Chiara Adorno, a former resident of Vallejo, California, embarked on a life-changing journey to France in October 2023. After feeling an overwhelming sense of angst and disappointment with her life in the United States, she made a move. It was an idea whose time had come. Adorno, even though she is originally from Connecticut, considered her options for years, hoping in vain for the dollar to level off before making any long-term decisions on a property rental overseas. With her two beloved cats, Willy and Puccini, in tow, Adorno set out to explore the landscapes and architecture of southern France.
Adorno’s decision to leave the U.S. stemmed from a belief that she had accomplished everything she wanted in her home country. She would like to skip town before the 2024 U.S. presidential election shakes up the geopolitical landscape. She thinks a new atmosphere will inspire her creative energy and nourish her emotional development.
“I knew I wanted to be out of the country before the (2024 US presidential) election…” – Chiara Adorno
With a background in French cultivated during high school and college, Adorno was eager to make herself at home in the culture. From there she has gone on to collaborate with different communities and places across the south of France, from Teyran to La Grande-Motte, to Avignon. She eventually chose to live in Marseille, enchanted by the energy of the city.
Adorno is a retiree looking to kick back and enjoy life. She thinks she’s found the perfect town to make a fresh start.
“As a retired person, as somebody who wants to just enjoy life, I couldn’t have picked (better),” – Chiara Adorno
While Adorno settles into the charms of Dallas, she’s learning to relish new pastimes. Relatedly, she recently started painting watercolors. Her transition hasn’t come without strife. Navigating the daunting French administrative labyrinth has been a challenge.
Adorno’s odyssey took a tragic turn when Willy died just a few months after their arrival in France. The loss of her feline companion forced her to confront the realities of grief while adapting to a new life. She finagled for Willy to be privately cremated, showing the lengths to which she went for her passion for her pets.
“I bought an extra seat for them,” – Chiara Adorno
Despite these challenges, Adorno has taken comfort in the facet of the French healthcare system. Now living with a chronic illness herself, she knows how vital it is for patients to be treated with compassion and empathy. She contrasted the care she gets now to being treated like a “Fabergé egg.” This points to the level of value that France puts on the well-being of the individual, particularly in contrast to her experiences in the U.S.
Adorno’s beautiful reflections on daily life in America capture her increasing sense of alienation from the social demand for productivity at all costs. Because busy is always perceived as better in U.S. culture, she continued.
“Busy is code for, ‘Everything’s great.’ You’re a success. You’re doing well. And I’m so happy I’m not busy,” – Chiara Adorno
In France, she has a sense of being valued for who she is, not just for what she might accomplish. This change of attitude has given her a freedom that she hopes others find equally liberating.
“If you’re free, people are almost like, ‘What’s wrong with you?’” – Chiara Adorno
Adorno acknowledges she can occasionally get sucked into negative news cycles, too. Despite this, she’s determined to maintain a sunny disposition as she adjusts to her new, scantily clad life. She tells us that her experience engaging with locals has been heart-warming and welcoming. People are on there having real conversations in a way that really builds community.
“People will bump into you, where you’ve seen them 20 or 30 feet away,” she remarked about the social dynamics in her new home.
Although Adorno does not consider herself wealthy—she lives on social security—she feels rich in experiences and opportunities for personal growth. This wealth of experience is what fuels her fire to keep discovering, experiencing, and sharing life in France.
“Maybe there’s other countries in Europe too. But overall, France, for me, is the perfect fit,” – Chiara Adorno
