Such a thoughtful reflection on your year in Paris. I lived as an expat among expats, so it’s interesting to read about your more varied experience. Despite the dr’s appointments, it still sounds pretty magical right about now!!
This was such a fascinating portrait of what's its really like to live in Paris! It's so romanticized in the movies, and I loved reading your honest experiences, especially about your day-to-day. The positive shifts in quality in life seem like it was all worth it. If you ever do an AMA again, I'd love to know if you guys see yourselves living there permanently and putting down roots. Congrats on one year, Ofelia!! Love following your journey. x
Thank you, Maria !! Yes, I'm so incredibly happy with how our health has gotten better with minimal effort. Who knew a walkable city can do that for you 😅 I'd totally be up to do more AMA's. I'll see if there is interest, otherwise I will happily dm you a response :)
I loved reading about your experience so far! Double whammy for me: my first dentist appt tmrw and my first gyno on Friday. THANK YOU FOR THE TIP!! Our friend who came over today said some dentists don’t even clean teeth - they have a look and say, “you’re okay” 😱. I had cleanings every 4 months in Toronto so I can’t even imagine 😱
Good luck this week !! Oh gosh, I'd be so disappointed if I showed up and they didn't clean my teeth. I had cleanings every 6 months and they'd show me my teeth on fancy machines and throughly check my gums. I didn't realize how great I had it!
One year! So much beauty and growth in 365 days. I loved reading your perspective on making new friends and cracked up laughing about the OBGYN. Similar but different, after college I packed up, left the East Coast, and moved to Memphis, TN for two years. As a NY-girlie, I knew nothing about the South or TN, lol.
I cannot wait for the weather to improve here. There is nothing I love more than people-watching. Need to figure out how to get myself to Paris, because it seems so much more beautiful to do there!
Thank you, Traci !! Moving does wonders for your soul !! There is an art to people watching in Paris, and it welcomes you at any point. I hope soon so we can meet IRL !!
Congrats on one year Ofelia! ❤️ p.s. I am loling at your dentist point because the same thing happened to me in Italy and still does! A cleaning no longer than 15 minutes with a dentist who said “no need to floss! It's a waste of time” shocking!!
Thank you, Grabriela !! Oh gosh, I'm sorry you also have that experience. I'm determined to find another dentist, but I feel like I will just continue running into the same issue. The floss recommendation might be the most shocking part.
Part of me wonders if flossing isn't as widely recommended due to have better access to food in the EU? Could that mean less cavities? I'd love to see some studies !!
All I could think when reading this is well we don’t have universal healthcare in the USA but at least we have good…customer service? Seems like a fair trade. 😒
To read about your experience with your gorgeous photography sandwich between was such a Friday treat. I love hearing the reality of your move to Paris; I had to laugh at the Winnie the Pooh at the OBGYN reference.
Happy one year Ofelia! This was an incredibly interesting read. I so enjoyed learning from you and seeing all of your beautiful photography to commemorate your first year. I love how you've made a community of friends in Paris! Thank you for sharing your experience and insights with us 🩷 Here's to year two!
Ofelia loved the post. I lived in France for one year and I remember now the cellphone and apartament search. I love that you are Latina, que lindo!! I envy you so much! Me puedo ir contigo?
Viví en Poitiers, my sabitical year before going to college. Loved it!! Wait for me, I’m packing the bags now. So we can escape this country’s nightmare
Such honest and relevant observations (especially all the medical ones). I'm so happy for you and know that you'll continue to settle into your "new" life poquito a poco!!!!
Happy one year in Paris Ofelia! The OBGYN was like that in Austria too, here (the Netherlands) they do the smear at the doctor so it’s a bit different but maybe it’s a European thing 😉
Thank you, Melissa! That's so interesting!! So if you get it done at a primary care doctor, it's a different experience?
In the US, you can also get a pap at a primary care physician, but I always went to OBGYN for it. Though, in the US, you're given a gown to cover yourself up and the doctor usually leaves the room for you to change 😅.
In France, you can go to a primary care doctor (I think) or go to a midwife for a pap. I just chose to do it with an OBGYN because that's what I was familiar with and prefer specialized care when possible. Though, my friends told me the experience is the same regardless if you see a primary care doctor, OBGYN or midwife. Either way a shock to my system at first haha
I can imagine! I was shocked too the first time I went to the OBGYN in Austria (I’m from the UK). In Austria everything to do with pregnancy and also the Pap smears are done at the OBGYN - in half naked conditions 😂 Here in the Netherlands it’s a routine doctors check up and the gown is normal practice so maybe it’s just Austrian & French OBGYN’s 😅
Such a thoughtful reflection on your year in Paris. I lived as an expat among expats, so it’s interesting to read about your more varied experience. Despite the dr’s appointments, it still sounds pretty magical right about now!!
yes, very much still in the magical feeling of living in Paris :)
This was such a fascinating portrait of what's its really like to live in Paris! It's so romanticized in the movies, and I loved reading your honest experiences, especially about your day-to-day. The positive shifts in quality in life seem like it was all worth it. If you ever do an AMA again, I'd love to know if you guys see yourselves living there permanently and putting down roots. Congrats on one year, Ofelia!! Love following your journey. x
Thank you, Maria !! Yes, I'm so incredibly happy with how our health has gotten better with minimal effort. Who knew a walkable city can do that for you 😅 I'd totally be up to do more AMA's. I'll see if there is interest, otherwise I will happily dm you a response :)
I loved reading about your experience so far! Double whammy for me: my first dentist appt tmrw and my first gyno on Friday. THANK YOU FOR THE TIP!! Our friend who came over today said some dentists don’t even clean teeth - they have a look and say, “you’re okay” 😱. I had cleanings every 4 months in Toronto so I can’t even imagine 😱
Good luck this week !! Oh gosh, I'd be so disappointed if I showed up and they didn't clean my teeth. I had cleanings every 6 months and they'd show me my teeth on fancy machines and throughly check my gums. I didn't realize how great I had it!
