Why I'm Stuck in France This Christmas | Residency Woes + Unexpected Media Attention

Why I’m stuck in France this Christmas isn’t the whole story - but it’s where this chapter currently ends. In this video, I’m sharing a real-time life update from France and walking through what the past couple months have been like: why I’m moving, how a CNN Travel article and French news interviews unexpectedly came about, and what it’s been like navigating sudden attention while still very much living my day-to-day life. I also talk about how this season has led to new friendships, some of the more complicated dynamics that can exist within expat communities, and how I'm in between apartments - moved out of the old one but not fully in the new one yet. Toward the end of the video, I share a brief update on my residency process – including why I’m currently unable to travel home for Christmas and what it’s like to sit with uncertainty when plans are out of your control. The perils of being an expat in France! Will the residency permit ever come? This isn’t a crisis or a complaint. It’s an honest snapshot of being in between chapters, learning to trust the slow pace of things, and continuing to listen to that inner voice even when the next step isn’t fully clear yet. If you’re also navigating change, waiting, or in between chapters...you're in good company! Thanks for being here 🤍 00:00 Introduction 00:55 CNN Travel Article + French News 03:42 Am I now shunned in the expat community 07:15 Story of "French Julie" 09:02 Lovely French messages 10:34 Why I'm Moving 12:42 Residency Permit Update & Why I can't go home 15:25 More soon + May Women's Retreat — ✨ A channel about starting over, unlearning hustle culture, and learning to listen to your inner voice – through my experience of living in France.