Abroad With: Ofelia Rodríguez Lemiale
A conversation about apartment hunting, fresh produce, and building a life in Paris
Living abroad has been a pretty big theme in my life since I was very young. My parents met in 1980s Rome, my entire family is scattered across the globe, and I’ve moved abroad three different times so far: first for school, then for an internship, and, most recently, for love. With each move, I’ve been challenged to adapt, reinvent myself, and my definition of “home.” While these experiences are deeply personal to me, in today’s globalized world, it’s a reality for millions of people worldwide.
That’s why I’m launching a new interview series called “Abroad With.” Here, I’ll be speaking with women about their decision to move abroad, how they built a life in a new country, the challenges and wins along the way, and how the experience has shaped their identity and fashion choices.
If you’ve ever lived abroad, dream of doing so, or are simply just curious about life across borders, I hope these stories offer a sense of connection and inspiration.
For the first edition, I spoke to of , a Mexican American photographer and content creator who now calls Paris home.
Tell us a little about yourself…
Hi y’all, I’m Ofelia! I moved to Paris six months ago with my husband and a whole lot of hope and dreams. I’m honestly still in a state of disbelief — it feels like it’s all happened in the blink of an eye!
I’m Mexican American, but I’m deeply influenced by Mexican culture. I didn’t grow up listening to the Backstreet Boys or watching Friends like many in my generation — we only watched tv and listened to music in Spanish at home! Naturally, my favorite food “group” is Mexican food and I miss its flavors dearly every day.
Before moving to Paris, I spent eight years working in various software engineering roles at tech startups before officially pursuing a creative path.
My online presence started after the pandemic when I yearned to get out of sweats and back into “real” clothes. I’ve come a long way since then! These days, you’ll find me writing on , where I talk about conscious consumption, highlight my favorite brands, share snippets of life in Paris and occasionally post a bit of film photography and personal essays. That’s actually where the name All The Above was born — it’s a little bit of everything. More than anything, the goal of my writing is to provide honesty and transparency in everything I share with my audience.
Oh and one last fun fact — I desperately wish to have a bunny one day!
What first drew you to Paris, and why did you decide to move there?
How much time do you have?! I’m kidding! It all started after I experienced my first layoff. One particularly tough night, my husband said something along the lines of “we can live any life we can dream of — in a different house, different state and even different country.” That’s when Paris first came up. It felt so far-fetched and initially, I fought against the idea. It felt outlandish, like something people only do or say in movies. Life got busy and some sense of normalcy returned into our lives so we tabled the discussion.
I was then hit with another layoff and my husband and I started talking about moving once again. I had lived in Austin, Texas for almost 10 years and we were craving a different lifestyle — ideally one filled with walkability, access to public transit and lots of places to explore. That criteria alone narrowed down our choices drastically — well, at least in the US. We initially assumed we’d move to NYC. We have friends there and it’s a major travel hub so we could still visit our families easily. It felt safe and simple, but we were tired of making the safe choice. Paris kept getting thrown back into the conversation and I was slowly warming up to the idea.
My husband is French, so from a visa perspective, the move would be relatively straightforward. We knew we’d be far from family, but we also thought, if not now, when? I didn’t want to live life regretting what could have been. When else were we going to have the freedom to move across the world? We figured the US might call us back at some point, so it felt easier to make the leap before having kids. And now, after nearly a year of what has felt like endless preparation and moving, we’re finally settling into the rhythm of life here!
ps — moving to Paris with a family is totally doable and I have friends here who’ve done it!
What would you say is the best part of living in Paris?
There are so many wonderful parts, and it’s hard to pick just one. My top three in no particular order:
We go to an open air market every week. They’re all over the city, most days of the week you’ll find one. The produce is fresh and flavorful — no more ghost produce. I even enjoy raw mushrooms in salads now, something I never liked in the US.
Close second is the ability to walk everywhere and take public transportation. Getting around is genuinely easy and I often go out of my way to walk somewhere even when the metro gets me there just as easily — especially if the weather is beautiful. In Austin, driving just a few miles could take 15+ minutes. In Paris, it’s often just as long to walk as to take the metro (depending on how far you’re venturing).
Lastly, Paris feels extra special when my mother in law is in town or my husband and I revisit the places she frequented in the 80s when she lived here. There’s something beautiful about seeing her smile as she shares stories and memories. I always find it fun to share an experience from a restaurant or museum that is still around today. There is so much history here from a personal and general perspective. It makes it hard not to fall in love with this city.
What has been the biggest challenge of starting over abroad?
Not being able to see family or friends as often. Prior to the pandemic, I was flying to see my parents every few months. That’s become harder — not only since 2020 but especially now that we’re across the world.
Also, the French administration is in a league of its own. Everything moves much slower here than in the US and adjusting our expectations has been crucial. The first few hurdles were tough. I am also incredibly lucky to have a French speaking husband and mother-in-law who know the language and understand the system so well. Even with their help, it can be a headache. I cannot imagine navigating that alone.
