I love living in France. I am fine with paying a bit more in taxes so that everyone can get good health care. I came here to study at the Paris Conservatory of Music and ended up marrying a Frenchman. We have since divorced, but I will never divorce with France! Some things here aren't perfect, but nothing is perfect in any country! The charm, the history, the people...I love it all.
I am French Canadian and I grew up in an Anglicized French city. I spoke French until school started, so it is literally my first language that I have not practiced daily for years. Last August I realized how rusty I was when I went for a weekend to Montréal, I found that I was not able to understand my first language as much as I would have liked. Use it or lose it! Since August I have actively been listening to French RU-vid, reading books, listening to French music, and watching French Canadian TV. I spend a minimum of 1 hour a day and I am just at a point where I can understand about 75% of the words being spoken without having French subtitles on. You have to really want it.
I'm an Anglo living in Sherbrooke from another province. I'm fluent in French. Proud of it. My grammar is excellent. But I still feel like I don't belong.
Hello Robin . I am trying to learn English on YT ! On my channel you will hear French German and English . Of course my English is not perfect . Nevertheless you can compare the two versions . If I can help you do not hesitate to ask . Have a nice day most of all .
As an American who had studied french for years in school/higher education, I agree that actually becoming fluent in French or perhaps any language is a journey, not a destination. I've been living here for 5 years and let me tell you there are SO many nuances to french (different registers like formal, familier, and verlan) and so many cultural references. I used to get straight A's in all my french courses but I got pegged down a couple notches after living here and trust me the french do not hold back when correcting or making jokes about your accent. So be prepared to leave your ego at the door!
Yes, well, those who do not care to get better with french generally are not the target of jokes, because we won't bother with them for long. So, if you got corrected, that probably means you efforts are acknowledged. Good for you.
I moved to France eight years ago. I study everyday and although I've learned a lot, I'm convinced I'll still be learning ten years from now. It's a beautiful language, but difficult.
I also moved to France some 9 years ago, I've have had lessons and work at learning every day. I am learning lots of words and phrases but struggle to put sentences together, still I'm enjoying learning. It's become a work in progress.
You'll still be learning because you like studying. As an immigrant myself, I was lucky to be very young when we first came in France. It helps a lot. But I encounter a lot of new immigrants from all over the world. And frankly, if you ae a bit serious when learning, one or two years let you master pretty much most of what you need for everyday life. The point is to meet with French speaking people. It doesn't matter if they're immigrants too. It will help your hearing and grasp very quickly that some words don't need to be perfect. Grammar is important in everyday speech, but not essential. What you need most is a wide knowledge in vocabulary. Not what you find in books, but in real life. A mix of formal, familiar, local dialects, etc ... Some expressions and words are offensive out of context or depending on the intonation. The same goes for polite and formal words and speeches. That's why I say vocabulary is the first priority. Basic grammar, in the sense of being able to write decent simple letters would require something between 1 or 3 years. It will make your working life easier. Working contracts are mostly written in a way it's easy to understand and avoid conflicts. High profile jobs will require a better understanding of grammar. One interesting thing is that even journalists of the old days admitted that they barely knew half of the existing words and expressions. Modern journalists have even less knowledge. I stopped reading newspaper and online news regularly because it's full of mistakes a kid wouldn't even do. Strangely enough, you will notice that non natives have a better grammar and more vocabularies.
Have lived in France for the last 16 years (we planned a long time in advance of moving) and when we moved people said "oh you'll be fluent in no time", no! It takes , time dedication and perseverance. It's been a long, hard and sometimes frustrating slog.16 years in and i'd never ever say I was fluent and I'm speaking it every day. I think French Doctors can be straight and to the point and it can throw you off guard sometimes. My Doctor is an advocate for getting tests done so I do consider myself fortunate. Politics, I just don't go there. Taxes, you pay a lot in and I agree you do get good benefits out of it. I wouldn't want to go back to the UK, I like my life here the good and the bad (you'll get that wherever you go) embrace the cultural changes and go with the flow. Sadly, I agree with you there are far too many people who look at living here through rose tinted spectacles.
You talk about French doctors being straight and to the point, my wife had some tests done and she went to see the doctor for the results. The doctor came out and said "you have pancreatic cancer and it is inoperable''. She wished the doctor had been a little less blunt.
@@jaykilborn2508 so sorry, I hope you will get the adequate treatment . Yeah, blunt 😥might be the better word here. I've moved to France 42 years ago, I'm German American and was raised speaking two languages. I suppose, having to cope with two languages makes it easier to pick up another one. Reading and listening to the news,having neighbours and friends who are French and speak next to nothing in your mother tongue helps, not having a bunch of expats helps too and on top of all that, we live in a region where there practically are no Germans or English speaking folks around, so I assume, for us, it was kind of not sooooo hard to get pretty fluent and then there are the kids and school and you just have to come up to snuff to help them with their homework. All that keeps you on your learning toes and then there is work....If you're really thrown in the bath, it easier to learn the subtleties of a language.
@@picholoup It is not me. It was my wife who had cancer. She died in 2021. She was French and she spoke english. Ninety per cent of our conversations were in english. If I needed something in a store, she would ask. Now that she is gone, I am alone, in a foreign country. That is a great motovating factor to learn to speak french.
@@jaykilborn2508 I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you have not given up on the French and their way of life. I do know of some cases where things were like you described them. We have two friends, who live in France as long as we do and had french wifes, they had the same language related problems.
From a French point of view, wealthy immigrants should contribute to the improvement of the "living well together", and not confining oneself to grouping together in communities as English pensioners do, for example, and who exchange relatively little with the rest of the local population. Moreover, the arrival of new inhabitants who buy houses at prices beyond the reach of the locals, is likely to drive out the young local population whose life is increasingly precarious. this applies as much to Paris intra muros as to small rural villages. So beware of the risk of latent conflicts during your exchanges... What is amusing is to see Anglo-Saxons settling for their old age in France, when French retirees go to settle in Portugal or Tunisia, also causing the difficulties explained above. In short, in one sentence, ask yourself what you can bring to France, and if you do, you will be considered as eternal friends!
The arrival of new inhabitants who buy homes out of reach of the locals is an increasing problem in the US as well. It's driving housing prices up dramatically. Young people cannot get a solid start on adult life. Those buying aren't often moving in to the houses they buy. They rent them out instead for high prices.
@@brianmccloskey8364; Very true ; lots of complaints from locals in rural beautiful parts of Colorado; who are being driven out from those buying Homes 🏠 in Steep prices b’coz they’re wealthy & can afford it 💯!!!
