One of my favorite things about my job is that, even though it’s been many years since I’ve lived in France, I still get to engage with the culture, language, and people on a daily basis. I always know which French chef is doing a fabulous pastry collab in my city, which iconic French artworks are on display at my favorite museums, and which neighborhoods are most likely to facilitate a casual run-in with some local Frenchies.
I also spend a lot of virtual time in France, scrolling the news or social media for the latest stories and trends. And yes, knowing the current hot restaurants in Paris or the most up-to-date French slangalmost makes me feel like I’m there.
But there’s no true replacement for living in France, and that’s part of its magic. When I lived in Paris, every day felt a little sharper, because I had to pay attention—I couldn’t just slouch through life. I had to operate in another language, remind myself to use proper etiquette, and avoid getting lost or misunderstanding people or situations. Every moment felt significant, whether I’d been caught in a huge mistake or exposed to a small wonder.
Dear readers, I have been exposed to many a small wonder, and caught in an equal number of mistakes. That’s why I love getting to share what I’ve learned with all of you, to help smooth just a little of the road.
This is what I was thinking of while curating our Moving to France Guide, which covers a wide variety of in-depth topics related to moving abroad, from enrolling in healthcare to finding the best schools for your kids. I made sure that every topic offered real advice from Americans living in France, who’ve had to go through every one of these steps themselves. It was a humbling process in many ways—immigration is never easy (though certainly harder for some than for others), and I wondered if I would have the mettle to give it another try. Yet the main thing that I heard again and again from these contributors was joy; an unbridled love for their new lives in their adopted country.
If you have ever thought that moving to France might be for you, I’d encourage you to download our guide. You can get a sneak peek of what’s included in our visa and tax explainers, but the entire Moving to France Guide is free and available to download here.
You won’t be hearing from me for the next two weeks, but I hope this gives you a little something to chew on in my absence. And for those happy to stay put where they are, stay tuned for some food and film recs, coming soon…
