A bit of perspective, please.
Discussion
I have dual nationality, French and English, but have lived in England all my life. I've now got a wife, two kids and no desire to stay in the UK.
My wife is up for the move, looking over the next two years as a timescale, but we are aware it would probably be a bit isolating for her, at least to begin with.
The problem is my 'no desire to stay in the UK' has turned in to 'everything is wonderful in France'. I know this isn't true, but I can't really shake the feeling some days. All the time we spend in France is on holiday, or with family who are mostly retired, so I have an unrealistic expectation of what French life is like.
Which is where you all come in. Please can you let me know about the bad stuff. What hurdles will I definitely need to overcome if we do actually move? My French is pretty close to native, so I'd be looking at getting a job, putting the kids in schools, etc. Any of you done this? How much did it suck?
I have read the moving to France thread further down, but that seems mostly focused on gite businesses, which I would rather avoid.
My wife is up for the move, looking over the next two years as a timescale, but we are aware it would probably be a bit isolating for her, at least to begin with.
The problem is my 'no desire to stay in the UK' has turned in to 'everything is wonderful in France'. I know this isn't true, but I can't really shake the feeling some days. All the time we spend in France is on holiday, or with family who are mostly retired, so I have an unrealistic expectation of what French life is like.
Which is where you all come in. Please can you let me know about the bad stuff. What hurdles will I definitely need to overcome if we do actually move? My French is pretty close to native, so I'd be looking at getting a job, putting the kids in schools, etc. Any of you done this? How much did it suck?
I have read the moving to France thread further down, but that seems mostly focused on gite businesses, which I would rather avoid.
What hurdles? Ignore tax and bureaucracy for a moment (
) wife/ kids, kids/ wife.
It's your dream, is it theirs? Read the house sale thread too where several sellers are doing so because of the other half not taking to it. You can get here, but you might go back. Or one+ of them might.
TBH, the biggy is the kids, how old are they? Their integration is quite simply the most important factor, which will happen, but can be hard at first, and if you don't have a partner fully on board, if they're apprehensive, that can quickly turn into a desire to return to what they know.
Language helps. A lot. If your wife can more than get by, assuming you're working and she's not, initially at least, if she can communicate, she'll get by. If she can't get by...
) wife/ kids, kids/ wife.It's your dream, is it theirs? Read the house sale thread too where several sellers are doing so because of the other half not taking to it. You can get here, but you might go back. Or one+ of them might.
TBH, the biggy is the kids, how old are they? Their integration is quite simply the most important factor, which will happen, but can be hard at first, and if you don't have a partner fully on board, if they're apprehensive, that can quickly turn into a desire to return to what they know.
Language helps. A lot. If your wife can more than get by, assuming you're working and she's not, initially at least, if she can communicate, she'll get by. If she can't get by...
We split our time between the UK and France.
Things to bear in mind about France;
- it is very bureaucratic and anything that involves interacting with a public body takes longer than in the UK
- a lot of things are much more expensive - second hand cars, white goods & appliances etc
- fewer businesses have a good online footprint and most transactions are still easier done face to face
- business/trading hours are like the 1980s in the UK
- once bought, property takes forever to sell
- the service culture is much less strong than in the Uk, people do stuff when they fancy doing it, not when they promised to
Things to bear in mind about France;
- it is very bureaucratic and anything that involves interacting with a public body takes longer than in the UK
- a lot of things are much more expensive - second hand cars, white goods & appliances etc
- fewer businesses have a good online footprint and most transactions are still easier done face to face
- business/trading hours are like the 1980s in the UK
- once bought, property takes forever to sell
- the service culture is much less strong than in the Uk, people do stuff when they fancy doing it, not when they promised to
The jobs market seems not to appreciate atypical CVs. The idea of a year off to go travelling, for example, is from what I've seen only starting to be accepted as not a negative in some employers.
I don't view France through rose tinted spectacles, but in general, it does seem to me to offer a better life than the UK and after 13 years here in Ile de France, I find the UK disappointing each time I go back (Brexit hasn't helped). The bureaucracy isn't great, but is getting slowly better, having just succeeded in obtaining French nationality and exchanging my driving licence. Being nice to the bureaucrats concerned also helps.
Oh and the trackday scene doesn't seem to be quite as developed (this is Pistonheads).
I don't view France through rose tinted spectacles, but in general, it does seem to me to offer a better life than the UK and after 13 years here in Ile de France, I find the UK disappointing each time I go back (Brexit hasn't helped). The bureaucracy isn't great, but is getting slowly better, having just succeeded in obtaining French nationality and exchanging my driving licence. Being nice to the bureaucrats concerned also helps.
Oh and the trackday scene doesn't seem to be quite as developed (this is Pistonheads).
Thanks all for the information.
It is a serviceable dream for all of us, the kids are still young little sponges so would soak it up (hopefully). I will keep gathering information and see what is out there.
It does seem to offer some better things than Britain, getting things done in three times the time is perhaps even part of the appeal. Although I see how that could get wearying.
It is a serviceable dream for all of us, the kids are still young little sponges so would soak it up (hopefully). I will keep gathering information and see what is out there.
It does seem to offer some better things than Britain, getting things done in three times the time is perhaps even part of the appeal. Although I see how that could get wearying.
A lot could depend on the region you choose to live. The north and east and south seems to have better industry etc so a better chance of employment but the housing is more expensive.
The west is cheap and houses are for nothing at the moment. There are some better areas there but mainly it's depressingly hard to get a decent payed job. It's all about the minimum wage.
I've scratched a living in the building trade for 18 years in the west area but it's been tough at times.
Saying all that we still love our life here and have our own little paradise. Beautiful countryside and no heavy traffic.
The west is cheap and houses are for nothing at the moment. There are some better areas there but mainly it's depressingly hard to get a decent payed job. It's all about the minimum wage.
I've scratched a living in the building trade for 18 years in the west area but it's been tough at times.
Saying all that we still love our life here and have our own little paradise. Beautiful countryside and no heavy traffic.
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