DH applying for job in Paris lots of advice needed please..

[clutteredup]

Will be for at least 18months but likely to be more like 3 years.
Probably won't be able to afford international school as have 3 DC 9, 6 and 3. Where are the best places to live with a family and what are pros cons etc.
All advice welcome.TIA

[cumbria81]

Has he got the job/had an interview yet?

[clutteredup]

Not yet so am happy to receive why not advice too. The decision hasn't been made yet so if it's a really dumb idea or is going to be just too expensive on his salary then we might decide not to. It's a good career move for him if he does but he is happy to consider the family too.

[teafortwo]

I think living in Paris is lovely and we are doing it on a fairly low income.

We live in the Western Suburbs. It is cheaper than central Paris. The town we live in is pretty cute, has a UNICEF award for being so child friendly, is very village-like in nature and is on a Metro line.

In terms of your children's education... Have you looked at French bilingual schools? They are much cheaper than international schools and might (like in our case) be a realistic and happy option for you.

If this still seems too dear I was thinking - Could your 9 (and even 6 yr old) do a year of immersion in a bilingual school and then attend a state school afterwards?

There is so much I could tell you but I'm not really sure where to start! Feel free to CAT me with any questions you have if this idea becomes more of a reality or even if you just want to test out or check any thoughts or ideas you have now.

[daysoftheweek]

I dream about moving to
T42 did you do it yourselves or was dh moved by work? Do you work?
(Hope you don't maind me asking)

Are bilingual schools quite common there?

[teafortwo]

I have to take dd to central Paris to her school. It is two metro lines away. TBH There is an interesting level of choice but there isn't a bilingual school on every street corner.

My dh is French so we had two countries to choose from for setting up home. For various reasons Paris was better for us than any other option.

I am working pt at the moment. I am seriously considering going ft next academic year which, if I do, is really going to muck up my mning!!!

[daysoftheweek]

Thanks
I missed a Paris out of my post

Would you say you are pretty much bilingual?

I used to speak French so well and I would love that for my children but my job totally relies on being able to pick up the tiny nuances in conversation I think it would be tricky.

[teafortwo]

Oh daysoftheweek - I wish!!!

My French has gone from nothing to this crazy mess of grammar mistakes, very bad accent and a strange rather mixed bag of vocabulary knowledge. I am frankly "sooo British".

My dd and dh are both bilingual and I am completely in awe of them!

My MIL is British. She came to France when she was the same age as me and had pretty similar exposure to the language as me. She now speaks French overall fairly well but with a strong British accent, does typical English errors now and then like mucking up feminine and masculine and she occasionally drops in a made up word based on the English word that makes DH chuckle. I look at her and think - you know one day that might be me!

[clutteredup]

Thanks T42 - its all very pipeline at the moment and I've heard a lot of people are applying for the same job so DH has told me to leave well alone until/ if he gets an interview - its just such a lovely idea and I'd love to go I'm trying not to make plans.But just in case.....
How much does commuting cost into Paris as the job would be in central Paris?
What are the french academic standards like compared to ours? Would we be able to go for total immersion into french school for the DC or would billingual school be necessary?
Are all Parisians completely chic like in the media or will I still be able to wear my jeans and rather less than chic clothes I do now?!
If it does come to anything I will CAT you as other than a few weekends in Paris I have no idea about the most basic of things so it will be really useful to talk to someone who lives there with children. Thanks.

[teafortwo]

"How much does commuting cost into Paris as the job would be in central Paris?"

If you work in Paris the culture is to live in central Paris or as close as you can. So it would be a Metro or bus ticket at most (11.60euros for 10)

"What are the french academic standards like compared to ours?"

Children are expected to conform. There is much less tailoring than in the UK hense my choice to send my dd to a bilingual school.

"Would we be able to go for total immersion into french school for the DC or would billingual school be necessary?"

At least for your 9 year old and 6 year old I would recommend a bilingual school to embark on an immersion year because of the point explained above.

"Are all Parisians completely chic...?"

I think people in Paris tend to be more chic, simple and classic and in Blighty more cool, experimental and funky... but tbh there is a big ethnic mix in Paris so there are lots of styles going on.

"I will CAT you"

Good luck - If you do find yourself buying a one way ticket to Paris we really must meet for coffee and have a big big chat!

[daysoftheweek]

there is a city bylaw against fleece

[frakkinnuts]

You can get a navigo pass which is v good value for transport.

How long would you be moving for? As in the longest/likely length? If it's just 18mo I wouldn't put them into state schools, especially not your eldest, as adapting to schooling in another language and another way of doing stuff is hard and they will probably lose a year academically. Your 6 year old is in a better position as reading and writing is taught later so they have a head start but it depends whether they're just 6 in 2010 or 7. School year ages are decided Jan to Jan in France so your children may be in a different school year if they're born between Sept and Dec.

[clutteredup]

Sorry been off line but just to say thank you for all your replies and I will be in touch if anything exciting does happen