I have been considering this for a while as I have been in London for ages and feel like having a break from the UK. It's not that I am in anyway against the UK - I had a fab time at uni here, love the work opportunities, the diversity, am grateful for things like the NHS etc, would miss friends and the scattering of family that I have here, but at the same time I find the weather almost intolerable (constant heating on all the time makes my bills astronomical) I find suburban areas too quiet and provincial as a city person yet London rents are really not affordable, and I am quite nomadic by nature so am not sure if I can settle here forever.
Speaking to my mother the other night she thought it might be an idea to relocate to France at some point, something I have occasionally discussed. She has a very high opinion of the French education system at all levels. I know the British one better but quite like the idea of dc's being educated in French and then I can speak English/Moroccan dialect at home. I am thinking of doing a part time masters degree while the dc's are young, I am not sure what the fees are like these days but obviously gone up a lot over here. My French is a bit rusty but I do understand it to a high level.
How did you MNers who have lived/are living in France settle in? I'm interested in job opportunities, experiences of uni, how much one can get renting/buying property wise, social life, everything really. Did you/your dc's make friends/ settle into the community easily? Obviously my experience will be slightly different from an English person (look obviously of Maghrebi origin) and as former colonised we get treated slightly differently if you see what I mean. I am very westernised though and from a fairly wealthy background (although am not rolling in money myself!) so that changes things somewhat. Still, would love to hear all your thoughts.