<figure><img src="https://i.insider.com/6a70c6c187737bff3ebdab40?format=jpeg" height="3212" width="4283" alt="Woman smiling in front of grass with people on it in Champ de Mars. with Eiffel Tower in distance"><figcaption>When I moved to Paris nearly a decade ago, some things were easier than I expected, but I encountered challenges I hadn't even imagined.<p class="copyright">Jodie Hughes</p></figcaption></figure><ul class="summary-list"><li>I <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-moved-to-paris-challenging-career-social-life-healthcare-2026-7" data-autoaffiliated="false">moved to Paris</a> from the UK nearly a decade ago, and it's come with surprising challenges.</li><li>The language barrier was both more and less of a challenge than I expected.</li><li>Sundays and summers here look very different and a lot quieter than what I was used to.</li></ul><p>I moved to Paris from the United Kingdom in 2017, and while I expected some challenges along the way, I was surprised to discover that many of the things I'd been worrying about turned out not to be issues at all.</p><p>However, in their place were several other unforeseen obstacles that I wished I'd been aware of before I relocated.</p><h2 id="12baddb7-65a4-480a-9a8b-c028bcfe4fc9" data-toc-id="12baddb7-65a4-480a-9a8b-c028bcfe4fc9">The language barrier wasn't an issue in the way I expected it to be</h2><figure><img src="https://i.insider.com/6a6d01c187737bff3ebda2e5?format=jpeg" height="897" width="1206" alt="Woman smiling in outdoor cafe with an iced drink"><figcaption>It took me a while to find ways to actually practice my French.<p class="copyright">Jodie Hughes</p></figcaption></figure><p>I'd spoken French fluently-ish as a teen, but I'd barely used so much as a "bonjour" in the four years prior to my relocation. I was worried about the rustiness of my speaking skills, envisioning it causing real difficulties in day-to-day life.</p><p>However, I also assumed that, since I would be totally immersed in the language, my French would come back in no time. I was wrong on both counts.</p><p>Since practically everyone I encountered in Paris spoke English, my subpar French proved no obstacle at all. In fact, no matter how much I <em>tried</em> to speak French, in restaurants, in shops, on the metro, at the bank, you name it … most people simply replied to me in English.</p><p>It was a blessing and a curse; simultaneously very convenient for going about my life, and very <em>in</em>convenient for improving my French.</p><p>Since I worked in English, and the first friends I made were all other <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/living-abroad-feel-like-home-diplomat-life-coach-2026-5">international expats</a> (who spoke English together), my opportunities to hone my language skills were virtually nonexistent.</p><p>Eventually, <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/changed-location-dating-app-found-love-outside-united-states-hinge-2026-7">getting on dating apps</a> is what brought my French conversation skills back up to snuff.</p><p><strong>My takeaway: </strong>If you're not fluent in French before you move here, you will likely manage just fine. However, you may need to be proactive about finding opportunities to improve your speaking skills — and doing so should be a priority.</p><p>Becoming comfortable with French isn't essential to getting by here, but it will vastly improve your experience as an expatriate. And, y'know, it's just … good manners.</p><h2 id="7203517a-0026-458d-8faf-2fb3d4f9960d" data-toc-id="7203517a-0026-458d-8faf-2fb3d4f9960d">I should've been prepared for all of the bureaucracy battles and paperwork</h2><p>Before I moved, I spent a lot of time researching the requirements I'd have to fulfill to live and <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/surprising-things-france-working-living-from-brit-2026-1">work in France</a>.</p><p>As an <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-citizenship-in-european-countries-through-ancestry-as-american">EU citizen</a>, I faced minimal red tape — but for the processes I needed to go through to get up and running as a resident, the message from forums, blogs, and articles alike was clear: French admin can be a nightmare.</p><p>Naively optimistic as I was, I dismissed the repeated complaints as hyperbole. "How bad could it be?" I thought to myself, with completely unfounded confidence.</p><p>The internet tried to warn me, but I didn't listen. Most essential tasks, like getting a social-security number and a health card, took way longer and required more effort than I expected.</p><p>I imagine this may be the case when relocating to any new country. However, even after nearly a decade of living here, I still dread dealing with <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-moved-to-paris-challenging-career-social-life-healthcare-2026-7">French bureaucratic systems</a> (and all the paperwork they require).</p><p><strong>My takeaway:</strong> Be patient, set aside dedicated time to tackle essential relocation tasks, and take a lot of deep breaths. Getting a French phone number as soon as possible will also make administrative tasks (and <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/surprising-things-living-in-paris-as-american-2026-2">life in Paris</a>) a lot easier.