Sadly, the American couple who moved back are like many Americans in Europe. They want a little America in Europe. I remember being in a cafe in rural France and an American was arguing with the waitress. He didn't like the coffee being offered and wanted an Americano coffee. She had no idea what he was talking about. He became quite abusive and said they sold Americano coffee in Paris. The waitress was very young and became upset. At this point I decided to come to her aid. I told him it was quite simple. They didn't sell Americano coffee. On hearing my Australian accent he said to me "What do you know about it?". I said "Not a lot but if they don't sell Americano then they don't sell Americano!" He said "And she can't even speak English!". I said "And neither can you. You are speaking American!". He abused me and I abused him back in French which made the waitress laugh. He left.
You should have answered : and you can't even say " bonjour " correctly if you can't have an americano , you can just ask for a long coffee ... people will understand better , cause " americano " is not really known in France , we just speak about ristretto, expresso, normal , long coffee ... milk coffee, coffee cream , capuccino, machiato ...etc ... you will nearly never hear a french asking for an américano coffee.
Americans often seems to be rude to people they think are beneath them, like waitresses, mc Donalds workers, retail workers and so on. A very unpleasant way of being
I’ve been here a year. It is a process for sure and you are constantly learning. Don’t question the bureaucracy, just do what is asked of you whether duplicative or redundant. Your blood pressure will thank you. Don’t beat yourself up for not being fluent. Learn at least 10 to 15 key phrases, and just expand on that. The French appreciate you are at least trying. Remember, you are nothing special. The French have their own lives and families. Be polite, have a few expat friends to share experiences with and just get out there and explore. I’m 69 and having the time of my life!
"Remember, you are nothing special" .. i think there we have the problem for all those "america first snwflakes" from the "greatest country of the world". They think they are special, and especially people from "lower" nations just have to worship them and to be happy that they can bath in the godly aura of an american. Or whatever ...
What you are saying is true. But it works for every single country on Earth. It wouldn't cross my mind to go to another country, no matter how outlandinsh the language and culture seem to me, and not know a couple dozen words / basic expressions ( hello, thank you, drink, bye, pardon my poor language skills, I'm from X country, ... ) and a few do's and don'ts. It's politeness and logic 101
My first time in France in 1985 , I saw people pull their cars off the highway at lunch time. ..Set up a table and chairs and have lunch. At that moment, I got it. And loved it.
When I first moved to France I was really annoyed that the supermarket shut at 12.30 and didn't open again until 3 . . . . . . then you learn to chill, get better organised and enjoy lunch and life!
@@geosamways what kind of bs is that? Supermarket never closed for lunch break, even in the 80's, i'm french and was alive at that time, and they still don't
The idea of native English speakers that everyone has to speak English with them beats me. I can’t understand for the life of me how you can even think about moving abroad without being interested in the culture of the place you move to. But then, being European, I’m used to the idea that a short trip will bring me to a place where they speak a different language, cook and eat different, and will have slightly different stuff in their supermarkets. And I’m excited about it every time. I am fluent in three languages besides my own mother tongue. I will regularly use all four of these languages in a day reading stuff on the internet. I’m using one of my foreign languages now. If you go abroad and expect it to be the same, why did you even go? If you think the people living there have to break their habits of a lifetime, passed onto them by centuries of tradition, so that you can keep your plastic Yankee lifestyle - can’t you see how obnoxious and bloody entitled that perspective is? It has been decades that Hollywood - a place that was to a large extent the work of immigrants, most of them from Europe - has been doing remakes of European movies with American actors and American directors for the US market. None of the American remakes comes even close to the original, especially the French movies. In many European countries, vice versa, the American movies aren’t even dubbed, and there are dozens of them on TV every day. It’s a completely different attitude. (And yes, bigger countries do the dubbing thing, and not every European citizen, or nation, has the same mentality about learning foreign languages. But we watch each other’s films, and we will appreciate the little cultural differences that show up in them, instead of just using 60% of the material to do a remake with 40% rubbish in it.) Come to Europe by all means if you wish. But only do so after making a serious attempt to dive into your destination’s culture. Thanks to the internet and digital media, it has never been easier than today to do so without even leaving your American home. You can get any content, research any subject, listen to any language in film, music, audiobooks, web radio or television. And by the way, I’ve worked for a French company, not in France, but mostly with French management. Don’t think, as an American, that Europeans aren’t competitive, or don’t work hard. They just don’t make a song and dance about it at the office, unless they’re in a spectator sport. Whenever a European team wanted to win a competition in US motor sports, for instance, they just went and did it. There is a French expression that is often misinterpreted, it’s “savoir vivre”. It has a similar Italian equivalent. People think it means something like enjoying life, making the most of it, taking it easy. It does contain a little bit of that. But mostly it means “know how to behave, know your way around other people, know how to understand the world around you, and hold your place there”. It’s not exclusive to France, but it is important especially in France. French “rudeness” as experienced by foreigners is often a reaction to a display of lack of “savoir vivre” displayed by the foreigners beforehand.
Twenty years of english neighbours in rural Brittany and they still do not speak a word of French except for bonjour which still gives them the giggles and still they get pissed by the french people not speaking english and closing between 12 et 14 heures for lunch. In their eyes everything is better in the Uk - except for the weather, I gather! Besides that, they are quite charming and I have made my goal to study them as if I were an anthropologist or a student in Sciences sociales - besides given them consequent help on a regular basis 😅
They think of countries like France, Spain or Italy as theme parks, with some beautiful stuff and some special food... so yeah in Disneyland Orlando they speak english, of course and there is no bureaucracy. So they get mad when the locals act funny as no speaking english or their favorite brand is not there...
Every human being wishes to recreate a piece of home when they migrate to a new country if only to feel a little less alien. It's not unique to Americans. The ways that Americans are different is a complete lack of ability in another language- I think in general language learning is harder for them. Secondly - American culture is one where you can find almost anything that will cater to a customer's tastes and wishes - for them it's almost unfathomable that a supermarket won't have 20 different cereals for example. That takes adjustment but I can also see why huge variety is a positive for them even if food quality is often lacking. Finally - I never understand why it's so bothersome that immigrants like those ones in Brittany never learn French. Are they pleasant people contributing to their local community? That's good enough. I find Europeans often far too insistent on immigrants learning their particular language that they miss what matters more - a person's character and contribution.
