Moving Abroad? The Five Apps You Need

Sponsored by Wise (who I've used for years and LOVE) - check them out: wi.se/jayswanson ⬅️ Help me make better videos at / jayswanson and then find me on the internet in all of the usual spots:
Get a copy of my book on how I got to Paris here: jayswanson.me/sea-of-the-unknown
Grab my guide to Paris here: bit.ly/ParisVloggersGuide
Grab my hat or some Gustave swag here: bit.ly/SwansonSwag
Sign up for the newsletter here: jayswanson.me/newsletter
And read the ones that came before in the archive: bit.ly/JaysNewsletterArchive
My gear list on Amazon (affiliate link fyi): bit.ly/JaysGearList
Follow me here:
/ jayonaboat
/ jayswanson
/ jayswanson.store
wlo.link/@jayswanson
Music by: Hundertmark Beatz & Patrick Patrikios
Patron Producer: Robert Krieg
Sponsored by: Wise wi.se/jayswanson
When I moved abroad, these apps helped me adjust to life abroad. There are lots of challenges when traveling, and these five apps are perfect for almost any country. Before you move overseas, download these apps for travel. These are the best apps for 2022, whether you're looking for the best travel apps or the best travel apps of 2021, these are the five apps you need to move abroad.
My name is Jay Swanson - I'm an American writer living in Paris on an artist visa and hoping to make the city of light my home base - at least for the foreseeable future. I write science-fiction and fantasy, vlogged daily for 3+ years, and love pizza a little too much.
Links below to Amazon are affiliate links - meaning if you click through them and buy something, I'll get some pennies. Thanks! (The FTC wants me to tell you that up front)
FAQ:
How long have you lived in France? Over four years now, holy cow.
What do you miss most about ho- NACHOS
You're always talking about living on some ship. WHAT SHIP? - I made a "Draw My Life" video that explains a lot here: • Draw My Life
Where are you from originally? - Pullman, Washington - a small university/agricultural town near Idaho (and yes, the potatoes are amazing).
What do you film with? - I've made a lot of changes recently, but I try to keep my gear list up to date if you want to see what I use and buy some for yourself: bit.ly/JaysGearList
What do you edit with? - Adobe Premiere - it's pretty much all I've ever used since high school.
Aren't you ever freaked out by leaving your camera behind to film yourself? - Yep. But not too badly - I tend to be careful when I do.
Why are you living in #Paris? - Because I've always wanted to; I feel at home here: • Why I Want to Live in ...
Do you speak French? - Oui. • Un Jour en Francais (E...
Do you make money off KZbin? - Ha, sorta. I wish. It took me over 500 videos to make my first total $100 off adsense. I think it will slowly change, but VERY slowly.
I really enjoy your videos, how can I support you? - The easiest and best way to support me is through Patreon, where you can pitch in as little as $5/mo to help me make better videos: / jayswanson
I don't trust this Patreon thing - can I just paypal you? - Here's my ko-fi if that's your thing (and coffee is your game): ko-fi.com/jayswanson
But I want to send you something tangible! - I do have a wishlist on Amazon, though it's a bit complicated with the international shipping situation. So instead people often drop off or ship things to the Peloton Cafe in Paris for me.
Thanks for watching!

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks again to Wise for being my first 🥰 wi.se/jayswanson If you've got any international transfer/currency exchange needs, give them a try with my link so they'll keep me around! 🤩

[@emgooderham]

Wise is so helpful! Really helpful for being in Switzerland and needing euros too.

[@priscillacharris1771]

Wise saved my life when I moved to Spain, it was the account that I paid everything with and easily converted US dollars to euros, it took me a lot of time to be able to open a bank account in Spain as a non lucrative visa holder.

[@JaySwanson]

Muy bien! Glad they came through for you

[@susangalpin4967]

Very nice video. The front end was cleverly orchestrated - thank you for the app tips. You're looking good.

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you Susan 🥰 Glad it was helpful!

