So You Want to Move to Paris? (Feat. Jessica)

So You Want to Move to Paris? (Feat. Jessica)

This week on Dreaming in French, I’m joined by a special guest, my friend Jessica for a refreshing and honest conversation about life in France. We talk about what it really means to immerse yourself in French culture, the unexpected challenges of city living, and her journey of how she ended up in Paris in the first place. Along the way, she shares some seriously valuable wisdom for anyone dreaming of making the move to France — from navigating the cultural quirks to finding your footing in a brand new city. It’s a fun, open, and heartfelt chat that offers both inspiration and reality… and a reminder that while the journey might not always be glamorous, it’s always worth it.

Nostalgia, Nightmares… and Finally Some Progress

This week, I dive into a mix of nostalgia, frustration, and some long-awaited progress. I talk about missing Thanksgiving traditions back home, surviving the cold Paris weather, and the comfort of a cozy dinner with my boyfriend. On the practical side of this expat adventure, I finally made real progress with my broker on the investing front and after five long months (and over 200 euros in taxes), I actually secured a date to pick up my visa card. It’s a week of warmth, complaints, small victories, and figuring things out — slowly but surely — on the journey toward the château dream.

American Brain vs. French Bureaucracy

This week’s episode is a full ride. I kick things off with the saga of trying — and failing — to pick up my visa thanks to a date mix-up, a website that refuses to send verification emails, and customer service advice that was… less than enlightening. (If you’ve ever dealt with French bureaucracy, you already know.) But there was a major win: after weeks of searching, I finally found a U.S.-based broker who can legally invest my money while I live abroad. A huge step forward toward building the financial foundation for the future bed & breakfast dream. So join me for bureaucratic chaos, a little self-deprecating humor, and a genuinely exciting milestone on this long-term journey.

Financial Lessons & French Nights

In this week’s episode, I take a look back at the past ten weeks of chasing the château dream — from saving every euro to diving headfirst into the world of investing. After learning some hard truths about the French stock market, I decided to pivot my focus back to U.S. investments. I also share insights from my conversation with financial coach Blair Hoover of Choose Your Own Finance, who gave me incredible tools to budget, track, and start building a more secure foundation for the dream ahead. Plus, I’ll fill you in on a few updates from life lately — think long Paris nights, good friends, and very little rest.

Trick-or-Treat, Taxes, and Tour Drama: A Very Parisian Halloween

In this episode, I talk about celebrating Halloween in Paris, dealing with company politics in the tour scene, and the ultimate adult horror story — trying to invest money as a U.S. citizen in France. Childhood memories meet expat red tape in one messy, magical October night.