What it is really like for an American raising children and living in France

A sense of adventure and a longing to travel first drew Maya Dorsey from her native Los Angeles to Europe, first to Seville in 2011 to teach English, and then to Paris to pursue her Master’s.

“After my year in Spain, I wasn’t ready to go home. I ended up finding a programme in Paris taught in English (I knew no French at the time), and it didn’t hurt that it brought me closer to my French boyfriend, now husband, whom I had met in the US before moving abroad,” she said.

She started her Master’s programme in Paris in 2012, and has been living in France ever since, navigating Paris as a student, working professional and now as a mother raising two children.

Maya works as a project manager for a tech start-up in the health sector and runs La Vie Locale, an online resource for people visiting or moving to Paris.

Before moving to Lyon last summer, she lived in Paris for 13 years and still travels back and forth to the capital.

“Now that I’ve left, I’ve come to realise that I love the simple everyday things about the city, from people-watching, aimlessly wandering, going to local markets and choosing from the many activities available throughout the year.”

From bureaucracy to building a career

But life in Paris has not been without challenges. When she first arrived, they included learning the language and figuring out “nightmare” visa renewals.

“Now that I’ve been living abroad long-term, I have a good handle on how things work, and I attained French citizenship a few years ago.”

The one challenge that has not got easier the longer she has been in France
is bureaucracy. “Whether it’s signing my kids up for activities, filing taxes or dealing with medical reimbursements, there is always something to stay on top of.

“Maintaining friendships is also challenging. I met some of my best friends in Paris, many of whom have recently left the city, which has made it an adjustment to maintain those relationships long-distance while also building new ones.”

Building a career in France depends a lot on the field you want to work in and your French language skills, Maya says.

“Since I did my Master’s in Paris, I was fortunate to have a pretty decent professional network coming out of school that helped me to find work once I graduated. Finding work as a foreigner can be challenging… but it is not impossible.

“There are also great opportunities to lean into your unique skill sets and create your own business or work freelance.”

Raising children in France has been “great”, Maya says, especially “when it comes to healthcare, education, and a better work-life balance as an American living in France”.

“Paris is a big city with a lot of diverse activities from family-friendly exhibits at museums, music classes, events and even English activities, which is great for bilingual families like ours,” she says.

“One of the downsides, though, is navigating the city with little ones… getting around the city with a stroller… you can think of it as a built-in workout to lift it up and down stairs in the metro, as most stations don’t have an elevator.”

Points to consider before moving to France

For fellow Americans considering moving to France, Maya recommends reflecting on some key questions.

“What do you plan to do when you arrive? How will you support yourself and how much do you need to save to get settled comfortably? Which visa best fits your situation?

“Looking back, I wish I had spent a bit more time thinking through these questions, especially the financial side. That said, part of the adventure of moving abroad is embracing the unknown, so don’t overthink it.”