[@3NFilms]

Yo congrats man on the sponsor! So dope!

[@JaySwanson]

Thank youuuu!!🥳

[@BooneLovesVideo]

Dang! Did you land this sponsor literally the day after I saw you?! Congrats man.

[@JaySwanson]

Haha, they emailed me shortly after yeah. Love em 🥰

[@melanieboivin3773]

Omg! this video is so well timed! Im moving to france next week!

[@JaySwanson]

Congratulations! I hope it goes super smoothly!

[@CarinRuff]

I have vivid memories of visiting Mont-Saint-Michel on my first-ever trip to France in the mid-'80s. We stayed in a youth hostel in Avranches, which I'm sure no longer exists, in a chateau-scale mansion. I might still have my Let's Go France of that era, which should be able to pinpoint its location. It was completely empty apart from us, so we had our pick of rooms, and the bathroom was like one of the prefects' bathrooms from Harry Potter, with multiple kinds of bathtubs in a huge stone chamber, and no fussing about how much water we used because we didn't have to share with anybody. The Mont itself was as crowded as the hostel was empty, but totally worth it.

[@JaySwanson]

Definitely worth it, crowded or ghost town haha

[@MegaTod2]

You made my heart happy to see your moustache and beard have had a trim. I hope you realize how much younger and healthier you look. Keep trimming Jay!

[@dixierosestudios]

HUGE congratulations on your very first SPONSOR!! WOW! you're so awesome!

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you Dixie!

[@hazelhoyte7668]

Congrats on your first sponsored video and getting your French driver's licence! Looking forward to more road trips.😎

[@JaySwanson]

Thank youuu!

[@evelynh2436]

I immediately went to the App Store and downloaded all four u mentioned here. Thanks 😊

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you! I hope you love them 🥳

[@taher.lashkar]

Coincidentally I was in Paris last week and have used wise card for first time there only, it worked hassle free giving 2 free atm transaction per month. Thanks Jay your videos helped me a lot in planning my paris trip efficiently.

[@JaySwanson]

So glad they were helpful! Both my videos and Wise 🥳

[@andyshacks7812]

Lovely footage of Mont St Michel. Maybe it’s because it’s winter that everything closed early. I remember that street with the shops being absolutely packed when I went with my school way way back. Looking forward to your driver’s licence video. !

[@JaySwanson]

It felt eerily empty for sure

[@nineteenfortyeight6762]

I second the recommendations. Foreign credit cards often don't work in France but the transferwise card tends to.

[@JaySwanson]

It's my go to

[@mara6699]

CAPTAIN CANDY!!! I went to the good Captains establishment when I was in Dubrovnik. I saw them in Prague too!

[@JaySwanson]

So strange nonetheless haha

[@mara6699]

Also...I kinda figured they wouldn't be open because of the Rona and the bad touchies! I'm pleasantly surprised they are open and encouraging diabetes!

[@PaulYeghouchian]

Love it Jay and congrats on being sponsored!

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you!

[@angelapate328]

The little village under it was the coolest.

[@JaySwanson]

Totally fascinated by the hidden life in there (and the Abbey)

[@paulhorton5612]

Linguee - perfect for longer phrases in context (particularly useful to avoid embarrassing phrases out of context); WordReference - deep dive into particular words + conjugations. Joint top marks 😎

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks Paul! That was a good summary. I definitely rely on them both.

For quick and (not so) dirty translations of complete sentences or texts you might want to check deepL. It's based on linguee and way better than Google translate. Though, like linguee, still with a certain overweight of phrases from legal texts (they started with legal documents of the EU which exist in all languages of member countries).

[@paulhorton5612]

@ Good to know!

[@brandonschellhase]

Super helpful, Jay. Thanks for the tips!

[@JaySwanson]

My pleasure!

[@magdastar2249]

Thank you so much for another helpful video. Glad to see you looking so well and enjoying your journey. 👍❤

[@JaySwanson]

You're most welcome!

