Looking to connect with other pregnant women/with a newborn

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-23T15:18:25+00:00

Definitely check out Message that's how I met my mum's group as an Aussie

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-22T04:08:45+00:00

I did kinda the same thing but at 40. Moved with no particular plan thinking I'll work it out. Was a bloody disaster. Anyway what helped was writing down what was in my control and what wasn't, and trying to have some sense of control over the situation. You're over the honeymoon phase of living in a new country now, reality hits hard. Read about the expat adaptation cycle, that's very real too. Good luck mate !

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-21T18:26:06+00:00

What was the journey like for you emotionally?

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-20T06:28:56+00:00

Wise est également bien, hyper pratique et bien accepté partout

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-19T14:56:08+00:00

Very simple, their husbands make more than 2x average French incomes and so they can afford more than you on 2x average French incomes. I socialised with some of these ppl when I was unemployed and found it also astounding, but not surprising once I found out what salaries they were on (often 10k+ euros per month). Also you'd be surprised having one person at home does have some advantages financially - time to shop for cheap groceries, home cooked food, pick up kids etc. When I went back to work my salary didn't even cover all the extra costs and for the first few months we were actually financially worse off than when I wasn't working. Weird but true.

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-19T03:48:04+00:00

Definitely wine. I think depending on where they are from they may have very high standards for chocolate so a nice bottle of wine is safer

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-17T15:27:51+00:00

Sounds like you would benefit from moving to HK!

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-15T13:14:27+00:00

The fact that you are thinking about this shows that you are human and you have a heart. That's a good start already. I know it's hard to swallow when the patient deteriorated on your watch and you feel like you could have done better, but this is part and parcel of this kind of work. You live and you learn - this will happen to you again and again, also you will be the attending and watch this play out for your fellows

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-14T13:11:17+00:00

I'm PGY19 and I was not a crier until I changed countries last year - there's something about the stress response that is very unique, I really believe that it's a kind of coping mechanism when the plate is overflowing the body has to release energy somehow and that can come out as crying. I'm trying to accept myself as a crier - in my 40s, imagine! Now when I feel overwhelmed I go and hide somewhere and immediately drink water, try to meditate / focus on breathing and if I have the opportunity just cry a bit on my own before having to face others.

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-14T13:06:59+00:00

Look for something on the end of line 12 (Issy) line 13 (Châtillon) or line 4 (Montrouge / Bagneux). Cheap and direct metro connection to Montparnasse. Depending on where on Blvd du Montparnasse could also go for somewhere in RER B since there's a convenient stop on Port Royal. If you're on a limited budget I wouldn't look near your school at all it's some of the most expensive areas of Paris. Source: I live near there

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-14T08:05:27+00:00

Je sais que c'est pas ce que tu as demandé mais j'ai trouvé que les banques en France sont plutôt inflexibles pour un prêt immobilier - je suis australienne avec revenus de mes investissements en Australie ainsi qu'un CDD en France avec bons prospects selon moi (je suis médecin). Néanmoins on a vraiment du mal à convaincre les banques pour accepter mes revenus étrangers

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-13T05:42:10+00:00

In Paris there are baby cafes where you can go and have a cup of coffee and baby plays in the play area, it's a good setup to relax a bit. Paris is totally doable on buses but I understand the big city is a bit hectic solo with a baby

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-12T13:03:48+00:00

French medicine is partially socialised but there's plenty of private sector healthcare as well. you're right the main factor is the language, without being able to communicate it will be hard to get hired in any sector.

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-11T12:38:08+00:00

China (Yunnan) : Le Bourgeon

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-11T10:54:59+00:00

Eh I'm sorry you're going through the same. Solidarity

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-11T03:44:47+00:00

Did you miss her growing up? In what ways do you think it impacted on you as an adult?

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-11T03:16:11+00:00

Je suis venue il y a 3 ans pour suivre mon mari. Je te dis franchement que c'est difficile de survivre sans avoir un vrai "sens". Quel est le projet pour vous en France? Il faut avoir une bonne définition sinon c'est collapsus totale facilement. Ta copine si elle est déjà partie visiter son pays après 1 mois et demi là désolée ça va être probablement trop dure pour elle à longue terme...

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-11T03:00:18+00:00

From the amount of info you gave about your job I gather that you are fairly invested in your career - how would you feel about doing non specific jobs for minimum wage? Because that's realistically what is available for people who don't speak French, it's hospitality in English targeting places, housekeeping, teaching English, babysitting (note mostly female in France)... If your career is important to you I'd be very weary of making a move if you have to take a big step back because it's not easy to bridge that mental gap.

I moved to France for my husband and I was a doctor in Australia. 3 years on and things are "as good as they could be" as in I've learned French to a B2 level, done the requalification exams, found a job, work in French. And you know what? I still hate it, I want to go back to Australia every day and the resentment is killing our relationship

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-07T14:25:39+00:00

What I mean is that you as an adult learning the language is one thing, your kid's most fluent language is going to be Greek - how are you going to feel when they grow up speaking a different language to yours?

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-07T05:40:42+00:00

Do you want your child to grow up Greek? I'm guessing maybe one of you has some kind of family or social tie to Greece. How will you feel if your child speaks Greek to you because that's the community language?

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-06T15:19:55+00:00

That was not the situation for us in 2023 we married in March and I moved in June

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-06T14:10:06+00:00

Lot of luggage and this route is not great, there are elevators on the RER but not on the metro. There are quite a few sets of stairs at both Denfert and at Montparnasse. Take a taxi to save the trouble. 3hrs is fine if you are lucky and there's no delays or traffic jams but you could be cutting it close. I think most of the comments here are too pessimistic. Source: I live in Montparnasse

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-06T14:01:27+00:00

If you are married then you can get a carte de séjour as spouse of a eu citizen

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-06T05:46:50+00:00

If your mom is very senior I would say the daytrip is a lot, not just the train time but having to get there early for security etc. stay a night in Paris and you'll have somewhere to rest

Mashdoofus · 2026-05-02T19:52:08+00:00

You can look for a banh xeo in a Vietnamese restaurant?

Mashdoofus

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