Living in Paris
Lots of people dream of living in Paris, for a year or a lifetime, but they don’t know where to start. Paris is one of the world’s most beautiful cities, rich in history and culture. The food of Paris is divine, the fashion is impeccable, the art is amazing, and the language is beautiful. Presuming you’re beyond backpacker age, you don’t have a job waiting for you in Paris, and you don’t want to “rough it,” you’ll need a road map for how to live in Paris and make it a smooth transition.
If your only impressions of Paris are from the movies, take a trip to go see it in person (but keep in mind that seeing it as a tourist and living in Paris day in and day out are two different things.) Explore the city and notice which Paris neighborhoods you like. Get a feel for how you might function in a different culture, what neighborhoods you like, and how well you’re able (or not) to communicate with the French. Seeing the city firsthand will give you a better sense of what you’d actually be getting yourself into if you move to Paris. In addition to visiting Paris and doing some research, there are practical things that you need to figure out, like getting a visa, finding an apartment, and working out a budget. Here are some things to consider:
1. How long do you want to live in Paris?
2. How much is it going to cost you to live in Paris?
3. How will you pay for it?
4. Do you speak French?
5. Do you need a visa for France?
6. What do you do with your current home/apartment/car while you’re gone
7. Where will you live in Paris?
8. How will you handle your banking and money in Paris?
9. Do you need to work while there? (There are implications for doing so.)
10. How will you spend your time while your there?
11. Do you have friends there? How will you meet people in Paris?
12. What about your current job? If your move is not a permanent one, will your job be waiting for you when you come back, and what will you do if it isn’t?
These questions aren’t meant to overwhelm anyone. It’s just to make you realize that there are some things to research and plan out to make your dream of someday living in Paris a reality.