[@KarinLynnBates]

You’re looking slim and healthy! Lots of great suggestions on apps- congrats on the sponsorship! I loved seeing glimpses of Mont Saint Michel. I never had a chance to go, but it makes appearances here and there from friends who do visit. I’m glad you could drive there! Yay!

[@JaySwanson]

It's certainly worth a longer visit. Gonna need to do that once I have my own car 😎

[@gypsyrubbertramps3487]

Great information Jay as always! We are headed to Paris in February and sooooo excited to see all the places you have shared with us on your videos…👌👌👌👌👌

[@JaySwanson]

I hope you have a blaaaast!

[@karentozer1871]

We’ve used transferwise for years now and agree it’s great service from them. Loved the MSM footage, my sisters and I did a French Rosd trip just before the pandemic hit, in Jan 2020, and stayed in a hotel ove4looking it, there are certainly lots of steps😂 but loved that place x

[@abbysherali5109]

Evening Jay great to see someone to sponsor you start of many i hope

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you Abby! They're a phenomenal first =)

[@Darkeforce]

Jay looking trim! Great work! Glad to see you getting back at it. 😎

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks Trevor!

[@hildabrunski7400]

Great vlog Jay! Especially loved mont st michel....go back in the spring & stay for a day or 2....

[@JaySwanson]

Definitely need some slower travel in my life

[@_aaroneous]

Thank you for the app suggestions! We are visiting Paris soon and we'll use them.

[@JaySwanson]

Great! Hope you love them

[@neillambert8713]

Thankyou Jay . I will use Wise , the love the idea .

[@JaySwanson]

They have made my life SO much easier living here

[@martijnseverin]

So cool video. Love your energy 😊👍👍👍👍

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you!

[@anacruz5664]

This is so helpful, Jay! Congrats on your sponsor! I am calling my daughter to share all these right now.

[@JaySwanson]

I hope she finds them helpful!

[@staceekersley]

Love Mt. Ste. Michele! We’ve been twice, most recently for Christmas 2019, and found that winter was quiet and we actually had a hard time finding lodging that wasn’t closed for the season. This was pre-Covid and it was still pretty slow. When we went in the spring of 2015, it was packed and almost miserable. Early in the day or end of the day is the best time to visit since most day-trippers have left. Hope you’re able to go back and enjoy the Abbey. ☺️

[@JaySwanson]

Me too! Thanks 😊

[@trevorharrison1434]

Thank you Jay. I appreciate your Videos. My girlfriend and I are going Paris next week and use your videos as our Guide.

[@JaySwanson]

Awesome! I hope you have a blast!

[@veronicagreen6180]

Thanks great video!, take care ,,,so nice to see your video again,miss you…

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you!

[@elizabethjurkacek5217]

Excellent episode! I have friends going to Nice for a wedding next summer. I'll forward this to them. Thanks for the app suggestions.

[@JaySwanson]

You're most welcome!

[@erpatitube]

Congratulations on your first sponsor! You did the ad very tastefully. Will definitely check a number of them.

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you! I was really excited haha

[@victorzuniga6745]

Congratulations on the French driver’s license. Thanks for showing us your trip to Mont St-Michel. It’s on my travel bucket list and hopefully I’ll visit sometime in 2022.

[@JaySwanson]

It's such a fascinating place. Highly recommended

[@rozbickad]

Glad to see you back. With this video you just hit 2 nails - Mt. Ste. Michele is one of the most gorgeous places I have ever seen, on my map/radar for ever. And the other with Google... about the phone. Whole summer I was in my hometown in Europe helping family, but there were moments to travel as well. the hart time I had using my bank card, they try to text me the code to the phone that is not working. Now I will use your suggestions. As well as wise for money transfer.

