I fulfilled my lifelong dream of moving to Paris. It's not always the fairytale I imagined, but I'm still happy here.

Sarah Pardi near the Seine River

Courtesy of Sarah Pardi

• Sarah Pardi, 35, and her husband moved to Paris in 2023 and plan to live there indefinitely.
• Pardi said that France and the US have a lot in common, but there are a few big differences.
• For one, locals don't really enjoy small talk, and discussing work after hours is a faux pas.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sarah Pardi, 35, who moved to Paris in 2023. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.