@vmoses1979 that’s not the point - of course you can “create a bit of home atmosphere” when emigrating. The point is you can’t expect others to do it for you. If you want to make friends abroad, you will either live in an bubble of people of the same immigration background, or you will have to make a serious effort at mingling with the locals, and that means adapting to them. If you don’t make the effort, that’s not the locals’ fault, but it’s you being lazy. And if you’re lazy, you won’t make a contribution to local life, you will at best not be in the way, and be a source of entertainment to those locals who will take an interest in you, because you’re exotic. Like in the case of the Brits in Brittany. Europeans tend to be pretty tolerant towards people coming from other backgrounds these days. We are certainly very good though at minding our own business, especially in cities. You can even get away with just speaking English in many European countries - that’s why we get so many English speakers who don’t make an effort. But it’s *them* doing the complaining, and I only complained about that attitude of theirs. If you complain that Europe isn’t Britain or America - well sorry, maybe you’re better off where you came from. If you have trouble finding friends, ask yourself what you do wrong, not what the others are doing wrong.
I'm Danish and I have lived in France for 25 years now. I cook a lot myself and we have different meats and cuts in Denmark, but I have found that if you go to your local butcher and explain what you need, even sometimes with a downloaded photo, they will be more than happy to accommodate. They even find it fun and interesting, especially when I have brought back some food that I have cooked for them to taste. It may be a little bit more expensive, but you get what you need and establish a relationship with your local food providers as well.
@@henrikmadsen6100 I attempted with the French equivalent word, "joue", but maybe as you said : they just don't usually purchase it ! Maybe a good way to build a rapport :)
Love your channel you have a new subscriber greetings from Normandy 🇫🇷 I moved here in 2006. I’m never going back to United States unless it’s to visit family, but I told them because of this year’s election they can come and see me.
The only rude people I encountered in France were American tourists. As an American I felt so embarrassed they were perpetuating this disgusting stereotype. This was in early 2002 and my French colleges expressed genuine, heartfelt empathy to me regarding the 911 attacks. I was floored--why would people halfway around the world care? I now realize their empathy comes from an understanding that we are all connected, no matter the distances, languages or border walls.
rude french people exist too. i've definitely encountered rude french people. just like i've encountered rude americans and canadians. saying that rude french people don't exist... ultimately places french people in general on a pedestal. however, tourists are definitely more rude and they tend to stick out more.. because... they are loud haha
😂 You felt impressed that in Europe people read about global issues? I am always impressed on how here Americans don’t know anything about other countries. How can any American not save money to go to the Louvre as an example or the British Museum? There are flights for like $500 now to go to Paris. If I was born here I would’ve made it my goal to see all of Europe before turning 30. I would at least expect my parents to have already done that once with me before turning 18 but probably would be busy eating processed food 😂
@ I am actually being polite to be honest and kept my nerves before replying. You are just ignorant. I live in the tristate area and work in finance downtown. I know exactly what I’m saying.
@@sakispsinakis I don't understand how you working in finance has anything to do with the topic but ok The keyword here is that people cared, not the fact that they knew about it
lol. I read the article & being married to a French guy, traveling back & forth from the YS to 🇫🇷 for decades, & I thought celery????’ I can’t remember ever seeing it there, much less eating it. Now, celeriac is another, lovely story. Bottom line: learn French at a minimum B1 level if at all possible before moving there, take advantage of ex-Pat groups & embrace challenges. It’s an entirely different culture & a lovely one. I think way too many people are in love with the idea of France without understanding what it is, at all.
Depending on how fast or easily you learn I think A1 or B2 is enough. Usually, you will come in a 1 year long stay visa and that will leave you time to keep learning everyday's life French, through the farmer's market and local interaction and a more formal (less than a few decades ago) through TV or radio news. At the end of the period, you should almost feel like a fish in a tank for daily life and make do to renew your visa or apply for your first residency permit which is usually a 2-3 years authorization (even if the card itself is stamped with 5 years sometimes, but restricted, just in case you want to renew). In short, you just have to know enough to go through daily life and level B1 is a level that lets you acclimate much smoother, in addition to reigning over the prejudices and rumors nourished in the environment you grew and lived in. Like Jason and Rayna said, if you don't try or even have the will to try, you will never feel at home anywhere outside your comfort zone.
@@rhdrhd3255 The fact is that celeri isn't as popular as it was a few decades ago. But you still can find fresh celeri in farmer's markets sometimes or in Asian food stores. For regular stores, you just need to know what day the renewal occur. Best and big sales are restocked everyday while the others are restocked once or twice a week.
British, three years living in Poitou-Charentes, frequent visitor to the country since I was a child, speak reasonably good french and have helpful french neighbours ... and I am still 'settling in' 😃 !
I’m so glad you made this video, because I was appalled at the immature, trivial comments the woman made in that article. First and foremost, how can you make plans to move to another country and NOT learn the language but expect to make French friends? How unreasonable and self-absorbed is that? I lived in Spain and Germany for a few years, and I felt so much more connected and frankly, joyful by learning as much of the language as I could and engaging with locals and their culture through respecting their language. Not always perfect by any means, but I always tried and it paid off. Great perspective from you guys❤️
oh my. this is spot on. i’ve not moved to France but I’ve been married to France for 45 years, becoming a dual citizen 5 years ago. totally, totally spot on. enjoy your lovely life in France! thanks for providing a great resource for those of us who love France and try to explain why it’s not “the USA with better bread!”
Good video! Dutch person here, I've lived abroad since 1981. You could make the same video about people with other nationalities who come to France. Learn the language, enjoy the culture and get of your high horse. The French are very nice and hospital people and have high standards when it comes to politeness. If they think you are being impolite (by not saying bonjour or svp or starting a conversation in English) they'll let you know. They aren't rude, you are.
I moved continents to live in Canada. The best part of this life change was that it WAS different. I loved that it was not the same. I personally do avoid ex-pats, unless I meet them by accident. I do know someone who moved to France, and lives their life entirely within an expat community and makes no effort to speak French. It begs the question, what the heck did you move there for? Emigrating to a new country is a complete life change. Address it as such and embrace the change, otherwise just stay home.
@@steveo5138 They may have moved for any number of reasons not to do with the culture or language - lower cost of living, better weather, proximity to other travel destinations, cheaper healthcare costs etc. We don't live in 1850 where if you left your village in Germany and got on a boat to Canada - it was a permanent life change and you embraced every aspect of life in your new home down to anglicized your name and speaking only English etc. I really don't understand this mentality that insists on total assimilation even when that may not be possible or even desirable.
