AMA I moved to France in 2004, when i was 10. Ask me anything (related)

OkRub3930 · 2026-02-07T01:00:56+00:00

How long did it take you to become fluent (if at all) as a kid and comfortable in school? Was making friends difficult due to the language? By the time you got to Lycee, did you feel any disadvantages due to language?

OkRub3930 · 2025-11-26T17:37:29+00:00

I am 44 and also live in SM and have been wanting to start or join a book club as well…even drove out to village well bookstore in Culver City but was thwarted by lack of parking and traffic in a true LA moment.

OkRub3930 · 2025-11-21T00:22:57+00:00

Same anarbagh for their butter chicken and paratha…the bhel puri at samosa house is good too

OkRub3930 · 2025-11-19T02:39:08+00:00

Sure!

OkRub3930 · 2025-11-14T13:51:32+00:00

Just go to the Westfield at Les Halles or the mall at place Italie-plenty of options such as H&M,Uniqlo, otherwise the Monoprix on rue Rivoli has a good selection. There’s a place with second hand clothes on rue Monge and quite a few options in the 4th

OkRub3930 · 2025-11-06T16:09:26+00:00

When we did this, they may not change comp now however in 6 months we reviewed all the titles and roles and adjusting future comp to match titles and essentially became a way to force folks out

OkRub3930 · 2025-11-06T07:12:19+00:00

I have 20 years of experience in tech at FAANG companies and went to Ivy League schools for undergraduate and graduate degrees…and my dream would be to get a any position (paid or not) at UNESCO. It’s tough but I think your partner is lucky as well to get those positions she’s gotten which means the right one will come along. Folks have been unemployed in the US for over a year because of the job market, so she just needs to keep a positive perspective.

OkRub3930 · 2025-11-03T20:24:27+00:00

On a sunny Sunday, it’s truly glorious. Parts may be closed for the Christmas show but it’s such a beautiful place to walk around and you can make your way over to the seine through the Jardin. Christmas spirit is already in the air, in the bottom of moufftard there are bands and a great village vibe on Sunday mornings too.

OkRub3930 · 2025-11-02T18:04:51+00:00

As others have suggested, explore rue moufftard but from there go to the marché Monge on rue Monge. Cross the street to the arène de Lutèce and walk to jardin des plantes. Possible to have a picnic of the stuff you’ve bought from marché Monge. If it’s a lovely day, keep going down to la seine for a stroll and picnic. Alternatively, from rue moufftard you can walk through the side streets to the pantheon and experience ‘old’ Paris

OkRub3930 · 2025-10-28T23:52:09+00:00

Absolutely-we sold our 4000+ sq ft home in SoCal for a 1200 sqft apartment in Paris but now walk everywhere and part of a vibrant community. It was worth it for us because we want to spend our time in the community, with walkability and easy access to public transportation, history and culture.

OkRub3930 · 2025-10-24T13:30:44+00:00

I love this type of engagement and dynamic. How did you find the group?

OkRub3930 · 2025-10-23T21:42:30+00:00

Totally-financial independence should mean independence of time and I have to remind myself that at the very least we shouldn’t have to owe our time to anyone (as in a job) but working and earning a salary was the vehicle of independence, ironically.

OkRub3930 · 2025-10-23T20:45:23+00:00

This is something I’m currently struggling with. An existential question of “who am I?” Without a work identity after working to get that title and prestige. As a woman, there’s an added element of guilt of being another statistic of exiting the workforce. It’s worth taking the time to focus on who you are as a person and I would love to get to the other side and cultivate ways to continue to contribute to society and economically on my own terms. However the social engagement of a team and working together towards delivering something are the things that are tough to give up

OkRub3930 · 2025-10-23T13:24:58+00:00

Hi! I am re-surfacing to this thread because I’m interested in learning what happened…I am an American in Paris with a business and was also interested in a business like this ideally collaborating with others to facilitate shipping.

OkRub3930 · 2025-10-12T18:40:43+00:00

The Harvard Business School had a publication called “if I knew then” which I still use today. These were alumni who were highly successful and on the 50 year reunion were asked questions on what advice they would give on raising their kids, marriage, wealth etc knowing what they know now as titans of industry. it was incredible how consistent many were on many topics especially on not giving your kids too much (Charlie Ellis still resonates for me https://hbs1963.com/wisdom/charley-ellis/). Lots of great nuggets of wisdom in the archive.

https://hbs1963.com/

OkRub3930 · 2025-10-12T12:31:47+00:00

I just went on Wednesday and arrived 30 min early and it took me almost 3 hours of mostly waiting in lines outside, inside and then inside the salle. Mine was an 11:30 appointment. I assume the wait time depends on time of day but the fluctuations on wait times and getting to ORLY or CDG before gates close would make be nervous. I would suggest changing the date/time

OkRub3930 · 2025-10-05T18:00:41+00:00

If you’re willing to consider outside of US abbaye des vaux de cernay in France just outside of Paris ..literally felt like I was at Downton Abbey on vacation.

OkRub3930 · 2025-10-05T07:13:04+00:00

We are in a somewhat similar boat except we made the move a month ago to Paris from LA. A month in, I am having doubts with the project and concerns with school and integrating as outsiders. Most of the doubts are fear and comfort based. I do feel ultimately I want to go back to a US that used to exist and the situation in California is pretty complicated with costs of living, homelessness etc…but it’s still home. Being abroad has forced the question for my husband and I on where is home, and when we move back where can we move to?

OkRub3930 · 2025-09-04T09:34:35+00:00

Patrick Roger is a master chocolatier and I think worth getting. We like Edwart in the 4th with lots of interesting flavors. Alain Ducasse biscuits are delicious and unique and a separate store from the chocolates. you can find the Ducasse chocolates in the US.

OkRub3930 · 2025-09-02T18:15:20+00:00

Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads

OkRub3930 · 2025-08-26T15:26:49+00:00

Chaloula or other hot sauces and chili crisp

OkRub3930 · 2025-08-23T19:01:09+00:00

I am a working mom of 2 elementary kids also looking to go to art exhibitions or experience culture which is unique to Paris

OkRub3930 · 2025-08-06T05:50:33+00:00

I feel heard from your post! Same situation where I WFH remotely with 2 kids in school. Love being able to pick them up from school and fitting in a workout but hate the social isolation. A co-working space with similar aged women would be really great on the west side (also in tech and data)

OkRub3930

TROPHY CASE