Why We Fell in Love with France

The Pull of a Place

Some places you simply visit. Others, you carry with you long before you arrive. For both of us, France was that kind of place. It wasn’t just a dot on the map or a country we dreamed of seeing someday. It was something that called to us quietly but persistently, until finally it became clear: this wasn’t only where we wanted to travel. It was where we wanted to build the next chapter of our lives together.

Andras: Drawn to Craft and Culture

For me, the pull of France began when I was growing up in Hungary. One of our relatives lived there and visited almost every summer. I was fascinated by the way they described their life, though I never imagined that one day I would be planning a move there myself.

What has always stood out to me is the French rhythm of life. People take time for daily rituals—a strong morning coffee, a long lunch with friends, a market overflowing with seasonal produce. That unhurried pace stands in sharp contrast to the fast-moving world I’ve grown used to in the United States.

I’m a maker at heart, someone who finds joy in shaping wood, clay, or steel. France, with its centuries-old traditions of craftsmanship, feels like a place where those passions could not only continue but deepen. The thought of walking through a village where artisans still create by hand—it speaks to something inside me.

And of course, there is the food. French cuisine has fascinated me from the beginning. Paul Bocuse of Lyon is one of my all-time favorite chefs. What I love most, though, isn’t just the famous dishes but the everyday meals built on freshness, simplicity, and connection. The preparation, the ingredients, the process of making a dish—those are things I cherish. Sitting at a table where the meal is about more than calories—where it’s about family, laughter, and conversation—that’s the kind of life I want to live.

Lelaine: The Language of a Dream

My connection to France grew from a different place. I’ve always loved language, words, and the way they can shape understanding between people. French, with its elegance and rhythm, felt both challenging and beautiful to me.

Being an artist at heart, I dream of visiting museums and being surrounded by beautiful scenery. I long for a quieter, more relaxed life where I can work on my writing and poetry, and rekindle my passion for drawing and painting.

I imagine days on the beaches of the Mediterranean, bicycling to the markets to buy fresh food for cooking. Andras and I both love to cook, so our visits to local markets, boulangeries, pâtisseries, and fromageries will feel like small adventures of their own. And of course—I can’t wait to experience the wine!

As a teacher, I see France as a place where I can grow professionally while immersing myself in a culture that values education, art, and community. I don’t just want to teach English there. I want to experience what it feels like to live in a country where language is central to identity and tradition.

On a more personal level, I’ve always been drawn to the romance of France—not only the kind you see in movies, but the everyday romance of open-air cafés, cobblestone streets, and late-night conversations under warm light. When Andras and I began to seriously talk about moving, I realized France wasn’t just a place on my bucket list. It was a place where I could imagine myself truly belonging.

Our Shared Vision

Not long after we met, we began talking about the idea of living outside the United States. We imagined Portugal, Italy, Spain, even Argentina. But somehow, the conversation always circled back to France—maybe because of Andras’ family connection, maybe because of my love for the language, history, and people.

It wasn’t one defining moment but a series of conversations. Over dinners, long drives, and even during our nightly FaceTime calls, we kept returning to the same question: what if we actually went? What if we didn’t just dream about France, but lived there?

At first it felt far away, something for “someday.” But then we began to look into practical details—visas, work opportunities, the cost of living, and where in France we might want to settle. Montpellier kept appearing on our list. It had everything we imagined: Mediterranean sun and sea, a vibrant but approachable city, a strong cultural scene, welcoming people, and easy access to both countryside and coast.

Slowly, France stopped being an idea and became a plan. We weren’t just saying “what if.” We were asking “when.”

Looking Ahead

We’re not there yet. As we write this, we’re still in the United States, tying up loose ends and preparing for goodbyes. But already, the pull of France has shaped how we see our future together.

It’s not about chasing perfection. We know life in France will come with its own challenges—language barriers, paperwork, adjustments, and moments of frustration. But what excites us is knowing we’ll face those challenges together, in a place that feels like it’s been waiting for us all along.

France has been part of our love story for a long time now, woven quietly into our conversations and dreams. Soon it will be more than a dream. It will be the backdrop of our daily life—the streets we walk, the meals we share, the stories we keep writing side by side.

Yes, it’s a little scary to think of starting over from scratch. But it’s also exhilarating. And in that mix of fear and excitement, we know we’ve found exactly the adventure we’re ready for.