Bonjour, vous avez une très bonne analyse; lors de mes voyages aux USA j'ai eu des surprises! Il n'y a pas une population américaine type mais plusieurs, un Newyorkais n'a rien à voir avec u Floridiens ou autres, en France il n y a pas un type de Français mais plusieurs, un Charentais est différent d'un Savoyars, de mème en Allemagne, Italie,Espagne,Belgique etc... J 'aime les rencontres des différentes cultures! Merci
My late s-i-l (American) came to the UK and had a bad time with culture shock, even with a common language - it's too easy to compare, you just have to accept that things are different. I worked and travelled a lot in France, though sadly not been able to relocate there, and met with both frustrations and delights. Try looking forward to fresh bread, cycling 8kn and finding the only boulanger in town is away on his 2 month holiday. But picking up sun-warm fruit from a roadside farmer's stand and eating it with goats cheese and a chilled rosé makes up for all of that. If celery's your worst problem you're doing OK.
Oui, mais l'adaptation au sein d'un pays européen est bien plus aisé que depuis les USA, car les différences culturelles sont largement moins accentuées...les américains sont habitués a de grosses autos, a de larges routes et places de parking, a de l'essence pas chère, a des grosses quantités de nourriture (la qualité important relativement peu) , a moins de bureaucratie, etc...il est comparativement plus facile pour un français de vivre aux USA, à condition d'apprendre l'anglais et... ce damné système impérial ultra compliqué et les ridicules degrés fahrenheit...
@@leneanderthalien en tant qu'américain en France, je ne peux qu'être d'accord avec vous... bien que je ne regrette pas d'avoir quitté mon pays natal pour une meilleure qualité de vie concernant la nourriture, je ne peux pas m'empêcher de penser à l'acceuil au niveau administratif pour qqn dans le cas invers... sans oublier la bienveillance générale des gens... compliqué tout ça
I was both amazed and appaled this story made it to any newspaper. One couple moves to another country, makes no real effort to adapt, goes back home by blaming the country they 'tried' to live in in and this is news?
Its like stories about people buying tiny homes and not liking it, or people being able to buy their own place when they just stopped buying Starbucks (and a huge loan from their parents) is just glossed over. Its an article meant to deter people from doing it. Its practically propaganda.
Typical of the media always enjoying throwing in some French-bashing on the slightest "opportunity". Reminds me of that foolish girl that went to Lyon and complained when she did every possible thing wrong and didn't get friendly responses she was expecting.
Ah well, good riddance... Some people will never get that only the US is like the US. The whole rest of the world is different... Very much so ! Love from Norway 😅❤
I read that article and just laughed. They obviously had no idea and were not trying to acclimate at all. Her complaining about not learning the language was no one’s fault but her own.
I often read those articles on the CNN website and this one definitely stands out as the other stories about Americans moving abroad are usually quite positive.
There will always be the.moaners. Ive heard Brits over in Spain sneering at eg the postal service. Which is fine. One man (I imagined him with Colonel chappy moustaches) boasted, in a letter to Eng. Language paper, that in 18 years here he had never spoken a word of Spanish. ¡ Estaba furiosa y soy inglesa!
I saw the article. Couldn’t believe the whining. Haha! Celery. Import you car?? Unbelievable. I really miss France. Hope your family will stay there and flourish. Sounds like you’ve got the spirit!
More advice for anyone who cooks in Europe : do things the other way around : first go see what's nice and available in whatever season (and mood) you're in and cook something with that, instead of wanting to cook somethng specific and then struggling to find what you need. This is actually true EVERYWHERE.
Amen. If you don't plan on learning the language and adapting somewhat to the country you're moving to, you are coming with a colonizing mindset. Our lifestyle/culture/language/food is the best, no need for that changing/adapting nonsense
Everything you mention is spot on. I bought my house in the south of France two years ago and moved here full-time 18 months ago. It has been an amazing experience. I'm an outgoing person and within 6 months, I had developed a network of friends in both the expat community as well as the french community. I feel quite fortunate that I have become integrated into my community. Vive la France!
Bravo Baguette bound: you got the vibe. French guy here. Lived in Ukraine for 7 years, 1 year in Russia, 1 year in Kazakhstan , 8 years in central Illinois, 1 year in Lebanon and travelled extensively in Africa. My worst difficult time: adjusting to living in the USA. But at the end of the day, if you accept the good in all cultures and countries, you end up rich of experiences, you have real friends for life in foreign countries, you can speak or at least babble in other languages and you can teach your kids that we really all are one world.
Moving to France even from Ireland is difficult. Two years is the minimum time and stop thinking about America and cooking is so different. Best part about France you don’t really need a car to shop. I lived in Germany for 6 months no language but found it fantastic and a great experience.
I'm an American who has lived in Paris for 20 years. If I had a nickel for every person I've met while living here who told me they were moving to France. Even people that tried to stay after vacations, studies, job mission ends, etc but ended up going back home. After over 20 years of living here, when I encounter people who tell me they are moving here or want to move here, it goes in one ear and out the other.
When I first arrived here a few months ago, I wondered what the heck did people cook with leeks 😅. Now I am the leek queen! 😂 Embrace the differences, and you just might be pleasantly surprised. ❤
@@geoffoakland Me too ! But when I was a kid living in south west France, there were more geese than ducks in farm yards and most "foies gras" came from geese, now it's the other way around !
@@thierrycambon116 interesting. I don't know why duck isn't eaten more frequently in the US. Turkey is very popular however, almost as popular as chicken
Haha me too, but in The Netherlands! I LOVE leeks now and wonder why I never learned to use them in the USA. I also love endive (andijvie in Dutch), chicory (witlof in Dutch) and so many other things. I've been in Nederland for almost 9 years and over that time I have completely changed the way I cook. I learned Dutch cooking, and I learned what works here and what doesn't. For example, I made soft tacos for some of my Dutch friends. I showed them how to make them and how to eat them with your hands. They copied my example but then ate them with knife and fork. I dreamed of opening a Tex-Mex restaurant, but later realized that the flavor profile is just not what Dutch people would eat very often...not often enough to make a Tex-Mex restaurant successful. I've learned so many other interesting things Dutch and European in my 9 years and I don't miss living in the USA at all.
Moving to a country without learning the language means condemning yourself to isolation, lack of integration, and a failed experience. Alas, many do it, because it is not easy! But it leads to this type of failure. And it is valid for any country. Well, French bureaucracy is hell... for the French! But ultimately it seems to be the case in many countries, according to the various testimonies! I have experienced much worse: Russia! As for food, I have spent my life between England and France. Habits are, let's say... different! In England, I eat like the English, in France, like the French! We can lack this or that product, but we compensate with something else, adaptation is essential. Well, if you ultimately miss the good food of the US version of McDonald's, at least you will have experienced stinky cheeses for two years! 🧀
French bureaucracy is not insurmountable, as long as you have a reasonable level of French - that is a non-negotiable pre-condition to settling in France. The trick is to talk to people in the administration you are dealing with. You may need two or three meetings before you officially submit a request or sign a form. Talk to as many friends and acquaintances as you can to get their input. Make friends with the person at reception in your Mairie or with the Secrétaire-général. Make friends with the people in your France Service office. Maybe we were lucky, but our local tax office was incredibly patient and helpful. We imported a car, but that was from another EU country - and nevertheless required proper preparation. It's a waste of money, not to mention the stress, to ship a car from a non EU country. Animals: expensive but doable. Once your animal is in France, I would recommend getting an EU companion animal passport. In that way your dog, cat or ferret can cross borders in Europe and the Mediterranean with no difficulty.
