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walkerKasey Lund Walker ’09 and Jeremy Walker ’07, ’12 enjoy Paris sites such as the Arc de Triomphe.

Kasey Lund Walker ’09 and Jeremy Walker ’07, ’12

Paris, France

Moravian College helped launch the Walkers from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to Paris, France.


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Eiffel Tower

Kasey Lund Walker ’09 and Jeremy Walker ’07, ’12 grew up in Bethlehem. Both attended East Hills Middle School and Freedom High School, and both came to Moravian College, where they shared academic interests. Kasey majored in accounting and minored in management and economics; Jeremy majored in management and minored in accounting and then earned an MBA at Moravian in general administration. Those paths ultimately led them to Paris together.

In 2016, Kasey was working in the Philadelphia office of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)—one of the world’s largest professional-services firms—when PwC transferred her to its Paris office, where she is an audit senior manager. So the couple, who married in 2010, moved to France.

Once in Paris, Jeremy, who had been a controller for the Weston Group in Easton, Pennsylvania, reinvented his work life. Building off of eight years as an assistant coach with the Greyhounds men’s basketball team, he cofounded Sports Journeys International, where he plans and manages international tours for US university sports teams. Jeremy also brings his coaching and people skills to his part-time position with Le Bus Anglais, teaching English to students from age 12 through adult. In addition, he serves as finance manager and systems and administration assistant in Le Bus Anglais’s back office.

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Sacré-Cœur

The Walkers love living in Paris—the relaxed and balanced lifestyle, the easy access to other countries, and, of course, the food. “We have a much different world perspective that would not have been possible if we had stayed in the United States,” says Jeremy. They’ve learned to slow down and to understand when something needs immediate attention or can wait, and as they continue to engage more fully in the community, they see that the French are not at all deserving of their reputation for rudeness.

“The best way to grow as a person and a professional is to experience an uncomfortable situation—immerse yourself in something different and learn how to adapt,” says Kasey. “Living and working in a foreign language has certainly been a challenge. For example, when we go grocery shopping, we have to prepare what we are going to say in French to the butcher to make sure we get the right amount and cut of meat to make dinner. But kindness and making an effort transcends language barriers, and with time, our French continues to improve.”

As the Walkers seek greater understanding of their Parisian community, so too their friends show interest in American culture. “Just as we understand fully that where you were born does not define who you are, our neighbors and associates here see that not all Americans fit into stereotypes,” says Jeremy. “Our close friends have learned about our love of American Thanksgiving, throwing parties, and how delicious crab fries are!”

Insider Tips: Kasey and Jeremy Walker’s Paris

FAVORITE BREAKFAST SPOT: Breakfast and brunch spots are not as frequent in France, because those meals just aren’t as big a part of the culture as in other places. This is changing a bit as the younger generation, and visitors, are increasing demand. If we had to pick a favorite, it would probably be Zia, located in the 7th Arrondissement. Sometimes we also enjoy going to Marché Bastille for oysters and white wine in the colder months as a brunch/early lunch. There is a stand, located near the center of the market, that always has fresh oysters, and they fill your shell with white wine after!
BEST PLACE TO EAT ON A BUDGET: Le Refuge des Fondus, located near Sacré-Cœur, offers a different dining experience. It’s one of our favorite places to take visitors. Ever wanted to drink wine out of a baby bottle, walk across the top of a table to get to the other side, write on the walls? This is your spot. And if you happen to drop your bread in the fondue, you’ll discover some interesting French traditions. Want something on the go? Head for the kebabs or falafel in the Paris, France Marais. The most famous of these eateries is L’As du Falafel, but we prefer Chez Hanna just down the street. Of course, you can never go wrong with a picnic in the park or along the Seine, either. Stop at any store, or market, to pick up the essentials—wine (rosé in the summer), cheese, a baguette, some meats, and pétanque balls.
MUST-TRY LOCAL FOOD OR BEVERAGE: It is impossible to choose one thing, so we have a few groupings:

• Wine from the village of St. Emilion in the Bordeaux region in southeast France 
• Cheese! Any type, but two of our favorites are Comté that is aged at least 30 months and Tête de Moine, technically Swiss but amazing
• Bread. Nothing beats a fresh baguette from the boulangerie and enjoying
 that first bite while it is still warm. For breakfast, a fresh warm pain au chocolat is a must. In the winter months, or while you are in the mountains, consider a wonderfully melted raclette (a type of cheese) or a nice hearty beef bourguignon, cooked with a proper wine from Bourgogne (Burgundy).
YOU SHOULDN’T LEAVE PARIS WITHOUT taking a leisurely stroll through areas such as Montmartre, where some of the most famous artists hung out in their time; the Marais, with its long history as the Jewish quarter; and Jardin des Tuileries after you leave the overwhelming interior of the Louvre. Our favorite museum in the city is l'Orangerie, custom built to house Monet’s famous Water Lilies. And be sure to visit an open-air market—our favorite is Marché Bastille, but you can find these markets throughout the city.
MOST FUN THING TO DO OFF THE BEATEN PATH: Within Paris, on warm sunny days or evenings, you will find many Parisians (but few tourists) picnicking at Canal Saint-Martin, located
 in the northeast of the city. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, located in the 19th Arrondissement, offers stunning views due to its height above the city. And just a short train ride outside the city are the lovely parks of Saint-Cloud, Meudon, and Fontainebleau.
YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO SIMPLY TAKE IN THE SCENERY: Parc Monceau or Jardin du Luxembourg. The parks throughout Paris offer an escape and some beautiful architecture that you otherwise might miss. Parc Monceau is a personal favorite because you may sit on the grass—something that most other parks do not allow. Jardin du Luxembourg also has an incredible fountain named after Marie Medici, who built the park in the 17th century around a new residence she had constructed.
SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT PARIS THAT WILL SURPRISE MOST PEOPLE: On the first Sunday of each month, the Champs-Élysées is open only to pedestrians. It is a special experience to walk the famous cobblestone street where many historical events have happened. Also, many people may not know that there are three sisters to Lady Liberty in Paris. The most famous one is on an island on the river Seine and looks toward her sister in New York.