Déjà vu !

For those who have been following along, I started Hudson & Seine, a French lifestyle blog, in 2014 as a way to keep Paris with me while I was living in New York City. After about a year, it became clear that I didn’t have the bandwidth. I started the blog because I wanted to write, but little did I know, that was only 10% of the work. I also had to photograph (I wanted only original photography), inquire for brand partnerships, handle social media, navigate the design and technological difficulties that arose with the site, research, figure out Google analytics, etc. It was a full-time job that turned a profit of 8 dollars after one year, which I honestly considered a win. However, the business of it all overshadowed what I was looking for when I started, which was just to share what I was passionate about with like-minded francophiles.

With the content safely stored away in Google Drive for memories’ sake, I transitioned to writing content for brands and entrepreneurs and allowed my beloved domain to expire and slip into oblivion. It wasn’t until I moved back to Paris in 2021 that I bought back the domain, though with no plans to do anything with it. I just knew it was special to me, and I tucked it away into a hidden corner of my mind and watched as my credit card was charged monthly for the privilege of sentimentality.

Fast forward a bit. This winter rolled around, and it hit hard. My best friend had moved away, and it was gray every single day for months, to the point where it was the topic of conversation in every Parisian’s quotidien. I started going on solo dates around the city every Tuesday to give myself a much-needed boost of morale. I realized that planning and sharing these Tuesdays were actually the parts I enjoyed the most. Lots of people reached out on IG with questions, and I realized that I light up every time someone asks for Paris advice. Even when it’s my aunt’s best friend’s ex-husband’s cat traveling to Paris, I excitedly write up a long list of everything I suggest based on where they’re staying, what vibe they’re looking for, who they’re traveling with, how long they’re here for. If you’ve been on the receiving end of my lengthy advice columns, you know how I love to help a little too much (and I’m sorry for the excessive word count).

It’s the sharing part that I keep coming back to. I don’t just want to go to the prettiest café in all of Paris or see the Petit Palais at peak cherry blossom season, I want to take my friends and family back home, my fellow expats, total strangers on social media bonded to me by a mutual love of Paris. My passion is sharing Paris with others.

And while I love helping visitors, I think expats are the ones who need it the most. I’ve met many a jaded and disillusioned expat, and it’s totally understandable to me. Moving abroad in itself is isolating and stressful, but Paris can be a bit extra, in every sense of the term actually. It’s a city with rather complex cultural codes, and while you can absolutely get away with just speaking English, the Parisian world really opens up to those who speak French. Setting up basic life, like getting a bank account or credit card, figuring out what neighborhood would suit you best and how to get your apartment application accepted in a competitive rental market, facing the French administration for your carte de séjour, and other joys await. You will discover the national sport of debate and hear “non” more times than you can count. Then, there’s figuring out what you can cook when your basic grocery store doesn’t have everything you used to make back home: kale, canned black beans, taco spices, or any tortillas of worth. Where’s the best place to grocery shop anyway? What’s the best grocery and takeout delivery service? Why don’t kids have school on Wednesdays, and how do I sign them up for the cantine? What the heck is crêche, and why is it so hard to get? What international schooling options are available? What are the hidden rules of playdates here? Where should I work out, eat, get books, go to a place of worship, find friends, doctors, or even a therapist?

There’s a lot to figure out, but I’m convinced that the key to living happily here comes down to community. Not only do we desperately need meaningful social interactions, but also, we all have something to share with each other. The more you stick around, the more you realize that expats can actually know the city better than Parisians (my Parisian-born husband would admit I have far surpassed him in Parisian knowledge—don’t bother asking him for directions either). When expats connect, we tend to trade information all the time, and that’s our superpower. We can find almost all the answers we need in each other.

So, long story short: Hudson & Seine is making a comeback for the sheer joy of sharing and connection. My first step will be planning free community meetups for expats and sharing useful tips and recommendations on the blog. I have a million ideas for what Hudson & Seine could grow into over time, but for now, it’s just me spamming you with what I’m loving in the moment and asking you to hang out with me in pretty spaces. Stick around, and let’s see where it goes together.