I have to say, I laughed out loud when reading the article about how Johanna was frustrated because she couldn't order a martini at a bar in France - they just told her that they don't make them. Imagine walking into a bar here in the US and asking for pastis and getting upset because they don't have it. France is not America.
@@christopheb.6121 I think she meant about the cocktail, not the "aperitif". I had the same experience, but the other way around. In Pasadena, CA, I ordered a Martini. I was expecting vermouth but was served the cocktail, a Martini, which I did not like. And I was so ignorant regarding cocktails and obnoxious back in the days that I end up being rude with the waitress, which even after 20 years I do not forgive myself. Long story short, she explained the content of the cocktail, I truly apologized and gave her a $15 tip to make up for my bad reaction towards her.
@@christopheb.6121 C'est le martini de James Bond, avec l'olive et le verre en forme d'entonnoir. Dans l'article, on la voit en boire un dans son appartement de San Francisco. Martini en France, c'est une marque de vermouth italien. US = cocktail. France = apéritif. Si on ne comprend pas cette différence et ce que ça implique, dure de s'acclimater.
@@christopheb.6121 Salut Christophe, ce qu'avait commandé cette conne n'était pas un "simple" Martini comme on en boit chez nous, du moins pas tout à fait. Aux States un "Martini" est un cocktail composé pour moitié de Gin, (Avant c'était de la Vodka...) et de vermouth sec, à savoir du Martini Dry avec l'étiquette verte, le tout servi dans un verre à pied au haut en forme de cône plat très évasé, avec une olive verte afin de donner une petite touche salée. Tu as dû voir ça dans tous les films américains, surtout ceux des 50's et des 60's, quand ce cocktail faisait fureur. À présent il a été remplacé par le Negroni et le Margarita. Voilà l'explication de ce malentendu entre cette idiote et cette pauvre serveuse, pour qui un Martini ne pouvait être que les vermouths rouges ou blanc que tu cites dans ton message, le "Dry" se buvant surtout en cocktails... 🤗
merci !!! j' adore Jean de la Fontaine qui a su, en respectant les règles d' usages, de se servir des animaux, pour montrer tout les vices et les vertus de l' espèces humaine. Si peu de mots si bien écrits, qui exprime une belle philosophie, n' est pas donné à tout le monde, sauf à De la Fontaine . J' ai noté
@@CROM-on1bz Tout le monde a toujours copié tout le monde, et même Esope à sans doute, été inspiré par d' autres, tu parle du fond ou de la forme ?, parce que Esope n' a pas dicté cette belle pensée que tu as citée de J de la Fontaine, ni toutes les fables qu'il a écrit...pourquoi cité Esope ?
@@didierjacob250 And knowing both fabulists well and given that there are at least two millennia of difference between them, I can admire Jean de la Fontaine: Either for his erudition and his knowledge of ancient texts. Or for his knowledge of the customs of the time of Louis XIV and his perfect way of mocking them with a perfectly prudent second degree. But we agree, the guy is great.
Viva la France. Learning the language is key because the language is the culture, and people have to willing to make many mistakes. while doing it Most other cultures are way more accepting if you try and they'll teach you. I hiked in the Dordogne actually near where you live. Myself and two sons started out in Les Esyzes and ended up in Soulliac. The French people we met on the way were super curious and very pleased that we passed our time in the French way. It was an unforgettable experience and contrary to what guide books said at the time the French were super,super interested in us. There is so much there to do and see. I had two years of high school French and racked my brains to speak French as much as possible. That effort was harder than the hiking. Bonne chance to all who are intrepid enough to go and try being there. It's worth the time and effort. If you want a heads up on French culture, there is the comedian Paul Taylor who pokes fun at the cultural mores. You can catch him on TH-cam. Worth the watch for sure.
I completely agree. Anyone who's getting into this should expect it to be difficult, then when it is difficult, it's just everything going to plan. Learning a new language is a huge thing. It's maybe the most difficult thing we ever do and the first time we did it we were little more than babies, we weren't trying to learn anything and no one was trying to teach us. It's amazing. Going to a new country and not knowing the language is like being stupid everywhere you go. Even everyday things turn into Mr Bean goes to the petrol station, Mr Bean tries to buy a phone card, Mr Bean tries to get a puncture repaired, Mr Bean doesn't know what you mean and so on. It's all part of the fun, but it's a mountain that has to be climbed.
I'm an expat Brit, married to my lovely Brit wife, and we bought a house and moved here, to the very north of France, more than 30 years ago. After spending 22 years working here I've now been retired for 8 years, and my wife is retiring next April. I've been listening to your videos for several weeks now and it's interesting comparing your experiences as Americans here with our own as Brits. They're not dissimilar. But you're absolutely right, it takes time - lots of it, both to adapt to the French way of doing things and to disengage the inevitable preconceptions you arrive with. Our 26 year old son was born here, went to school here, and is now doing a master's in translation (guess the two languages!). Relax, enjoy the experience, and living your dream. We are now naturalised French citizens and enjoy dual nationality. France is now our home, and that's how we feel coming back after visits to the UK. I hope you end up staying in France and keep those videos coming. Bon courage!
il est agréable d' entendre des britanniques qui aiment un peu, beaucoup la France. Et puis après tant de guerres utérines, l' entente cordiale enfin, et je crois que l' on va en avoir besoin...
Mahalo nui loa! Thank you very much. As a kanaka 'ōiwi (Hawaiian) and a retired expat living almost 2 years in the south of France. I agree with everything you said. Importantly, I will eventually reach out to other expats. Like the CNN couple, I ignored expats, but will open that option. I'm blessed with a loving French husband, thus our transition from Honolulu, Hawai'i was not as bad. Nonetheless, even my husband needs more patience with the French bureaucracy. A bientôt ou "A hui hou"
They sound like the type of people that just needs to move to another state vs country. I can't imagine not learning the language of a country that I immigrated to.