What a beautiful piece of writing and a good reminder that life’s imperfections or frictions can be the thing that makes some of the best memories.
Thank you so much, Jillian !! Such a great way to put it. I definitely know I'm living a beautiful life in Paris that I'll remember when i'm older.
One year! So much beauty and growth in 365 days. I loved reading your perspective on making new friends and cracked up laughing about the OBGYN. Similar but different, after college I packed up, left the East Coast, and moved to Memphis, TN for two years. As a NY-girlie, I knew nothing about the South or TN, lol.
I cannot wait for the weather to improve here. There is nothing I love more than people-watching. Need to figure out how to get myself to Paris, because it seems so much more beautiful to do there!
Thank you, Traci !! Moving does wonders for your soul !! There is an art to people watching in Paris, and it welcomes you at any point. I hope soon so we can meet IRL !!
Congrats on one year Ofelia! ❤️ p.s. I am loling at your dentist point because the same thing happened to me in Italy and still does! A cleaning no longer than 15 minutes with a dentist who said “no need to floss! It's a waste of time” shocking!!
Thank you, Grabriela !! Oh gosh, I'm sorry you also have that experience. I'm determined to find another dentist, but I feel like I will just continue running into the same issue. The floss recommendation might be the most shocking part.
Part of me wonders if flossing isn't as widely recommended due to have better access to food in the EU? Could that mean less cavities? I'd love to see some studies !!
Happy one year Ofelia!!
All I could think when reading this is well we don’t have universal healthcare in the USA but at least we have good…customer service? Seems like a fair trade. 😒
J’adored this xx
at least there is something :soblaughing:
This was such a lovely read. I think it’s so amazing you did this and I love hearing all about the life you’re building in Paris. ❤️
Thank you, Xue !! I'm also incredibly grateful for this life we're building in Paris and I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying these snippets :)
Love to see how settled you’re feeling!! What a beautiful life!
Thank you, Sydney :) I definitely loving this stage of life
To read about your experience with your gorgeous photography sandwich between was such a Friday treat. I love hearing the reality of your move to Paris; I had to laugh at the Winnie the Pooh at the OBGYN reference.
Thank you, Kelly!! ❤️ haha I also had to laugh to cope with that experience.
Happy one year Ofelia! This was an incredibly interesting read. I so enjoyed learning from you and seeing all of your beautiful photography to commemorate your first year. I love how you've made a community of friends in Paris! Thank you for sharing your experience and insights with us 🩷 Here's to year two!
Thank you so much, Tina ❤️ hoping year two brings you to Paris so we can also meet IRL :)
Yes! My ultimate manifestation ✨❤️
this was such an interesting read! thank you for sharing. sounds like an incredible lifestyle shift ❤️
thank you for reading ❤️ it's definitely been a positive lifestyle change :)
it sure sounds like it!! xx
Ofelia loved the post. I lived in France for one year and I remember now the cellphone and apartament search. I love that you are Latina, que lindo!! I envy you so much! Me puedo ir contigo?
No way !! Where did you live?! It seems to be a right of passage 😅
hehe you can find us everywhere :) vente !!!
Viví en Poitiers, my sabitical year before going to college. Loved it!! Wait for me, I’m packing the bags now. So we can escape this country’s nightmare
Such honest and relevant observations (especially all the medical ones). I'm so happy for you and know that you'll continue to settle into your "new" life poquito a poco!!!!
Thank you so much, my dear ❤️
Happy one year in Paris Ofelia! The OBGYN was like that in Austria too, here (the Netherlands) they do the smear at the doctor so it’s a bit different but maybe it’s a European thing 😉
Thank you, Melissa! That's so interesting!! So if you get it done at a primary care doctor, it's a different experience?
In the US, you can also get a pap at a primary care physician, but I always went to OBGYN for it. Though, in the US, you're given a gown to cover yourself up and the doctor usually leaves the room for you to change 😅.
In France, you can go to a primary care doctor (I think) or go to a midwife for a pap. I just chose to do it with an OBGYN because that's what I was familiar with and prefer specialized care when possible. Though, my friends told me the experience is the same regardless if you see a primary care doctor, OBGYN or midwife. Either way a shock to my system at first haha
I can imagine! I was shocked too the first time I went to the OBGYN in Austria (I’m from the UK). In Austria everything to do with pregnancy and also the Pap smears are done at the OBGYN - in half naked conditions 😂 Here in the Netherlands it’s a routine doctors check up and the gown is normal practice so maybe it’s just Austrian & French OBGYN’s 😅
maybe 😅🥲 how lucky are we
That was fascinating to read, congrats on one year! Love following your journey x
Thank you, Ariane ❤️