In the 14th century, starting with Pope Clement V, seven Catholic popes resided in Avignon instead of Rome. Today, the city is a historic and cultural mecca, with impressive medieval ramparts guarding its borders. Winding cobblestone streets snake throughout the interior, each giving way to a bustling market or quaint square with gothic architecture. All of this unfolds under the watchful eye of the city's crown jewel—the imposing Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes). Built in 1352, the Palace is one of the most visited tourist attractions in southern France.
The city's historical lineage and architectural features only accentuated the charms of Avignon for Maureen, and she quickly found herself infatuated with her adopted home.
"There's something about walking around buildings, stones, and streets that have been here for hundreds of years," she says. "I find it fascinating."
She believes her overall well-being has vastly improved by virtue of a French lifestyle, where she's not constantly moving about by car. Aside from the infamous LA traffic, the distance between her and her friends' homes made it difficult to ever meet up. After working a full day, battling the freeway crowds, and finally arriving home, the idea of going out again was overwhelming.
The French outlook of slowing down, taking time for yourself, and enjoying life has brought Maureen a great deal of peace.
Adjusting to French Life
Today, she has to remember to pencil in time for herself, as her days are booked up with social activities and dates with her new French friends. On those down days, she loves to walk around Avignon, pop in at a local café, stroll one of the beautiful farmers' markets, or take off into the mountains.
Exercise and getting outdoors has become a big priority in her life. She can leave directly from her apartment and walk to trailheads (just outside the ramparts) that lead into the countryside.
Having now lived in France since 2020, Maureen says to keep in mind that the transition will be challenging at first, and you won't find things exactly as they were back home. As the French are not "living to work" but "working to live," the slower pace of life will challenge some of your American ideals of convenience.
"You may get to a shop at 12 p.m.," she says, "and it will be closed for lunch… which usually means around two hours' time. So, you learn to adapt. You have a cup of coffee and then come back later."
While this may take some getting used to, that emphasis on a slower pace is now something Maureen has come to cherish about her new home.
"You sit down at a café, and you can stay there forever," she says. "They'll never ask you to leave the table. One time, they even closed down the restaurant where my friend and I were eating—just told us to put our dishes aside and they would pick them up in the morning. It's very relaxing and appeals to me very much."
The lower cost of living is also a very attractive feature of Maureen's new life in France. Her monthly budget comes in around $2,000. The price of going out to eat is also significantly lower than in the US—where she remembers paying $60 for two hamburgers and two orders of fries on a recent trip to LA. In France, Maureen can enjoy a gourmet three-course meal for two at that price.
Perhaps even more impressive are the healthcare savings.
At first, Maureen was hesitant to utilize the French healthcare system, the memory of crippling medical bills a hangover of her life in the US.
Yet she found herself pleasantly surprised when her hand was forced. At the urgent behest of new French friends, she eventually sought medical assistance for a stubborn eye infection. "There was an eye specialist in the local hospital," she says. They treated her eye and sent her home, with the bill to come later. She thought, "This is going to be a fortune."
But the bill turned out to be a total of $14.
Despite her initial trepidation, Maureen says she has found the French healthcare system to be "excellent" and is comfortable with pursuing care in the future.
Moving to Avignon, Maureen has forged a rich, full life for herself in southern France. Despite retaining a staunch love of the US and pride in being an American, her move to Avignon has given her a kinder, more balanced, and more fulfilled life.
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