@@martijnkeisers5900 And yet being able to settle in despite not being able to talk to the locals ( duh ) and refusing to socialize with expats. But yeah, getting your car was more important than local language 101
I am a Berliner and have lived in 5 countries in Europe.Learned the language in all five and assimilated into the culture. Also studied the history. And I have found that Americans and Brits are notoriously bad at assimilating. You three are doing it right ! Both have their "exceptionalism". Only Americans and Brits have this ex-pat nonsense. Everybody else accepts that they are immigrants. They are both very language lazy. I always learned the basic BEFORE I moved or it´s like turning up at the exam without having done your homework. I am astounded that Americans just turn up and have studied absolutely NOTHING about the country but expect to be welcome just because they are "Muricans" and are so star-spangled awesome. And my God are they whingy and complaining.
Well, Trevor, that's quite a high moral perch you sit on and judge the rest of us from. What about all those German immigrants who showed up in the U.S. and didn't speak English. Get over yourself.
We call english and netherlanders tourists : colon . They wants the country but not the ways and the people. Americans are way more adaptative and curious.
I'm American, living for 2.5 years in France and I'm embarrassed to say this has been my experience of too many Americans I've encountered. Fortunately, there are also Americans who know the language and don't behave this way, but you don't notice us because we are often mistaken for being from somewhere else! I guess I look and sound German? One time, a guy in Paris insulted me for being an outsider by snarling at me, "Strasbourgeoise." I was delighted for being mistaken for French! 😆
Ahh endives ! Easy, duck breast, sautéed potatoes (in a cast iron casserole, not a frying pan) and... braised endives ! (tip : sprinkle a little sugar on the endives to remove the bitterness and caramelize them ! Salutations de l'Alsace gourmande !😉
I was born in Europe. I didn't know, that the possibility exists, to dip celery stalks. - We never ate it like that. - I first saw it in England. Lately here too: At events or catering parties you can find celery, carrot or pepperoni sticks for dipping. We've always eaten the tuber. But it's hard to peel. We cook the celery tuber in bouillon together with leeks and carrots, chinese cabbage, onions and garlic, etc. Some potatoes also go well with it. You can eat it as a soup. It's a healthy winter dish. Or we eat it grated, cold as a salad with a french, creamy dressing. 😊 It tastes delicious all year round. 😊
Well done! This video came up on my suggestions. First video of yours I've watched, and subscribed to the channel immediately. My wife and I visited Paris last year for the first time, and plan to return in 2026. We were amazed at the other U.S. tourists who insisted on starting every restaurant interaction by loudly asking "do you speak english?" Our French is rudimentary, but to see others not even making an effort made us shake our heads in frustration.
Great video as always! What's sad is that most people have shared the negative experience of Joanna as if everyone was doomed to fail, instead of highlighting people like you who get it and get the most out of that experience. I'm glad your channel was recommended to me!
I moved quite often (maybe every 7 - 10 years) during the professional lives of first my father, then my husband. My iron rule of thumb was: You don't know where you are, until you have been there for three years. That has worked for me for 73 years and will continue to be my time measure for major changes.
@@marieadriansen2925 I agree to disagree with you , if you’re going on holiday and minimum is necessary , if you’re going to live in the country I’m sorry you need to learn the language it’s just a sign of respect.
I get this. I am an American living in America, which is full of immigrants who apparently have no desire to learn English. I've been told English is very hard to learn. But it's rude to not try.
As a Brit in Grasse, my tip would be to always buy produce at the local markets/farms/specialists and only get the remainder of your shop from the supermarkets. Not learning at least conversational French is fatal, as I imagine it would be for a foreigner not learning English and trying to live in the US, Joanna clearly hadn't actually thought through or talked to anyone with experience, about living in a foreign country.
"My Pioneer Cookbook was almost useless in France." 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Everything they say here is accurate, especially the language advice. Immerse in the language so you can get to the point of thinking in French. That took me about 6-8 months of daily immersion, but it was another year to 18 months to get to a solid B2-ish to C1-ish conversational level in most situations.
Been here 18 years now. The paperwork is still not easy but…no regrets. Celery we buy one stick at a time because we use it in sauces/cooking and that’s as much as you ever need. Don’t ever want to eat bunches of the stuff! Don’t bring your car!!! My French is quite ok but husband still not there. Son who was brought up here (from age 11) just got his French citizenship. Yes - not easy but again, je ne regrette rien! BTW not American.
Ha! I was thinking you guys would address this couple’s article. I feel sad for her. I really do. Overall it’s good for everyone else that really wants to try integrating into French culture, just to see where they went wrong.
As a Brit who has lived in France for 28 years, I totally agree that the bureaucracy is tiresome! But it works! You eventually get your 'carte vitale', which is an open door to health treatment that is either free or partially covered, although you have to do all the work yourself, where in the UK, for example, specialist appointments are booked for you once your doctor has seen you (that's why the UK is known as the 'nanny state'!). Same with the driving licence: when my UK driving licence went missing, who knows where, I found I could no longer renew it, and had to get a French one. So first I had to report it to the local police, and get a document to take to the local authority... I did get it eventually. And after Brexit(😠), the local authorities were incredibly sympathetic and helpful, and we had no dificulty at all getting our permanent residency status approved....though it did take some time! By the way, we both speak reasonable French, and are well integrated into the local community.
Hi, I'm a US American who moved to Mexico not France a little more than four years ago and I can relate to everything you guys discussed in this video. I was different in my approach to relocating as I didn't try to rush the process. I didn't come to Mexico thinking that I had found my new home, but rather that I would spend time here and see how I liked it and then move on to another country and check that one out to see if I maybe liked it better and then repeating the process somewhere else. I spent three years doing this before finally settling on Mexico. I too can be a little impatient when getting things done, but I had learned patience when travelling and living around the US, so it was easier for me to accept that some things worked at a different pace then what I was used to. And when I was ready to commit I was able to take things gradually one step at a time. So far this has worked for me and I now have a four year temporary residency permit and once that is done I can get permanent residency without any additional legal hurtles to jump over. I've settled on a city, which suits me, but I'm still wrapping up healthcare and banking. When I left the US I only came with a few suitcases and I'm glad I did as it has made traveling around so much easier. Its easy to get caught up in the initial thrill of the adventure and make mistakes, I think the key is to slow down and let things unfold naturally, it will be easier and much more fun.
I was fortunate enough or clever enough to qualify for a grammar school education at the age of eleven. I studied French for five years so when I retired to France in 2015 I already had a good grounding in the language even if my French was a little rusty. I have lived here for over nine years and have no intention of going back to the UK, limp celery or not. I couldn't afford to live in the UK anyway. I am the sole English member of the local model aeroplane club and I am active on the open mic music circuit which is largely an expat English thing. One thing I have noticed about the Brits is that those who have never learned French find it a difficult language to learn in retirement. For example the word "my" can be "mon," "ma" or "mes" depending on the gender of what you own and whether you have more than one of them! There are two common reasons for going home in my experience. The old man is ill and cannot explain his symptoms to the doctor and secondly grandchildren, which is understandable but as I will never have any grandchildren that won't apply to me, so here I'll stay jusqu'a ma mort!
