Moving to Toulouse
Discussion
Well, Montauban to be precise.
My gf lives there so the chances of me moving of pretty high, especially given the fact we haven't been able to see each other for the last few weeks. But I'm interested in hearing from people that have moved from the UK to France, and their experiences.
I speak the language to a reasonable degree, although I struggle when listening to natives in flowing conversation. But I'm not too worried as that will come with time and exposure.
There's a local golf course, which helps. Although not much in the way of mountain biking, and I don't think (m)any local circuits for bike track days.
I've moved all around the UK previously, but am slightly more hesitant about moving to France as it's a much bigger change. So please put my mind at ease
My gf lives there so the chances of me moving of pretty high, especially given the fact we haven't been able to see each other for the last few weeks. But I'm interested in hearing from people that have moved from the UK to France, and their experiences.
I speak the language to a reasonable degree, although I struggle when listening to natives in flowing conversation. But I'm not too worried as that will come with time and exposure.
There's a local golf course, which helps. Although not much in the way of mountain biking, and I don't think (m)any local circuits for bike track days.
I've moved all around the UK previously, but am slightly more hesitant about moving to France as it's a much bigger change. So please put my mind at ease
Do you have a job you can move with/ can you work from home (and ideally get paid in Euro)?
Search for Driller's posts for the reality of running a professional business in France.
Learn French. Duolingo is free and a start. Watch French TV, films and listen to French radio, read lemonde, and whatever the local papers are. Look for ads for random s
t on leboncoin, which will show you how people really speak. That will all help with the speed and colloquial bits.
Enjoy long lunches, warm evenings, a lot of 70's and 80's attitudes, vocal leftism etc. In fact it's pretty much like living in The Guardian.
ETA, not that many Brits around there thanks to Airbus being south. A lucky escape for you!
Search for Driller's posts for the reality of running a professional business in France.
Learn French. Duolingo is free and a start. Watch French TV, films and listen to French radio, read lemonde, and whatever the local papers are. Look for ads for random s
t on leboncoin, which will show you how people really speak. That will all help with the speed and colloquial bits. Enjoy long lunches, warm evenings, a lot of 70's and 80's attitudes, vocal leftism etc. In fact it's pretty much like living in The Guardian.
ETA, not that many Brits around there thanks to Airbus being south. A lucky escape for you!
Edited by Macron on Wednesday 15th April 13:47
Sat in the sun the other day the Mrs and I were just saying that lockdown in England reminded us very much of living in france , albeit when we did it full time it was 2002 for a couple of years .
We found it to quiet and laid back for our tastes , it's a bit different in the cities and life has changed down there for the better as we noticed when we did the holiday house over a few years after selling up the residential house , but even then , when the opportunity unexpectedly arose to sell the holiday house we took it immediately.
Good luck if you do it , it's more difficult than we thought .
We found it to quiet and laid back for our tastes , it's a bit different in the cities and life has changed down there for the better as we noticed when we did the holiday house over a few years after selling up the residential house , but even then , when the opportunity unexpectedly arose to sell the holiday house we took it immediately.
Good luck if you do it , it's more difficult than we thought .
Some years later I think you would regret not giving French life a go.
You seem to be young and up for a challenge. To me the fact that you already speak some French will be a great starting block.
I don't know the area you want to move to but I believe it's quite cosmopolitan and up beat.
In my 18 years expierience of living in France it's been very positive and I still love it here. Being able to converse and also earn a living are key from my point of view.
A wonderfull country but not for everyone it seems.
You seem to be young and up for a challenge. To me the fact that you already speak some French will be a great starting block.
I don't know the area you want to move to but I believe it's quite cosmopolitan and up beat.
In my 18 years expierience of living in France it's been very positive and I still love it here. Being able to converse and also earn a living are key from my point of view.
A wonderfull country but not for everyone it seems.
I live between Toulouse and Carcassonne, we had a holiday home here first and moved permanently in 2001. This is a beautiful area, good transport connections, not far from the Med, choice of good skiing resorts and absolutely masses of history plus all the Cathar castles and Carcassonne which is now a World Heritage Site, albeit a touch touristy in the summer. The area is noted for it's good food and these days produces some of the best wines in France and at sensible prices. Give it a whirl, it's not a life sentence if you have a change of heart but definitely worth trying!
Go, learn French, learn French and o, learn French.