I appreciate you, Amy. Thanks for sticking around in the Oui In France community all this time. I'm so happy my content has been helpful and continues to be.
Good sensible advice. With my husband I have a business here in Normandie. It involves relocation, helping people settle in and buy homes....and helping people move on and sell them. We see a lot of very excited dreamers....and we see a lot of broken dreams. I think a lot of people see France as some kind of special place where the normal rules of economics and day to day life simply don't apply. We have to make them face the reality that bills still accumulate, and tax and charges still have to be paid. There is a depressing number of people who buy a picturesque property without really considering the running/maintenance costs and how they will fund it all. Often there is a vague idea (one cannot call it a 'plan') of having gites or Band B or 'doing courses' and so forth. Now I am not saying you can't make a go of a business like that, but you have to approach it seriously and put in the work and do a proper business plan. And many people don't do it because it cuts across the whole 'French dream'. Which is a pity, because they end up giving up, and they lose a massive amount of money, and cause themselves huge stress, in the process.
Thank you for this perspective. It makes a lot of sense and I can totally see how someone anticipates one reality and is faced with another. Setting up a business and running it is not to be taken lightly and I think more people than we realize have stories like the ones you've shared. But because people feel ashamed and maybe even embarrassed, they're not the majority we hear from on blogs or videos sharing their stories. So people get this skewed impression that it's so easy and fun to buy and renovate a house, start a gite business, or any other host of activities. I appreciate you taking the time to leave this comment. It's an important one!
A good video explaining what needs to be understood before people commit themselves to a huge life change. I’m not sure of the arrangements for North Americans but a mistake that a lot of British families seem to be making is that the really believe that they still have the right to move to and work in France. This is reinforced by positive social media posts that tell them to go for it and anything is possible when in fact the jobs open to immigrants from Britain are few and far between. Half an hour browsing through the French-visas website should show them that without a particular skill set, transferable qualifications, a very good understanding of the language, a gilt edged business plan or a small fortune work is not an option. Videos like yours are important, people need to face up to the realities and not just cross their fingers and dream.
I am an American that moved to Belgium years ago. I had an accident while in France and had to go to the hospital(emergency). As I had gained Belgian nationality(EU), my overnight stay, scans.. cost virtually nothing, as I am covered in the EU. Sure, the hospital was not the Hilton, but very professional and the nurses/doctors were kind(and good food). Likewise here, I can see a doctor the same day, the next day, or another doctor. Plus, medicine is much lower than in the US. I could never live in the US, as I couldn't afford medical cost, amongst other things. It is difficult to just move to Europe, many hoops to jump through. And only do it if you have family/friends there, work, support. And above all, spend lots of time there before making a move. It is not easy to immigrate here, as even some British friends who have live here for years, have been forced to go back because of Brexit. Just a warning.
I'm French, moved to NA, so I kinda go through the same problematic but from french to english. When it comes to language, i feel like people who do not have the experience fail to understand that there is a massive difference in learning between the "being comfortable to have a chit-chat at the bar" level and doing "filling my taxforms and calling a hotline to set up a mortgage" level. it's not even a matter of knowing advanced and perfect grammar, it's just the kind of ease and flexibility you can perform with the language on a detailed subject and with stress and interferences.
I’m moving to france next month. I got a job teaching English. I got my college degree in French, but we mostly read old French literature and wrote a lot in fluent French. I’m super nervous for casual French because I know my strong suit is using it educationally. I test for C2.
Great post. As someone who has studied French for 44 years, bought a tiny apartment in Paris 23 years ago but has never really lived in France, I appreciate your thoughts. My latest 6 week episode with trying to upgrade my French apartment's cable service to fiber [it finally got installed and working after I left the country] after having to call service each time a different technician came to do his assigned task, or try to fix the problem, or investigate the problem and try to blame it on something out of his realm of expertise, is a microcosm of why I would likely go batty living there. 🙃
With that mindset you are undoubtedly correct but to make the transition you need to discover how the systems work and go with them and not simply say they’re different so wrong.
@@davidmatthews3093 different is when two pathways go in unalike directions but both achieve resolution. In many French systems the culture seems to have completely accepted a culture of indifference/feigned incompetence etc. etc. in order to actually solve problems. That is when it becomes, ‘wrong’. In some ways France seems to have extremely high standards, like in its education grading. In the bigger picture of society however they accept very frequently pathetic ‘problem solving, as adequate. It is mystifying why they are so willing to accept such ridiculously low standards.
I love visiting France and I’ve had many trips over the last few decades. I even thought of getting an apartment but visiting keeps the charm going without all the real life hassle that gets in the way.
Sensible. So many people move over and think it will be like an everlasting version of their annual holiday. And of course it isn't because the bills and day to day problems are no longer left back in the UK or wherever....they come with you.
Very sensible. It’s also true of anywhere’, even in your own country. My parents used to take vacations in Bar Harbor, ME every year, they absolutely loved it, and joked about moving there all the time. But living somewhere year round is SO different from going there on holiday, when you’re not working, and everything is filtered through the rose-colored glasses of leisure and pleasure. It’s a good thing they never carried through on this pipe dream, because my father died, and that would have left my mother alone in a strange place, a several hours’ drive from her nearest family.
She so totally nails this, as usual! And it’s badly needed, It seems the vast majority of RU-vidrs play down the tough stuff and I have a feeling people are being suckered in. Great work here.
Thank you! I think it's easy to get caught up in the fun and excitement of a move abroad so much so that we neglect looking at the very real challenges that are just as important.
This woman is 100% spot on, every word she says has been confirmed by what I heard from friends living in France but found hard to believe. Thanks a million for the gold!
I heard a man say that he was from India originally. He came to live in the US, then tried France, then finally returned to the US. He realized that as a foreigner in the US he could be welcomed as a new American, but in France he would always be a foreigner. "You can learn our language, love our culture and food, but you'll never be French" was the feeling he described. In the US it was "oh hi, yeah, get to work brother". Obviously his US experience was in a certain part of the US
Actually, what you say applies to most of European countries (and actually, to a lot of countries of the world : try to find your place in Japan, China, Egypt, India, etc, etc… Good luck !), not only France. Because the US were built differently, as a country and a nation. Immigrants built the country, whereas, in Europe, it is a different story, a different construction. So, yes, it is more difficult for a stranger to find his place in a European country, sure.