You guys are great, thanks for posting this reality check. Your advice is spot on! Thank you for helping make all us Americans in France feel (and look) a little better about this journey we've undertaken. (And love the scarf, Raina. That definitely says "I live here")
My first goal is to learn French! IT'S HARD and I'm struggling but getting better. Then on to the limp celery ... put it in a large bowl of ice water and suddenly it is crisp again. I am also looking forward to trying new foods when I get there! Can't wait!
Duolingo help me learn Russian. I’ve never opened a book of Russian or taken any lessons but I can speak pretty well unfortunately it’s not the language to be speaking right now, but during Covid I have nothing to do so I said why don’t I just learned the most difficult language I can find out there.
The celery is probably imported from the USA. The French don’t eat celery. Never seen one in my life until I came to the US. Try some French locally grown veggies
I would think hanging out with other expats would help you to adjust to a new life! Also what you say about living in France reminds me of the saying"When in Rome do as the Romans do" ie go along with the french way of life.
2 weeks ago i saw on french TV an exceptionnal example of integration : there was a party in the french region of Camargue, several people having lunch outside on sunny sunday, and the journalist met a young american woman, i dont know maybe 27-30. She had moved to France 7 years ago and was having lunch with the locals; She spoke french all the time of the interview with very very light american /english accent (You could barely hear it), and no grammar or vocabulary mistakes . This woman had integrated perfectly.
Most important tip (for most European countries): learn the language as fast as possible. Don't try to be 'American'. Just try to adapt as fast as possible. And yes: it takes time. And effort. How do they cope with all those different languages: well, nowadays most Europeans (the younger generations) speak more than 1 language. Sometimes even 4 or 5. Some of them learned that in primary school. We have to. And yes: English is often a bridge to solve language barriers in certain situations. And that gives the impression that if you are English-speaking you don't have to make any effort anymore.
I saw the article also. Thanks for this video. I am an expat now for 12 years. It has had it's challenges, although I am married to a French citizen. It has really been worth it. I truly enjoy all of your videos! Keep them coming!
Your video's extremely nice, understanding, and compassionate. After having read the article, I got the feeling these 2 pampered people expectations are basically Disneyland. That's about the only place where they'll feel comfortable : their own lifestyle in a setting that very vaguely looks like France, Australia, South Africa or Peru, but where everything is like home. They did not want to resettle, probably never travelled beyond Eiffel tower and Latin quarter.
There are more of their kind than one could think of : they use the supermarket for food otherwise they go back to their country for bigger purchases, remains with themselves or other ex-pats speaking their language, with whom they can criticize France and its people ad nauseam...
Another great video. We have been in portugal for 6 years. It is work, learning a new language that you may never master, letting go, learning new things, making new friends, and dealing with government entities. Yet it is worth it. My wife and I realize we fit in portugal. Love your channel.
If you are not ready to leave your attitude at home and embrace a new environment and culture, just stay where you are. It’s not easy but it is challengingly interesting.
Well, I once saw a YT video with a French guy who moved to Malta and complained that when he went to a police station to file a report, the policeman did not speak French... 😐 ("il pourrait quand même connaître le français, non?"). That YT guy could not speak English either. Needless to say, the French guy got back to France a couple of months later.
Many of the French like to buy just one or two stalks of celery at a time because they use it in cooking and never eat it raw. That's why you see a lot of limp sad mutilated celery. And limp stalks are perfectly fine for cooking. I am lucky to live in an ethnic neighborhood in Paris where the celery is fresh and wonderful (nearly always imported from Italy). What's funny is that I sometimes serve potato salad or tuna salad to friends and they ask "what is that incredible crunchy thing in there?" It is a total discovery. The closest guess is usually fennel, which would of course be a complete mystery to most Americans.
As always, you guys are right on point and super kind about everything. I LOVE seeing how much your channel is growing too! Thanks for these incredibly helpful videos. Counting the few years left till I can move to France!
really common sense: - don’t fight the system, work around it - don’t except to be the same as USA - try to learn why the others do differently because after a while it starts making sense - be agile très bonne vidéo comme toujours amitiés
I LOVE an endive and radicchio salad (note: ahn-DEEV), even here in Marble Falls, Texas. But I will be 100% with never eating celery again. Anywhere! Good points on all of these. As for learning French, I decided yesterday to buy (and did, today) some index cards and non-Sharpie highlighters because I am "conveniently" ignoring learning and recalling French verbs and tenses. One pile/one color highlighter will be -er, one pile -ir, one pile -re, and one pile al the irregular verbs. And I am going to slam those flashcards daily, just as I did with anatomy and physiology in chiropractic school. T-minus 7 months! Thanks for another great video/take.
Oh, you’re learning French, that’s so cool Sue! Will definitely help you meet people. One tip is to watch videos in French to familiarise with the accent. Which part of France are you looking at to move to? Just looked up your location. You’re in Hill Country. That’s on our list for our Road trip to Texas in March. Any insider tips for an authentic experience in your area?
Jack Allen's for Texas / Southwest food. One of our favorite restaurants in the US! Go grocery shopping at HEB and but fresh tortillas from the bakery. Wimberly is an adorable Hill Country town.
@@BaguetteBound Merci! Je vais ajouter Wimberly à ma liste. We’ll definitely sample Jack Allen’s. I’m just afraid that their servings come in the size of a wagon wheel. 😂. What’s HEB?
One just have to “accept” the challenges that come along. I was born in Paris and lived there for 7 years when I was a student. I use to go back every year to visit my mother who I moved to Paris from NYC. Thanks for the video. Great info for those who have never lived in a foreign country.
I do have to wonder what those folks were thinking when they moved. All their problems were predictable and avoidable. On the other hand, you guys are fantastic.
Hanging out with other expats... has been so well worth it! I'm american and I ended up joing and canadian expat group (they said they welcome anyone haha) but sometimes... even though I am ALWAYS surrounded by people... the language barrier... just provides a different level of isolation and language fatigue. It was so nice to spend a night out with other people who were like me.... who also just understood exactly what I was going through.
In my experience, it takes about three years in a new country or town to really feel at home. I start out complaining and comparing everything, and after 3 months realize I have to give it up and go with the flow! Now, about celery! The French don't usually eat it raw, but in soup or stews, so it doesn't matter if it's a little limp. But what's great is that you can pull off just one branch of celery (just enough for that soup) at the grocery store, and buy only that, instead of a whole bag that rots in your fridge!
