Everyone makes assumptions but you know what they say when you assume… Here are some things people have assumed and gotten wrong about me and other expats over the years after moving abroad to France and I’m setting the record straight.
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Also, I want to clarify something regarding my use of the word expat and not immigrant. To me, an expat is someone who is abroad temporarily (often for work) and when I moved to France in 2012, it was for work. I had a job contract with an end date. Many of my early experiences here that I talk about on this channel and my blog were from that time when I was here on a temporary expat work contract. All the initial culture shock and language troubles and mishaps were from that period. Speaking about that time, expat was the clearest way to describe my situation. When I talk about feelings and experiences from the early days, the word expat makes the most sense.
But at this point though, as someone who visits the US more regularly now ever since my mom died, I usually just say I’m an American living abroad. That’s what feels the clearest and most simple.
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Salut! I’m Diane, an American who has lived in France since 2012 and the creator of the blog/YT channel Oui In France. My channel’s focus is “Everyday French life and beyond.” I make videos on French culture topics, France vs. US culture comparisons, with a sprinkling of food, travel, and language topics and give you my thoughts about what it’s like living in France as an American in the Loire Valley. Thanks for being here and if you enjoy this sort of thing, please share with friends and subscribe!
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30 Comments
I like your channel for its straightforwardness.
I’ve been thinking about moving to Europe but haven’t decided on the country yet.
I was thinking Portugal but their visa system is very backlogged now and Portuguese language is difficult.
I know a bit of Spanish and some high school French but it would take a lot to get to conversational French, I’m afraid!
I’m not looking to work overseas, but to retire as an expat.
I’m sure it’s different than working there. I want less property taxes, a more relaxed lifestyle and better food and healthcare.
I’m thinking a smaller town or village with a market available. I DO eat mostly rim the farmers markets where I live now and would be happy with fresh veggies, fruits and fish every week. Maybe a meal out once in a while.
Any thoughts?
The language requirement for French citizenship as the spouse of a French citizen is in the process of changing. Do these impending changes concern you if your are considering eventually becoming a dual US/French citizen?
Number 1 really makes me laugh, when you get 'you must be fluent now'. Even after 17 years I would never be so presumptuous call myself fluent. None of my French friends live that stereotypical life style, they'll do a big meal at the weekends with family but day to day, no. I find the market to be very expensive where I am and like you shop in the supermarket. However, I do go to the boulangerie every day for fresh bread. I'm not a French Citizen either, we have our Carte de Sejours and Citizenship would be only if things drastically changed with regards out rights to live here. BREXIT ruined things for many people's dreams of moving here, we were lucky we'd already been here a long time. I had a friend who thought living here was all running through fields of Lavender, no, it's not a holiday just normal everyday life. We moved here, knowing we had to work but arrived with no jobs to go to. People thought we were crazy, luckily we already had our house that was our holiday home so that took some pressure off. My husband is an Artisan (plumbing/heating) and set himself up as self employed as he was in the UK and really hasn't looked back. For me it was different, having had a super stressful job I just went part time with an agency as a home help, totally different. We don't go back to the UK very often but as you said you never say never, it wouldn't be my choice to go back to the UK but……… Thought I'd give you a perspective from another nationalities point of view.
My 2 cents worth…….. leave your political opinion out of it!! I watch you to escape all that, I don't want to know/don't care what you think of US politics, you are commenting on life in France AS AN EXPAT, you now live in France and what happens on US soil only affects you tangentially, and you risk pissing off loyal viewers – like me. Your little 'pebble drop' in the calm pond has left a sour taste for me. You may defiantly not care about that, but I do.
To quote Augustus McCrae from "Lonesome Dove": “Lorie darlin', life in San Francisco, you see, is still just life”
I was born in Czech living in the US now. I have the same problem as you do. Me and hubby live very ordinary life, we work, we pay bills, etc. But everyone in Czech thinks we are super rich and we don't have to work and everyone always asks ,,have you visited this, have you visited that?,, We don't travel that much and US is a big country so its not convenient to go to a Grand Canyon and then the next day go look in the mall in New York. It's just not how it works. But Czech is so small that you can go across with a car in couple of hours and many people don't realize it so they think they can visit all the US places in a day or so. Many people don't realize that everywhere you get a life that has two sides of a coin. Yes there is the nice glamorous side but there is also the bad side.
Great video, thank you. I do hope you'll open your heart to another dog someday. It seems that French shelters and rescues are as bad off these days as American ones.
We live in Québec city my American wife and I, 99.9% French speaking city and we still have people who canot speak french after 5 years living here, still can't figure that one out, guess too lazy!
Yes, as an English teacher I can confirm that usually we can tell right away whether a foreigner has just simply picked our language up (as he or she goes along), or whether they have made the effort to study at college or wherever.
And it will stay with them for life !!
So, with regards to the reverse situation in any other language, I'm sure it must be exactly the same, and ESPECIALLY for native English speakers !!
A great video, I'm glad I stumbled across it. Living in France has been in my mind since my French grandfather was so fiercely proud of his Heritage – and his spoke French. Now, I am as old as my grandfather was when he moved in with my family. I'd still love to move to France – especially now with the new guy in the Oval Office, but there are so many obstacles. I don't speak the language, I have retirement investments, social security and Medicare benefits that I would lose…. I should have escaped before it was too late. So, I live vicariously through videos like yours.