@@heliedecastanet1882 We are from the USA but have not found our place here. Since my husband and I seem to be misfits here, we are hoping to find our niche somewhere in the French Riviera. Wish us luck! :-)
I’’m French Canadian and even I felt like an outsider after doing a couple years of high school in Alsace. It wasn’t a negative but I always felt like a novelty. Having said his, it’s much more than language but race and culture. Being white I had zero issues but not so easy for others. It is similar for someone moving to Quebec here in Canada. There is an ‘us and them’ ingrained in the culture.
@@margokerby1533 Good luck, dear Margo ! But try to visit, if ever you have the opportunity, the "other" southern France : southwest. Not just the Riviera 🙂 When do you plan to come to France for a tour ?
@@heliedecastanet1882 My husband is 70 and I am 67 but we decided to go back to school and finish our college education. We should be done in about a year, and that is when we plan to relocate to France. The reason we chose the South of France is because of the weather, the food, we no longer want to be car-dependent, and we want to see other European countries at leisure. We've researched Nice, Toulon, and Aix en Provence. We also want to be near a SANDY/NOT ROCKY beach. Now we need to learn French and take care of the Visa, passports, Vitale cards, etc. Thank you for asking. We are very excited!
When I immigrated to America many years ago, to the land of opportunities, I also found out that in reality, things are very different. The sooner you accept the differences, the better your life will be. You have to be very adaptable which is not easy even if you come in your twenties.
Thanks, Diane, here are a couple of things I would add about the language and about taxes: 1) Language - Not only does learning French take more time and effort than I expected, but not being able to communicate makes so many other things more difficult - from buying a new home to finding the correct bus stop. It's just relentless. - In some parts of France English really isn’t widely spoken (away from the touristy cafes and restaurants) - I mean, why would it be. - Digital translation apps can be a great help, but the results are not very reliable. - For some things (like buying property) you may need to find a professional who is bilingual (and certified in France and where you come from so they can explain things to you) to ensure you really know what you’re getting in to (and that costs money, of course). - Get the right recommendations for language courses - if you’re moving to France your needs will be different to someone who wants to learn the language for leisure purposes. 2) Taxes - Don’t assume that tax works in the same way but with different words. It is very different to what I was used to. So many individual bits and pieces. I don’t know how I’d cope without having an accountant (for which there is also a cost) particularly as I have started a business here. I adore living in France, I really do, but forewarned is forearmed.
You are so right! Yes, even in US doctors are not perfect. My son's appendix actually burst in the ER while the ER doctor was scolding me for bringing him in for what the doctor thought was the flu. So appreciate your video, very timely. I am retired and looking to sell my house this spring and head to France. I only plan right now to stay for 6 months to a year and go from there. I am going with an open mind and do plan on taking language classes before I go. I am also researching French history and reading travel guides to educate myself more about the country. Thank you for all you do!
You're very welcome, Terry, and sorry to hear about your son's appendix. Hope it all turned out OK in the end. I think you are taking a reasonable approach to everything and good on you for continuing to research! Bonne chance ;-))
French healthcare ranked 1st in the world, 20 years ago.. Now you have to wait for hours in the emergency room. It takes at least 6 month to get an appointment to a dermatologist, an eye doctor..
Yes, and also many doctors don't accept new patients - sometimes it can be frustrating finding a specialist, and I'm in Paris! I can't even imagine in the "medical deserts".... :S
Big gratitude for your courage, vulnerability and precious free speech. What you are doing is bringing philosophy and anthropology into the discussion instead of just painting a Facebook idealistic perfect picture that a tourist will see. Keep sharing your marvelous intelligence and experience! Thank you!
It works for children to pick up the language -- but not so for adults. I knew some French but struggled. My husband had no interest, although he could cope reasonably well, and I got no encouragement at all. We were retired and I could see, if he passed away how it would be there on my own. Women already in that position weren't too happy because they'd never have "a life" on their own. I loved the health care and our GP was fluent in English. There really were no obvious "problems" and I found the lifestyle and people, just amazingly engaging. Of course, the food is fascinating and so much to learn and try. We had a large, beautiful home outside Dinan and access was easy to anything we needed. Even so, I was lonely. People in our village invited me to come to the pub, chat, and learn more French. The government offered so much to help people integrate. But going there alone was off-putting. I was there for three years before my husband had a series of strokes that he didn't survive. I returned to the UK alone.
Je suis français et je trouve que les points que vous soulignez sont assez pertinents et en fait ça vaut pour tous les pays. L'apprentissage de la langue, si on a le projet de s'intégrer à la société, est indispensable et long et sans fin (même pour les natifs !). Il faut aussi découvrir la culture francophone populaire pour saisir les références comme quand quelqu'un d'une quarantaine d'année dire qu'il y a les bons et les mauvais..., en expliquant qu'il font la même chose, mais que le bon, il est bon et le mauvais, il est mauvais (le bon chasseur, quand il voit un truc, il tire, mais c'est un bon chasseur ; le mauvais chasseur, il voit un truc et il tire, mais c'est un mauvais chasseur). Le "problème", c'est que beaucoup d'anglophones peuvent vivre en France en ne côtoyant que des anglophones et en vivant dans cette bulle. C'est abordé dans cette vidéo : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XUzegDUtgIU.html. En résumé, une quantité non négligeable de natifs anglophones vont s'installer à l'étranger sans réel projet de s'intégrer dans la société du pays d'accueil. Le système des impôts et très (trop !) compliqué et il désavantage surtout les classes moyennes. La TVA est chère, mais les produits de première nécessité (nourriture et livres, notamment) sont à 5%. Il y a de nombreuses subventions possibles, mais c'est rarement les plus démunis qui peuvent y avoir accès. Concernant la santé, la formation est publique et sérieuse, mais les erreurs de diagnostic peuvent exister. Le désert médical de certaines régions (hors grandes villes et sud de la France) est un vrai problème, d'autant qu'il est nécessaire d'avoir un médecin référent pour profiter du remboursement. Aller directement voir un gastroentérologue quand on a mal au ventre, ça ne se fait pas. Mais les soins sont accessibles pour tous ou presque. Aux USA, mon image est qu'un hôpital peut refuser de soigner quelqu'un ayant eu un accident s'il n'est pas solvable (pb qu'on voit dans les séries médicales). L'état veut dépenser moins dans la santé pour faire des économies, mais dans le privé, on privilégie les secteurs rentables (chirurgie esthétique, par exemple). Parfois, il peut y avoir des associations entre hôpital et clinique dans une petite ville, pour acheter et utiliser un CTscan en commun. Pour la politique, effectivement, il y a aussi des mouvements extrêmes, même si LFI et le PCF ne sont pas tellement représentatifs. Ils ont l'air extrême parce que l'échiquier actuel s'est énormément déporté à droite. De plus, le terme "social" et "socialiste" n'ont pas le même sens en français et en anglais, il faut faire attention. La vie politique est sûrement différente est elle est globalement organisée autour de 3 points : les néolibéraux, les nationalistes et l'écologie-sociale (justice sociale + écologie). Par contre, je trouve qu'il y a un point important : le logement peut être très cher et aujourd'hui, de nombreux Français, même ceux ayant un emploi à plein temps, peuvent avoir des difficultés à payer un loyer ou faire un emprunt pour acheter du bien immobilier. Sûrement que si l'on vient de Grande Bretagne ou d'une grande ville Américaine, cela pourra sembler moins cher, accessible, mais ce n'est pas le cas pour l'écrasante majorité de ceux qui vivent sur place. Bonne continuation à vous
@@martinasandoval5326 they cannot refuse to treat you at the ER (urgences) if you are otherwise dying immediately, but once you are stabilised, if you have no money or insurance, you are sent home with no medicine or anything.
