As much as I have enjoyed living in Paris for the past two years, I'm still navigating a lot of challenges I didn't expect.
Moïse Mbarga-Abega
When I moved to Paris from the US in the winter of 2024, I rather foolishly believed the transition would be easier.After all, despite needing a visa to live here as a non-EU citizen and the main spoken language being French, Paris itself is not that different from my hometown of New York City.The metropolis is extremely walkable; it has a reliable, well-connected metro system that runs through the entire city; there is no shortage of highly-rated restaurants and bars to discover, let alone cultural activities to partake in; and the population is largely international and diverse.Additionally, the city has a buzzing energy that consumes you and makes you believe anything is possible — with enough beauty to bring a smile to your face even on gloomy days.Nevertheless, despite these similarities, I overlooked some major challenges I might face as an immigrant living outside of my native country.In addition to the procedural nightmare that is navigating multiple visa processes, living in Paris has provided a slew of personal tests—many of which I'm still working to overcome. Making friends has been difficult, despite the city's thriving expat community
