Almost there…

We’re now on the eve of completing three weeks in France, and honestly, it still feels like we’re in limbo.

Much like life in a big corporation, relocating to France comes with layers of red tape. What should be a fairly straightforward process somehow becomes incredibly convoluted. That said, I can’t entirely blame France—corporate relocations come with their own complications. (Apparently moving to the U.S. is no cakewalk either, so I take minor comfort knowing this pain is shared globally. Misery loves company, right?)

This week has been mostly uneventful—at least on the surface—but it didn’t come without its setbacks.

The big news: we finally have a move-in date! July 16th—just one day shy of being the perfect birthday present for Hailey. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find an inspector to close on the 15th, so we settled for the 16th, just before lunch. Getting the lease signed has been its own battle: back and forth between the agency, SLB, and us. As of Friday night, both parties still hadn’t signed, but we’re told that’s just a formality at this point. Fingers crossed.

Now that the date is set, things are starting to come together:

• Internet installation is booked ✅
• Electricity is set up ✅
• Insurance is picked ✅
• Our shipment is (tentatively) arriving the week of July 21st ✅

Progress is definitely happening—it’s just at a pace I’m not used to. I’m constantly reminded that we’re in a different country, and that patience (my not-so-strong suit) is a requirement, not a suggestion.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper blog update without something going slightly FUBAR.

Since we moved into the Airbnb, there have been signs posted around the building in French. I didn’t pay much attention… until the Wi-Fi went out. Now normally, that’s a mild inconvenience. But in our case, Wi-Fi is how we access the building—as in, unlock the front door. It’s also our primary source of downtime entertainment. That said, it was weirdly refreshing to read a book before bed instead of binging YouTube videos. Thankfully, after two days, Wi-Fi was restored. The door unlocks again, and my nightly music video rabbit holes are back on.

Some things I’ve learned here in France that future visitors might appreciate:

1. Always say “Bonjour.” Walking into a store? Making eye contact with a stranger? Just say it. Trust me.
2. Say “Au revoir” when you leave. Again, always.
3. Patience. Things work differently here, and that’s okay.
4. The food is amazing, but the flavor profile is more subtle. Not spicy like California or Texas—just fresh, simple, and delicious.
5. It’s very dry here. If you’re used to humid Houston, be prepared.
6. People are actually quite kind—but see rule #1.
7. McDonald’s is awesome. Seriously. Fast, clean, reliable, and a lifesaver when you’re in a pinch.

What’s next?
We’re headed to Disneyland this weekend for Hailey’s birthday. We’ve got Monday off and will stay two nights at the park. Now that we’re season pass holders, we can take it slow, enjoy the moments, and not rush from ride to ride. I’m honestly looking forward to it after a long, chaotic work week. And hopefully, we’ll be back in time to catch the Bastille Day fireworks on Monday night.

After that, it’s another whirlwind week:

• Get the keys
• Set up the apartment
• Apply for residency cards
• Navigate the switch to French payroll
• Keep track of everything I’ve probably already forgotten

It’s been a lot, and I’m definitely not the most organized person… but we’re getting there—slowly but surely.

Oh and I almost forgot, tonight we went to a real French dinner. Actually it was the sample place I ate my first French meal at, Bar Du Central. I ordered the confit duck, which Hailey and the kids thought was crazy. Hailey the Croque Monsieur. The kids… butter noodles of course. Turned out everyone loved the duck! So next time it’s Canard all around!

Next up on the shopping list? E-bikes.
Hailey has her eye on a double-seated cargo bike for her and the kids, and I’m looking at a single-seated version so we can trade off kid-carrying duty. Can’t wait to start exploring Paris by bike—though to be fair, the metro is hard to beat.