Really great video Diane. I lived in France for a year back in 2000 and while almost everything was positive, there were some eyeopening things as well. There was a lot of paperwork and red tape. One of the biggest hurdles was getting a back account. We also had trouble renting an apartment and we even offered to pay for the full year up front. But even after all that it was one of the best years of my life and we've been back many, many times since. The one thing I always tell my friends is that if you've visited Paris, you have not visited France. Paris is amazing, but there is just so much more to see outside of the city. Such an amazing country!
The bank account hassles in France started with FATCA. Before that it was a walk in for 10 minutes easy. French banks REALLY don't like being forced to report on their clients four times a year.
@@quiggleyscripple Indeed. It's the U.S. authorities, thru FATCA, that force foreign banks to report on the accounts of U.S. citizens abroad. That's why some European banks (not just in France) now simply refuse to open bank accounts for U.S. citizens, it's just too much hassle for them. I've worked for a large U.S. employer in both France and Belgium for years, and in two instances (forgot why) I had to prove to my bank that I AM NOT a U.S. citizen.
All depend on your expectations 🙂 This country is "inefficient" if I expect so and so ; this other country is "inefficient" if I expect that and that ; and so on… 🙂
@@heliedecastanet1882 of course but I’m only referring to settling in. You need so much paperwork and a garant to just rent a place - in the US you just need references.
@@najnaj9493 True. Quite a nightmare. The law is very protective for the tenants (a landlord can't evict a tenant the way he wants, even if the rent is not paid, especially in winter), so as a result, landlords have become more and more demanding regarding guarantors, incomes, job, etc, etc… I guess you experienced it 😕
As a British person living in Nantes I agree with everything you said. I’m lucky that my French wife, who is fluent in English, helps me with a lot of French things and puts up with my bewilderment at some things.
Am just back from Nantes, 1st time visit thanks to Ryanair cheap flight from Dublin. I'm a Francophone for many years (age 58) but I really really appreciate that you must have an incredibly high level of French to actually live there enjoyably and deal with the normal day-to-day stuff which life throws at you wherever you live! Heading back to Nantes asap! 🇨🇵
I honestly felt very humbled by this video. I think you are correct that people fall in love with an idea of what they think something is vs what it actually is. I am guilty of that myself. I do love French culture and have thought about moving to France a lot. But a lot of it really has to do with... I don't like where I live. I am not sure if that is my city/state or the actual country itself. But I did move to Thailand for about 2 years and I taught English there and because of that, my perception vs reality, has really slowed me down (in a good way) when it comes to making such a drastic move. Thailand was always a temporary move. I still fantasize a lot over the socioeconomic situations. Not going into massive debt over medical or college. I currently deal with the college debt and my family has dealt with the health debt. It's painful. I also watch videos of an American in Germany who talks about how she makes less money in Germany vs Texas, but she is able to do more/have more in terms of better life quality. I think that's ultimately what I want is just better life quality. I do believe that exists here in the US. However, I question if I will ever be able to make enough money to be able to see that better quality of life. I really enjoy your channel for being so informative and both encouraging and discouraging. It's so easy to romanticize the unknown.
I've noticed that a lot of people (especially, perhaps, young people) who want to move to France or other foreign countries are running FROM something. It might be an unhappy family life, bad job, etc. Sometimes they're just unhappy with themselves. That's not going to work. Wherever YOU go, there YOU are. So, before "escaping" to la belle France, people need to honestly ask themselves why they want to make that move.
I like the bit about de-romanticizing moving to another country, and France in particular. I am an expat the other way. Grew up in France, moved to the US. What I miss about France is the quality of the food. The ability to go to the grocery store and buy pretty much anything knowing that it will be delicious and not poison me. The reason I left was because the culture was not for me (my family was half Swiss). One thing to be aware as a foreigner in France is that breaking into the culture is extraordinarily difficult. There is the regular hate and discomfort around foreigners that one finds everywhere, but there is also the fact that French culture is quite opaque and strange. It's like the entire country is a small town. Another thing that gets me when I visit is the chaos. Take the frustration we experience in the US when we get the runaround from consumer service. Or when a webform malfunctions and sends you back to square one. Multiply that by 5. Can you live like that?
I just do not understand the French acceptance of such subpar customer service standards. In other areas for example food, education the country of France has high standards. Why are they so incredibly comfortable with such ridiculously pathetic approaches to problem solving in customer service?
@@lijohnyoutube101 If you ask the French, they will tell you to relax. While this sounds like a non-answer, I think it is actually the answer. I learned in high school that there were societies with "contexte faible" and societies with "contexte fort". I don't know what they call it in English. The "contexte fort", "strong context" refers to societies where rules are stricly enforced and little allowance is made for individual circumstances. That's Japan, Switzerland and to a lesser extent, the US. The other type "weak context" refers to more chill societies. That's France. In the former, everything runs like clockwork, but on the flip side, it gets quite heartless if one has a special need or circumstance. In the latter, it's complete chaos, but on the flip side, it is also easier when one needs some help not allowed by policies or if one has a family emergency (or simply granpa's birthday to celebrate). As an example, last winter I was in France with my husband and we discovered that we could not bring luggage on the public transportation in the small town that we were in. I was waving the driver goodbye and getting ready to call a cab when the latter took a breath and invited us to come on board, giving us instructions of what to do with our luggage. Against company rules. We delayed the bus further. As a fellow passenger, I would have been irate at the delay and trouble. But the passengers on the bus helped us with our luggage and waved at us when getting off. The French also make wide allowance for demonstrations and other democratic actions. In high-school I did not appreciate making it home at 8:30pm starving and with homework still to do for the next day because a demonstration had shut down public transportation for half the afternoon in my town. On the flip side, they were showing Parisian women in their skirts and heels gracefully hopping off military trucks that had been brought in to help with the catastrophic situation there. They were saying that they found that kind of fun. It was actually a tacit support for the movement.
