What I like about living in Paris
I've lived in Paris since March 1, 2022, so approximately 2.75 years now. The transition to Paris and France after Japan was large and took us about a year, but as of now both my wife and I are very happy living in Paris. Here are some of the things that I really enjoy:
Seeing our daughter speak French
Our daughter was a little over a year old when we moved here. She now speaks flawless french (for an almost 4 year old). It's so awesome seeing her speak another language, especially since neither her mom nor I speak any language other than English.
It reminds me of that old joke. What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Tri-lingual. What do you call someone that speaks two languages? Bi-lingual. What do you call someone that speaks on language? American.
I couldn't be happier that my daughter speaks French because I hope it will allow her to have more opportunities in the future.
Work Life Balance
As an American who is go-go-go and used to eating lunch at his desk, the work life balance in France is great. Messaging through slack and email is ubiquitous now, but it's great to not be expected to respond to things outside of office hours.
Though I am still not comfortable with 1.5 hours lunched (the pause dejeuner). It just seems so extreme...
Universal Healthcare
I can only speak anecdotally on healthcare in the United States and France based on my experience, but I will say it is so nice to go to the doctor or pick up a subscription and to not be shocked at the cost.
Baked Goods, Bread, and Butter
While croissants and baguettes need no explanation, the one thing that my wife and I are already prepared to miss when we move back to the United States is the butter. It's amazing. I don't have words to describe it (it is just butter, after all). But just imagine the best butter you've ever had, except you can have that whenever you want.
History
The Arc De Triomphe is 1/2 a mile from my apartment. I see the Eiffel Tower everyday when I take my daughter to school. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, the oldest building in Seattle was like 110 years old. Now my apartment building is 160 years old. It's crazy to walk down the street and see markers like where Thomas Jefferson lived. It gives some perspective.
The Marche
We live close to an outdoor market that pops up every Wednesday and Sunday. We are able to do nearly all of our grocery shopping and have gotten to know the stand owners well. It's so much more intimate than just going to the store.
Overall, we've enjoyed living in Paris. It's definitely been a culture shock from the United States (and Tokyo before that), and it took us about a year to get comfortable. However now that we know what to expect it's been really pleasant. We won't stay in France forever, but so far it's been nice.