After years of working 80-hour weeks in New York and struggling with the dating scene, a 31-year-old woman decided to move to France for three months. She hoped the change would cure her burnout and reignite her passion for life and writing.
In New York, she felt stuck in a cycle of overwork and a stagnant relationship with her ex-boyfriend. Dating apps only added to her frustration, as she found local men to be unromantic and lacking in effort.
Inspired by an old art history textbook, she quit her job, stored her belongings at her parents' house in Portland, Oregon, and moved to France. She planned to stay in Grenoble, Nice, and Paris, focusing on hiking, swimming, and visiting art museums.
Soon after arriving, she went on a date with a French man named Thomas, whom she met on Tinder. Despite her basic French, the date went well, and she felt her plan was working. She described the experience as a refreshing change from her previous dating life.
Her friends supported the move, noting that many New Yorkers were leaving the city for better lifestyles abroad. The author found that the adventure helped her rediscover joy and eventually find love in an unexpected place.
