A native of Los Angeles' notorious San Fernando Valley, Courtney Traub now lives near the stately Pere Lachaise Cemetery in East Paris.

Currently a reporter at a trade publication, Courtney enjoys aimless strolling around her favorite Paris neighborhoods, old movies on crackly screens, and the endless challenge of polishing her French.

A journalist and editor, Courtney has lived, worked, and studied in Paris for over five years. In that time, she has come to know the ins and outs of what Paris has to offer-- as well as getting familiar with the city's quirks and irritating points.

She has reported multiple stories on French politics and culture for wire services, and has written for a publication covering Paris events, attractions, and entertainment. Her firsthand knowledge of French culture and language gives her an almost-insider's perspective of Paris-- but she does long for the ocean air and tofu ice cream of her native California at times.

Courtney holds a B.A. in Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master's in Comparative Literature from the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris.

I became a helpless francophile at the age of 12 or so. I amused-- and mildly exasperated-- my mother by carefully labeling furniture, walls, windows and refrigerators with their respective names in French.

Later, in high school French class, a dusty textbook circa 1970 showing a sepia photo of students at the Sorbonne cemented my fixation. I had to find a way to live in Paris one day.

Realizing that dream has been a fantastic ride. I never stop falling in love with this city and its dizzy beauty. One thing about Paris: it gets into you, and you can never shake it off.