In November 2021, I made the decision to leave France, the country where I had spent most of my life. It’s where I completed my education, formed my first friendships and romances, and where my entire maternal family resided. This choice was not an easy one to make.

This decision came at a turning point in my life where I had to choose between my mental health and the person who had been by my side for four years but was nearly 6,000 kilometers away. The pandemic, by disrupting my plans, also kept me apart from this loved one due to the border closures in our respective countries.

I decided to leave France. In truth, this decision was one we made together. Far from wanting to take all the credit, I recognize that without my partner, this choice would have been meaningless. Nearly two years later, I reflect on the path we’ve traveled and the many challenges and changes we’ve faced.

Many expatriates will undoubtedly understand the difficulty of starting over from scratch. All our habits are disrupted, to the point where we cling to anything that reminds us of our old life: an overpriced baguette, a brand of French cookware (hello, Le Creuset), or anything else we might come across along the way. Despite it all, with courage and effort, we eventually create a new routine, build new relationships, and adapt to this new life that requires us to prioritize English over French, sometimes forgetting words in the process. A driver’s license and a car replace a Navigo pass and Metro Line 11.

The easiest part is almost creating a new home—a place that finally feels like us, where we can see ourselves staying long enough to truly settle in. Unfortunately, this comes at the expense of relationships with those we left behind. What’s the point of living all this if our friends aren’t part of it? The feeling of abandonment is real. We realize our relationships are no longer the same or as frequent, and our efforts to maintain them don’t always yield the results we hope for. When the opportunity to return to France finally arises, chances to reconnect are rare. We start doubting ourselves, thinking that perhaps forming attachments in the first place was a mistake. This leads to a period of several months where we inadvertently distance ourselves, focusing on our lives on the other side of the screen. This distance, exacerbated by social media, which no longer maintains contact but instead makes us feel alone in an ocean of shallow digital data, grows over time as connections dwindle.

Not one to give up so easily, I feel it’s time to turn things around. I aim to make thoughtful decisions that will help me reconnect and maintain authentic relationships with those who wish to do the same and who, in turn, deserve my full attention and kindness. I’ve always struggled with a deep lack of self-confidence and a sense of not fitting into others’ lives. It’s time to leave that negative mindset behind and find my way back to myself—and to you.

With that in mind, I want to let you know that I’ll be in Paris from September 5 to 9 and again from September 17 to 19, 2024. You’re the first to know. Anyone reading this and wanting to join me is more than welcome.

You can reach me on WhatsApp (+33 6 63 66 3168), iMessage (+1 (631) 707-2311), email (julienpuglisi@outlook.com), or directly here in the “Contact” section.

To anyone awaiting a response from me, it will come in the next few hours, after a good night’s sleep.

Thank you for reading to the end, and I send you my warmest regards.

Julien