Our Irregular Dispatch From French Life
This isn't your average newsletter. It’s the honest, occasionally ridiculous, behind-the-scenes look at what it's really like for two Americans and a Golden Retriever to move to France. Whether you’re a daydreamer, a planner, or already knee-deep in French paperwork, this is the one email you’ll actually look forward to.
Germany Seemed Like a Good Idea
The plan was simple: buy a car in Cologne, sell one near a U.S. Army base, celebrate in Reims with champagne by 7:30.
By nightfall I was standing outside a Pizza Hut in the rain.
The House Above Avignon
The steps weren’t consistent. Some were full, others barely counted as steps at all. My body kept correcting for what my eyes expected. I started letting the suitcase bounce off my thigh to help push it up, willing it to the top.
Our First French Electric Bill Was €650
Our kitchen sat at a toasty 58 degrees, the bedroom never crept above 63, and then the electric bill arrived: €650 for two heaters.
We Bought a House in France. Half of It Is a Cave.
The kitchen and family room aren’t “cave-themed.” They are caves. Solid white stone walls that once held up wine presses, now holding up my cookware and a Wi-Fi mesh network.
Our French Contractor Disappeared for Six Months. Then He Said, “We’ll Start in Two Hours.”
Three minutes later, Denise hollered, “Paul, can you come here?” The contractor was still smiling. Denise had that face like she was trying to decide between laughing and strangling someone.