From Idaho to France

Hello, my name is Caroline and  I live with my husband in the Pacific Northwest close to Spokane, Washington.  We are planning to re-locate to France as this has been our dream for quite some time.  He has recently come upon a job opening in Puteaux, right outside of Paris, and now we are full of hope but extremely overwhelmed!  Stumbling upon this ex pat site has been a lifesaver and I hope that once we’re settled over there, we can be of help to others who too have the dream yet don’t know where to start.
                                                    So in that vein, I have made a list of questions ranging from the absurd (is it possible to find Fage Greek yogurt in Paris?) to the practical (do landlords like to rent to people with pets?)  I am sure to exhaust the patience of one person reading this, so any and all advice, suggestions, experiences, etc., will be gratefully appreciated.


Here goes:

1.
If my husband works in Puteaux, is it possible for us to live in Paris without him having a huge commute?  I did some research on this area and it seems to be quite cosmopolitan and industrial—am I wrong?  It also doesn’t appear to possess the “charm” of Paris---really hope I’m not offending anybody.   If, say, it was a matter of living in Paris and him walking a few blocks to the metro for a 15 minute commute, it wouldn’t be so bad, but to complicate our lives with a huge commute –or worse—have to drive everyday…well, this is one of the things from which we are trying to escape.

2.
We have a “neighborhood fantasy” where we only need a car for special occasions, because we can walk or bike to everything important to us.  For instance, every morning I would like to put the leash on the dog, grab my day-bag and set out on foot for all of my errands such as:  used book shops, coffee shops, thrift stores, outdoor markets, library, post office, park which allows dogs, bank, church (catholic), a small store for household items like toothpaste, light bulbs, etc., good ‘mom and pop’ i.e., not tourist restaurants, among other things.  Is this possible or am I expecting too much? 

3.
Speaking of cars, could we conceivably get by without one?  Where would we keep it? On the street?  What if we don’t have one, can we rent one for trips out of the city?  We are selling our three cars here and would like to be done with it….is this advisable or will we be sorry we didn’t keep one?

4.
Speaking of markets:  I understand that most markets are open one day a week but that you can always find a market open any day of the week.  What are the chances of living in a neighborhood where I could walk to a market every day?



5.
On pets:  will landlords rent to us with a dog and two cats?  Can we bring them to begin with?  Our dog goes everywhere with us, would she be welcome in the outdoor markets?  Are people expected to keep their cats indoors?

6.
Are there shops where we can buy household items like toilet paper, shampoo, etc. or do we have to venture into the huge supermarkets for this?  Do the outdoor markets sell wine, and if not, are there many wine shops around?

7.
What about child-support issues in the States?  Anybody have experience with this?

8.
My husband is in the tech industry.  If he is hired on with a company there, do I automatically get a green card as well?  Are my chances better if I have TESL certification or does it really matter?

9.
Any ideas on cost of moving a whole household across the ocean?  Is it common for companies in France to help with these expenses?

10.
We have heard that Paris can get a little cold and snowy in winter, and is scorching in summer.  As this is largely relative depending on who you talk to, what is the temp throughout the four seasons?  Is it safe to leave our snow shovels here?

11. Silly questions:
Where can our dog go swimming?  Can I get NPR in English there?  Are there free concerts/symphony anywhere?  What are the thrift stores like—Goodwill?  St. Vincent de Paul?  Can our dog ride the metro?  What about Fage Greek Yogurt?  Am I likely to find an apt/home in Paris with a space to garden?  What are the chances we would be sent back to the States?(of course, I know I'm risking that with all these questions)

That’s it for now.  Many, many thanks to whoever has taken time to read this and responded.  --Caroline