Bienvenue en France ! and yes, immersing in a new language is such a strain on the brain, this is what is felt by the entire world trying to lear english ahah
Aww this put a smile on my face! You look so relaxed and happy about your decision! I’m around the same age, and I am relocating to Grasse to attend perfumery school. I’ve always wanted to move to Europe, and now I’m ready to be my authentic self and go for it! Best wishes to you and your journey 🤍✨!
You are very welcome in Toulouse, our city. Southwest of France is one of the best place in Europe. So many things to do, to discover, to experiment. It’s great to see you are now a real toulousaine
Absolutely! The Southwest of France has so many beautiful places to discover. I'm very grateful for the warm welcome Toulouse, and the surrounding region, gave me. It's truly a special place ❤️
Thanks for being vulnerable and sharing your experience! I chortled when you said "Moving will not solve your problems, but it will give them a new setting, some new scenery" Honest and raw. Love it! 👏🏻 😂
Thank you for acknowledging how stressful it can be to live in a foreign country, even when you're quite fluent in the local language, it's never the same as with your mother tongue, after 40 years in the UK, I still can't speak like a native, my vocabulary is different because I didn't grow up here, I still sound more "bookish" than someone who learns the language naturally and of course my accent isn't perfect. I still can't catch every word when I hear a song on the radio or watch a film, especially if the actors mumble (often Americans lol!)
You just reassured me for my move! I’ll be moving to Toulouse for at least a year (I hope much longer!) in August. I feel a lot more comfortable with the move thanks to this video!
Thank you Nicolette with an authentic testimony of life abroad. Frenchman (Parisian) here and even as a teenager I was interested in living abroad, first in Germany for 3 month. Total immersion as Studentproktikum, loneliness, discoveries then after 2 month the switching to dreaming in a foreign language. Then I worked in the USA on multiple occasions but discovered the American and southern way of life (Atlanta). That time I was married so the immersion was not so complete (my wife and son adored the life in Atlanta) but it happened so many times that I felt at home in the US. Among many other smaller trips, I worked in mainland China, first Nanjing and then Beijing for over 6 months in one go. There I experienced the language barrier: If you don't speak Beijingese or Mandarin, then you cannot exchange (talk) with the people there. I tried to learn it but with poor results So, yes, it is about loneliness, language barrier, time zones, flight times (often 12 to 18 hours as I discovered that flying to LA was faster than flying to Jobourg (Johannesburg) but it is so much fun to discover other cultures. I must say that each time I was flying back home, I rediscovered France (my, it is so pretty)
Hello, as french forty-year-old man, I watch some of your video, and I only want to say that you are very courageous. And I'm quite sure that or you will stay in my beautiful country or you will be in another one, and you will certainly become a better person of yourself after this student journey
I hope that for you too! Before moving to France, I used to watch RU-vid videos of expats who moved to France and were creating a life there. That helped me realize it was a possibility and a real "reality"/option that existed. Every journey starts somewhere. This is just the beginning 😉
I'm so happy to find someone who chose to live in Toulouse :D I hope you like it ! I think its a great choice because you are close to the mountain & the sea, there is a decent airport which allows you to go almost everywhere in Europe, and its a studend city (Second or Third in ranking in France) so its quite vibrant, you will find a lot of people speaking English or Spanish ! Downside it might be very hot in Summer just like Spain ^^'
Congrats on such a big accomplishment! So nice to see you thriving in your new environment- would love to see more updates about things you enjoy in France
I relate to you on many levels. I moved to France 5 years ago for my studies after meeting a French man and I ended up working in a city called Rennes. While you are student you always have someone around you that you can hang out with but once you start working, it is so hard to make friends. That’s why I wanna move to Paris now cus I am fed up with loneliness. Also I have tendency to isolate my mself since I am gay and not completely out yet. You have a calming voice and expresse many facts clearly, I’ve subscribed.
Thank you so much for watching (and subscribing). I hope you find a beautiful, welcoming group of friends in France. You deserve it! Making friends in a new country can definitely be a challenge. Expat Facebook groups or MeetUps can be a good start. :)
Nobody gives a damn about you being gay or not. What we do hate though, is when anyone is just spreading and publicising his/her sexual orientation everywhere, as if everyone should care, like they do in the USA. This is where it starts invading other people's freedom.
Just came across this video! Thank you for sharing your experience of your journey! I actually lived in France for several years as a teenager and now years and years (and years lol) later want to return permanently. It really is a chill country and the French know how to live life. Glad you’re living your best life in France :)
This is so interesting , I am Dutch , debtless , free , European pass , really fluent in french , seeking my life destination to grow happily old , easily connecting to people , having a life long experience traveling in and through France , very flexible and adaptable.... but , never came to the point to make a definitve move to France while acknowledging its incredible wealth in diversity and culture. There is something that stops me and my partner to put roots in France......I just cannot grasp the French essence of being...am I too Germanic , too frugal , too realistic .... knowing why the French are largely unhappy in that douce France...there is no perfect place nowhere , but France is special... you catch the French Dream virus and you work yourself through the barricades and thrive...as you do !!.... or , you keep on contemplating it after each visit and mull what you feel and think..... for me personellement , the image just doesnot stick in my deeper self .... in a way you have it good to be driven by a genuine longing.... I am happy for you , ne cessez de célébrer la vie ! 💥
Yay, St Sernin, la Garonne, Matabiau, le canal ... If I'm not mistaken I saw Castres too ? There aren't many Americans who speak about my city, it's great to change from Paris. I see that you moved to it now, but since you said you're team chocolatine forever, it's ok XD
Great video, reminds me of my first trip moving to London many decades ago. Was the best thing I ever did, met so many people this was way before having a cell phone. Where you actually had to talk to people when asking for directions. Sure there lonely days but I would do it all over again. My love was Italy and learned the language really quickly and I can still speak it today. Did speak French so that helped. I wish you the best look forward to seeing more of your videos..Enjoy life a bientôt…….🤗🇨🇦
How wonderful! That sounds like a great adventure ❤️ Also, Italian is the next language I'm working on. I'm already in love with it haha. You're right, French definitely helps!
