If you follow me on Instagram, you know that this trip to Paris was really tough for me because I have a fear of flying. Paris looked magical in the movies, but I never really thought I would ever see the Eiffel Tower with my own eyes because I couldn’t imagine myself on a plane and overcoming the anxiety of traveling. I don’t really like traveling for a whole day within my own city, let alone a foreign city. I’m a homebody by nature, so it would have been nice to have some new scenery for the gram, but I don’t think I’ll ever really become a traveler.
In 2021, I have been appointed as the new Chaumet Boutique Manager at my workplace. I will continue to be a manager for Birks, but since it was still a fairly new brand in Canada, I also took on this additional role. At the time, Chaumet’s space was quite small, but with plans to upgrade to a full-fledged boutique in December 2022, it was decided that the new space would need a full-time manager and staff. As part of my role as a Chaumet manager, I had the opportunity to attend the International Retail Seminar (IRS) in Paris (I hear the location changes every year!). When I heard this, I was immediately struck with fear and even when the flight was booked, I had no idea that something like that was really happening. It wasn’t until I got the hotel reservations and itinerary that I started to believe it was real. Basically, every time I thought about this trip, I felt sick to my stomach and had anxiety attacks. I even asked to quit as manager, but was told in a not-so-nice way that that wasn’t an option. Realistically, who would turn down an all-expenses-paid trip to Paris with a beautiful jewelry brand?! So I got a prescription for a low-grade anti-anxiety medication, got the Calm app, got 3 different Gravols, and… I consulted a therapist about a month ago (the therapist told me that I was well prepared and to use logic to convince myself about my fears). . But she won’t lie that she was nervous the entire week leading up to her flight. I woke up in the morning with butterflies in my stomach and went to bed with them. I lost 4 pounds so I had to force myself to eat because I didn’t want to get sick before the trip.
My husband had already been in Europe for almost two weeks, so when we said goodbye at the airport, I said, “Next time we meet, I’ll be in Paris!” He met me at the hotel after I landed. It was such a relief to meet him and know that I had arrived in the city of love. She only got an hour of sleep on the plane, so she was pretty tired, but since she was only planning to stay in Paris for 4 nights, she knew she had to make the most of it. The day I arrived, there was a Welcome His Cocktail His party at the hotel at 6pm, so I took a little nap beforehand, socialized, and met with his 130 other boutique managers. I told myself that I would. As a typical introvert, this trip had many moments where I needed to push myself, but in the end, as a new manager, I wanted to make it an “okay” trip or a memorable one. I thought I should either do my best. As much as possible. Obviously I chose the latter, but honestly, it was easy to forget the tiredness and embarrassment once I got absorbed in the event and chatting with people. I didn’t think too much about it, I just jumped in and did it. We spent 3 days with Chaumet, the first 2 days were from 7:45am to 10:30pm and the last day we finished around 3pm so we could explore Paris.
The first day included a sales meeting and a welcome breakfast. The Palais Royal Theater was built in 1784 and was originally a puppet theater. It seats 750 people and is currently used as a theater for various shows. It looked a lot like the days of the Moulin Rouge, and seeing the red velvet curtains and red velvet chairs was actually a very cool experience.
Afterwards, we went to Café de la Paix, which was built in the 1800s and hosted many guests including Victor Hugo and Ernest Hemingway. I had a lunch and dessert that were so hearty that I wanted to eat them in a doggy bag (I heard this doesn’t happen at French restaurants)!
Next, we headed to 12 Place Vendôme, where Chaumet’s flagship store and ateliers are made. Place Vendôme is an iconic luxury shopping area and home to the Ritz, so I was eager to see it. We spent about two hours checking out new jewelry releases and seeing how tiaras are made. It was very easy to understand and I felt like I was able to learn more about the brand!
That evening we had dinner at another iconic Parisian place called Maxim’s. Founded in the early 1900s, Maxim’s has hosted many international celebrities, including Marcel Proust, Brigitte Bardot, and Barbara Streisand. The atmosphere of this multi-level restaurant was very Art Nouveau, and there was plenty of entertainment during the cocktail hour leading up to dinner. There were fun people like them here and even a makeup artist who gave us that extra glow for the evening!
The first day was from 8am to 11pm, so I was pretty tired by the end of the night. I wanted to get over the jet lag as quickly as possible, so I left while the party was still going on. Thankfully, I had a good night’s sleep.
The next day was all work, and I spent most of the day in a conference room at Chaumet’s headquarters planning a group presentation for the next day, so I wasn’t able to take any photos. He was the only spokesperson for the group, and when it was announced that the presentation would have to be in English, I knew I was likely to be the only Canadian there. Also, people were confused when they found out that I am Chinese, but I don’t speak Chinese and my French is so-so. What really surprised me at this seminar was the number of Chinese people who spoke French, Mandarin, and English fluently. What a glorious trio of languages to know! This inspired me to start playing Duolingo again to improve my French. When I return to Paris, I plan to be more prepared. Whether it’s for work or play, I want to go there again.
