The Netflix hit show Emily in Paris is closer to reality than you may think. The City of Lights is glamorous – even the metro feels like a fashion show, and you can find the best croissant or glass of wine you’ve ever had on every corner. But the embarrassment that can come with trying to blend in abroad. . . that’s real too.

Bella (left) and Casey (right) at the Louvre

For two weeks, we embraced it all as part of the Peritus Workaway Program. The concept is simple: work remotely from anywhere in the world for two weeks while immersing yourself in a new place. The goal: broaden perspectives, deepen connections and bring fresh energy back to our work.

Inspired in part by our peers in the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), a collective of more than 55 communications agencies around the world, the program also includes opportunities to connect with these global colleagues. While abroad, we met leaders from two other PRGN agencies.

Bella, Natacha, Casey and Lillie Ben in Provence

First, we took the train to Southern France where PRGN President Natacha Clarac welcomed us into her home in Aix-en-Provence. Like Peritus, Natacha’s firm, Athenora Consulting, specializes in government affairs, which made for some fascinating conversations about public policy communications in the EU versus the U.S.

Later, we took a day trip to Brussels, Belgium to talk shop with the Two Cents team over lunch. Even just a short train away, the culture was surprisingly different than in France and resembled American Southern hospitality. We learned that despite Belgium being only a quarter the size of Alabama, there are three national languages: Dutch, French and German. The Two Cents team transitioned seamlessly from one language to another, speaking mostly in English to politely include us monolingual Americans in their conversation.

Between these excursions, Paris served as our headquarters. Being seven hours ahead had its perks, allowing us to strike a balance between exploring the city and uninterrupted deep focus time – all before our colleagues at home had finished their first cup of coffee.

Along the way, we experimented with new ways of working, met locals and travelers alike, and learned just how much a new perspective — and a dose of humility — can reinvigorate us.

Without further “adieu” (see what we did there), these are our top five takeaways:

1) Work culture is different around the world, and that’s part of the experience.

When Emily arrives in Paris, she’s perplexed by her French colleagues’ “laissez-faire” attitudes and long, indulgent lunch breaks. While the contrast in work culture may be exaggerated for dramatic effect, it’s rooted in real differences. In the U.S., it’s acceptable (or even expected) to work on the go. In France, people rarely work outside the office – in many public places, it’s even considered rude.

2) Learning the language and local etiquette goes a long way.

Nous parlons un peu français (we speak a little French), and although many locals switched to English when our accents gave us away, our effort was appreciated. Each of us had also been to Paris before, so we were somewhat familiar with norms like saying a simple “bonjour” before launching into our coffee orders. But there were other taboos we learned along the way – like taking phone calls on the train. On our way to Aix, we scrambled to clear our afternoons after a scolding from a fellow passenger. Even basic efforts can smooth daily and professional interactions in a foreign culture.

3) Workaway is a value add for clients.

At Peritus, we take the relationships and trust we build with our clients seriously – not only as business associates but as people. As a result, they were excited for us to have this experience, celebrated Peritus for offering workaway as a benefit and understood that the freedom and flexibility to travel makes us better partners to them. We stayed fully accessible, yet when we shared our travel plans, many responded not with skepticism but with curiosity and enthusiasm. In the end, it was a win-win: we got inspiration and fresh perspectives from global leaders, and our clients benefited from the new energy and insights we brought back to Peritus.

4) Don’t over-plan.

A longer stay allows for flexibility and organic experiences that a short trip doesn’t have. We followed the city’s lead – getting lost in narrow streets, popping into vintage shops and boutiques and sampling flavors from traditional escargot to nut butter lattes (shout out to Buddy Buddy!). We paused often, watching life unfold at the Luxembourg Gardens, a bustling brasserie or a tiny side-street café. The goal wasn’t just to experience French food, art and shopping (even though we loved that part). It was to live the French way: slowing down and being present. That openness made our time richer, personally and professionally, and reminded us that the best discoveries happen when you let go of the plan.

5) Like in crisis planning, it’s not a matter of “if” but “when” something goes wrong.

For us, it was unreliable internet access. Despite our pre-trip prep to make sure we’d be online and available, we arrived to a Wi-Fi outage at our Airbnb and poor phone connectivity. Thanks to creative problem-solving and a great rapport with our host, we were able to make it work (next time we’ll consider an eSIM).

OUR PUBLISHED BY PERITUS TAKEAWAY is this. . .

Enjoying a pastry at the Canal Saint-Martin

Our two weeks in France reminded us why we love what we do. The combination of professional growth through PRGN connections, cultural immersion and the flexibility to work remotely reignited our passion for communications and deepened our appreciation for the global nature of our industry. If you have the opportunity to take advantage of a program like Peritus Workaway, we can't recommend it enough. And if you don’t right now, what’s your own version of Workaway that you can tap into close to home?

Enjoy your coffee with a book or a walk instead of your inbox. Try a coffee shop outside your regular rotation. Strike up a conversation with a stranger.

The experiences, relationships and perspectives you gain are invaluable.