We struggled when living in Germany because we went without learning a word (spur of the moment 3 months from deciding to being there). Having spent a lot of time in TLS the Germans’ have a much better level of English and a greater willingness to use it, so I wouldn’t think of moving to France without at least the basics.
We will be moving to France (as Mr Macron pointed out above I will be further south DUE to Air us as opposed to avoiding it!), within the next 5 years. I know many colleagues who have moved out there are very few of them return.
It’s an excellent location, great links to Spain / Andorra, the beaches, the weather, the mountains, etc.
Worse case, you can move back.
We rented out my houses so I always had something to come back too, although granted we knew that Germany wasn’t a perm’ move.
We struggled when living in Germany because we went without learning a word (spur of the moment 3 months from deciding to being there). Having spent a lot of time in TLS the Germans’ have a much better level of English and a greater willingness to use it, so I wouldn’t think of moving to France without at least the basics.
We will be moving to France (as Mr Macron pointed out above I will be further south DUE to Air us as opposed to avoiding it!), within the next 5 years. I know many colleagues who have moved out there are very few of them return.
It’s an excellent location, great links to Spain / Andorra, the beaches, the weather, the mountains, etc.
Worse case, you can move back.
We rented out my houses so I always had something to come back too, although granted we knew that Germany wasn’t a perm’ move.
If Airbus are picking up kids private school fees like they do in reverse (ie Fr to En) then it's hardly a surprise few return. The pay is middling, but if you can get 2+ kids privately educated FOC the benefit in financial terms is immense!
I know several people who have taken pay cuts to join the firm with exactly that plan in mind.
Anyway, OP, go for it, when you're allowed to travel that is!
I know several people who have taken pay cuts to join the firm with exactly that plan in mind.
Anyway, OP, go for it, when you're allowed to travel that is!
We've been in France more than 25 years, and whilst like any country there are things you can moan about we have no regrets and plan to remain here until the end! It helps that both our daughters also live in France with their children.
Where we are is great during this lockdown as it's very rural but we have access to good shops and health services nearby. We are exactly midway between Montauban and Auch, and we know Montauban very well. In fact when we have to do specialised shopping we'd much rather go there than Toulouse as it's easier to park and get into.
Costs have gone up over the last 10 years whilst salaries, pensions etc haven't. However, when you add typical lodging costs into the equation it's still attractive. Of course post-Covid19 things will be different but that will apply everywhere.
As mentioned good racing and track days at Nogaro. Then there's a yearly retrospective day at Cadours-La Réole circuit that hosted F2 and closed I think in the late 50s.
Lots of different car meetings including one I've organised for the last 12 years that caters for Sports and GT cars.
Sounds like you have reasonable French and an established base to move to, so I would say give it a try. You might miss family, friends, pubs, cheap cheddar, tea and marmite (or maybe not). You'll love the quiet roads, cheaper housing and easy access to the Med/Atlantic/Pyrenées.
Cheers
Philip
Where we are is great during this lockdown as it's very rural but we have access to good shops and health services nearby. We are exactly midway between Montauban and Auch, and we know Montauban very well. In fact when we have to do specialised shopping we'd much rather go there than Toulouse as it's easier to park and get into.
Costs have gone up over the last 10 years whilst salaries, pensions etc haven't. However, when you add typical lodging costs into the equation it's still attractive. Of course post-Covid19 things will be different but that will apply everywhere.
As mentioned good racing and track days at Nogaro. Then there's a yearly retrospective day at Cadours-La Réole circuit that hosted F2 and closed I think in the late 50s.
Lots of different car meetings including one I've organised for the last 12 years that caters for Sports and GT cars.
Sounds like you have reasonable French and an established base to move to, so I would say give it a try. You might miss family, friends, pubs, cheap cheddar, tea and marmite (or maybe not). You'll love the quiet roads, cheaper housing and easy access to the Med/Atlantic/Pyrenées.
Cheers
Philip
Hi. I live just north of Montauban.
Love it.
Been here for 4 years now. Couldn't speak any French, didn't learn it at school. The people are so friendly. The countryside & roads (got motorbikes & kitcar) are unbelievable.
I'm an electrician have a years worth of of work ahead. Manual workers (builders) are sought after.
If you don't do it you will regret it forever.
Kev
Love it.
