r/AmerExit • u/HitReverse • 2d ago
Life Abroad A year into our immigrant journey, and here’s what we’ve learned….
We moved to France a little over a year ago. We had planned the move for several years. We wanted to gear down, live a slower, calmer life in retirement, and we have succeeded in this. Here’s what we didn’t know, what it taught us, what hurt us and cost us time and money that we could have prevented had we known better. I hope this helps someone do better than we did.
You cannot predict the American real estate market. Wait until your house is sold before making the move or buying a home in France (unless you are one of the lucky ones with funds to spare). Apply for your visa regardless (if you can currently tick all of the necessary boxes). When your house sells, this gives you the ability to move immediately while still having a stable U.S. address.
If moving to any country where your native tongue is not the norm, start your language learning journey now and in earnest. As if your life depends on it. There is nothing that makes you feel more helpless than a doctor’s appointment and you cannot communicate readily with a health professional without using a translation app.
Start by learning the basic phrases you will need in day-to-day life, and memorize them. Speak them out loud to yourself. Get used to saying them on demand. An important one from the start is, “Could you please speak a bit more slowly? My French is not good yet.” Also, train your ear to hear French. At first, you will only be able to pick out a few words here and there. As you work at it, more words will become recognizable. Watch familiar shows dubbed in French (Friends is a good one to start with if it’s highly familiar to you). This way, you know the context and can concentrate on the words rather than trying to follow a plot line.
Do not assume that everywhere in France you will find someone at the store who speaks English. French jobs are very protected and go to the French. It’s unlikely that anyone who works anywhere outside of Paris and other large metro areas will speak a stitch of English. And because of the strict and (I’m told) critical nature of school instructors here, even though someone’s English skills may be quite good, they may be hesitant to speak it.
If you flub through your French with an occasional English word here and there, and do a little charades to get your meaning across, most (not all) people are very kind and will help you! There are many people here who do not even try to learn French. Some have been here for decades and simply refuse to try. Those who try hard are appreciated and it will go a long way to endear yourself to French people (and make your own life much easier because you won’t be dependent on others to communicate for you).
Last point on language learning—not all tutors are good. Not all learning apps work for everyone. Find
the people and resources that work for you.
On a related but separate note, there are only thirteen (maybe more now?) states that have French driver’s license reciprocity. If you are one of the lucky ones where you can exchange your U.S. license, count your blessings and do it ASAP upon arrival. The exchange (and French government administration in general) is notoriously slow. If you are from the majority where exchange isn’t possible, know that the written driving test you must take is hard: 40 questions, 20 second allotment per question (the test is timed), in French. You can hire an approved interpreter, but with the time constraints, you can see how difficult this could be. There are two driving schools that have some English instructors (Pau and Paris), but these add to your costs. Another good reason to gain fluency as quickly as possible.
You are an immigrant if you move here. Being an immigrant is tough and comes with a range of worries that you rarely have to think about if in your native country. (No need to beat the dead horse of current administration exclusion.) Being an immigrant means that you are a guest in their country, and all that this implies. It also gives you a brightly lit new perspective and appreciation for the difficulties that immigrants encounter all over the world. Figure these difficulties into your decision. Will this cause you too much stress long term? Are the trade offs worth it? It’s something to consider.
Because of the strict tenant rental protections in France, renting can prove difficult. We’ve been lucky in this regard because we have a French friend who has helped us to obtain rentals. Just know that this can be a hurdle and try to plan accordingly. We are on our third rental in our first year here and we are finally someplace that we want to stay. Good landlords, nice location, nothing too objectionable for American sensibilities. Also know that long term rentals often can come with no light fixtures and sometimes, not much if anything in terms of a kitchen. Here, people take their light fixtures with them when they move and sometimes, their kitchens if they’re the ones who have outfitted it. Yes, it seems strange to Americans, but that is the custom here.
France is as diverse as the U.S., and there are similar cultural differences across its many departments. It’s good to maintain some flexibility until you find the place that feels like home to you.
There are some scammers on Facebook who will try to take advantage of your insecurities as an immigrant. Do NOT talk to people who will, on the expat/immigrant threads, DM you on messenger, and attempt to gain your confidence and be your friend, then sell you a house. If they’re legit, they can say what they want to say on a public thread. There are some shady people in real estate, and shady notaires that they work with in some parts of the country. Find your own notaire that speaks English as well as French. It costs you no extra (if there are two notaires, they split the fees), and having two sets of eyes, one that has your back, is a very good thing. There is a lot to learn about the French real estate market. Do not assume that France is just America with a different language. It most certainly is not.
And lastly, as I could go on about many other things in great detail but just wanted to hit the big points, maintain your sense of humor and ability to laugh at yourself and your own shortcomings in a society you didn’t grown up in. It’s a learning experience—that’s part of why you want to move is to grow and learn, right? There will be plenty of opportunities to have a good laugh at your own expense. It’s part of the deal. Happy travels!!!