This week, I dive into a mix of nostalgia, frustration, and some long-awaited progress. I talk about missing Thanksgiving traditions back home, surviving the cold Paris weather, and the comfort of a cozy dinner with my boyfriend.

On the practical side of this expat adventure, I finally made real progress with my broker on the investing front and after five long months (and over 200 euros in taxes), I actually secured a date to pick up my visa card.

It’s a week of warmth, complaints, small victories, and figuring things out — slowly but surely — on the journey toward the château dream.