Wondering what life is like in France? Whether you are planning on living abroad or just dreaming about the French way of life, get ready to hear about our adventures in daily life, family life, and learning French. The mistakes expats make, the cost of living, we uncover the truth about living in Paris.
If you are not sure where to start, I recommend starting here:
The Hauts-de-Seine, one of the most popular suburbs of Paris, isn't particularly "green" or particularly "cheap". And if you are looking for a house, you will keep on looking. Most of the communes that border Paris, like Boulogne-Billancourt, Courbovoie, and…
We the North! This is Seine-Saint-Denis. I apologize Toronto Raptor fans, I am not trying to steal your logo. We just happen to be in the North of Paris. With the Charles de Gaulle International airport nearby (Roissy to her…
Most people when they visit France don't think about skiing. They think about cheese and baguettes and the Eiffel Tower. But France has way more to offer than that, folks. For instance, you could be eating that cheese and baguette…
You are not going to run into royalty when you visit France (the French have chopped off all their heads), but if you're planning to eat during your trip, you should probably brush up on some French Dining etiquette. It…
It is called the Paris Syndrome: the severe culture shock that tourists experience upon realizing that the Paris of one's dreams is not the reality. And that is for visitors, imagine if they lived here! I don't intend to dash…
The Literal Translation of Country Names - by The Lonely Planet Not necessarily to do with France, but I quite enjoyed this one. France was originally "The land of the Franks" which is alright I suppose. Our neighbors Spain, had…
Yes, I know you're an expert driver, with many years of driving experience, but each country has its own set of rules. And more distinctly, their own driving culture. This isn't Germany with its "no speed limits", but there are…
If you've lived in France for a while, you will notice that there are certain "words" your French teacher didn't tell you about: all those funny odd sounds that French people make. You won't find them in any dictionary or…
Everybody likes babies. Ok, maybe not everybody, but most people. Most people like other people's babies, even if they don't want any themselves. The French Government likes French people's babies. And they want them to have more. All of which…
One of the biggest things when learning another language is replying within context. Parisians have a reputation for being rude. A gallic shrug, a sigh and a "c'est comme ça Madame" and French people are ready to wash their hands…
French symbol Marianne trying to stay cool during a heatwave with a mobile aircon unit. Ahh, Paris in the summertime. The sky is blue, the birds are chirping, and the rosé is on ice. All is well until you go…
Ahh, the famous myth of 35-hour French workweek. And combined with France's legendary holidays, no wonder so many overworked North Americans dream about moving here. But if you are dreaming of moving to France to achieve that illusory work-life balance,…
If you are wondering what the heck "guillemets" are, you have come to the right place. English and French may both use the Latin alphabet, but the French writing style is quite different as are certain French punctuation marks. On…
I was surprised to see that someone kept statistics on this, but it is nonetheless interesting: Over 50% of French parents (link in french) go on holiday without their children. Anecdotally, I knew this was common from my own circle…
Editor's note: I love hearing other points of view so we're introducing a new series where we meet other expats, immigrants, and locals who are Living in France. If you would like to be featured, or know someone who does,…
In France, visits to the Doctor are paid for by the State. Like most other first world countries, you say. (I'm looking at you, U.S.A.) Basically, the French healthcare system covers all legal residents for medical costs as long as…
Panic, it's an emergency! Except don't panic, if you are in an emergency in France, you need to keep a cool head. You're going to have to figure out which one of the 11 emergency phone numbers to call. And…
Imagine the scene: Marie-Antoinette in the beautiful Palais of Versailles. Pre- Head being chopped off ofcourse. She is inviting you into a beautifully lit room, chandeliers glittering, the best cristallerie out on display for you, an elaborate dining table set up, and a…
It used to be every two years. It was changed recently (in 2018) to every 5 years: Visiting the bl$%£y French Médecin de Travail. There are certain quirks of French life that you don't really cross until you start working…
Who doesn't love reading a list of baby names? I love baby names, and I always wonder, what if...? Is it too late to change my kids' names? (Hint: it is. In France, you only have 5 days to pick…