Been here for 4 years now. Couldn't speak any French, didn't learn it at school. The people are so friendly. The countryside & roads (got motorbikes & kitcar) are unbelievable.
I'm an electrician have a years worth of of work ahead. Manual workers (builders) are sought after.
If you don't do it you will regret it forever.
Kev
Hi,
I moved to France over 10 years ago, to live with my then French girlfriend (now wife). I've just taken French nationality (thanks Brexit) and have really little, if anything, by the way of regrets. Admittedly, I live in the Ile de France just outside Paris.
There are negative points, in that the bureaucracy can be rather more painful than is the case in the UK, but having exchanged my driving licence and taken nationality recently and imported an MX5 from the UK some years ago, the bureaucrats that you meet are usually pretty reasonable, though the rules that they operate by are not necessarily understandable. The cultural differences can be surprising as well and are best approached with an open mind.
As one of the other posters said, do it, what have you got to lose, especially if you have a partner that will help you adapt to the local way of life as they are already immersed in it - a lot of the people that don't make it here seem to move from the UK as a couple.
Trunnie
I moved to France over 10 years ago, to live with my then French girlfriend (now wife). I've just taken French nationality (thanks Brexit) and have really little, if anything, by the way of regrets. Admittedly, I live in the Ile de France just outside Paris.
There are negative points, in that the bureaucracy can be rather more painful than is the case in the UK, but having exchanged my driving licence and taken nationality recently and imported an MX5 from the UK some years ago, the bureaucrats that you meet are usually pretty reasonable, though the rules that they operate by are not necessarily understandable. The cultural differences can be surprising as well and are best approached with an open mind.
As one of the other posters said, do it, what have you got to lose, especially if you have a partner that will help you adapt to the local way of life as they are already immersed in it - a lot of the people that don't make it here seem to move from the UK as a couple.
Trunnie
Looks like I'm in a minority !
It would help if the op could tell us the following
Is your girlfriend French or an English ex pat ?
What age are you ?
Where do you intend living , renting or buying ?
What line of work will you be doing ?
Do you have enough funds for the near future ?
if you can give us some answers to those questions the collective on here may be able to provide some pointers as to what to expect.
It would help if the op could tell us the following
Is your girlfriend French or an English ex pat ?
What age are you ?
Where do you intend living , renting or buying ?
What line of work will you be doing ?
Do you have enough funds for the near future ?
if you can give us some answers to those questions the collective on here may be able to provide some pointers as to what to expect.
Thank you all for the replies, they have genuinely put my mind at ease (I think I just needed to hear some positive news stories).
.
Girlfriend is French, she owns a lovely house in Montauban and grew up there. I'm 29.
I'm a consultant with a London base office, but spend a lot of time working in Europe. I'm not sure if I'll be able to stay employed by the same company, but will try for a career break if nothing else. And during that time maybe study for an MBA whilst finding some manual work to contribute towards the bills. I have enough funds to keep me going for a few months.
Our plan is for me to move out there for a couple of years, until we have a kid, and then we'll move back to England. And I know that makes it seem like a no brainer. My only hesitation stems from the fact I've worked hard to get to where I am career wise, and risk taking a step back through this decision.
That being said, riding to the local bakery for morning croissants, and afternoons spent sipping a beer by the pool, is a lifestyle change I can get onboard with.
paulwirral said:
Looks like I'm in a minority !
It would help if the op could tell us the following
Is your girlfriend French or an English ex pat ?
What age are you ?
Where do you intend living , renting or buying ?
What line of work will you be doing ?
Do you have enough funds for the near future ?
if you can give us some answers to those questions the collective on here may be able to provide some pointers as to what to expect.
My first post was a bit vague It would help if the op could tell us the following
Is your girlfriend French or an English ex pat ?
What age are you ?
Where do you intend living , renting or buying ?
What line of work will you be doing ?
Do you have enough funds for the near future ?
if you can give us some answers to those questions the collective on here may be able to provide some pointers as to what to expect.
.Girlfriend is French, she owns a lovely house in Montauban and grew up there. I'm 29.
I'm a consultant with a London base office, but spend a lot of time working in Europe. I'm not sure if I'll be able to stay employed by the same company, but will try for a career break if nothing else. And during that time maybe study for an MBA whilst finding some manual work to contribute towards the bills. I have enough funds to keep me going for a few months.
