When I first lived in Paris, part of the hard adjustment was living in a state under terrorism. In '87 terrorists had recently targeted Parisian department stores and a synagogue. For the first time in my life, I had to go through metal detectors and have my bag inspected. Of course, things are much worse now, and that level of security has become ubiquitous. What I wasn't used to was uniformed military with large guns patrolling the streets. It's like I'm used to the police and private security uniforms, but the camouflage in the city was startling and unsettling. And these men are so young. I have no idea how effective all this security is or if, as I suspect, it's just theater, to make us feel secure when really no amount of men with guns wandering through the metro is going to keep the tourists safe. One person I chatted with was surprised I was going to Paris given the recent terrorist attacks, but I went, and I'm glad I went.