Already two years ago, we were setting foot on American soil, not for a road trip this time, but to live there. Even though at the beginning there was obviously a vacation and discovery atmosphere, we still had to manage a complete installation in the United States, which was not easy, especially with two very young children. At that time, we had spent two months in Orlando without yet knowing where we were really going to settle. In concrete terms, it took us several months, or even a full year, to recover a certain sense of stability. We had certainly won the green card, but nobody was waiting for us here to help us. The American dream has to be earned, and through these two years of expatriation in the USA, we learned an enormous amount about this country and we continue to learn every single day.

To celebrate these two years of expatriation to the USA, I asked a few days ago on my Facebook page for people to send me questions. Since some answers are already given in my books, I selected the ones that could bring a new perspective to our expatriation to the USA.

1 – How long did the process take between registering and receiving the card?
Almost two years. We registered in October 2013 in the DV Lottery and had our green cards in hand in September 2015. For anyone interested, you can find our whole path as well as the period before expatriation in my first book, Our American Dream: Story of an Expatriation from France to the USA.

2 – Why Florida?
Our case is a little unusual because we received the green card directly through the DV Lottery and at that time we were working from home on the internet. So in theory we could go wherever we wanted. Our first choice was California, but after weighing the pros and cons, including the financial side such as cost of living, housing, taxation, work organization, time difference, and the price of flights between France and the USA, we turned instead to Florida, another state we already liked. Today, we absolutely do not regret that choice.

3 – Was the beginning easy?
No, not really. The first months were exciting, of course, but also exhausting. We had to find our bearings, understand everyday life, discover administrative procedures, find the right place to settle, adapt with the children, and learn to function in a completely new environment. Even with a dream project, daily life catches up with you very quickly.

4 – How long did it take before feeling stable?
That is one of the questions that probably matters most. In our case, it clearly took several months, and in some ways close to a year, before we felt truly more stable. There are so many little things to rebuild: routines, habits, social references, practical reflexes, and confidence in the new life you are trying to create.

5 – What did you learn during these two years?
A great deal. First, that expatriation is not only about the departure or about obtaining the visa or green card. The real adventure begins afterwards. You learn about the country, of course, but also about yourself, your limits, your capacity to adapt, your family balance, and what matters most to you once the excitement of the big project settles into ordinary life.

6 – Has the American dream changed after two years?
I would say that it has become more concrete. The dream remains, but it is no longer abstract. It has been replaced by real life, with its good surprises, its more difficult moments, its practical realities, and also many discoveries. That does not make it less beautiful, but more true.

7 – Would you make the same choice again?
Yes, without hesitation. Even with the difficulties, even with the long period of adaptation, these two years have taught us an incredible amount. We have grown through this experience and continue to learn every day from our life here.

This two-year milestone is therefore not just an anniversary. It is also a chance to look back and realize how much expatriation changes daily life, family life, perspective, and personal balance. The beginning may be intense, but over time things take shape, and a new form of normality appears.

Two years of expatriation already say a great deal about what it truly means to build a life in the United States.

8 – What changed the most after those two years?
Probably our relationship to everyday life. At the beginning, everything is intense because everything is new. Then, little by little, things become more normal. You stop comparing every tiny detail and you start living the country more naturally. That does not mean the differences disappear, but they become part of your routine.

9 – Was family life easy to rebuild in the USA?
Not immediately. Family expatriation is not just about the adults. It also involves the children, school, habits, the emotional side of change, and the need to recreate reassuring landmarks. Over time, that new balance can be built, but it takes patience and flexibility.

10 – What did these two years confirm for you?
They confirmed that expatriation is not a magical shortcut. It is a real life project. You gain wonderful experiences, but you also have to face practical reality, uncertainty, loneliness at times, and the need to rebuild a stable life from scratch. At the same time, that is also what makes the journey so rich.

Looking back after two years, what stands out most is not only the administrative success of getting the green card or the fact of having moved. What stands out is everything that had to be built afterward: daily habits, confidence, family balance, and the ability to feel at home in a place that was not originally yours.

For anyone dreaming of expatriation, this milestone is a good reminder that the dream does not stop when you land in the USA. In many ways, that is exactly when the true story begins.

Two years later, expatriation is no longer only a dream fulfilled: it is a real life built step by step in the United States.