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ALWhy did I decide to leave London and move back to France? ๐๐ป๐ซ๐ท
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I recently completed my masterโs degree in the UK and chose not to apply for a two-year post-study visa. Why?
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๐ London is full of opportunities.
BUTโฆ if they donโt match your personal needs, life can quickly feel unnecessarily difficult.
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That was the case for me: I wasnโt planning to continue my studies or apply for a job. Iโve been self-employed for years, so the job market simply didnโt interest me.
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๐ท Cost of living
London also felt more expensive than Paris. I rented a room with flatmates near Vauxhall and still paid more than I would for a studio in Paris. And often, I didnโt feel I was getting quality for what I paid. Take food, for example: tomatoes didnโt really taste like tomatoes, and blueberries lasted weeks in the fridge โ which made me miss the natural taste and freshness of French products.
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๐ถโโ๏ธ Crowds
Yes, Paris is crowded too. But there I usually walk or cycle. In London, it was hard to avoid huge train stations where youโre constantly moving in a sea of people. It drained my energy.
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๐จ Safety
I was walking in Soho with a friend when, in broad daylight, someone snatched our phone and ran off. After that, I felt uneasy around almost everyone who passed by. In Paris, I usually sense if an area feels sketchy (and avoid going to touristy or known bad areas). In London, I often felt unsafe even in โgoodโ neighborhoods
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๐ผ๏ธ Aesthetics
Itโs very subjective, but after eight years in France, I find its aesthetics much closer to my heart โ and as an art historian, that matters a lot.
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And to be honest, I never wanted to live in England. Itโs not that I was disappointed in London โ I had traveled there before and knew the city. I went purely for my masterโs and never planned to stay long-term. My time there didnโt change that.
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Please remember, that everyoneโs experience is different. There are things in London that are better than in Paris โ it all depends on your priorities and where you feel better!
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๐ญ What about you โ would you have made the same decision?
@alexandrandart
