Of course, awareness on all levels at all times is essential, and students should take the necessary precautions not to put themselves in jeopardy.
People have free time on their hands to wander.
Paris streets bustle with people moving fast. Whether it be underground in the subway, or in public gardens, people converge, mix with one another in tight, narrow and sometimes suffocating circumstances. Because space is rare in Paris, and people are abundant, it is necessary to recognize there is constant confrontation with others, which necessitates active observation on behalf of the foreigner studying abroad. Much is said, and exchanged in words and in eye contact though for the most part unthreatening, it is important to always be aware. Since the Troubadours, who celebrated love through poetry, flirtation and romance are playful and very much inherent in Parisian life.