French have some sort of Marxist Mentalities which is very difficult to cope with. I am not greedy but the french lifestyle doesn't suit me. Living in a tiny flat and earning minimum wage. By the way france is not a welcoming country for foreigners. They live too modestly and I don't like it. If you are Arab and have darker skin avoid France.
As a French guy I love to hear about what you have to say about France, it’s very clear you way you speak and gives so much perspective on the pros and cons, thank you.
Hi, Great video ! Regarding taxes, it’s worth mentioning that the tax situation for people who move to France in retirement and those who are working is very different. The US-France tax treaty basically says that income is taxed in the jurisdiction where it’s sourced, so pensions, Social Security, 501k etc are taxed solely in the US.
Thank you for an honest commentary on the challenges. We are retired and seriously considering moving to France so we can explore this beautiful country and the rest of Europe more easily. We will be reading your blog and watching more videos to help us decide where in France to move. My first choice would be Strasbourg but am open to anywhere
Excellent video, thank you so much! I was awaiting my visa to relocate to Portugal when the pandemic hit, shutting everything down and eventually changing my mind. The world has changed, and I've changed, now being 68 yo, and will be staying in the US, but leaving the Seattle area because, as a retiree, it's way too expensive for me. I have continued to watch Portugal videos and two channels have shown that the Portugal immigration administration, SEF, reports that 50% of American expats leave after 2 years and 70% leave after 5 years, for all kinds of reasons. You do a great service by making people aware of what an international move really entails and not just showing the positive side and ending with, "hit Like and Subscribe".
Sorry, mine is a different perspective. Have been coming to France ongoing since 1974, and did exclusive business there from 1995 until 2006. I'm no great shakes at all as a French speaker, but the majority of my daily interactions with the French, in French, are most Always positive, and I have made lots of firends over the years among the French and also among UK, Dutch, and German expats in my part of France, 17. I have a wonderful renovated property there, and a great social group there, and will Definitely be moving over from US this year. This did not happen instantly, and certainly involved a degree of good luck. No place is perfect, nor is there a perfect nationality. But what one brings to such endeavors inside oneself Greatly affects the outcomes. If one Chooses happiness, chooses to laugh at oneself, chooses to roll rather than resist, so many fears become trifling. And lastly, and I love this about them especially... the French people will defend their rights, yes, via strikes, demonstrations, and mind blowing deliberation; making France still a country where those governing retain a healthy degree of "fear", and respect, of the governed.
Vous semblez dénigrer le systeme français de soins. C'est votre droit. Toutefois le comparer au système américain ( US) voire anglais bien que ce dernier soit assez proche du système français ,me paraît incongru. Certes il n'est pas parfait, la tendance est négative, pour différentes raisons( ce système était le meilleur du monde voici une dizaine d'annees) mais il reste précieux car UNIVERSEL,autrement dit l'offre de soins est identique pour les riches et les pauvres et GRATUITE. D'ailleurs de nombreux étrangers viennent s',y faire soigner tant pour la gratuité que pour la qualité des soins,en particulier anglais et américains qui n'hésitent pas respectivement à payer le billet de la traversée du channel ou de l'atlantique. Dont acte.
Really good informational video! My husband and I are researching a move to France when we retire in 4-5 years. Something of major importance, since we're older, is access to good healthcare. The scenario you mentioned about the boy with appendicitis is EXACTLY what happened to our daughter who lives in Australia. She was sent home twice before finally doubling over at work and then rushed to emergency surgery. Once she was "inside" the system, her care was excellent. She says the same thing about the lack of willingness to "rule out things through medical testing" which is really contrary to how doctors approach cases in the U.S. My dad's a retired doctor in the U.S., so we've been trained to question doctors and demand good care. This is true here in America as well, but I'm not sure how well it would go over in France! It's a really important point to consider when deciding on a big move like this in retirement. Merci! We also believe that anyone seeking to live in another country should absolutely assimilate by learning the language, and they should have something to offer besides lounging in the sun. :)
It's so funny to see this video. We had planned to move to France for one full year (as retirees) but after much more research (thanks to you) we are not going to do it now. It does not even make me sad because it is a good decision for us. We may come for a month...but no longer feel a full year would work for us. Thanks Diane!
If you don't mind me asking, as you continued researching what was the deal breaker for you? I applaud you for doing the research needed and making the best decision for your situation.
Yes please, I also don't mean to push in but would like to understand more as my husband and I have been researching and looking at long term visas etc.
@@OuiInFrance After watching your videos, I (we) came to the conclusion that we had a "romanticized" idea of what moving to France for a year would entail. Once I started looking into it seriously, I realized that it is more complicated (and more expensive) than I thought it would be. For example, for health insurance, we would have to continue to pay for Medicare, while buying health insurance in France (which was about $700/Month each.) I checked into a much less expensive health insurance but felt it was too risky (and neither of us has any pressing medical issues.) We would also not be comfortable coming back to the USA at all during the year because we would only have Medicare (if we came back, got sick or hurt, and did not have a supplemental plan, our 20% could be literally millions of dollars in the USA.) If we paid for both Medicare and BX, while we were out of the country, it would be another $10,000 (for 2 people,) for the year. Finding a bank in France seemed like an insurmountable task. My language skills are beginner and my husband does not speak any French. Lastly, we'd heard so much about how people would not necessarily be helpful when it came to bureaucracy (like banks.) When I really looked into what was required and how difficult it can be, we got very discouraged and decided against it.
Excellent clip, well done. I moved to France in 1983 (- 1995) as a student and then somewhat “organically” transitioned” into a job. In all candor, I did little research prior to moving there but I had previously spent a lot of time in France. In addition, France in particular and Europe more broadly were vastly different then unfortunately than is now the case. The challenges I experienced mirrored closely with your comments but then I was young, adventuresome and loved the French language. I did meet Americans there and some had a far more difficult time of it than did i acculturating to French life for reasons which to me seemed odd. It was my observation at the time that we went to France for entirely different reasons. I knew what I wanted from the experience and my expectations were wonderfully realized. My American compatriots seemed consistently lost and troubled by their daily lives; I felt they focused more on what was missing from home in the US and not at all on what was right in front of them. And finally, ironically what turned out to be considerably more stressful, unnerving and Down right scary was returning to the US. I probably should have done more research in that regard. Merci. A bientôt.