Hi Nicolette, thank you so much for this video. I just found your channel and hearing your thoughts one year into your move is incredibly comforting. I will be moving to the south (west) of France soon myself and although I'm so excited, I'm anxious as well. Your video helped to remind me of all the reasons I'm taking this huge leap. I look forward to watching your adventures to come.
I know that this was made a year ago but I wanted to say that I understand what you went through because I lived in Val de Reuil for a year and the day to day learning a second language is harder than I thought. Isolation because of language barriers really was hard yet humbling! Life in France taught me a lot! But I don't regret it and it helped me enjoy what I was missing in the USA.❤
As a 29 year old going through a similar dilemma I know exactly how challenging it is to risk everything you’ve built so far for something you love at heart. It takes a lot of courage, kudos to you for making it happen 👏🏻👏🏻
Absolutely! The biggest risks, especially when motivated by heartfelt and authentic dreams, often bring the greatest reward. It can be scary and frightening to enter into something new/unknown, but on the other side of fear (and uncertainty!) exists an entirely new world of possibilities and beauty. Wishing you all the best in your journey! ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing this video and your personal experience! I’m moving to Toulouse in 4 weeks to be with my boyfriend and I can’t wait to be back in that city and get to know it on a deeper level (and to keep improving my French fluency). If you want another expat friend from LA, I’d love to meet you! Seems like we have an interest in art and travel in common too. ❤️
Hi and nice to meet you , you did what you felt was right. I get the exhausting 2nd language experiemce. You need to like learning and keep at it. I married a german guy and moved here and learnt german and now teach refugees which keeps me active in it. We love to holiday in France. Merci beaucoup mon Amie 😊
That's fantastic! German is a notoriously difficult language to master. I'm glad you found an opportunity to share your skills while also staying active with the language.
You are living the dream❤😊 la belle epoque! I loved 😍 French in high school and getting to go to Paris at age 18 was a dream gome true! I studied French in college as well , but its hard to master, unless you live there for awhile. Even then, because they're able to speak Anglais there. I love traveling in Europe and have been to many countries. It is so enriching! ❤
Hello. Nice to see how you appreciate your decision to move and upset your life (new language, new friends, new rythms). The bargain looks worth the price ! :)
Hi Nicolette.. I just found your channel.. I have been living in France since 2006! Glad you made the move over here.. You sound exactly like me in your decision to move to France, since I was in high school..
This video was so interesting 😊 Have you made any videos about what your experience have been to be a student? I’m moving to Toulouse. I’m glad I found your channel. I haven’t seen too many American creators in Toulouse specifically! 😍
That's so exciting you're moving to Toulouse! It's a wonderfully student-friendly, and welcoming, city. Have a wonderful time! And y es, I did make a French Art School vlog, as well as a few other day-in-the-life style videos (available on my channel). 😊
@@hellonicolette super cool! I’ll go check them out! 😊 I looked at the schools when I was there last, but got incredibly unclear answers and they just said to email, but I never got a response.
Votre témoignage va en aider plus d'un. Bravo pour avoir partagé votre expérience de l'expatriation. JE vous souhaite beaucoup de bonheur. Profitez bien de la vie.
Bonjour, Nicolette, je parle et écris assez bien Anglais mais tu dois pratiquer le Français. 🤣 Oui, j'ai fait quelques séjours en Angletterre et Espagne, c'est dûr de s'adapter mais c'est important. Dans le pays ou l'on est il faut s'efforcer de parler la langue du pays, c'est juste une question de bon sens et de respect. En général les Américains le fond très bien, les Anglais un peu moins. Tu est courageuse et intelligente, tu as ta place ici certainement. Welcome! , enjoy! have fun!
Hi Nicolette: My name is Darren, I'm American, so of course my focus and question for you is about money, and how you can afford to live in France. Is it through school loans or just personal savings? I'm enjoying your videos and Thanks for posting! :)
I miss the good work-life-balance in the South of France! They really know how to live a slow life. Plus you're right, you wouldn't even need to hop on a plan to visit Germany ;)
hello! thank you for your information How long should I enter France after receiving a French long stay visa? Do I need to arrive in France within 1 month? Or should it arrive within 2 months? Is there a set period?
Hey, Nicolette ! You have a very, very and old French name. Did your parents tell you there was a short medieval French novel from the XII° century called "Aucassin et Nicolette" ? (maybe they knew, maybe this was the reason why they gave you this name, who knows ?) Tape the title on wikipedia, you'll find it 🙂
Since moving to France I've discovered I do indeed have a "Great Grandma name" (as some have referred to it as) haha. No one in my family is French, I was actually named "Nico" (after my Greek Grandfather "Nick") and my mom wanted to find a way to lengthen it so Nico could be my nickname. Hence why she chose Nicolette. :) No connection to the medieval French novel... But now that you've told me about it I'll have to check it out. Thank you!
Hello everyone it would be great if people helped me out! I am planning to study Msc in luxury brand management from france in 2024 i have recently started studying french and i am anxious if i am making the right choice?? will i be able to secure a job going forward? and will i have to come back to my home country ?? please help me out
I have french ancestry and would to find out if any people in france with the same last name as my french last name are related to me and are long lost relatives and cousins
