There is a giant difference between dropping in on a faraway place a few times and loving the ambiance as a visitor... and trying to actually make a life there. I love the general feeling I get of walking around New York, London or Tokyo, but I know I'd be insane to move to those cities. As a visitor to Manhattan you eat out, see shows, and take taxis everywhere. As a resident you spend your life scraping Metrocard money together.

If you are used to American customer service, infrastructure, logistic support, relatively straightforward tax laws, banking rules, store opening hours, consumer prices, etc., etc., France will make your head explode. And that is before you confront the standoffish reserve of the French, who will crucify you for not being able to speak the language.

It's a wonderful country to visit. To visit.