Our personal situations and our reasons for moving to Europe and our respective countries are very different indeed, but I feel we have come to many of the same conclusions. Life is not perfect here, it is not a fairy tale, you MUST learn the language (and no, you will not just « pick it up » by living in the country!) if you want to really have a life here. As you have pointed out on several occasions, you do not leave your problems behind when you move (whether to France, Germany or another state in the USA); those little SOBs hide in your luggage and come with you! BUT: if you stay realistic and open to the changes and challenges you will definitely face, (western) Europe is a great place to live!
It's good to see you back on You Tube. All of your points are important. The most important one (in my opinion) is be aware of the tendency to romanticize something & have unrealistic expectations which is sure to leave you disappointed or worse. People who are looking for a geographic solution to a life problem need to become more self aware rather than jump on a plane. Our problems accompany us wherever we run to. I love France & I love experiencing other cultures, so if someone has the desire & has spent some time in France & is willing to adjust to a different life experience than in the US, then Bon Voyage et profiter d'une vie francaise.
I'm from the UK and always loved France. I wish I had worked there when I was younger. It would be too difficult to do it now but the grass is always greener on the other side. A lot of Brits moved to France pre covid and when both were part of the EEC. A lot of French people moved to the UK because they preferred it to France. So really everywhere is the same, just your point of view.
One major "potential" hurdle that people need to handle is immigration. Unless you're a citizen of the EEA (the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) or Switzerland you can't just go to France and decide to stay, much less work there. You need to have permission to stay, and it's going to involve paperwork and red tape. That’s not to say that it isn't doable. In many cases it can be. But, having permission to reside and/or work in France should be high on your list of things to do before you decide to pack everything up and relocate yourself. Otherwise you might find yourself in a position where you're told you have to leave.
At long last! And this statement should be way up on Diane's list! France is NOT one of the United States of America! Foreigners are only allowed a three month stay... Then you must have permission to remain in France! Not an easy permission to obtain may I add. A basic REALITY check that even post-Brexit Brits now have to face... to their dismay!
I have some tips for you, in case you aim to speak french perfectly: get yourself to be born in france, live in France since this date, and learn thoroughly at school.
Diane, I think you’re doing a great job of providing realistic, practical information. As someone who watches a lot of videos about France I would say that many, many RU-vidrs (and media) present only a fantasy version of France. As much as I love visiting France, I have no illusions about living there.
Thank you VERY much for your informative and REALISITC perspectives on moving to France. Having lived in and worked in Paris in my 20's to the age of 40, I can agree on so many points you covered- learning French is key, adapting to the culture, health care system, taxes, etc.
Yes remember "Amelia Poulain" is just a movie, French absolutely don't live in a movie. If you believe so you're at risk of being very disappointed. After all we are just human, good, bad and ugly...
My family moved to Switzerland in Sept for my wife's work, Your perspective is right on (with a few Swiss differences that aren't worth going into here). Language is HUGE! We are in a French region (north of Geneva), and neither my wife nor I, or our 10 year old son, speak French at all. We started learning before leaving but the move happened very quickly. Larger cities almost everyone speaks English, which is helpful. But we live in a small, rural community where most people aren't comfortable in English. It's been tough, even when 99% of our experience has been with very patient and considerate locals. Living day to day (as opposed to being on vacation) can wear on you psychologically when you can't communicate effectively even for basic things. It has gotten better as we've gotten more comfortable using French. But you're spot on: you do not pick it up just from being around it. You really need to work at learning French. It is a very difficult language. We're going to be here for 2-3 years, have had a wonderful experience so far. The only other thing I would add to this talk would be: social connections. Life is miserable if you don't have friends to share it with. And Europeans in general are socially different than Americans: one is not better or worse than the other, just different. You need to get connected with folks or you're going to feel isolated and lonely very quickly.
In the course of my career I've seen quite a fez foreigners, and especially Americans, learning French. An realized how lucky I am to be born a native French speaker, not having to learn French as a foreign language; don't misunderstand me, I love my language and the culture that goes with it but, no doubt, French is not an easy language to master. Bon Courage!
Anther great little video. Thank you. I continue my personal search for that perfect village in the south of France. I have spent 2-3 months each summer in a different village, none bigger than 2000 people for 5 years. I continue to study, read and watch French tv shows as well as going to a local place where French speaking Canadians gather. I'm an extrovert so it's been great introducing myself and just bustin' into French and making it clear that I want to learn. Yes, there can be some scathing criticism but everyone I've spoken to has helped me hear, listen and comprehend. The journey continues.
I don’t want to move to France, but I have considered moving to Montreal! I’ve been there many times and love it. But I’m afraid of their winters! Yikes! If I could afford a summer home there, I would definitely go!
Bonjour! I just started my journey of learning French, in person, 2 weeks ago. YOU ARE RIGHT! Wow there is much to learn. I had been using Duo Lingo and Pimsleur for the past few months, however there really is no comparison to classes in person. I joined at the Alliance Française in my city in Florida. I feel like I am in over my head at this moment, but I will make it through! New to your channel, and I enjoy your videos. Thank you!
👏 great job! I speak Italian at a B2/almost C1 level and still take a weekly small group Italian class. It helps sooo much. Wishing you the best in your ongoing French studies!
My wife has exactly the same experience in the UK this year as you have just related. Exactly the same experience, including same length of stay in the hospital all because the GP wrote it off. In fact, first time, they told her to go away and talk to the pharmacist.
Very sensible. I think books like _A Year In Provence_ and _The Sun Also Rises,_ and of course various movies, contribute to unrealistic fantasies about expatriate life not just by focusing on the romantic parts but also by making light humor of the difficult aspects.
Yes, reading The Sun Also Rises at a young, impressionable age really did contribute to unrealistic fantasies regarding France and Spain. Trying to figure it out.
My biggest complaint about people moving to France is the fact that they do not really try to blend into French culture. They don't watch French television, listen to French radio and don't go to see French movies because they have access to all of their "home" sources of entertainment and information. I really think that these elements are essential to understanding (and criticizing) French culture. I have had a number of expat friends (and have now eliminated them) because I could not even convince them to watch the French evening news. So there was no hope for them ever watching French series, game shows, soap operas or talk shows. And so they will never understand French culture.