[@JaySwanson]

So glad it was helpful! I know it's saved me countless times

[@always.wondering.wandering]

Thanks for the app tips, Wise sounds like a good one. Nothing like a good road trip, too bad the abbey was closed. At least you got to be back in the driver seat and get out of Paris for awhile. I'd like to go over to Europe and rent a camper for awhile and see the sights. I hope the new covid variant doesn't cause a strain on life in Paris for you again. You certainly don't want covid again, hopefully you've built up some antibodies. Take care, enjoy the holidays

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks Adele! It was great to get out on the road again, I can't wait to do more. Planning those camper trips sounds like a solid pastime. I hope you're staying safe too =)

[@brigittelacour5055]

Winter time in Mont St Michel ! So empty ! During summer it's crowded, best time to go is at the end of the day, but difficult to walk against the crowd going out ! And enjoy the late openings ( untill 22h if I remember well) . And better check the tide times before to walk on the sand ! The sea is coming very fast " comme un cheval au galop" .

[@JaySwanson]

Definitely was cool when I stayed overnight last time

[@amyspeers8012]

Congrats on the sponsor! We were able to exchange our Colorado license for our French ones. While living in Rennes, we didn’t have a car but would rent one for getaways. It was quite strange to drive after not driving for years. When you feel like another road trip, come on down and try some local wines. Having a car here is great so you can get to the chateaux for tastings!

[@JaySwanson]

Definitely wish WA had an accord with France haha

[@clam371384]

I agreed with you on feeling really good sitting and driving in a "car" especially when it is your own. Just got back from Slovakia, Austria & Prague for a two weeks vacation....... guess what I miss most from home? You guys were luck out in an" almost empty" Mont-Saint-Michel :)

[@JaySwanson]

Can't wait to have my own again someday 🥳

[@jerrismith9337]

Omg! We hit that same stop arm trying to get to Mont Saint Michele in September 🤣

[@JaySwanson]

Definitely not what we hoped to find haha

[@LeroyandLeroy]

Great idea for sponsorship itegration - well done video!!

[@erikat5678]

Hi Jay! Been away for a while but so happy to be back and see your adventures. Always informative and a pleasure! The dolls are called matryoshka or in English Nesting dolls. 🪆I teach ballroom to children and Russians are very fond of ballroom so a lot of my kids are Russian and teacher-swag comes with PLENTY of matryoshka. 😁 пока!

[@JaySwanson]

Ahhh, thank you!

[@agyos]

Wonderful! I had to request a refund for the tour I was hoping to take to St. Michel in 2020, and my heart was glad to see your trip. Congratulations on your driver's license and car! Thanks to you and Puxan, and the Christmas decorations, for the smile on my face, lol!

[@JaySwanson]

So happy we could add a Christmas smile to your day!

[@shrhondaturner]

This video is gorgeously*.(*.not sure if that's a word) Thanks for the suggestions

[@JaySwanson]

You're welcome! And thank you 😊

[@dyanflores443]

The Scarlett A for newly licensed drivers! 😂😂😂

[@JaySwanson]

It's A me!

[@Brady-bh3gl]

I was all about this video until I seen the Cougs hat .... lol :p Nice Apple Cup and Go Dawgs

[@JaySwanson]

Haha, Go Cougs! 😜

[@hsinyehhsieh5778]

Probably should have checked for the time of last call.

[@1BigBucks1]

Love the rando cat shot 🐈

[@JaySwanson]

He wasn't sure what to do with us

[@jacqueline4749]

I love Wise too.

[@JaySwanson]

Looooooove

[@jacqueline4749]

@@JaySwanson Yeah and my sister who used to call crying from Bahrain for money loved it too hahah. I used to spend a fortune on money gram.

[@parisisima8934]

They sell the A stickers in shops like the ones that sell Christmas decorations, children's birthday supplies, fans and things for the house (pans, sheets, clothes airers...), flipflops, umbrellas, sometimes souvenirs. Sorry, continued watching and saw you got one! But in case this is useful for another newly 'qualified' driver in Paris.

