UK to France tips

[YesNoMaybeWhat]

Hello, or should I say Bonjour? Well, that's about thr extent of my French. My family are moving to just outside Geneva in France in September. Jobs, accommodation, school sorted. We will rent out our house in the UK as we most likely will come back in time for GCSEs in 6 years time (caveat that we might not but that's a later discussion).

I'd welcome any tips from people who have made the move. I've joined various Facebook groups but suggestions appreciated. Learning French is top of the agenda. Is there anything you wish someone had told you before you moved?

As a digital nomad who's done a lot of driving though France I'd recommend getting a toll payment tag for your car (assuming you are keeping your UK car for a while).

French motorways are a nightmare on your own when you have to get out and walk around the car to make a payment on the machine. Driver's behind don't appreciate the delay....

I would say it can be very hard to get your French up and running if you are working in international Geneva and your kids are in international schools. Lots of people don't bother, especially if they are talking about moving on so if you do want to learn, I would not underestimate the effort you might need to make (i.e. classes, watch French/Swiss media, make local as well as international friends). The Francophones you work with are likely to be keen for their kids to practice English, not for your kids to learn French. If your kids are in local French schools, there are more opportunties to meet people. Lots of francophone "blow-ins" who are looking for new friends too as the region attracts people from all over France.

There are great holiday/sports clubs in France so if you want your kids to get better at French send them there rather than to the internationally focused clubs.

The mountains are great all year round - take advantage of them!

Look up the local GRETA, which offers free publicly funded French classes for expats. I used to work right next to the Swiss border, it's pretty international and not much like "la France profonde". I'm jealous of you earning a Swiss salary! I would say "Take warm clothes" but it sounds like you can afford to replace them. :)