Seven Years Since the Fire at Notre Dame

By Quan | 15 April 2026 | 2 min read

Taking a Moment to Reflect on the Island

Notre Dame, March 2026

I had a short layover in Paris before heading back last month. Before the night’s end, I decided to take a walk out to île de la Cité to see Notre Dame, the first time I would see it since its reopening.

The air was crisp. Some people were taking photos. A serene scene.

It’s hard to think that seven years has passed since the fire. That moment moved me to enroll in school to learn French again. While standing there, I reflected back on that journey.

Earlier that day, I had funny conversation with a saleswoman at La Samaritaine.

She was from China and was curious how I learned the language (of course, she was at a level I hope to get to one day). She asked me what I thought were some of the hardest parts. Aside from tenses, I said homonyms. After printing out the never ending tax rebate form (resembling a CVS receipt) she remarked to me, “La France détruit les arbres.” (The French destroy trees.) I burst into laughter.

“A little less scaffolding this time around, for us both.”

Afterwards, I found a chocolate shop that processed cocoa in a very interesting way, basically keeping it as raw and pure as possible. Cyril, the man helping me, used to work in IT and for a team from HP in Austin, though he had never traveled there. He shared about how some people come in, snap photos, leave, and never said a word. In a moment of frustration he said, “I am human!”

I replied, “C’est l’époque … des réseaux sociaux (it's the period of social media) … but it can be good for business too,” He nodded. A double edged sword.

The Christmas Market shifts across the Seine in 2019.

Later that evening I attended a listening session to Flore Benguigui’s new jazz album. She was also in attendance (with some team members) and talked about the creative process. While a lot flew over my head, it was nice to catch on to what I was able to, hearing her story since L’Impératrice, and her roots in jazz.

Afterwards, I walked over to Le Saint Sébastien and enjoyed a late dinner. And for the most part, managed to stay in the language for the day.

All in all, they were moments I would have experienced differently seven years ago. And while I have a ways to go, it felt like a milestone from when I was standing in front of the cathedral that winter in 2019.

A little less scaffolding this time around, for us both.