Expat moves to New York for a career in the audiovisual industry

Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your background?

My name is Alix, and I am 29 years old. I have been living in New York since 2014. It all started when I was 18. I came to New York and stayed for one month with a host family. This is how I fell in love with the United States. After obtaining my baccalaureate, I joined EFAP (the French school for press advisers). I chose to do my last year in New York to get a double degree (American and French). The same year, I had the chance to do an internship on an American talk show. It was a dream come true. After graduating, I opted for the OPT (Optional Practical Training) visa. Afterwards, I was hired by the talk show, and I started my amazing New York adventure. I worked on America's Got Talent, Match Game (with Alec Baldwin), etc. In the meantime, I also met my husband, who is a cameraman, and since then, we have lived in Astoria, in the Queens.

Why did you decide to leave France?

I left France to do part of my studies in the United States, hoping to make contacts here. The United States are very open, and I had opportunities that I might not have had in France. The French audiovisual industry is quite closed. I had sent my CV to all the production companies (without response) in Paris but in vain. So I was tempted by the opportunity to do part of my studies in the United States. I was very lucky to meet the right people at the right time, and they gave me the chance I was looking for.

Why New York and not another city? How long have you lived there?

When you want to work in the audiovisual industry in the United States, you've got to choose between New York and Los Angeles. I had already made some contacts in New York, so I stayed here. Los Angeles is a dream, but the right time hasn't come yet. I have been here since 2014.

Is this your first experience abroad?

I made a lot of language exchange trips when I was younger, so I know how to adapt to different cultures and ways of life. These experiences gave me a taste for travel and the desire to live in another country. But this is my first expat experience as an adult and young professional.

So you started your career in the audiovisual industry. Why did you choose to take a break?

In 2020, the pandemic changed everything. Production companies stopped everything overnight. We spent more than a year at home; we took the time to think about our lives and realised that we had a too intense routine. We didn't have much time for ourselves. My husband has started working in sports shows and concerts. We will take our time and decide what we want to do in the future. The United States is a land of opportunities; you can change careers quite easily here. So we are open to all possibilities.

Would you see yourself in a field other than audiovisual? Is it a promising industry for expatriates in New York or the United States in general?

As I have mentioned before, it is quite easy to change careers here. I am open to all opportunities, even outside the audiovisual industry. The most important thing for me is to have a fulfilling career, regardless of the industry.

I wonder whether it's safe to say that it is a promising sector for expats. I consider myself lucky to have met the right people at the right time. Unfortunately, I haven't met many expats in this field.

After spending all these years in New York, do you still feel as an expat?

I think I fitted in pretty well here, and my husband won't say otherwise. I adapted to their way of life; apparently, I also lost my French accent (too bad). I think now I'm half French, half American.

However, I will always feel like an expat because the distance from my family is still a problem alt many years here. I was born and raised in France, but the United States gave me the opportunity to boost my career. Still, I hope to return to France in a few years. I created a YouTube channel (Alix_Americandream) where I launched a series of videos about expat life. I also share my adventures on Instagram.

Did you face any difficulties when you arrived? How did you overcome them?

When I arrived in New York, I didn't really have any difficulties because I was a student. However, the difficulties started later when I applied for my green card.

The two most significant difficulties were not being able to leave the United States during the green card process; I felt like I would never see France again (18 months is a long time.) and that they took away my work permit when I adjusted my status. As a result, I had to say no to some excellent opportunities because I no longer had a work permit.

I managed to overcome all its difficulties thanks to my husband and my family, who were very present. They have always been supportive, and I believe that is one of the most important things when you move abroad.

What do you miss most about France?

This is a question that is often put to me, and there are so many things. First comes my family. I always feel like I'm missing out on the most important life moments like weddings or births. I also miss the food, the health system and the friendliness of the French people. I miss having a coffee on the terrace with friends.

What does your everyday life as an expat in New York look like?

Our daily life here is very full. We often have the impression that we're running out of time to do the things we have to. New York is a bustling city, and you tend to get tired when you live there. It's very noisy, and people are always on the run, and we are exactly like that. We are both freelancers, so every day is not the same.

Do you have any advice for people who would like to move to New York?

New York is a city full of opportunities, but you need to be mentally strong because it's not easy every day. I always recommend coming up with a well-thought-out project and giving it your all. You have to find what makes you unique, what singles you out from an American citizen, and you have to learn how to sell yourself. Everything goes fast here.

Where do you see yourself in the five coming years?

Good question; I have no idea at all. In 5 years, I think we will still be in New York, but we will undoubtedly start thinking about a potential return to France. I hope to be able to develop my social networks to share my experience here and create an expat community without any taboos. For now, our life is here.