You are right. But what I hate is to hear an American actor be dubbed in French on the French tv or in the movie theaters. Diane I have a question: if PBS is airing a French, German, etc.. movie is this than with subtitles or is it dubbed in English? I still shudder when I think of John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, George Clooney and all the other English-speaking actors being dubbed in French. The constant Frenchification of the original title of a film or series is also incomprehensible. I still don't understand why people in the French TV world don't use subtitles instead of dubbed versions. Actors each have their own voice, but due to dubbing their individuality is also lost. I was recently in Paris and saw an episode of Bones on a French channel and for me this was very unnatural because I saw the series in the original version with subtitles and I know the voices of the characters and the voices of the French voice actors did not really fit. I ask the French the following question: what would you think of the fact that Alain Delon and other French actors are dubbed in English?
You can't force people to like hunting, like excessive drinking, like football or hating immigrants. These are the most popular pastimes in our commune in the Charente and I wouldn't engage with them in any country. By your definition I am therefore not "integrated" and will stay that way thank you. We do have French friends and do avoid Brit-enclaves wherever possible but we simply will never be fully accepted here because of the above. And I don't watch the news in any language; it's too depressing ;-)
Yes, it's important to learn French to a good level before moving there. I teach French to people who are going to relocate, it will make your life a lot easier to speak the language. I'm a native speaker with 26 years' experience.
Diane, you are nailing it! You understand french culture better than we do. Even learning french for us is not a given. I would say the average french person doesn't master the grammar, and many make conjugasons mistake, so do I.
If I hadn't met Tom, my 7-month work contract in France early in my career would have been enough for me as well. I got my feet wet, got better at French, had the experience of living abroad, etc. But I'm happy I moved back to France after and have the support of my native husband. I wouldn't do it again on my own! Totally get it.
We very much appreciate that you provide this type of content. We are still in the early planning phases ourselves, and plan on several more visits before we pull the plug and move there as retirees.
This is very timely for me, so thanks! I’ve been doing my research for several months now. I’ll be living in Paris on a student visa this April, and yes, the fear of the transition is setting in! 😅
This post is the best advice I have seen on the net in regard to a move to France. Good practical advice with the perspective of solid experience. Je suis australien, mais je suis d'accord pour les américains qui veulent déménager en France, c'est un excellent conseil !
Sage advice Diane! I love your balanced approach in all your videos. I have no intention to live in Europe, but am close to retirement and plan to do a great deal of foreign travel. You are providing me a great education, and I think many of the matters you cover about France could be applied to any foreign travel!
So true about "falling in love with the idea" of a certain place. I followed the blog of a single woman who moved to Mexico for a couple years and I couldn't wait to move to that same place based on her blog. Fortunately, I went for a two-week visit beforehand and I was shocked at how awful this place was in person. She loved it, I hated it and nearly made an irreversible mistake based on her comments only.
What a PHENOMENAL video! This is my first time coming across your channel, and I am blown away! Diane, you are absolutely fantastic; so well spoken, clear and concise in your thoughts, incredibly thoughtful with the subject of your content and thorough in explaining it in a way that isn't manipulative or one-sided. You have a new subscriber and fan in me. I look forward in hearing more from you. Que Dieu te bénisse et porte-toi bien! - Mel C.
Point one is the truth! I lived in France from Oct 22 to April 23 and the language was a challenge, even though I considered myself as knowing "enough" to get by. I loved being there though.
I follow other websites of people who have moved to France, a couple of websites are from people who have not started learning the language until they moved there. I think that it would be difficult to navigate society without good knowledge of the language, especially if running into major life problems that need to be resolved. Also, I have a friend who lives in France who purchased a "mutuelle" to get proper coverage in the French healthcare system.
I have said it before, but I love your videos! I’ll be here 6 years in June and oh my goodness my French 😂. I thought I’d be fluent in two years 😂 so naïve I know. I’m just so relieved that I’m at the level now that I don’t break out into sweat when people talk to me about random things. Thanks for making these ! Not to sound creepy but you feel like a friend. 😊 I appreciate all the realistic things you talk about!!
Wonderful tips! So true, especially the language part. I seemed to have expected to wake up some morning and just be fluent by simply being there, and that is just not how it works. You're so right, it's wonderful living in France, but it's definitely not without its headaches and frustrations, all of which are worth it IMHO :) It's much easier to be a tourist but there's nothing quite as sweet as living in France
French speaking tourist permet de dire au chauffeur de taxi parisien “dis donc ça fait 2fois qu’on passe par là, il faudrait arrêter de nous prendre pour des cons” une seconde plus tard on arrivait à destination. Ou Au restaurant “pourquoi y a des trucs bizarre qui flottent dans la carafe d’eau??” Sans parler des over facturations…
Hi Diane, You are so right. Great video. I am so, so happy that I moved to France, but it does have its challenges and people do need to think carefully before going ahead.
Great video as usual! Thank you for saying it's normal to have doubts when researching a move to France... I'm in the middle of that right now and there's definitely a lot that feels daunting! But such is life when you have an adventurous spirit 🙂
Hello from Australia!! I was born in Belgium and lived here for most of my life. I've watched a few "chateau renovation" channels, and was surprised at Sundays: Quite apart from the bells (I haven't heard bells here for decades on a Sunday), here Sunday mornings are often filled with the sound (racket?) of lawnmowers. That's apparently a no-no in France. At least in some parts. Incidentally, I worked for a while with a Frenchman from near Lyon. and he had a less-than-good opinion of Parisians :P I'm sure that some Parisians have similar opinions of people from other cities in France :P Many years ago I saw an interview with a New Zealand couple living in rural France, and they were asked about the stereotyped French arrogance. Their response was they'd not encountered it. If you go there with an open mind and willingness to learn and integrate, you won't have any trouble in that respect. Obviously, if you go there with an attitude of "my country is better", you can expect a not-so-welcoming reception. That goes for any country, really.
I'm so sorry for your nephew! I feel exactly as you do about the health system here, a big part of why I want to move back to the US. I feel like in the US they are more likely to run the tests because they fear being sued should they miss something. I feel like this keeps the patient safer, although of course without insurance or even with it can be super expensive. I'd rather figure out how to pay off debt than have something life threatening missed. Thank you for this video! I was one that thought many things would be better in France, and didn't do enough research before coming. I lived abroad before so I knew it would be a 24/7 holiday, but there were definitely many unanticipated issues.
Glad you enjoyed this one! If you don't mind sharing, what areas of research do you feel you didn't dig into deep enough before moving? And what were some of the unanticipated issues? Thank you!
