'You can't be scared,' says Triangle expat in Paris

Many people across the city returned to work, but Emily Jackson said there is still a lingering sense of sadness and uncertainty.

"When you're hearing (the sirens) all the time, it is a constant reminder of why they are going around right now," she said.

Jackson said the sirens reassure her of the increased security in Paris, but they are still scary for her and her friends, Camille Sowder and Maggie Lombardo. The three women are from Chapel Hill but now live in Paris.

"My friends joked about it, ‘Oh, we should go home now,’ but honestly, no, I don't want to leave yet. I feel like I have enough support, and the security has been fine," Lombardo said.

"On a daily basis I am not scared. I am not worried about taking the Metro or the bus or anything," said Sowder. "I think what scares me is the grander scheme...this type of extremism."

The three friends were celebrating Sowder's birthday near the Bataclan concert hall the weekend before the violent attacks. They said they are very thankful they did not go out Friday night.

"I have friends of friends that didn't make it, so it makes me feel very lucky that we chose to stay in Friday night," Jackson said.

Because of the randomness of the attacks, they feel whether this happened in Paris or Chapel Hill, it keeps the community on guard.

"People are reacting the same way that people at home would react, like not wanting to completely stop their lives, but at the same time taking extra precautions," Jackson said.

"You can't be scared," Lombardo said.

France is currently under a state of emergency.