</p><h2 id="cf410e69-baf9-44e0-adf6-d288b1f484c1" data-toc-id="cf410e69-baf9-44e0-adf6-d288b1f484c1">Paris lives up to its chic reputation, but I didn't have to worry so much about my style</h2><figure><img src="https://i.insider.com/6a6d01c197a2276a3423c0e0?format=jpeg" height="3780" width="4283" alt="Back of woman wearing bow's head as she looks at Notre Dame"><figcaption>I feel comfortable wearing what I want in Paris these days.<p class="copyright">Jodie Hughes</p></figcaption></figure><p>Pre-Paris, I worried I'd look out of place or underdressed because of this city's <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/style-mistakes-american-women-make-2018-7">reputation for being ultra-chic</a>. (I'm no fashionista.)</p><p>However, I quickly discovered that it's very difficult to be either underdressed <em>or </em><a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-wear-paris-accoriding-to-parisian-style-fashion-influencers-2023-7">overdressed in Paris</a>.</p><p>Something I found very refreshing when I moved to France was how much less "uniform" the clothing felt compared to the UK.</p><p>Very extravagant or outlandish ensembles would raise more of an eyebrow here than in, say, London or New York, but as a general rule, at any given activity, occasion, or gathering, you'll see a real range of styles and levels of "dressiness."</p><p>Within a year of <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-moved-to-paris-left-behind-more-than-expected-drawbacks-2026-6">moving to Paris</a>, I felt able to dress in a way that was much truer to my personal tastes than I'd ever felt comfortable doing in England.</p><p><strong>My takeaway: </strong>Wear whatever you want. Style here feels generally understated, but there's no Paris "uniform."</p><h2 id="20a57dba-f180-4485-9dd9-484ec3fee7cf" data-toc-id="20a57dba-f180-4485-9dd9-484ec3fee7cf">Sundays are way sleepier than I'm used to</h2><p>Around the time I moved, Galeries Lafayette was advertising that they would "now" be opening on Sundays, and it really confused me.</p><p>I couldn't believe a <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-department-stores-in-the-world-2016-9">world-famous department store</a> in a capital city like Paris wasn't open on Sundays before. </p><p>Turns out, a lot of places in France are closed on Sundays, which local labor laws have helped designate as a day of rest.</p><p>There are exceptions, and I've seen more stores extend their hours over the past nine years. However, I've found it's still very hit-and-miss whether (and, if so, when) I'll be able to shop on the Day of Rest.</p><p>I'd say roughly half the shops I frequent are open on Sundays, and a lot of supermarkets operate on a sort of "compromise" model.</p><p>Some only open in the mornings, and others are open all day but have security staff only, meaning there are limitations on how you pay, and you can't buy alcohol.</p><p>I've seen shops advertise their Sunday opening time but not their closing time. Which, as far as I can tell, means they close whenever they feel like it.</p><p>I've been caught out more than once when I've gone to grab dinner ingredients, only to find the shop closed an hour earlier than it had the previous week.</p><p><strong>My takeaway:</strong> Don't rely on buying your groceries (or anything else important) on Sundays. If you need to purchase alcohol, say for a Sunday lunch or soirée, make sure you do it the day before.</p><h2 id="8b4872b2-f187-43cc-867c-2fbb017bae16" data-toc-id="8b4872b2-f187-43cc-867c-2fbb017bae16">My expectations around vacation have completely shifted</h2><figure><img src="https://i.insider.com/6a70cd92a62e6e00bc539ddc?format=jpeg" height="5000" width="6171" alt="Row of empty cafe chairs in PAris"><figcaption>In Paris, a lot of businesses closed on Sunday or have adjusted hours.<p class="copyright">Karl Hendon/Getty Images</p></figcaption></figure><p>About half the country packs up and goes on vacation for the whole of July … and the other half, for the whole of August. This includes the people running shops, restaurants, offices, and all kinds of other services.</p><p>I wish I'd known about this before I was in the middle of experiencing it. That first <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/traveled-with-grandparents-internationally-got-closer-learned-about-them-paris-2025-7">summer I spent in Paris</a> was very long, very hot, and very quiet.</p><p>Everything had kind of ground to a halt at work, my friends were gone for huge swaths of time, and most of my go-to spots for eating or drinking out were closed for a month or more.</p><p>These days, I really enjoy the tranquility of Paris when half the residents have migrated south for the summer, but it was a bizarre experience to be unprepared for.</p><p>I definitely wished I could have taken advantage of the French norm of booking multiple consecutive weeks off to get away from the stifling city.</p><p><strong>My takeaway:</strong> Make the most of the expectation that you'll take a <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/more-americans-are-ditching-summer-vacations-while-others-spend-more-2026-5">long summer vacation </a>— even if it's just to enjoy the peace of Paris sans (half the) Parisians.</p><p>Also, expect more shops, restaurants, and other businesses to be closed in July and August. Even getting a medical appointment can be trickier during these summer months.</p><div class="read-original">Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-from-uk-to-paris-biggest-challenges-language-culture-2026-8">Business Insider</a></div>]]