I’ve had the urge to live abroad my entire life. Maybe it was due to eating my cereal in the morning while watching Rick Steve, or my eyes being glued to movies like Rugrats in Paris (inspiring, I know).
It certainly wasn’t because of my upbringing – growing up in rural Oregon with parents who’d never even been on an airplane, let alone traveled abroad.
I have lived abroad three times now, first in Madrid, then in Toulouse, and now in Paris, where I work in Marketing, and my partner opened Paris Pedal Works, a bike shop.
While the journey to make a move happen is difficult (there are a lot of hoops to jump through), people often fail to think about the other side: What happens when you actually get there. From personal experience, adapting to a new city is hard, let alone a new country. I’m here to share everything that helped me adapt to living in Paris.
1. Make Sure You’re Set Up to Succeed
When you move to another country, there are going to be a lot of differences. In the first few weeks, you usually have rose-colored glasses, but after the novelty wears off and real life sets in, it can feel pretty difficult. Why did I do this? I miss my friends back home. This city is loud. Everything is confusing.
Making sure you’ve set yourself up for success before you move is one of the best things you can do. Dive deep into what it actually takes to move to France so you jump in with your eyes wide open.
Before you get to Paris, make sure you:
- Understand which visa you have and what you’re allowed to do with it.
- Have a way to (legally) make income.
- Have accommodations set up.
You’ll feel much better once you’re here if you have those main things squared away.
2. Get a Phone Number & Bank Account ASAP
Without a French phone number and bank account, it can be difficult to do a lot of things (sign long-term leases and get paid by French companies, for example).
Many expats will talk about how difficult it is to get a French phone number and bank account. In order to get a phone number, you have to have a French IBAN (it’s like an account number and routing number wrapped up in one), in order to get a French IBAN, you have to have a phone number.
You have options.
There are different companies now that offer e-sims. You can sign up and get a temporary French phone number without changing your US phone number. This can be a great temporary solution to help you get a bank account set up. You can also pop into most bodegas and get a sim card. Oftentimes, they will even help you set it up. This way, you at least have a French number to get going.
The bank account is a little trickier. While banks legally aren’t allowed to turn you away because you’re American, they may try to. This is because to take on American clients, French banks have to do a little extra administrative work on their part.
There are options here as well. Many foreigners (and locals, too, actually) use online banking services that offer an IBAN. Revolut is a popular one.
A bonus note: If you have Two-Factor Authentication set up on any of your accounts, make sure you change them before you move and lose your US phone number. The Google Authentication app is a good alternative. Otherwise, you’re going to get locked out of your accounts, and some of them are incredibly difficult to get back (especially Facebook).
3. Find Your Neighborhood
Your time in Paris will vary a lot depending on the neighborhood you live in. In Paris, it’s all about the arrondissement (a burrow, essentially), and each one has a completely different vibe. Now, if you’re a student in student housing, this is a bit out of your control.
Living in the 15th arrondissement will have a much different feeling (and cost) than living in the 3rd. Most people who move to Paris start with temporary housing (like a long-term hotel or Airbnb). Then, they find a more “permanent” solution. Make sure you research each of the arrondissements and go to them on foot so you can get a sense for the energy of the place.
Look for which grocery stores are nearby, if it is bike-friendly (if you plan to bike), and how far away it is from the Metro and which line (someday, the Metro will become your friend).
Learn more about each arrondissement and more about living in Paris in this in-depth article.
4. Conquer the Metro
The Paris metro can seem very intimidating to first-timers, but it is actually a quite simple system. There are 14 lines in Paris (16, if you count 3bis and 7bis). Each line runs in two directions. You just need to get on the one that is heading in the direction you want to go. Google Maps will tell you what metro stop you need, then you can find it in the metro station and get on the train heading that way.
Unlike London, where different lines share the same tracks, every metro in Paris has its own track, which means the risk of getting on the wrong one is much smaller.
Getting tickets is easier than it was even just a few years ago. You can download an app (like SNCF) and pay with your phone, or get a refillable pass, or even a monthly subscription (monthly subscriptions will require you to go to a Metro Help Desk in person).
You’ll feel so much better when you’re confident with how to get around. Promise.
5. Find Your Community
Whether you moved for work, school, retirement, or to fulfill a dream, find a community as soon as possible. Facebook groups are a great place to start. You’ll soon find there are many English-speaking events in Paris where you will likely find other expats and immigrants looking to make new friends.
Paris has a huge, welcoming English-speaking community, and there’s something for everyone: English-speaking cafes, running groups, cycling clubs, brunch clubs, etc. Put yourself out there and put plans on your calendar every week. Loneliness is one of the most difficult things Paris newcomers face.
6. Bonjour is Your Best Friend
Social etiquette is different in France than it is in the USA. It doesn’t make either one right or wrong; it’s just two different cultures. If you take anything away from this article, take these things to heart.
- Always say bonjour when you enter a shop, cafe, restaurant, hotel, etc. It is considered very rude to start talking to someone without first greeting them. You’ll find people are much kinder to you when you greet them with a bonjour.
- The same is true when you leave. Always say au revoir (goodbye), even if you seem to be saying it into the abyss as you walk out the door.
- Normal volume levels are different than they are in the US. If you’re chronically online, you’ve probably heard that Europeans think Americans are loud, and it’s because we are – to them. In the US, speaking loudly is very normal, and it doesn’t even seem loud to us because it’s our base level. Try to match the volume level of the room.
- Compared to US cities, Paris is incredibly safe. That said, crime happens everywhere. The most common crime in Paris is pickpocketing. Never ever put your phone or wallet in your pocket. Pickpockets are incredibly well-trained, and you likely won’t even notice your phone has been stolen until the next time you go to use it. Keep your phone and wallet zipped up, ideally in a cross-body bag at the front of your body, especially in metro stations and busy tourist areas (outside the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, etc.).
- Expect to wait. Customer service is different in France than it is in the States. There isn’t a sense of urgency to get to the next person in line. The “urgency” is with the current person being served. They take priority. Lines take longer, meals take longer, and waiting for service takes longer. It’s built into the way Paris operates, and it isn’t personal.
Embrace Your Life in Paris
Living in Paris is a dream for so many of us but one that can hit differently in reality if you don't come in with the right expectations and adaptations. Paris isn't going to change for you, you're going to need to change for it. Many of these changes are obvious and warmly welcomed but some are things most don't even consider until someone points them out.
Small adjustments like this can go along way to settling into Paris and making this city feel like home.
Hero picture courtesy of depositphotos.com.
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