One of the big issues is I assumed salaries would be similar to where I had lived previously (Boston, Denmark, and Sweden) as Paris is a big city. Salaries for teachers are generally about half what they would be in Boston, Denmark, or Sweden. I didn't realize the cultural differences in healthcare and how it could affect me. I had been followed for pre-diabetes in the US whereas in France they refused to even just follow up on this "because I didn't have the body type for diabetes". So now I just use my parents blood sugar test whenever I am back home and hope for the best. I also did not know that a certain prescription I need just is not available in France. So if you have any medical needs, do your research ahead of time. At this point in time, I am trying my best to figure out how to move back to the US in the near future. This is not to say there aren't things I like here in France or that it's all been awful. I also truly feel that if I had not moved here when I had the chance, I always would have wondered.
Je suis Français j'habite une régions qui s'appellent Bretagne à l'extrême Ouest de la France . concernant le neveu de Diane , il est fréquent que les médecins soient hautains à Paris et régions parisiennes ? le problème est que dans les hôpitaux il y a un service qui s'appelle les "URGENCES" c'est là que tous les malades sont dispatchés la priorités est les cas graves , ensuite c'est ce que nous appelons "la bobologie" il est possible que le médecins soi passer à cotés d'une appendicites comme les soins hospitaliers sont gratuits vous avez une convergences de patients qui arrivent aux URGENCES car lorsque vous allez chez un médecin vous faites une avance puis ensuite vous êtes rembourser par la "sécurité sociale" 8 jours après . mais bon comme nous disons Ici
Interestingly, my husband (a retired NHS consultant in nuclear medicine) was horrified at the number of tests done in the US. He said many were totally unnecessary, overkill and actually exposed the patient to more risks. Sadly it's a reflection of the litigious nature of US healthcare and the doctor's need to 'upsell' to make his care appear better than the offerings of his competitors...
@@jackandtylertoo Hello, sir or madam you said: in France they even refused to follow this "because I didn't have the body type for diabetes". I think the doctors said: that you had no antibodies concerning diabetic problems are your: pancreas is functioning normally! the pancreas produces pancreatic juices (not to be confused with: sugar) thanks to its specialized cells the acini, "anti-bodies" these juices contain many enzymes useful for digestion: amylases, lipases and proteases. I think you made the almaguana between your physical body and the anti-body molecules which is why they refused to give you insulin or other treatments since your pancreas is functioning normally. I do not believe it is necessary to prescribe medication when you are not diabetic; diabetes is not hereditary... in the USA they sell drugs = profits for laboratories; in France, prescription drugs are reimbursed by social security, so who says social says taxes on the French people. If you had an accident or a serious illness in France, the care, the hospitalizations would be paid 100% by social security, you wouldn't have to ask yourself the question who will pay for the care, operations, hospitalizations? it is the French company that will take care of you! in the United States it is individualism! In France at the level of care and others we speak of solidarity, but in the United States, this notion is very quickly replaced by the word "socialism" considered as a scarecrow on the other side of the Atlantic it is a choice that we do the Americans. in short, you have no confidence in medicine in France, whether it be research, health, and others, we have nothing to envy in the United States. you say you want to go back to the U.S.A and leave, but avoid criticizing France!!!
Thank you for addressing the myth of “language learning by osmosis” straight out of the starting gate. Learning a new language well is a process measured in years, even if one is immersed in an environment where it is spoken. Another myth is that adults can’t learn new languages. We won’t sound like native speakers, but adults with a foundation in literacy in their own language are strategic, systematic learners.
Thanks for the great video Diana. Frenchman here: Yes French is difficult, yes it is very much needed to live in France (administrative, tax, medical, social issues). I learned German at school during 11 years with little success but within 6 months stay in Germany (and motivation) I could speak and write German fluently. So a combination of study, practice and motivation does wonders. I also had to work in China, so I tried to learn it and believe me MANDARIN is a very difficult language. So I got little results only to discover that many Chinese don't speak Mandarin but local languagesn (Cantonese, Beijingese, Shanghainese and many more). Regarding the health care system, yes there are also some negative aspects in France BUT, I had an accident in the US and I experienced entering the emergency section in a US hospital: You don't ENTER (door is locked) unless you provide a valid credit card number and sign a waiver not to file any legal suit against the hospital. In France we first take care and then ask for paperwork. Taxes: many modern taxes were invented by France (VAT and many more) so taxes are huge here. EVEN bigger is Social Security (not a number to get financial records like in the US) Social Security in France delievers MUCH MORE money than the ENTIRE French government budget (Defense, Education, etc). Indeed France is a strange (but lovely) country.
I love France. The French still have a great grip on what really matters in life - family, friends, food, nature, health. Culture too. I'm a Francophone from Ireland and I am so happy to be able to dip in and out of the wonderful country that is France in all its regional variations. Bravo, et courage. En avance, la France! 🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵
I once saw in France a homeless man fall and crack his head. I called firemen and they spent like 10 mn to come (their HQ was 500m away) and the first thing they asked the guy was "do you have a Carte Vitale?"
@@iansmirna5183 Frenchman here. Agreed, firemen or medical assistance take 10 to20 min to arrive (This is not the headquarters but the team which is often away supporting other calls). The carte vitale is not a condition to being assisted BUT it helps a lot accessing the medical data of the person.
@@johnjeanb in that case the man was bleeding from the head since 10 mn, he could not reply to them and they insisted... I also saw people arriving at ER after bein attacked with an axe on NYE forced to queue in line and wait for their turn... As a matter of fact, within the last 30 years, french's health care system suffered a lot from liberalization and politics (inspired by US) wanting to shift it from a public service to a profitable service. Less money and means involved. Same goes for train, culture, education soon...
First time viewer, here. Impression? This is the channel I'll be following for its clarity of content and particularly the speaker's articulation with spoken English. Really well done.
Thanks for brining these topics to the table. As a foreigner living in Canada, I can totally relate to you. Similar considerations and advises. Be informed before making such a big jump.
You are so right , plenty of day to day challenges/ frustrations here especially if your French isn’t good . Competent French is really key to making all easier
You can learn the language just by living there if you are a kid. Adults need more help learn a language. I emigrated at 15 and learn the local language in a few years to a decent level. I only took 1 year of language classes 4 years after I emigrated. Eventually I went to university in my second language and graduated.
I am so grateful having found your channel! Your insight and advice is so grounded and refreshingly candid and honest. I will definitely follow up with you for a consultation! Merci beaux coups! Much thanks in advance!!
A friend moved to France to be near her some family, stayed for about six months and then returned much worse for wear. She felt isolated and it might have been in part language related.
You can have any medical exam such as a blood test or a radio, just go for it on your own and pay the bill. But as it is a public system, you are not refunded for your expenses.
