What’s it really like to live in France as an American? In this candid interview, Daley shares her experience living in Bordeaux for nearly a decade. From French bureaucracy nightmares to unexpected cultural shocks, food rituals, and fashion faux pas, Daley opens up about the realities of French life beyond the clichés. Here’s what surprised her most, why she stayed, and what she wishes she knew before moving.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Why I Chose Bordeaux Over Paris
04:28 – French Food Rituals: Sticking to a Schedule & Respecting le Goûter
06:06 – Getting Married (and Divorced) in France
08:37 – Visa Renewal in France: Récépissé, Préfecture Delays & Staying Legal
10:28 – French Fashion vs. American Casual Dress
13:32 – Work-Life Balance in France: Vacation Time & No Messages on Holidays
15:56 – French Comfort Food: Raclette & Tartiflette
18:18 – Cultural Differences: Friendships in France vs. in the US
20:32 – Finding an Expat Community in Bordeaux & Meeting Locals
21:57 – French Meals Never End: From Lunch to Midnight & Talking About the Next Meal
23:54 – French Honesty vs US Customer Service: Understanding the Codes
25:58 – Lightning Round Questions & the Best Bordeaux Château to Visit
Whether you’re thinking of studying abroad, moving to France, or just love cross-cultural stories, this video is for you!
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11 Comments
Very well done, you two!
Another great vlog…. This was very interesting to me in that there were a lot of food-related questions…..right down my street….. The other thing I associated with this was on the subject of snacking… my close friend (who lives in the Eure region) said to me that this was a big cultural difference between the UK and US, in that, in France, we don't snack…..(probably why I've had an issue with my weight [up and down] over the years 🤭)… Anyway, bravo 👏👏👏
Great interview! ❤
A very beautiful interview. For an expatriate, why choose the Southeast? The Southwest is more affordable, more varied, there is a real ocean, less wind and xenophobes. Two large cities Toulouse and Bordeaux (which is 2 hours by train from Paris) and many medium-sized cities like Pau, Bayonne, Dax, La Rochelle where there is a tradition of hospitality and kindness towards foreigners.
Bonjour et merci for an excellent interview!!!
Merci beaucoup, for this interview. I am hoping to come to France in January, stay for several months and decide where to live….I visited France 20+ yrs ago and loved the people, the country….now, taking refresher course in French even though I am much older (63) so hoping it will come back. I am trying to decide between Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Montpellier so I loved this video.
Just one criticism: the host talks a lot, talks over his guest .maybe he should remember he us the host not the guest😊
I think the visual of coconuts and peaches is very good for the differences between French and American ways of socializing. Coming from Southern CA, I’m a smiling face to everyone, and when I’m in France I need to be more neutral. When I was first there, I didn’t understand why people seemed unfriendly, like coconuts when I was used to peaches! Now, being older, I see the casual friendliness as less honest, because people in the U.S. feel pressured growing up to be friendly to everyone, even if they have no desire to have a relationship with the people they’re interacting with. Once you get to know French people, they are truly lovely.
Great interview and I love your kind style and the guests warmth! ❤ I understand her situation well. 😊
Every year, the French wrestle with mountains of paperwork and an endless maze of administrative procedures — often so convoluted they border on the discouraging. The cryptic language used in official letters and forms leaves many people utterly baffled.
This fondness for red tape is nothing new. It’s a direct inheritance from the Roman Empire, which ruled between the 1st and 5th centuries AD. After the Empire’s collapse in 467 AD, the newly formed Frankish kingdom preserved what would come to be called “Roman law”: a principle requiring that every act be formally recorded and properly justified.
Today, the country remains trapped in a waking nightmare with roots running deep into its history.
Fab, you are doing good interviews but you talk too much and you should not interrupt so much