Oh my goodness. We’re really doing it. We found a house and sent off our contract and security deposit last night.
So. It’s now officially official.
WE’RE MOVING TO FRANCE!
Next up: shopping for plane tickets. We’re aiming to move on February 1st. Which is just 6 short weeks away.
I’m so excited I can hardly stand it.
I’ve been talking about the possibility of this move for months and curious readers have sent in lots of smart questions about the whole adventure. I’ll answer some below.
1) Why are you doing this?
Mostly, it’s because we can. My husband and I both work at home and the kids aren’t in high school yet. We’ve always talked about doing something like this and realized if we didn’t make it happen soon, it wouldn’t happen at all. We hope an experience like this will be very formative for our family and will help our children have more world-minded viewpoints. We are planning to go for a year, but would definitely consider extending our time there if it makes sense.
2) Do you speak French?
Un peu. I studied French in high school and for 2 semesters in college, but I can only remember a few words and phrases. I better get working!
3) Will you keep blogging while you’re there?
For sure. I’m pretty much addicted. Plus it’s my job. I’ll be reporting on all our adventures in case you’re curious to see what a year abroad for a family with young children is like.
4) How did you decide where to live?
Good question. After lots of research, we narrowed our country choice to France. I wasn’t interested in living in Paris (families of 8 don’t always make good city neighbors), but I wanted access to the city. So we looked for towns within 1 or 2 hours of Paris with a direct train. Then it came down to finding an actual house. We wanted something that would fit our large family, was furnished and was in our price range. The house we found (it’s in the countryside of the Normandy region) is amazing! I’ll tell you all about it in a separate post.
5) What about your husband’s job?
His job will remain exactly the same. He works for K12.com as the Director of Foreign Language Curriculum. K12 is based in Washington D.C., but because their offerings are online, Ben Blair can work from anywhere.
6) What are you doing for school for your kids?
K12 is an easy choice for us because of Ben Blair’s work. But we’re determined to help our kids master French as soon as possible, so we’re also looking into the local schools or hiring a tutor. I’ll keep you updated as things develop.
7) What about practical things like selling your house? Getting a car while you’re there? Renter’s insurance and health insurance? Your kids yearly doctor visits?
Some of these things are easy. For example, we rent our house here in Denver and our contract is month-to-month so we can leave at any time. Simple. Other things are more complicated. But we’re working through the challenges one by one. Whenever I have a good tip, I’ll let you know. In fact, I’m considering writing a weekly post where I can discuss some of these practical things. Is that a feature you would like?
8) Are you scared?
Terrified. I keep remembering when Ben Blair and I lived in Greece. Those first few months were so challenging! But ultimately, being there was wonderful for us as a couple and influenced our marriage and our lives in hugely positive ways. I hope (and suspect) the same will be true for our year in France.
Watercolor of Dinan, France by Wayne Roberts
your kids will love it. it will be crazy hard but they will love it. i can 100% guarantee it.
I think this is a fantastic opportunity. I can’t wait to hear all about it and I would love weekly feature on dealing with all the little “deets”. The one thing you didn’t mention, unless I missed it, are you going to be near your sister & her family?
My husband and I are thinking of doing something similar! Yay! I call it an “adult gap year.” I’m totally supportive of you guys, and think it will be awesome.
What an amazing opportunity – and I am so excited that you MADE IT HAPPEN. So often we talk about taking chances like this, but so seldom do it. You and the family will love it & I can’t wait to read all about your adventures in Europe! I’d love to take the family abroad – maybe some day!
Really exciting, and I would love to read posts about planning your stay there. My Husband and I are moving to Brazil for the summer and I am overwhelmed by all the preparations!
What?!! That is amazing! Congrats to you! My hubby and I have often tossed around the idea of moving to France ourselves but are not quite as brave as you all ;) I hope it exceeds all of your wildest dreams! Best of luck to you and your family in your new adventure!
I didn’t realize your husband works for k12. We are using their first grade curriculum for our daughter.
