Worn out by NYC life, this American moved to Paris for a fresh start — but the day‑one walk to her apartment delivered a harsh reality
Burnout has a way of pushing people toward decisions they never thought they would make. For 30-year-old Charlotte Wells, her moment came after a point of exhaustion, uncertainty, and an unplanned decision to leave New York and make a fresh start in Paris. After taking advice from a close friend, she decided to move to Paris and live like a local away from daily stress. However, when she arrived, she knew she was in for something she wasn't prepared for — the never-ending staircase to her apartment. She decided to add humor to her way, record it, and post it online. Wells (@char.winslow) posted her video on TikTok on November 12, 2025. It went viral, with people giving her advice, expressing concern, and making assumptions. “It was a rather last-minute decision, and honestly quite out of character for me,” Wells told PEOPLE.
@char.winslow If you thought the way down was bad… #parisapartment #apartmenttour #parislife #fyp ♬ original sound - A - 🌴✈️
The 30-year-old was between jobs and struggling to envision what came next. During her time in Boston, her close friend, who owned an apartment in Paris, suggested she take a break and spend some time there as the space was temporarily vacant. “I was feeling pretty disillusioned from my previous job, uncertain about next steps, and a bit worn out from life in NYC,” she admitted. Her friend encouraged her to move to Paris and live a simple life like a local. However, the picture became much clearer the moment she arrived in the city. Wells shared, “The moment the taxi dropped me off and I saw the staircase for the first time was the moment I realized I was in for a new type of adventure.”
Initially, she viewed the stairs as an inconvenience she had to endure. Later, she realized that she had control over how she experienced it: “If I laughed my way up the stairs rather than cursed my way up, it became a silly part of my day rather than a completely dreaded one.” That mindset led her to start recording herself climbing the stairs with humor and posting on TikTok.
In the video, Wells is seen carrying groceries and a can of Coca-Cola. She showed her way up to her apartment in Paris, which involves passing through multiple doors. She showed the entrance, another door leading up to a courtyard, and then the long series of staircases she has to climb daily to get home. Wells struggled visibly up each set of steps, carrying groceries and pausing to catch her breath. The video received so much attention that her comment section was flooded with responses. “What in the Winchester House is that?” joked @demps354. @diana asked, “You live at the top of the Eiffel Tower?” @angryhippielady wrote, “Imagine being in a rush, like just leaving your building adds like 15 minutes to your commute.”
The response she got online made her realize that her situation was far from ordinary. “I’m incredibly sarcastic and also a realist. So I process most experiences with humor and honesty,” she said. She addressed why she doesn't take the elevator in a follow-up video, which garnered over 2 million views, but the reaction she received became revealing. “Most of the negative comments are from people who clearly didn't listen to my commentary or watch the videos to the end,” she remarked.
She shared that some of the viewers romanticized her life in Paris. “I had dreams of savoring champagne and steak-frites under the glow of the Eiffel Tower every night, but I was aware that those were dreams,” Wells said. Rather than chasing an idealized version of the city, she focused on building a routine and lived like a local. This decision shaped her experience more than the viral fame ever could. She made friends with the man at her favorite wine shop and exchanged banter with the guys at her regular stand. And these moments helped her feel like she belonged to the place, not as a tourist but as someone who understood the rhythm of the neighborhood. “It’s meaningful to feel like I’m adding to their lives, even if it's just in the form of a friendly conversation and good laugh,” Wells added.
You can follow @char.winslow on TikTok for more content.
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