Our plan is for me to move out there for a couple of years, until we have a kid, and then we'll move back to England. And I know that makes it seem like a no brainer. My only hesitation stems from the fact I've worked hard to get to where I am career wise, and risk taking a step back through this decision.
That being said, riding to the local bakery for morning croissants, and afternoons spent sipping a beer by the pool, is a lifestyle change I can get onboard with.
You've got a good grounding to start with and your young enough to make it work , especially with French connections.
Not to deal you a knockout blow , I wish you the best and hope you do risk it and enjoy every moment of what comes around , we loved it but decided that it wasn't for us . Please read on .
We moved to the Dordogne in 2002 , 39 and wife 29 , bought a house and car outright , no mortgage or loans and also had probably 5 Years wages in the bank . I don't really like disclosing that but if it puts anything into perspective, so be it , I'm not a typical, powerfully built director type .
I'm a builder by trade and quickly picked up work , cash in hand , off the ex pats and actually a couple of French people once they'd seen my work at my own home .
Wife did an intensive French course at a local college and slipped into it very well .
Unfortunately our reality was she could earn a quarter of what she could in England and that was a bit of a waste of a very good education and a similar degree , I could make decent a decent living as a jobbing builder but only as we had no real bills .
Most of the answers you've had have been positive, and I know why , its a great place to live .
I'm obviously being polite here as the answers to your post are from people who have made it work for themselves, but as soon as I really scratched the surface of working in france there's lot of people scratching a living out of very little, builders that only work a few months then go to run a restaurant, restaurant owners that live off the 5 months summer takings , hotel workers that are quad lingral , if that's even a word , who get paid a pittance , and these examples are Dutch people .
You've got a head start with a French girlfriend and your no doubt familiar with the differences between French and English , I still have French friends and keep in touch with them , it's a great place , but only for a holiday for me , you may well be different , I consider ourselves to be very lucky to have tried it , twice if you search through my previous posts . But equally as lucky to return to England not having it cost us anything , I know a few who have blown their life savings !
I'm sure I'll get some stick for posting our experience from the other more settled ex pats but I'd rather tell you our real world experience than sugar coat it .
As a foot note , we've lived in numerous places in England and we fit in anywhere , we are very sociable people and get on with most , I'll give anyone two more chances than they really deserve.
Good luck if you go ahead , and I don't blame you for trying , we still look back with fond memories. I wish you the best .
Paul
Not to deal you a knockout blow , I wish you the best and hope you do risk it and enjoy every moment of what comes around , we loved it but decided that it wasn't for us . Please read on .
We moved to the Dordogne in 2002 , 39 and wife 29 , bought a house and car outright , no mortgage or loans and also had probably 5 Years wages in the bank . I don't really like disclosing that but if it puts anything into perspective, so be it , I'm not a typical, powerfully built director type .
I'm a builder by trade and quickly picked up work , cash in hand , off the ex pats and actually a couple of French people once they'd seen my work at my own home .
Wife did an intensive French course at a local college and slipped into it very well .
Unfortunately our reality was she could earn a quarter of what she could in England and that was a bit of a waste of a very good education and a similar degree , I could make decent a decent living as a jobbing builder but only as we had no real bills .
Most of the answers you've had have been positive, and I know why , its a great place to live .
I'm obviously being polite here as the answers to your post are from people who have made it work for themselves, but as soon as I really scratched the surface of working in france there's lot of people scratching a living out of very little, builders that only work a few months then go to run a restaurant, restaurant owners that live off the 5 months summer takings , hotel workers that are quad lingral , if that's even a word , who get paid a pittance , and these examples are Dutch people .
You've got a head start with a French girlfriend and your no doubt familiar with the differences between French and English , I still have French friends and keep in touch with them , it's a great place , but only for a holiday for me , you may well be different , I consider ourselves to be very lucky to have tried it , twice if you search through my previous posts . But equally as lucky to return to England not having it cost us anything , I know a few who have blown their life savings !
I'm sure I'll get some stick for posting our experience from the other more settled ex pats but I'd rather tell you our real world experience than sugar coat it .
As a foot note , we've lived in numerous places in England and we fit in anywhere , we are very sociable people and get on with most , I'll give anyone two more chances than they really deserve.
Good luck if you go ahead , and I don't blame you for trying , we still look back with fond memories. I wish you the best .
Paul
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