I live in Côtes d’Armor. I’m also American with children and I’ve been here 6 years now. If you need any help, advice, need a question answered or just want to rant (and oh… you will) feel free to contact me directly.
1 February is my birthday, so, good day to come over here!
May I wish you Joyeux Fêtes, Bonne Année, Bonne Santé and a very happy Bienvenue!
This is the most wonderful news, Gabrielle! I am so excited for your family and can’t wait to read about your adventures. xoxo
Congratulations! My husband and I visited the Normandy region last year and definitely wished we could live there! My husband and his siblings grew up as Americans living in Europe and absolutely loved it. Your kids will have a great time!
Oh, how wonderful! I would love to do the same for a while. Happy packing… we just moved across 3 states and that was work enough just with 3 family members and a cat.
Je suis verts de jalousie! (I am GREEN with envy)
J’adore Francais! I’m dying to hear about your journey as we are contemplating a move to abroad.
So excited for you! I hope that you continue blogging while you are there, so that we all can enjoy your beautiful family and style in FRANCE!
what a wonderful adventure! I wish you the best of luck and hope that the move and settling in goes smoothly. I look forward to reading about your adventures!
And as a reader and someone who does want to have my family live abroad for a few years (right now, we’ve decided the baby is too young), I’d love to hear about the move and how you handle it.
I haven’t commented before (though I’ve read your blog for ages) but I had to say I am so proud of you for being so gutsy to really make it happen! I am so excited for you! I’ve got 6 kids, too, and we can’t wait to hear of your adventures abroad! Félicitations! What a great mom you are to give this experience to your little ones :)
I’ m so jealous. Hubby and I loved our visit to Paris three years ago and thought it was a great city for kids. Have a great time!
Congratulations! What an amazing move! I can not wait to read all about the house. (drool)
Congratulations!!! I am sooo excited for you guys! And heck ya at least one weekly post on the move would be LOVED by me, and by all, I’m sure! I want to know all the details!!!
I’m so excited for you!
Please do the regular feature of things like getting a car, insurance, etc. It’s a dream for us as well but I’ve always been leery of the red tape.
Oh, and just warn Maude that they’re going to want to call her “mode.” :-)
Thrilled for you!!!!!!! And a wee bit jealous.
I would be super interested in a weekly post about the logistics of this! I dream of doing this with our kids. It’s not a possibility right now, but I’m hoping that sometime in the next few years we’ll be able to do it. I can’t wait to hear all about it!
We’re hoping to move to London in 1-2 years with our family – by then it will be a family of six or seven! We’ll definitely be following your journey. We know now that living in London will mean fitting the six or seven of us into maybe 1200 square feet…
Sounds so exciting! I sure wish I can just leave the artic (Minnesota) and move some place else as well. I can’t wait to hear more about your adventure (and pictures too). :)
I would LOVE to hear some of your tips and experiences with the practical things like housing, health care, etc. I love dreaming about adventures but the practical things are always what cause me to think “Oh, we could never….”
How exciting! My husband and I moved with our three young daughters to Mexico for a half year. Pretty much the best thing we’ve ever given our kids.
HOW EXCITING!!!!!
Wow, that sounds amazing! I can’t wait for the new French perspective on DesignMom posts.
In your post, you say that you’re addicted to blogging. I like to think that I am, too (though I’m nowhere near as awesome as you haha), but sometimes, I just don’t feel like posting anything (or sometimes I feel obliged to post). Does that ever happen to you? How do you overcome it? :)
Congratulations! It will be a wonderful adventure! I’m SO jealous! :)
I applaud you guys for doing this! It will be awesome for all of you, you’ll see. Nothing like being out in the world to know what the actual world is like! Good luck with everything!
Right now to help me learn conversational Mandarine, I’m using Before You Know It (byki.com). You can purchase more involved, advanced sessions, but the beginner stuff is free. Bonne chance et bon voyage!
*Erm, Mandarin, not Mandarine.