What has helped you most in adjusting to life in another country?
Integrating myself into the culture — especially through the language. It’s no secret that the French are particular about their language. I’ve been taking classes for the past five months to accelerate my French. As my French improves, I’ve also been learning the nuances between written and spoken French. Ultimately trying to slangify my French — just don’t tell my professors that! I found speaking the language has made Paris feel more like home.
One unexpected benefit in understanding the language is that it opens up another facet of experiences and life among my husband’s family. Language is the first barrier to speaking with someone, but it’s also the first gateway to truly understanding someone’s joy, way of speaking, humor, etc. I’ve started connecting phrases to those dear to me in Spanish. I now understand what my mother in law meant when she said I was going to unlock another way to communicate with my husband and she was right.
How did you find a place to live, and what should people know about the housing market in Paris?
I’m glad you’re asking me this now and not a few months ago — it was tough! Essentially, a mix of persistently checking listings and hiring an agent. We had an agent helping us with a dossier that would make us look like “ideal candidates,” but it still felt like a numbers game and how quickly you reached out to the listing agency. Even with an agency, we found our current apartment listing ourselves and followed up persistently.
In some cases, listings only offer limited viewings slots. If you miss the window, you’re out of luck. Our showing was on a day I had class, so my husband went for us. I trusted his judgment and we applied. We were told we got the apartment thanks to the agent’s relationship with our agency — which may or may not be true, but it worked!
It took over four months and a few heartbreaks (we had three apartments fall through), but it was a blessing in disguise because we truly got lucky with the apartment we landed in. It’s perfect for our current life. Our apartment is tucked away from busy streets with a peaceful kitchen view, it still feels magical even several months in.
One tip for a city and market like Paris, even with an agency, you’ll likely need to do your own searching too. Especially if you want to be in a highly sought out arrondissement.
ps — don’t get me started on the leasing fees, especially if you don’t qualify for a primary listing!
In what ways, if any, has living in Paris influenced your personal style?
I think my style is becoming more sophisticated. It’s possible it was leaning that way before but I’ve never expressed it that way until now. In Austin, the heat made a casual look more practical. Here, no one will bat an eye if you’re dressed up; in fact, it’s the opposite.
I’ve also gotten so much better at layering! Something I never needed in Austin has become imperative. Even when I’m wearing a t-shirt and jeans outfit, I’m often looking for ways to layer on a bit of personality into my outfit.
Have your shopping habits changed since settling in Paris?
For household items, I now shop in store instead of online — which was my default behavior in the US. For clothes, my habits have remained largely the same after moving to Paris. I still prefer to shop and try things on in person. I’ve also become acutely aware of duties and taxes, so I’m avoiding shopping outside of the EU — something I never had to think about in the US because I never ordered over the de minimis limit.
What are your go-to places in Paris for clothing, beauty, or home goods?
For clothing, I often go to Galeries Lafayette or Le Bon Marché to try on specific brands. I haven’t explored vintage shopping much yet, but it’s on my list! There’s so much here that it’s a little overwhelming (and maybe dangerously addictive!).
For beauty, I go to the French pharmacies for body care and sunscreen. For skincare, I mostly visit a Korean skincare store in the 3rd arrondissement.
For home goods, I love browsing boutique stores and perusing the vintage markets that pop up across the city most weekends.
If you could give one piece of advice to people dreaming of moving to Paris, what would it be?
One phrase I keep coming back to is — “if there’s a will, there’s a way.”
You don't have to have every detail figured out. It took us about two years to get here. We had grand plans: how much money we’d save prior to our move, the kind of apartment we’d get, how I’d hit the ground running with photography. However, things have turned out differently and that’s ok — not everything went according to plan but others have turned out better than I could’ve ever imagined.
I’m a firm believer that things are always working out for you. It just might not look the way you expected, but if you stay persistent, you’ll find ways to reach your end goal with the cards you’re dealt in that moment. We hit so many obstacles, but we got here. And now, we get to savor the results of years of planning and dreaming. To be honest, the planning and adjusting never stops, you just have to keep going!
Leave space for the unexpected — it often turns out to be better than you could have ever envisioned.
A huge thank you to Ofelia, for letting me share her story! For more great outfit inspo and Paris-related content, you can find Ofelia’s Substack here and her Instagram here.
If you, or someone you know, would like to be featured in this series, please reach out to me at emma@fashionablylate.xyz or in the comments below.
I adore Ofelia and she inspires me so much in her style and this life-change she made. I have loved the glimpses of it she has shared but having all the details in one place was such a fun read.
I loved this so much! I'm already a huge fan of Ofelia's personal style and really enjoy getting glimpses of her Parisian life through Substack and IG, but learning the backstory behind her move was amazing. I love reading about what inspires people to move to another country and what the process behind the move is really like. I'd so here for a part two of Ofelia's story, I'm riveted!