Last month I celebrated six years in Paris. That feels both like an eternity and no time at all. Even more astounding than the fact that I truly became an adult in France is that, as of this month, I’ve had this site for half of that time.

I started Lost in Cheeseland on a whim and in a bit of a snit. Two months prior, I had finished grad school and was trying to discern how I was going to create a meaningful life in Paris. Job prospects were slim and completely anxiety-inducing, and I struggled to reconcile my ‘transitional’ emotions. I quickly agreed to replace someone on maternity leave in a role that I knew wasn’t the right fit for me but would bide me time until I gained some professional clarity. I felt lost, unsure and increasingly despondent.

Frustrated by my journey to work one morning, I decided to put my irritation into words (unbelievable how frivolous it seems in retrospect). I never expected the blog to be anything more than dilettantish dabbling but it evolved naturally and gradually, as did my passion for writing. I kept with it, listened to reader feedback and began to see the city as an…

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