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Living overseas

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Original poster

Do you live in France?

320 replies

ggglimpopo · 11/06/2008 09:12

Where do you live?
Why did you choose that region?
Why did you come here in the first place?
Do you work?
Do you regret it/love it?

Tell us all!

I live in Bordeaux.

I initially chose Montpellier and had everything (sort of!) set up there, but found it too hectic - and my original holiday accomodation was vile - so came to Bordeaux on holiday and stayed.

I came here post divorce!

I have had an epic time here - a very very rough ride, but life events rather than simply french ones, and am here to stay.

I love the region and will stay put in the south west. I would LOVE a house by the sea - dream on!

I don't regret it and have married a Frenchman to prove the point.....

Et vous?

OP posts:
yellowmama · 08/07/2008 21:07

And thanks for helping me out with my questions earlier - and esp for the school information, Anna. I've heard from a few people that Levallois is a good place to bring up a family, so I'm going to look into education options there as well as the bilingual schools you suggested. Can anyone advise?

CoteDAzur · 08/07/2008 21:32

Meanwhile, it seems Angelina Jolie has followed my advice to give birth in Lenval Hospital in Nice rather than Centre Hopitalier Princesse Grace in Monaco.

You are welcome, Angie!

Anna8888 · 09/07/2008 15:33

Levallois apparently has the best children's extra-curricular provision in France (sports etc). This is obviously important in a country where most schools offer only the relatively restricted French NC.

Personally, however, I find Levallois absolutely dire - vile architecture, narrow streets, few green spaces. But of course close to ever-so-affluent Neuilly with its Catholic schools and leafy suburban streets, so you can escape quickly.

teafortwo · 14/07/2008 16:06

I am just back from a week in the UK!

While in Londres I was very surprised to discover a Tescos store with absolutely no check out ladies just machines you had to work yourself!!!!! I resisted temptation to start crying for Monoprix and joined the queue...

It came to my turn - I knew this because one of the members of staff patrolling the area pointed at me and then a machine and shouted something like "You, here..." Of course I had no idea how to work the thing and ended up setting the alarm off twice and then took ages to re-pack as in my panic I had packed the bags all wrong. This is amid the tut tut tutting of the next customers and the now very bored member of staff who given my looks and accent had no idea I had never seen one of these out of space machines before!!!

WOW - what an experience!

Does anyone else have any scary, funny or weird stories from visits back to Blighty???

Othersideofthechannel · 14/07/2008 20:39

Teafortwo, I got surprised by one of those machines at M and S food shop last weekend. Fortunately I only had one item to buy and no queue so I had plenty of time to work it out.

And no one takes cheques any where any more!

teafortwo · 14/07/2008 21:46

They have them in my beloved m and s too???

What is the world coming too???!!!???

soniaT · 22/07/2008 15:47

I live in the Dordogne in a small hamlet. Our Daughter was living here and we visited her and fell in love with the area, we came on holiday and went back having bought a house in France!!. There were only 5 houses here in 2000 when we first bought the house purely as a holiday home. We moved here permanently in 2003. There have been 5 more houses built since, but it is still very tranquil. Our younger daughter and her 4 children followed us here and of course now the grandkids are all fluent in French, which is more than can be said for my husband and I, although we manage reasonably well. It took us a while to get used to the shops closing for 2 hours at lunchtime amd no late night openings, no take-aways and no ready made foods. But I am a much better cook now. Can't imagine being back in the UK rat race now, the laid back slow pace of life has us hooked.

teafortwo · 22/07/2008 20:06

SoniaT .... we all want you life!!!! Pour a nice glass of wine to toast anyone still in the rat race tonight!!!!