In 1995 my ex husband (who is english) was transfered from France to French Guyana. When I arrived there I met a friend of mine (our husbands were in the French foreign Legion) and she told me : if you want to have a great experience live the life of the locals. And that's what I did. The first time I went to the supermarket, I saw that products imported from mainland France were 10 times more expensive. So I decided not to stay in the military circle, I adopted Guyanese habits and my children and I spent 2 wonderful years. In our case, there was no language barrier. Otherwise, I would have made the effort to learn the basics before leaving.
Thank you for your videos. You two seem so pragmatically grounded that I feel like I’m getting actual useful advice and perspectives. We’re in the planning stages of our move, and France is definitely on our short list!
Very good video! Not learning the language. And those are usually exactly the people calling the natives arrogant or rude or whatever because they didn't bother to learn THEIR language to communicate in THEIR country and THEIR culture. It doesn't happen only with Amercans, of course. That type is not limited to a specific country, continent, or social class. Understanding that the country you are moving to is NOT the country where you come from, that their culture, and their language is NOT yours, and that their ways of communicating are NOT the same as yours, that's the most important thing. Bordeaux or Hamburg are not Boston with nicer buildings. They are places in very different cultures, and just because you meet a lot of people who speak English doesn't change that fact. And to expect that you can get along for an extended period of time without learning the local language is just hilarious. Language is the most inherently cultural thing there is. 90% of all culture of any place is language. Nothing is more connected to a culture than the expressions, the images, the metaphors, or even the grammar of the local language. Even the specific concept of time is represented in the language. You can ONLY understand a place more than just cursory if you understand the language. Being arrogant enough not to learn the language just makes you miserable, and everybody else as well... P.S. Why the heck would one want to ship a car across the ocean? Especially to a country known to have a large car industry. The obstacles are huge, from (seemingly) simple things like the color or position of lights to really complicated or very expensive things like proving emission standards. It's really a crazy idea...
@@oulibemusic1257 Well, that HAS happened... ;-) And with members of the military, it happens very often, because the US military pays for the shipping, and they don't have to convert their cars to EU/German regulations. Normal people, on the other hand, usually don't do it because of costs. Same with furniture and other big items. In the end, most Americans who want to live here do realize that we do not live in caves here in Germany, and that it is even possible to buy furniture and even cars here. Mind you, we even have running water here. Sometimes even warm! ;-)
You guys are spot on! We split our time between California and France. Learning just some French helps tremendously and the French will help you with common words and phrases if you ask. Yes, the supermarket….. I ran into the same issue, but once I figured out that I needed to explore new foods to cook at home it’s been amazing and such fun. We also find that getting involved in your local village activities helps to meet people. And yes, France has everything you need, cars, clothes, shoes, appliances etc…etc..etc… so, bring your family heirlooms and buy what you need here in France. 🇫🇷😊
Sage advice! Learning is part of life, wherever you live, and along with it come the joys and challenges. This is especially true when you move to a new country. In the, hopefully, not too distant future, we’ll one day live in France. And until then, we’ll use this time to keep learning all about France, to make the transition easier and more enjoyable once we get there. We realize that it will be challenging and frustrating at times, but that’s true of any place you move to, whether it’s to a new city, state or country. And watching channels such as yours makes it more fun as well as more informative. Merci beaucoup!
We don't get much celery here in southern Greece either, although celeriacs with the darker green tops (celery root) are available. I suspect the French don't *need* the celery stalks to be kept crisp because they aren't eating it with peanut butter as a snack, they're only chopping it up with onion and carrot for stewed dishes.
Thanks for the vlog; really enjoyed it. I also read that article. I live in France.. Just to tackle one thing that I think you were incorrect about (Zute alors!😅) The Celery. I live near Mirepoix which gives its name to the base of all soups and stews in the culinary world: Onion; carrot; celery. Celery is the fundamental ingredient in french cuisine. Its not used very much as a salad vegetable but goes into stews; soups; sauces. You will see whole celery stripped in the shops and markets as the french just take a few of the pieces for cooking at a time. The reason the celery was always limp was because she always shopped in the supermarket! and probably a cheap one at that. It is also NOT IRRADIATED like most veg in the States or elsewhere. It has a short shelf life out of water. Go to any market and it will be field (or garden) fresh and that is where the majority of french get their veg and celery! As you say, they didn't do their homework and they had a story book impression of French life. Its not just americans; many people migrate to france with a similar idea to get away from their problems and usually take those problems with them.
For the ham the difference is the way it was prepared stewed, smoked or dried slowly, the amount of salt, the use of nitrites or nitrates as conservative, the other ingredients as vegetables, dextrose, etc. the presence or absence of rind, the glittery being more industrial. I would just add that in many supermarchés, the weighing is done by the cashier. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I really enjoy these videos. I will never leave Colorado, but these two are just entertaining. As a secular buddhist, I agree that mindset is pretty much EVERYTHING when it comes to happiness. That's why I really think that these two could have found happiness by changing their brains instead of their country. Then again, even the best brain won't get you a $200K home in a lovely village. Keep up the great work. I'll keep watching.
Thanks Raina ,Jason and Juliana ... I'm french of " Bretagne " ... Saint Malo...and your points of view on my country is also fun than sweet.... Your comments show us that this 'hexagonal land ' is one of the most comfortable place in the world ... The most visited one on earth , with 1200 sorts of cheese and no school shooting to .... Jason .... Bac is the abbreviation of... Baccalauréat... I'll be bac 😂 Take care and enjoy each days on the native land of 'lady liberty " ...
Hello, I am from Austria and I live in France. Spoke french before moving here. And got a job right away, that is a very good way of conecting with people. Go to the village celebrations, listen to your neighbours' suggestions, ask them for advice... And if you do not know anything about the country you are moving to, read at least one of the books of the " culture shock" series. Hi from a small village in " Haute Vienne"...
Such good and honest information. I've lived here over 10 years and am still adapting, though it certainly gets easier and (maybe) more understandable as time passes. Embracing the fact that life is simply different in different places, and not expecting a 'better' variation of your home really opens doors to understanding and new experiences.
Your best video I've seen. I'm myself an expat sort of cuz my parents displaced me in 1960 from my first home country Austria to my second home country Germany. Many may think "Easy! Same language!" that's true but also not. I was ten years in 1960 and had almost to learn a new language, a new dialect and startet at zero with friends. Plus all other points you mentioned in your video. New teachers in new schools, and also new food, new habits, new everything. My jackpot was, to meet a girl in Germany eight years later and two years ago we had golden wedding. So I'm still an Austrian citizen and live now, due to the not so big distances in Europe, in two countries.
From that article it seems to me Ed would be able to adapt. For one, he did learn some French and doesn't complain about the celery. My advice for him would be to dump the old American wife and hook up with a young(er) Française.
