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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Parisian here.

1. Which part of Europe? Urban or country? We’re not one country, you know. Some provincial areas are more conservative, the south of Europe may be more climate-friendly for your wardrobe, and big cities, particularly Paris, always love dark solid colors.

2. Wear what you want, within limits of climate and decency.

3. If you want a job, not in an artsy folksy community, you’ll have to tone it down a bit.

4. Sorry to mention it, but of course part of looking good in France, and especially Paris, means being slender. You could wear a trash bag and heels and walk down the rue de Rivoli in a jaunty fashion and be thought to look good...  if you’re slim and carry yourself well. Overall weight perceptions in Europe are not as skewed as in the US.

4. Big smiles, friendliness and a dogged willingness to wait for the grumpy natives to accept you will go a very long way to making your stay more pleasant :-)[/quote]

OP. Thank you for your response!  Very helpful.  I will not be living in France but Spain.  I am a Spanish speaker and hoping I won’t be too ridiculed for my accent.  I wouldn’t describe myself as extremely thin but am slender and very athletic.   I hike or ride pretty much every single day.  Very much hoping not to live in a big city because I want to have outdoor access.  Not sure if I will be able to have my own horse.  With remote working, we are hoping to be within a reasonable train ride to Madrid.  I’m generally very friendly and informal.  I smile a lot but had heard that would make me appear dim to many Europeans.  I’ve visited quite a bit pre-pandemic with my husband but never for more than a month at a time.

This move is extremely difficult for me.  I am close to my family, love my state and its weather, food and unique culture.  Thanks for the responses.  It helps with the anxiety.  [/quote]

Sounds like a dream life. As an European myself, I did notice while living there that sometimes American women would try to fit in by smiling a lot, being always agreeable and making themselves small -  if that makes sense. This absolutely doesn't work over there. Europeans like share their opinion of everything and like to disagree for the sake of discussion. They will say stuff that can come across as inappropriate or rude. Don-t take it personally. They will love you if you show your authentic self and don't try to be perfect. I have to say though that Spain (the southerns part specifically) struck me as more racist than what I was used to in France, Switzerland or Germany. That probably won't affect you though.[/quote]

Thank you!  I have worried a bit at being labeled a “Sudaca” for having Mexican roots.  A very ugly slur.  [/quote]

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