i quit my six-figure u.s. job and moved to paris

hello from a parisian airbnb apartment.

the last few months have been a whirlwind. i’ve been neglecting my substack writing, but now that i’m fun-employed, in paris, and finally feeling more settled, i have the time and headspace to start writing again.

so, here’s a little life update.

for the last three and a half years, i lived in miami working for a software company on an l1a visa. leaving was entirely my choice — a decision made to move closer to a dream i’ve had for a very long time: living in europe.

as a north american girl born and raised, i can proudly say i’ve experienced both canadian and american life and work culture. naturally, as a creative soul, europe always felt like a dream waiting in the distance.

anyone who knows me isn’t surprised by this move. i’ve been talking about it from the very beginning — how badly i wanted to live in europe, immerse myself in a new culture, meet new people, slow down, and find inspiration in new surroundings.

getting here took a lot of planning and preparation, both mentally and practically. there was a surprising amount of life admin involved in uprooting an entire life and moving across an ocean.

as humans, we tie so much of our life planning to our careers. at some point, though, you have to decide what is best for you and what aligns most closely with the life you want to build.

for me, that meant leaving behind a six-figure usd salary, comfort, job security, and a team i genuinely loved working with.

i wrestled with the decision for a long time: continue making good, predictable money or take a chance on myself and discover what might be waiting on the other side.

eventually, the answer became clear.

the hardest part is now behind me, although new challenges always replace old ones.

i’m currently interviewing and heading into final rounds, but i don’t have a signed offer yet. that means it’s back to the drawing board some days, but i’m incredibly proud to even be in this position — to have given myself the opportunity to try.

in the meantime, i’m living in paris with my best friend.

we have friends visiting throughout the summer, countless activities planned, and trips scattered across the calendar. i feel incredibly lucky and grateful for this season of life.

although i’m still job searching, i made a promise to myself that i don’t want to spend all of my time and mental energy worrying about the next role. i want to dedicate a few meaningful hours each week to applications and interviews, and spend the rest of my time actually living the life i worked so hard to create.

enjoy paris.

i’ve also picked up an old hobby again: sketching.

i’ve felt so inspired by this city already. sketching brings me a surprising amount of joy and focus. it reconnects me to the things i loved as a child and gives me an opportunity to practice skills that had quietly been sitting dormant for years.

my work as a product designer revolves around digital screens, systems, and interfaces. sometimes it can be difficult to separate work creativity from personal creativity.

i’m really trying to use this time to reconnect with all the things i love outside of work.

exploring new neighborhoods.

trying new things.

sitting in parks.

visiting museums.

eating delicious pastries and bakeries.

spending equal amounts of time alone and with friends.

paying attention.

so i guess this is my first real post written from paris.

i’m excited to share more updates from this chapter and document what comes next.

and if you’re interested in following along with my designer’s observation journal, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in daily photographs, sketches, and small moments collected along the way.

for now, here’s a little life update from your fun-employed canadian living in paris.

— janice ♡