From New York to Nantes: My Journey of Adaptation and Discovery
Viktoria from Worlds Collide interviews me about my experiences house sitting, adapting to life in France, getting to know people and much more
Exploring life abroad, culturally contradiction, and lessons learned
Salut from France! Or, more accurately, salut from the road (currently, I’m in Florida—but let’s stick to the theme).
Recently, I joined Viktoria on her podcast Worlds Collide to share my own journey from New York to Nantes - so this time, I’m the one getting interviewed. We explored the odd bits of starting fresh in another country—navigating French bureaucracy, adjusting to cultural contradictions, and building a sense of belonging one step at a time. From house-sitting to language missteps and making friends abroad, the conversation offers a mix of practical insights, some funny stories, and raw honesty about the challenges of moving to another country, at least for me.
Starting fresh
I was Viktoria’s first guest on Worlds Collide in 2025 - she’s been doing this a while. I recorded my side in a decommissioned church, which is inspiring, but also seriously echoey (sorry about that—I’m as annoyed as you are!). Despite the acoustics, the setting felt fitting for a conversation about big life transitions and moving to another country.
The funny thing about interviews: even though you think and plan ahead, you’re never quite sure where it will go. We talked about my move from New York to Nantes, France, going through language missteps to the benefits of house sitting and a dozen other things below.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to start fresh in another country – or just what it’s like to have me being asked all of the questions, this episode is packed with practical tips, cultural insights, and a few laughs.
Links to the episode
If you’d like to hear the full conversation (and don’t mind a little echo), check out the episode on your favorite platform:
Highlights
1. House Sitting as a point of discovery
My wife and I started our life in France with a three-month house sit in Brittany, through TrustedHousesitters. It gave us the time and space to explore without the pressure of finding housing immediately and let us see parts of the country we never would have been to otherwise - but it has its own stuff to navigate.
And we’re good with animals.
2. Building Community
Making friends takes time and effort no matter where you are and a move like this breaks up your whole support network. Sometimes, just showing up when invited is enough to open doors.
3. Cultural Contradictions
France is full of surprises - it’s what this blog is all about, I think. Rolling into a McDonald’s as a late-night hotspot where families and teens linger over fries at midnight after a day of protests and tire fires in the streets as garbage lines the streets while mass transit is paralyzed. French cuisine is world-famous, but junk food enjoys a cherished status too.
I am still not totally in support of spicy mint potato chips, though. Just odd.
Why France?
Viktoria naturally asked me why I wound up in the country that I did. France has this unique mix of deep tradition and the realities of the modern world that has kept me interested. As I joked on the podcast, France is “culturally messy,” and that’s a big part of its charm.
That said, living here hasn’t been all la vie en rose.
I will use ANY excuse to put Grace Jones’ version of this song on this site.
small wins, adding up slowly
Navigating French bureaucracy has tested my patience, and learning the language is an ongoing challenge. With every awkward moment or small win, I feel more at home.
I’ve also had my share of tough days too—sheer disorientation is a humbling opponent.
Viktoria called my Substack “a treasure trove for the curious” - I might adopt some of that language - that’s what I hope it is: a place for stories that are a bit unusually, with unlikely connections.
But people move around - and they always have.
Viktoria was a fantastic interviewer and her channel is full of great conversations if you’re looking for more!
Viktoria - thanks for hosting. It was a great talk.
K
