I’m Sarah — an American from Ohio who landed in France in March 2020 and became a French citizen in 2024. This site is where I document the paperwork, the healthcare, the culture shock, and everything in between.
From your first visa to French nationality; practical guides for the French immigration process demystified by someone who’s lived every step.
What to expect when you’re expecting in France: prenatal care, giving birth in a French hospital, and navigating the system as an American.
Metro tickets, airport transfers, EES wait times, and strike survival tips; everything you need to get around Paris without losing your mind or your wallet.
Hiring an assistante maternelle in France means more than finding great childcare; it makes you an employer under French law. This guide covers the contract, Pajemploi, CMG, pay rates, and indemnitiés, plus the surprising rules around signing, ending and everything in between that catches the immigrant families off guard.
Struggling to get a crèche place in France? Here’s how to apply, what to expect, and your backup options if you don’t get in.
Navigating pregnancy and birth in France as an American doesn’t have to feel impossible. From the déclaration de grossesse deadline to choosing a maternité, CAF benefits, and what France actually offers new parents, here’s the full roadmap, based on firsthand experience raising a daughter born in the Paris suburbs.