Courtesy of Dawn Belisle
- Dawn Belisle, an attorney and part-time pastry chef, dreamed of moving to France.In 2022, she finally moved, settling in Nice, a city along the Mediterranean coast.After three years in Nice, Belisle told Business Insider she feels healthier and more fulfilled.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dawn Belisle, a 56-year-old who moved from Atlanta to Nice, France, in 2022. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
I'm an attorney from Atlanta and have practiced for three decades — 25 years as a prosecutor and five in defense — but I've always had a creative side.
I was always baking and entertaining, and my friends would even pay me to bake for them. Eventually, I realized I could turn it into a business — Delights by Dawn — and it blossomed. My niche became alcohol-infused cakes and cupcakes, which drew a lot of attention.
I've always been infatuated with French desserts and wanted to differentiate myself from other bakeries, so for my 50th birthday in 2019, I took a culinary trip to Paris and joined a baking workshop. That's when I fell in love with France.
My spirit felt at peace there in a way that's hard to describe. Everyone was just living. They're out and about, enjoying each other's company. They sit at cafés, eating and drinking together. They don't have the same hustle-and-bustle culture we have in the US.
I loved everything about it — the atmosphere, the sense of calm. It was life-changing.
Courtesy of Dawn Belisle
I took a shot on pastry school
In 2021, I watched Netflix's "Emily in Paris." It made me think seriously about how I could move to France and keep working.
After some research, I found a pastry school that I enrolled in. That year, I took a six-month leave of absence from my law career and returned to France.
I spent three months in pastry school in Cap d'Agde and three months traveling through different European countries and along the southern coast of France. After that experience, I knew I could live abroad.
Courtesy of Dawn Belisle
When I returned to the US, I told myself, "There's no way I'm waiting two, three, four, five years to move."
I moved within a year of returning to Atlanta. That's my personality. Once I set my mind to something, I do it.
I was meant to live in France
Moving to France was almost effortless — getting my documents, even finding an apartment.
I live right in the heart of Nice. Here's my analogy: in the US, New York is constant hustle and bustle; in France, that's Paris. Nice, by contrast, is like the South — slower pace, better weather, and, in my experience, more welcoming, especially if you're trying to learn the language like I am.
I live in the Carré d'Or, one of the pricier, busier neighborhoods. When I arrived, I found a place within two months — unheard of now in a spot most Americans would consider prime real estate.
I have a one-bedroom apartment that's been renovated in a more American style, which is unusual here. I also have an abundance of closet space, which is rare in France. From my balcony, I can see a slice of the sea, and it's a five-minute walk to the beach. Being that close was important to me.
Courtesy of Dawn Belisle
I'm in love with the quality of life I have in Nice. I go to the markets for my fruits and vegetables, which aren't as expensive as in the US. I also feel safe and healthy here. People in France tend to live longer and stay active well into their 80s, which says a lot.
The country's healthcare system is awesome. I'm not a sickly person, but I didn't want the stress of wondering what would happen, or what it would cost, if I needed care in the States, even with a job and insurance.
Traveling is easy in France, too. If I want to visit another country, I can — just like Americans hop to another state. I just got back from Belgrade, Serbia, not because it was on some grand plan, but because it was affordable and something new to do.
There are still some downsides to living in France
I'm very authentic, so I'm not going to romanticize France entirely.
Many things aren't as efficient or fast-paced here as in the States, especially when it comes to technology and bureaucracy. It can be frustrating, but you have to learn the culture and adapt to it.
Alexander Spatari/Getty Images
I was actually surprised on my first visit by how diverse France is.
People often ask me, "Are there Black people there?" There are many Black expats here, including a lot of Black American women. That said, if you're looking for the same concentration of Black people in the US, it's not here.
When you're in a new country where you don't know many people, you have to be intuitive and put yourself out there to make friends.
I suggest joining Facebook groups; there are plenty of forums and communities, both general and specific.
You'll likely start by making friends with like-minded expats. Then, as you attend community events, you'll begin meeting locals. They won't let strangers in as quickly as Americans do, but once they do, the relationships are authentic. I've made French and Italian friends and now have a great circle, basically a whole family here.
I can't imagine living in any other way
I've been in France for three years; I just had my anniversary here 3 weeks ago.
Though I still enjoy baking, I'm no longer running a pastry business. Instead, Delights by Dawn has become a lifestyle brand. I create style and travel content for social media, and mentor people who are thinking about moving abroad.
I am still an attorney and do consultation work with a couple of offices. I train attorneys and offer services to firms and government agencies that need support for newer, younger attorneys.
Courtesy of Dawn Belisle
Given everything I see happening in the US on the news, if I still lived there, I'd probably be extremely stressed. I miss my son and granddaughters, but as for my life in the US, I don't see myself moving back.
The peace I have in France is unbeatable. I still do a lot and keep a schedule, but I feel more in control of my life here. I'm living to live instead of work, and I'm exploring more. To me, that's success.
Everyone has titles and names for things — now, I guess you'd call my journey "manifestation." Back in my 30s, I said out loud, "I'm not going to keep working in the US forever. I'll retire and spend my life elsewhere." And I made that happen.
