that, however being in Paris has form of made me wish to attempt just a few new issues in Vancouver!
Thanks to so lots of you who checked in on my psychological state as I used to be so freaked out in regards to the flight. The few days main as much as Paris had been actually not enjoyable for me though I attempted so laborious to remain calm and so lots of you had options and ideas or simply phrases of encouragement which was very comforting. Let’s hope I can do that once more and see a bit extra of the world! A bientot!
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