At the age of 79 she exchanged New York against Paris - the best decision!

At the age of 79 she exchanged New York against Paris - the best decision!

Mary Jane Wilkie traveled to Paris for the first time at the age of 21 and almost six decades later she decided to finally move to the French capital. In December 2021, at the age of 79, she moved her residence from New York to Paris to take a new beginning. Since then she has lived and worked in the city of love and does not intend to return to the USA.

a life without regret

Although Mary Jane grew up in Texas, she was interested in exploring the world at a young age. "I have a loving family and all of that," says Mary Jane. "But there were just other horizons that called me." She undertook her first trip to France in 1963, where she studied at the Sorbonne in Paris for a year. "I was confident to find a job and learn French," explains Mary Jane. And that's exactly what she did.

When she discovered an opportunity in South America, she took a ship from Lisbon to Buenos Aires. She lived in various Latin American countries, including Bolivia and Paraguay, and developed almost native -language mastery of Spanish. Finally she landed in New York, where she started with Shape Note Singing, a form of American choral music from the early 19th century.

a fresh start in Paris

About a decade ago she moved back to Paris when she traveled there for singing options and found many friends. "New York City is great," she says. "But you want different things in different phases of life." Mary Jane traveled to France at least twice a year and spent a lot of time with her “singing friends”, which she liked. "I thought, 'Oh my god, I really like it here,' and wished me more peace." After a longer stay in Paris, she decided to take the step and start moving from New York.

acclimatization in the new environment

Instead of setting up, Mary Jane decided to continue working from Paris. "I really enjoy my work as an independent contractor, which consists of interviews with job candidates," she says. "I've done the longest that I've ever done." The support of her family and friends was great when she decided to move into the city of love.

But at the beginning she had difficulty renting an apartment because her age complicated this process. "In France there is a law that says that a landlord cannot terminate a tenant who is 80 years or older," she explains. "If you are 75 years old or older, hesitate." Fortunately, she finally found a one -room apartment.

life in Paris during pandemic

Although her move with the Covid 19 pandemic was collapsing, Mary Jane found that this did not negatively influence her experience. "The pandemic gave me time to explore even more and work on my French," she says. "I watch old French films and hear French songs. That makes life really rich." Nevertheless, the first few months in Paris were more challenging than expected. "The change from the tourist to the resident was a challenge." Finally she set the right detergent brand that she needed to settle in her new environment.

new friendships and cultural differences

With a stable internet connection and established technology in the home office, Mary Jane felt ready to accept Paris. It was relatively easy for her to meet new people because she is a "pretty talkative person". However, she noticed early on that she had to adapt a bit when contacting. "I learned that the first words I should say must be 'bonjour'," she smiles.

Although the cultural differences between the USA and France are considerable, Mary Jane emphasizes that she has adapted well. Nevertheless, there are differences that you noticed, especially in the service area. "The customer service quality is not comparable to the American standard," she notes. "I learned to change my expectations." Despite these challenges, she enjoys the Paris lifestyle and is still enthusiastic about the beauty of the city.

simple needs and lifestyle

Mary Jane did not perceive the cost of living in France as significantly different, although it originally planned to buy an apartment, which turned out to be expensive. "I have simple needs in this phase of life and know what I want," she explains. With a carte vital that covers most of her health costs, she avoids visits to the doctor, unless it is absolutely necessary. For 30 years she has been practicing yoga every day, which benefits her health.

Mary Jane has a book entitled "Bodies Speak Truth: So Listen Up!" Published in which she shares her health tips. "I am naturally an educator and believe that what I have learned will also be useful to others," she says. Despite her improvement in the French language, Mary Jane is still striving to learn constantly. "I don't have decades to master the language," she says.

a new home in France

Almost four years after moving to France, Mary Jane feels at home and plans to apply for French citizenship in the coming years. "I don't go back to the States often, unless God keeps, a mourning in the family happens." She sees her decision to move to Paris at the age of 79 not as brave, but as necessary. "It's not brave if you are not afraid," she concludes.