I recently returned from the UK feeling a bit dizzy about the self service counters they have there now. Do you have any stories about visiting the UK and feeling like a bit 'out of it' now you are living in France???

pebblebeach · 22/04/2009 10:08

Morning all,
Anyone want to join me in resurrecting this thread.....? Who else is over here in France (am nr Paris), anyone else pregnant (am 20 wks tomorrow)......?

frannikin · 22/04/2009 20:45

I'm in Paris. But I'm a governess so I don't have my own child and therefore don't really belong here....

pebblebeach · 22/04/2009 21:14

[simle] nevermind! Have you been over here very long, plan to stay for long, feel settled? We've been here over 4 years now. I think life would improve if my French were better, no....?!

teafortwo · 22/04/2009 21:28

Hi Pebblebeach - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

Where nr Paris are you????

pillowcase · 22/04/2009 21:49

Hi all,
Just found this thread. We're in Gers department, very rural, for 5 years now, dh is french and kids are in MS, CP and CE2. Loving it here. Especially now that that horrible winter is finished.

Saw lots of tiny little green cherries on our tree today and am looking forward to the summer.

Think GGG in Bordeaux is our nearest neighbour?

pebblebeach · 23/04/2009 12:33

Hi teafortwo, thanks for the congrats! I'm out in the western suburbs, where are you?
And I agree with you pillowcase long may this weather stay, the winter was by far the wettest we've had here. I remember the first year it was all snow on the ground or frost with clear blue skys..... what I always imagined winter in Paris to be like, but it has never been quite like that since, hey ho.
Glad you are loving it over here, one day we'll move to somewhere v rural, but we are tied to where the jobs are for now. I sometimes think life would be easier if one of us was French .

pebblebeach · 23/04/2009 12:36

and btw teafortwo on your whole automated check out issue.... you know they are popping up round here now too - Auchan and Champion have them, cue gormless me trying to use them and being shouted at for not putting the shopping in the bag on the scales things , you live and learn... I'll be all set for my next visit to M&S now!

teafortwo · 23/04/2009 13:32

I live in Puteaux (right next to La Defense). Which town are you in? Is it near me?

If yes - We should meet for a drink - could be fun!

There is another mner in the West too. Her pen name is Briochedoree... I think she is in or very close to Versailles.

teafortwo · 23/04/2009 13:37

Frannikin - don't say you don't belong here!!! You are so so MN - in a good way!!!! I am sure if I saw you in Paris I would instantly 'know'.

By the way - Are you set up for work next year? If not CAT me - I am looking for English teachers could be interesting work for you...?

teafortwo · 23/04/2009 13:40

Hi Pillowcase - I am about the cherries!!!!!!

pooka · 23/04/2009 13:43

Pillowcase, I think where we've stayed on holiday the last few years is in Gers - place called Gaudonville, near St Clar, with Fleurance being the next largish town.

Is gorgeous there in the summer (only time we've been). Fields and fields of garlic (one year) and sunflowers (the next).

pebblebeach · 23/04/2009 19:10

Wow I didn't think I'd find anyone that close! Teafortwo I am in Le Vesinet, so only 15mins on the RER. Meeting would be great .
Must plan at least a weekend in the countryside soon, am jealous of all this talk of cherry trees and fields of sunflowers.

teafortwo · 23/04/2009 19:46
  • great stuff pebblebeach!!!

I have never been the first person to CAT someone - but I will see if I can work out how and will CAT you in the next few days....

[technophobic emotion]

So is this your first baby and are you planning on giving birth in France?

farfaraway · 23/04/2009 21:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

teafortwo · 23/04/2009 21:57

pebblebeach - I just tried to CAT you but your settings are blocking my message.

Perhaps you could change your settings or if you prefer CAT me...?

pillowcase · 23/04/2009 22:36

pooka, I think we're about an hour from st clar but have never been there. the gers is very beautiful but sometimes I yearn for an auchan or a busy shopping centre...

Weta · 24/04/2009 10:10

I'm nowhere near the rest of you but just thought I'd say hello!

We've been in Montpellier for 4 years, but
are moving to Luxembourg in a couple of months... winter here is obviously not too bad (though people complained about the rain!), but I won't be sorry to escape the too-hot summers. We spent the first 6 months rural, in a small hamlet next door to ILs, and I absolutely hated it

Congratulations on your pregnancy, Pebblebeach. I had my second baby here (had the first in NZ), bit of a shock to the system as it's all so different and there are so many more rules, but some things were great. How are you finding it all?

Don't feel exactly settled as we never knew whether we'd be staying, but we are well integrated - DH is French, so that definitely helps, and I already spoke good French before I came.