Living in France 🇫🇷 | The Honest Reality After Two Years

Two years ago, Susie and Brendan moved from Beijing to France while she was pregnant with Geneva, with no clear idea how everything would unfold. This isn’t a victory lap — it’s a checkpoint. We talk honestly about what surprised us, what was harder than expected, and what daily living in France with a young child actually feels like. From paperwork and healthcare to work, identity, and small everyday routines, this video is a snapshot of where we are right now — still building, still adapting, still learning. Along the way, we also deal with an unexpected home emergency, navigate winter life with a toddler, and soak in the simple moments that remind us why we chose this adventure in the first place. Thanks for being here, and happy holidays from our family to yours. #LivingInFrance #ExpatLife #MovingToFrance CHAPTERS: 00:00 – Two Years In, Still Settling 00:20 – Not Finished, Just In Progress 00:43 – Harder Than Expected, Easier Than Expected 01:11 – Daily Life With a Child in France 01:44 – Why We Wanted to Leave Our Old Life 02:12 – Parenthood Changed Everything 02:43 – Healthcare, Contributions, and Misconceptions 03:33 – Work, Retirement, and the Long View 04:14 – Why We Uprooted Our Lives 04:37 – Adventure, Work, and Family Balance 05:21 – Creativity, Identity, and Living Abroad 06:17 – Everyday Life: Cold Mornings & Commutes 07:07 – Discovering the Water Damage 07:57 – “A Big Mess” (Real Life Interruptions) 08:28 – Suburban Dad Mode & Winter Traditions 08:55 – Christmas Markets With Genny 09:40 – La Défense & Holiday Errands 10:28 – Seeing Christmas Through a Child’s Eyes 11:05 – Winter Wonderland 12:20 – The Moments That Matter 12:31 – Why It Was All Worth It Want to SUPPORT the channel? Buy us a coffee! buymeacoffee.com/chezdavisfr 👋 About us: We left our lives in the U.S. and China to start fresh in France and welcomed our daughter in Paris. At Chez Davis, we share honest expat stories, practical tips for living in Paris, and real experiences about parenting abroad, French language learning, and navigating French bureaucracy. 🎯 Dreaming of France? New expats struggling with French systems? We're your front-row seat to real expat family experiences. 🛂 Real guidance on French visas, housing, healthcare, crèches 🎥 Cultural observations from a filmmaker's perspective 👶 Honest parenting abroad stories as older first-time parents 📍 Based in Paris suburbs with adventures across France