Later that evening, there was a cocktail party at 12 Place Vendôme, as well as the opportunity to attend the “Golden Age” exhibition, which showcases Chaumet’s collaborations and inspirations from the 60s and 70s. This exhibition will run until December 2, 2023, and is free by reservation. I didn’t expect to be there for more than two hours, but I was completely mesmerized by the gems I saw. All photos of the exhibits are posted on my Instagram, so if you are interested, please take a look.
The third (and final) day of the seminar was scheduled to be held at the Louis Vuitton Foundation, which is about a 30-minute drive from the hotel, so we all boarded the bus on a rainy morning, and I had to take a photo of the Arc de Triomphe. It didn’t. I’m obsessed with the Tour de France right now! This is where cyclists lap the iconic final stage of the Tour, so it was amazing to see it with my own eyes!
By the time we arrived at the LV Foundation, the sun was out and it wasn’t raining. Unlike any other building before it, this architectural feat was built in his 2014 year and is a tribute and commitment to art, culture and heritage. The Rothko exhibit had just started and I didn’t have time so I wasn’t able to see it, but it was amazing even for someone like me who isn’t interested in art.
As for the group presentation, I helped write the poem, and since I was the only native English speaker, I used my hand to beat the beat during the meeting. I had never told anyone that I was also a classically trained violinist, so I kind of took over the time signatures and bars when writing poems, but we had a very good facilitator Marco who kept us on track. We read this book aloud in front of 150 Chaumet employees, with Chef’s Table theme music playing, and we were the first to go! It worked. A velvet tiara did it all. And I feel like I have largely overcome my severe anxiety about public speaking.
Oh, and our team won 1 of 3 awards. I was very pleasantly surprised as there were some really great presentations. We won a really beautiful Rothko hardcover book and some fun reading material about Chaumet with pictures. Now, I was grateful for this gift, but imagine flying home with 15 pounds of books. Nevertheless, I am still very happy to have this book on my bookshelf at home as a reminder of what I was able to achieve in Paris. I’m not usually the type to tout my opinions openly in public, but I got on a plane, became very sociable, and struggled with the physical discomfort of travel while sitting in a room full of people, including CEOs and vice presidents. By the time I get to speak in the auditorium, I feel like this: Just like you’re allowed to say “Good luck Jayne!”
We finished the afternoon with lunch at the Jardin d’Acclimatation and then it was time to say goodbye to me and spend the afternoon with my husband – finally! We had completely different schedules throughout the week as I focused solely on work and him and my MIL took time to explore the city and ate most meals together.
Since I didn’t have much time, I decided to walk along the Champs Elysées and just look at the shops. Many popular beauties wanted to see the Paris versions of his brands, so we got photos of their favorite Guerlain and Lancôme. I took a quick peek at Sephora, but it was so crazy I wanted to leave right away.
As for dinner, this was the first night I was not served one. I had booked La Soufflé the previous week, when I was still in Vancouver, based on my boss’s recommendation. He said that the last time he went to Paris, it was such a cute place that he asked if he could sit and was told with a laugh in his face that it was full. I’m so glad I made the reservation because I literally saw people being turned away right in front of my eyes. This restaurant’s specialty is souffles. There were only about 20 people seated, so it had a very homely atmosphere, but I didn’t feel like I could hear conversations.
The soufflé was very tasty and very filling! I wanted a soufflé for dessert, but it was the same size as the soufflé for dinner! I’ve also had escargot in Vancouver, but it’s so special to experience a French specialty in France, so I decided to give it a try as well. This place was delicious so I have no regrets!
The next morning’s flight was at 10am, so we were supposed to be at the airport at 7am, so we ended the night around 9pm, walked my MIL to the station, and took some pictures of the Eiffel Tower. I returned that night. I didn’t have as much free time as I expected in Paris, but I definitely wanted to see my home and my kitten. I was so proud of myself and the adventures I had on this trip, and the first thing I told myself was that I hadn’t had a real adventure in a while, so I would be so happy to have a new experience. . The pandemic has really cultivated a homebody in me, so I’m okay with that, but being in Paris makes me want to try some new things in Vancouver.
Thank you to the many people who checked on my mental state when I was so panicked about the flight. The few days leading up to Paris weren’t really fun for me despite trying hard to calm myself down, but many of you have given me suggestions, tips, or words of encouragement. I felt very relieved. I would love to do this again and see a little more of the world! Biantot!
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