What a wonderful experience this will be for you and your family! We packed up and moved to Newfoundland, Canada last year and love it. Not nearly of an “exotic” move as France but still there are little fun challenges here and there. So much fun – I can’t wait to read about your adventures! I hope June’s first words are in French! ;)
My family is moving abroad next year as well to a country that borders France. Like you I am both excited and terrified.
Bonne chance!
I hope you are planning on traveling a lot while there! The train systems are wonderful, easy to use. You should consider getting a Eurorail pass prior to going.
Wonderful! I live in the Netherlands (born & raised) and we are planning on moving to Sweden in a couple of years. The why-question is asked a lot, and our answer is the same as yours, because we CAN. At least, thén we can, not now but we have patience (…euh, well, we act like we do haha) and in the meantime we read a lot, are planning a holiday in Sweden and we learn the language. It’s just an adventure and i think that should be enough! Adventures are good, you learn from it, the kids will and they’ll learn so much i think! I wish you lots of fun and joy preparing. And if you want to visit Holland and need a place to spend the night, you are welcome. With all the kids, yes, if you don’t mind sleeping on sofas and the floor haha :)
I didn’t know Ben works for k12! I write curriculum that’s used by them! Small world!
It will be fun to live vicariously through you! What a grand adventure!
ahhh i’m so excited for you guys! two pieces of advice about finding some babysitters… when i studied abroad in spain, i babysat for several american families who were living or visiting abroad. if there’s a university nearby that has an exchange program and you’d appreciate an english speaker for the little kids, you might contact the international office to put out the word to any americans/brits studying there.. also, when my cousin moved to zurich with his family, he contacted an au pair agency there who hooked him up with some girls who were waiting to go to the US as au pairs and appreciated the opportunity to sit for americans and practice their english ahead of time! i know you will figure it all out in no time, and yes i would love to read a weekly entry on the logistics of it all! congrats on chasing your dream!!
I live overseas, too, in a place that is worlds apart from where you will be living. But at the same time there are GREAT resources out there that have helped me tremendously, and honestly, would probably be more helpful to you than to me, since you will be living in a more urban area (or at least have access to urban areas!) One of the books out there that was a great help to me is The Expert Expatriate (http://www.amazon.com/Expert-Expat-Revised-Successful-Relocation/dp/1857883845/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292635266&sr=8-1)
I grew up overseas so thought I didn’t need much “help” but moving overseas with a family is a whole different ballgame! I hope it goes very, very well for you! Very exciting!
So dreamy… I’m excited to read all about your family’s adventures.
As Americans just moved to Australia with children I will note to be prepared for food changes to be difficult on the kids, it is one area where they have control and my child who in the US ate salad and kidney beans and tomatoes for snacks is going quite bland as she transitions. I’m sure her taste buds will recover soon.
We also found XE.com really good for transferring funds from US accounts to AUS accounts without all the fees that direct bank transfers cost us, it took about a week to set up and you might want to do that before you leave as you need to have two forms of ID, etc. ready when setting up an account.
Oh, and have fun, congrats!
what an amazing adventure you will have!! i am excited to “follow” you to France!
Wow that’s a big move! Good for you, I’d love to hear more, that weekly post sounds like an excellent idea.
wow! How cool is that? what an adventure, looking forward to your blogs…up and moving six kids to a foreign country, you are amazing!
how exciting is this? it will be a gift to your children. i grew up in several countries and several linguistic regions and it was a gift for me. i look forward to reading about your adventures!
I follow your sister’s blog as well, isn’t she moving too?
I’m SO excited for you & your family…and for us (your readers) because we get to read all about your adventures!
Oh how exciting!! What a great adventure for the whole family!
I love France and am so excited that you are embracing this grand adventure!
I hope you plan on keeping us posted on all of your preparations (like you don’t have a million other things you need to be doing). We are looking at living over seas in a a few years and I would love to know how you pick what you are taking with you. Especially when it comes to your kids.