Ah, la France, land of the Eiffel Tower, French Riviera, and world-class cheese. Who hasn’t fantasized about taking a romantic stroll hand in hand down the Seine River or lazing on the Saint-Tropez beaches?
Is it all baguettes and berets, though, when you’re genuinely relocating from Australia to France to begin a new life? Expat living in the biggest nation in Europe can occasionally be just as stylish and glitzy as the French movies, but it can also be perplexing and plain unpleasant.
What should you know to make your transfer to France a little less difficult?
Language
The official first language of the nation is French, however, there are also various regional varieties. For instance, a million or so French speakers reside close to the Italian border. Catalan is mainly spoken in the southern Pyrenees mountain region, whereas Breton or Flemish may be heard in the northern Pyrenees. The majority of native English speakers are outnumbered by the number of French individuals who can speak at least two languages.
You’ll need to speak French confidently if you wish to become fluent. Whenever you make a grammatical error or pause to recall a word, many French people will automatically switch to English in your favor. Even if they respond in English, try to keep communicating in French; eventually, they will pick it up. Then, as you walk, expect your attempts at speaking French to be kindly corrected. Don’t be offended; it will only benefit your education!
Healthcare options
Even though France’s healthcare system is one of the greatest in the world, it is a little confusing.
L’Assurance Maladie is a required, state-run social security program that primarily covers people’s medical expenses. Various sources, including income tax (35%) and employer payroll taxes, are used to pay for this (50 percent). For instance, if your annual income is between £8,592 and £23,731 (or €9,807 and €27,086 respectively), you will pay approximately 14% in sécurité sociale.
To meet the additional expenses, the majority of people opt to get private health insurance (l’assurance complémentaire).
French bureaucracy
Not in a nice way, either. The burdensome reality of French living is paperwork, particularly for foreigners who must deal with immigration officials. Bring numerous copies of all potentially important documents and keep track of all of your earnings and outgoing costs while in France, including pay stubs and bus tickets.
The trains are fantastic
France has the ninth-largest high-speed rail system in the world. It’s a great way to see the country, and the carriages are comfortable. The prices are also fair. There are even modern double-decker trains that can reach 320 km/h in speed. Although TGV trains are faster, Intercités trains, which are slower, are nevertheless luxurious and modern.
Paris is empty in August
Parisians flee the city in droves during the warmest month of the summer in pursuit of warm beaches and refreshing ocean breezes. The streets can be strangely silent throughout the month when many small shops close for the season. Depending on your perspective, it’s either the perfect time to visit the sights without the crowds or should be ignored in favor of the more exciting seasons.
Look out for fish on April Fool’s Day
On April 1st, its customary in France to sneak up on people and attempt to attach paper fish to their backs. If you’re successful, kids will probably point, laugh, and refer to you as a “poisson d’Avril” (April fish). It is believed to have existed during the reign of French King Charles XIV.
The food and wine are world-class
It should come as no surprise that French cuisine enjoys a superb reputation throughout the world, but did you know that it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Over 1,000 different cheeses, traditional dishes like snails and Sole Meunière, and some of the best wines in the world are waiting to entice your taste buds. And you don’t have to spend a fortune at upscale eateries to try these treasures; neighborhood French markets are famous for their delectable seasonal fare.
