Oh Karen , I know what you're talking about. I married a bavarian guy and moved to a small Dorf . Learned german , taught english and now teach german to immigramts. Have 2 gurls to help and a loving hubby. We travel everywhere Italy, France , Germany ......life is rewarding 😊
yes I am researching and looking into living in South of France but I need to visit different areas. Do you have a realtor that can help me find a place Rental not to purchase. Glad I found your you tube channel.
Hello and thanks so much for this comment. I don't know a realtor in that area, but I can suggest that you go to one of the Facebook groups like Americans Living the Dream in France and ask the question b/c they might have a guide or some tips! Best of luck and greetings from Paris :-)
You seem so very sweet and I appreciate your advice and encouragement about self-reflection as well as patience with self especially with the goal of living in another country. I am 58 year old woman and the primary breadwinner in my relationship. Sometimes I fear it’s too late, but have heard it is more affordable to retire to France than the US. (Still need to show the passive income etc.) I admire that you went on vacations alone and had the confidence to live your dreams! ❤❤🎉
This was a great reflection on how many things change and how strange it can feel when you settle in a new country, even when you've chosen that place. Your mention of McDonald's resonated! Its so weird, we never ate there in the states. But the day my daughter and I were feeling really homesick, that's exactly where we went. And I did feel weirdly better. 😅
One thing for sure, you look a lot brighter and relaxed. It is true that it is hard to admit when moving abroad to make one's home that there are other ways of doing things. We have to admit that they can be worse. Well, it's the country's prerogative not that of the immigrant. They can also be better. However, because you are not alone it can be more bearable though, as you noted, you will have your moments of solitude, inadequacy, homesickness, etc. I love your new style. Interesting video.
You're right, not being alone is definitely a plus :-) even if you're also right, there are times that it almost magnifies the "outsider" feeling, which is not necessarily always apparent to your friends or partner. Your point of having to open our minds that there are other ways of doing things--that is so important! Thank you for watching and for your kind words!!
Hi Karen nice to meet you , my mane is Alisa my dream was same way I was thinking 😅 I am study French now here and there right now 😁 I am a hair style entrepreneur I like to do the same over there I am planing go visite next year. And plan to move if you have e any advice for me that will be appreciated.
Bonjour ! Thank you for your comment. OK my main advice for you is--it's great that you are visiting. I hope you can stay in France longer than just a few days so you can really feel if you like it. I am an entrepreneur too, so I would say that if you plan to get an entrepreneur visa, you should start to research that and to put together a business plan that you can use to help you get a visa to start your business in France. Also, if you can make sure you have at least a basic level of French, you will be very happy! You can research your visa options on a good website which is called expatinfrance dot com. She has a lot of good information that helped me too! Bonne continuation !
These videos are so honest. It has helped me realize that moving with my New Yorker husband may be more than he, a French citizen, can manage. I get by on politeness and he his NY attitude. I find myself better accepted in France. There is a social dance which we must adhere to to get by. Being inflexible or impatient does not work in France.
Thank you for this great comment. Yes, moving to any new country requires a lot of flexibility, openness and humility, but it is also a great chance to grow and learn :-) It's a journey for sure. Sending you greetings from Paris
Hello and thanks so much for taking the time to watch and comment. It means a lot to me and I'm so glad you found it interesting. Bon week-end de Paris ! :-)
Hi Karen, I am so glad I have found your channel. I do enjoy your contents. Thank you so much, please keep producing these informative and inspiring vdos. 💕
Bonjour ! Thank you so much for watching and for your sweet words. It really means everything to me, as I absolutely love France and want to share that with others who do as well...Let me know if there's anything specific you'd like to know! xoxo Karen
Quick question: Is the residence training presented in French only? I'm thinking that many new arrivals speak little or no French and would get very little out of the program.
Bonjour ! Yes, the OFII training is presented in French only. BUT. You have the right to request a translator to be present with you in the room. In my case, I was the only French speaker in my group of about 15 new arrivals. The rest spoke Arabic, and there was an Arabic translator repeating everything the teacher said for the rest of the group. Hope this answer is helpful to you and thanks for taking the time to write.
I'm really enjoying your videos. Thanks for such honest content. I am moving to La Rochelle in December with my partner and I could not be more excited! Glad to hear you talk about conflicting information though as the internet searches are confusing me the more I read. I am a EU citizen but I have never lived in EU! I am from Australia! So I have to try to sort out bank accounts, tax numbers, EHIC etc etc in Slovenia too. So it is sometimes overwhelming already but I am letting it go and trusting it will fall into place when I am there.... I hope! haha.
Bonjour ! Thank you so much. It's good that you're starting to get organized, and I've heard La Rochelle is beautiful. Just let your excitement carry you and take deep breaths. One thing at a time and you'll get there!! Bonne continuation :-)
Thank you for sharing your experience. It is encouraging and helpful. I’m planning to move to Nice and its environs. The first step seems daunting. Getting health insurance. I am 60 and like most sixty year olds , I have preexisting conditions. Hopefully, Cigna will take me on but it may be tricky.
Bonjour ! First off congrats on deciding to move to France--Nice is wonderful. And yes I know that insurance can be a difficult step, but you'll get through it! I suggest you check out some of the Facebook groups, like Americans Living the Dream in France. There are a lot of folks there who may have advice for you (and there are plenty of other groups as well). Bon courage ! It's worth the trouble :-)
Salut Karen! Félicitation que votre channel semble d’être prospère! J’apprecierai votre choisie du content…et vous peut voir comme votre recommendation, je suis d’immersion de français (oui meme quand possible pas correct! 😂) Merci pour vos encouragements, je suis viens d’embaucher ma premier tutor en langue francaise! Merci Beaucoup et continuez votre bon travail!!
Your vdo showed up in my feed & the title intrigued me but am at work don't hve time to watch so leaving a comment here to thank you and to be able to find your work later bec subscription doesn't always help find vdo s tht you liked. O and am a jewellery maker subscribed to you from India. Will go check if you hve one on my country 🙏👍
Merci ! I haven't yet been to India, but my sister is married to a Gujarati and I have produced many South Asian weddings. Thank you for stopping by and hope to see you here again !
@@karenbussen o wonderful. Must be an NRI Gujarati. We got a whole bunch of them all over the world. That community is very enterprising ( but they are not very generous with people from other States of India in Gujarat for some strange reason). It's such a pleasant surprise to hear from you, learn of your Indian connections. I subscribed and hope to watch some vdo s together during the weekend. I work very long hours 6 to 8 pm running my little jewellery making enterprise, hence get little time during weekdays or mornings at this point. I love watching vdo s from all over and various genres and especially human interest ones where am actually getting to know of a real person's life and how he or she problem solved. Thanks and regards to you Karen. 🙏🍄