To be honest your fluency in a given language is pretty good when you reach the point that you can fill in unfamiliar words by the context of the conversation.
It’s hard to compare cost of living to the “US.” There’s a vast difference between between the cost in the urban Northeast vs the Southeast.
"The novelty wears off" is what I've warned myself about, in considering moving there. As a retiree (late 70s), what is my life there (in Nice, I'm thinking) going to be like once I'm moved in and settled down? Or, would I be spending so much time dealing with bureaucratic matters (visa, Carte Vitale, Carte de Sejour, etc.) that I'd never "settle in"?
Bonjour Diane, Very interesting take on French culture and false perceptions as always, thanks. I absolutely agree that living in France is not Emily in paris- rides in a deux chevaux and stops at the cheese monger’s every day. However, I think bread’s a different story…3 or 4 baguettes a month? I cannot remember the last time anyone I know skipped stopping at the bakery ( or getting their bread while at the supermarket) . I think most French people still cannot stomach the idea of stale bread, either you stop on your way from work, or send the kids , and if you’re sick, you can always ask a neighbour to get your usual order for you. In my experience, this is the last remnant of French food shopping habits, a bit like a “petit village d’irréductibles Gaulois”.
I really enjoy your channel!
“I moved into a shed” I love it! 😂
People thinking you instantly get French citizenship must be Americans…
Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is the most down to earth account of living in France I have come across. No matter where you live in the world daily life is the same. It is so refreshing to hear an unbiased account of how it is. Are you sure you're American? You exude that vital quality that so many people lack, and that is commonsense. I've lived here since 2003 and built up a business from scratch. It has been a challenge at times, especially when Brexit came along. I wish you well in your ongoing residency here.
😂Americans who dream of an expatrition in Macron's and Mélenchon ' s France….what a sad joke. Average salay is 1.800 € per month here! And last week another 11 yo girl has been butchered on her way home back from school….welcome in Bloody Fwance 😮
I've been here for 2 wks on my long-term home scouting trip, heading back to Texas today – in minutes, actually. Great take on your real world life, TY! I really wish I did not have to go back to the cesspool there, but – #1 dogs and #2 need to ditch all the rest of my stuff. Also planning on arriving here permanently with the dogs, clothes, and some small sized artworks. T-MINUS 110 days now!🎉
Number 6 is so spot on 😅 I felt that I was doing something wrong because I wasn’t having that adventure experience every weekend when I moved abroad and it is true, things do get old quickly and that’s when I have to remind myself that I moved to experience more than just good food and affordable good wine and cheese 😂 And I wasn’t expecting to miss the convenience of fast food a couple days a week 🥴 RiP Panera and Chick fil A🥲
I recently moved to Suisse Romande. Most people in the 🇺🇸 were shocked to learn that I would need to learn French to exist here. They couldn’t imagine everyone not just living life in English 😅 I was also frequently asked why they speak French in Switzerland and not Swedish 😅 was a nice opportunity to explain how Switzerland had four national languages, and none of them are English! Thanks again for your realistic perspective 😊
"Dog & Pony" show, ah. 🐕🦓
Yea, Jersey girl. 😂
Though, unlike that show, yours never lacked substance.
You are the best! 👍
Immigrants not expats
Great! I feel the same way. I am German with an American father and have lived in Southern California and now Vancouver for 25 years. There is no perfect place and life will eventually become rather normal. The beauty is that one can make normality become more interesting with different activities, surroundings, food etc depending on where you live. It's just amazing. My next move may be to Antibes. I am taking French classes, reading French books and listening to French media and found it so exciting that I could have basic conversations in French during my last visit to the Cote d'Azur in the fall. I always enjoy watching your videos. Bonne journee!
Bonjour Disne❣️I started learning French at age 45 and kept signing up for lessons for about 20 years. Life has gotten so exciting here in the USA for me and so many people❣️President Trump and his administration have gotten more done in a few weeks than Biden did in 4 years‼️‼️😀👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸God bless you and your hubby🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you for reminding me that it takes work and that it is worth it! I am motivated to broaden my language skills particularly as we travel more but as a Canadian, I should have a better command of French! My grandfather sent me to French language training as a 20 something. He was from a very French community in Nova Scotia. Also encouraged to learn Spanish and German as we travel to Europe. Oh, I am 62…god help me in my studies…LOL
This was informative. It's always good to hear a realistic view of things.
The fastest and most effective way to learn a language is to be constantly immersed in it on an emotional level. Having a foreign partner who speaks that language and speaking it with them every day is a great way to learn.
However, if you move to France with your partner, you'll likely end up speaking the language you have in common most of the time, which means your progress in French will be very slow. In some cases, like some English speakers, you might even build an only English-speaking community around yourself, barely speaking French at all, failing to integrate, and eventually blaming the French for not being welcoming.
Of course, this applies to more than just English speakers, but since this channel is aimed at them: if you're moving to France with your English-speaking partner, it's essential to build relationships with French people. That way, you'll integrate better and improve your language skills much faster.
Learning a language doesn’t happen by osmosis 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I absolutely love this!!! Thank you for this🙏🏻🙏🏻❤❤❤❤