[@JaySwanson]

Definitely still useful 👍👍

[@alexandracarter1408]

Thanks for your videos! In a strange turn of events, I'm stuck in Paris alone. Recovered from Covid now, but not cleared to leave yet and your videos have given me (outdoor) things to go do around town. I'd be interested in where to check out Xmas sights if you know of any? The Marais was a mob scene yesterday (duh, it was Saturday, lol), and I'm too freshly negative-testing to feel comfortable around that many people. Luckily there are way worse places to be stuck.🤷🏻‍♀️

[@JaySwanson]

I'm sorry to hear you got COVID! Definitely check out the light exhibit after 6pm at the Jardin des Plantes. Looks epic

[@damiaanspatrick2050]

I don't even have a mobile phone, no smartphone, so I'll just stay at home.

[@JaySwanson]

Also fair 👍

[@RonFennakadas]

Okay. Mind blown on several levels. Jay driving in France. Cool. Was it a stick? 🤯 Mont St Michel is so sweet. And that big ole « A » doesn’t create a blindspot does it France? Drunk monk fest? I gotta check that out. As always, thanks for sharing.

[@JaySwanson]

I passed my license on a manual car, but ours was a hybrid so automatic🚙

[@andreawelsh4497]

Congratulations on the French driving licence. How long do you have to display the A sticker for? Over here in Northern Ireland once you pass your driving test you have to display R plates(stickers) on the front and rear of your vehicle for a year. You are restricted to a top speed of 45mph during that time also. Love the little Christmas gnome/gonk santa decorations. 🎄🎅

[@JaySwanson]

Two or three years depending here, and speed limit reductions on the freeway too yeah

[@expattraveler2654]

Drop that gym workout player!

[@JaySwanson]

Gotta figure out how to get away with filming in my gym 😆😆

[@TheRolexseller]

Curious how long the drive from Paris was to MSM & how much you paid in tolls? Been wanting to do it forever and keep putting it off.

[@JaySwanson]

Not sure we mentioned in either video, but I think it wound up being 40 or 60 euros in tolls, and around 4hrs driving.

[@socorrofeliciano3391]

Hi Jay! Socorro here. My dream has become a nightmare. Visiting Paris with my 2 kids and husband. I’m also visiting London and Ireland. The nightmare is all the covid testing we will need. Can you let me know if its easy to get a covid test to hop in the Eurostar train the day of?? The reason I ask is I’m traveling on Eurostar on the Monday after Christmas. Test sites are prob all closed Christmas Day. Do you know if there’s anything open on Sunday’s. Please help me out as I’m losing my mind. I really don’t want to cancel this trip I’ve been planning since April and lose lots of $!! Hope you’re well!! Luv ya, Socorro

[@Heyitswhitlavonne]

Yayyy!!

[@JaySwanson]

🥳🥳

[@Paul_C]

There is a thing to be said about tourist seasons... At times tourists are a pain in the behind, particularly in those places way out there. Most of the times it puts a strain on the local population, they live there day in day out. Sure, they make money from it, but is it worthwhile if it goes on and on throughout the year? Seriously doubt it in all honesty. Again, nothing against them but at times they are a pain. Take that for what it is, not a complaint as such but being overrun by them can be too much of a good thing for the locals. Amsterdam a prime example for it. Covid was/is a blessing in disguise, I actually got to go to the library of the Rijksmuseum for the first time since the renovation in 2013.

[@JaySwanson]

It certainly is nice to have fewer crowds

[@britt-sen]

the little santas are "Tomte" :D

[@JaySwanson]

☃️🎅☃️

[@hbeerman372]

❤️🌲❤️🌲❤️🌲❤️🌲❤️🌲❤️🙋

[@PAWS0810-]

laughing but not at you - the best thing my daughter did in the last two years in and out of germany for the kid's world wide kart racing was to hire a lawyer - things are getting ironed out - dual citizenship should happen 2022.

[@JaySwanson]

Congratulations!

[@Sam-pn2kc]

use wise in ukraine all the time

[@JaySwanson]

Love it!

[@thedon897]

Tinder 😂