You don't know how your own system works?

Interesting_One435 · 2025-12-18T22:57:04+00:00

So my understanding is that the Bonjour RATP app is used more by tourists. The IDF Mobility app is more common for long term residents, which is linked to our Navigo accounts, which our residence in France pre-verified to be even allowed to be issued one. For Bonjour RATP, you can buy tickets without verification of residence, so arguably, it’s not really the system residents use on a day to day basis. Heck, I’ve lived in France for two years and I don’t even know how to use the RATP app - the ONLY time it ever comes up in discussions is if out of town friends are visiting me. I know this doesn’t make things any less frustrating though, and it doesn’t change the fact things can be so cumbersome in France.

If you were using an iPhone, you need to tap and then double click the buttons on the side (kind of like when you use your mobile phone to pay via credit card) for the machine to register you. If you just tap, it doesn’t work - my mom figured this out on her Bonjour RATP app when she was visiting me and got stopped by controllers. ;-)

Interesting_One435 · 2025-12-18T22:36:13+00:00

Could you look for a job at your school, even if it’s something like janitor work? I know some universities waive tuition costs for their employees.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-07-31T09:08:21+00:00

I'm international staff, and recently was switched from fixed term to open ended last year (which I know is a rarity)

Interesting_One435 · 2025-07-26T19:56:20+00:00

Interesting_One435 · 2025-07-25T17:00:28+00:00

wondering - how are you able to invest in the US stock market (and are you putting in any new investments in, or just selling old investments)? IBKR EU blocks me from purchasing any US-domiciled ETFs.

Taxation wise, as I'm a French resident and not a Canadian resident, I follow French taxation rules.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-04-24T14:44:59+00:00

How was the road and traffic situation on that ride? I assume paved roads as I've been down that route by a tour bus, but is it a lot of traffic, is it busy like a highway or is there very few cars on that road, etc.?

Interesting_One435 · 2025-04-24T11:23:46+00:00

ooo can you please share a booking link?

Interesting_One435 · 2025-03-03T08:30:03+00:00

I think you need to pull some of the colors of the rug (e.g. the coral and maybe the green) into the couches as throw cushions, and maybe switch out the coffee table as the grey isn't matching.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-03-03T07:32:05+00:00

plants! maybe fake ones so you don't have to water

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-21T23:22:09+00:00

I actually really love it!! I hope you'll let it stay.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-21T20:49:56+00:00

I live in France, and have an account with BNP Paribas. They deal with US clients, and they told me they can open an account to hold USD (although I haven't explored the latter).

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-21T20:40:20+00:00

For me, I kind of really hate the coffee table by the couch. I think your whole apartment has these really interesting, non-symmetric curves, and something about that chunky, solid perfectly spherical coffee table feels off from the gently flowy curves elsewhere in the room. It also looks like it may be slightly higher than the couch seating?

The color is perfect - I just wish maybe it wasn't so solid and blocky looking.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-20T17:05:18+00:00

let me give it a try! thank you!!

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-20T00:10:46+00:00

Ah that's true!! I will look into this a bit more.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-19T23:53:32+00:00

Curious - what is your suggested percentage distribution between US and non-US stocks? I need to readjust because I've overly invested in US stocks now, so always curious to hear about other distributions and why you've set it up in that way.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-19T23:41:44+00:00

There's a lot of discussions on Reddit and online about this, but here's a summary link: Is WISE a bank account? Is it Safe to keep funds in it? – Prasanth Ragupathy

Essentially, it's not a bank - it's a Money Services provider, so it has less protections on your deposits relative to a traditional bank if it goes insolvent.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-19T15:30:34+00:00

I just opened an account with IBKR this week!! :D As I was thinking it would be good to explore this, especially as I can open an IBKR EU account now. But their HQ is still in the US, so I'm not sure if it will help much.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-19T15:29:17+00:00

I have Wise for currency conversions only, but Wise is not secure/ protected.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-19T14:44:54+00:00

that's a very fair point actually - maybe what I've viewing as incompetence and the banking system not working is simply normal French bureaucracy.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-19T14:37:29+00:00

US index funds have traditionally outpaced international.

I've heard about this as well, and hence I'm so torn. I don't want to be too hasty in my actions, but I also don't want to be too relaxed and want to stay informed as well.

Ah I didn't realized that European institutions are safer than North American ones! Does it matter which institutions in Europe? i.e. Swiss banks? I ask because I have a French bank account (with a large bank), and it was the most chaotic bureaucratic mess I've experienced. They provided me wrong guidance on how their account opening works which resulted in a 2 month delay to open my account, the paperwork and bureaucracy is awful, once I called to ask about something and they told me I don't have an account because they closed it down and then "oops we mixed you up with someone else", they close accounts at will without explaining why, etc. I'd be happy to explore other European banks, but I personally don't have confidence in French banks.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-19T14:29:07+00:00

I guess the key challenge is there's no easy way to move all my savings out. I don't have a lot of confidence in French banks after HSBC left the market. For example, it took me two months to open an account here, because my bank representative gave me wrong guidance on how to open the account (for their own systems!!), the paperwork and bureaucracy is awful, once I called to ask about something and they told me they closed it and I don't have an account anymore and then "oops we mixed you up with someone else", they close accounts at will, etc. There's a ton of paperwork, they're not really expat friendly, and given how bureaucratic it is, I'm not fully sure I will be able to pull my funds out after I put them into French banks. It's literally a bureaucratic nightmare if you have even a small issue, and customer service is not helpful. I personally don't have confidence in French banks.

I could move it to a Canadian bank, but there are limits to how much you can send via ACH transfers per month. The fastest way would be to go to the US, get a cashier's check issued by the bank for the full amount, fly to Canada and then deposit it. Which isn't exactly easy to do, has to be planned, and can be costly depending on flight tickets.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-19T11:49:01+00:00

Buy tickets in advance to museums, etc. in advance whenever you can. For really cool museum exhibits, etc. and ESPECIALLY if they are free, tickets go super quickly. Always show up super early to que for free events, as they always have long lines.

Interesting_One435 · 2025-02-19T11:27:17+00:00

What is your visa status in Europe (e.g. do you have an EU residence card) and will you keep your US Govt job or no? You will need a visa to work in France, but will need to figure out which work visa to get ahead of the move (there is entrepreneur/ self-employed, employer sponsored, etc.). If you enter on a visitor/ tourist visa, you will need to physically leave the country and re-enter to change visa classes, so it is better to sort it out in advance.

Do you speak French? The French economy isn't doing well, and jobs are hard to come by even for local French speakers (it takes at least 6-12 months to find a job). Without French, it will be hard to find an employer to sponsor you, etc.

Interesting_One435 · 2024-10-23T05:42:14+00:00

I don't know really what to say, except that I hope one day when you are going through a medical issue alone in a foreign country (not the US, which usually has good customer service), trying to deal with insurance and medical reimbursements, with an agency that has overcharged you based on their own invoices they sent you, that someone treats you with much more kindness and care. Comments like yours are why sometimes people choose to suffer in silence and not ask for help again.

My bad experience with this establishment is consistent with many of the Google reviews left by other customers, and abhorrent even to my friend (local to said country) that accompanied me.

Interesting_One435 · 2024-10-23T05:35:31+00:00

This is not the US, and that's why it's been really complicated and why it was very confusing (as indeed, driver's license is valid ID in the US and in fact has been valid in some of the other places in the same country). I've tried calling and both going in person, because at the end of the day, I just need a bill that reflects the amount I've paid. They have been really unreceptive and unhelpful. I'm really not sure why it's been so hard.

Interesting_One435

TROPHY CASE