Merci de la suggestion, c’est vrai que j’aime bien manger des endives braisé mais j’avais jamais pensé à le mettre dans une tarte avec du crottin de chavignol. Je vais aller faire un tour sur Marmiton ça va me donner des idées
You guys are so right. Americans think that you have to very very busy to be an accomplished person. Because they born to be competitive, always do things for a reason to prove their are better. It is like you have to be better so you can make conversation! Hey you ❤ baguette bound, hope one day we will where you are just to say hello…. We are from Copperopolis, Ca.
I approve. I am French, and I mowed to 4 different countries. Each time, I was open to the local culture and had some expat friends from Europe . Everything's time time even in the US. We have a "dicton in French " : L'herbe est toujours plus verte chez le voisin. Nice WE
On top of that they moved from a big city (San Francisco) to a much smaller and aging one. I guess that's part of the appeal but it's still another cultural shock.
I read this CNN article you refer to. I also lived in the US for 6 years while attending graduate school, and am a French speaker. I concur with what you say here. I think the best way for an American to emigrate to the US is to follow Juliana's approach. Socialize and listen carefully (literally and figuratively) so as to learn a new language and how things work. When moving to a new country, with a new culture, you have to be comfortable, at being a bit uncomfortable. What is so amazing about Juliana is that in such a short time she mastered French pronunciation so well, that it will make her life so much easier in learning, communicating because it opens other people up to her. When you hear her speak, you (as a French speaker) do not hesitate to engage, because she sounds French, and this is a huge advantage for becoming part of the community. To be able to function in an unfamiliar environment is a critical skill. As a test, try this exercise: switch over your smartphone and computer operating system to French and watch TV and YT only in French, and do not use any translation functions. How well can you cope? This gives you a feel for what you might experience when you step into a new country.
This is so true! I moved from NY to Michigan and I thought I moved to a different country . They didn’t have 1/2 the foods I was used to …very unexpected! . So no matter where you go it’s going to be a change …. Different! My Mato, when in Rome do as the Romans.
A language is not just a way to encode words. Language is the basis of civilization: a way for people to exchange ideas, share them, and ultimately create a common culture. It is impossible to separate a language from the culture in which it was formed. Learning the language of the country is therefore not just to communicate with those who do not speak English. It is essential to understand and integrate into your new environment.
Sadly, the American couple who moved back are like many Americans in Europe. They want a little America in Europe. I remember being in a cafe in rural France and an American was arguing with the waitress. He didn't like the coffee being offered and wanted an Americano coffee. She had no idea what he was talking about. He became quite abusive and said they sold Americano coffee in Paris. The waitress was very young and became upset. At this point I decided to come to her aid. I told him it was quite simple. They didn't sell Americano coffee. On hearing my Australian accent he said to me "What do you know about it?". I said "Not a lot but if they don't sell Americano then they don't sell Americano!" He said "And she can't even speak English!". I said "And neither can you. You are speaking American!". He abused me and I abused him back in French which made the waitress laugh. He left.
An american coffee is for french " un café allongé " , one shot of coffee with hot water !
@@claude_1c74 If you abused him in french, he probably thought you were french. You gave us a bad name
You should have answered : and you can't even say " bonjour " correctly
if you can't have an americano , you can just ask for a long coffee ... people will understand better , cause " americano " is not really known in France , we just speak about ristretto, expresso, normal , long coffee ... milk coffee, coffee cream , capuccino, machiato ...etc ... you will nearly never hear a french asking for an américano coffee.
Americans often seems to be rude to people they think are beneath them, like waitresses, mc Donalds workers, retail workers and so on. A very unpleasant way of being
I watched a drunk Australian argue with security officers at the Amsterdam airport a few years ago. Youre not angels.
I’ve been here a year. It is a process for sure and you are constantly learning. Don’t question the bureaucracy, just do what is asked of you whether duplicative or redundant. Your blood pressure will thank you. Don’t beat yourself up for not being fluent. Learn at least 10 to 15 key phrases, and just expand on that. The French appreciate you are at least trying. Remember, you are nothing special. The French have their own lives and families. Be polite, have a few expat friends to share experiences with and just get out there and explore. I’m 69 and having the time of my life!
"Remember, you are nothing special" .. i think there we have the problem for all those "america first snwflakes" from the "greatest country of the world". They think they are special, and especially people from "lower" nations just have to worship them and to be happy that they can bath in the godly aura of an american. Or whatever ...
What you are saying is true. But it works for every single country on Earth. It wouldn't cross my mind to go to another country, no matter how outlandinsh the language and culture seem to me, and not know a couple dozen words / basic expressions ( hello, thank you, drink, bye, pardon my poor language skills, I'm from X country, ... ) and a few do's and don'ts. It's politeness and logic 101
I dont understand, I moved to the US and though I did not take time to learn any bit of English, I did not make any friends there.
@@romainr.6071 😜
@@romainr.6071 Just learn chinese, russian or maybe mexican spanish and the people in the US will directly love you 😂🤣
My first time in France in 1985 , I saw people pull their cars off the highway at lunch time. ..Set up a table and chairs and have lunch. At that moment, I got it. And loved it.
That sounds awesome
Yeah France was awesome in the 1980s.
The France of the 2020s ain't exactly the same though, and it's not getting better any time soon.
When I first moved to France I was really annoyed that the supermarket shut at 12.30 and didn't open again until 3 . . . . . . then you learn to chill, get better organised and enjoy lunch and life!
@@geosamways what kind of bs is that? Supermarket never closed for lunch break, even in the 80's, i'm french and was alive at that time, and they still don't
You guys don't do that in the US? How sad
The idea of native English speakers that everyone has to speak English with them beats me. I can’t understand for the life of me how you can even think about moving abroad without being interested in the culture of the place you move to. But then, being European, I’m used to the idea that a short trip will bring me to a place where they speak a different language, cook and eat different, and will have slightly different stuff in their supermarkets.
And I’m excited about it every time. I am fluent in three languages besides my own mother tongue. I will regularly use all four of these languages in a day reading stuff on the internet. I’m using one of my foreign languages now.
If you go abroad and expect it to be the same, why did you even go? If you think the people living there have to break their habits of a lifetime, passed onto them by centuries of tradition, so that you can keep your plastic Yankee lifestyle - can’t you see how obnoxious and bloody entitled that perspective is?
It has been decades that Hollywood - a place that was to a large extent the work of immigrants, most of them from Europe - has been doing remakes of European movies with American actors and American directors for the US market. None of the American remakes comes even close to the original, especially the French movies. In many European countries, vice versa, the American movies aren’t even dubbed, and there are dozens of them on TV every day. It’s a completely different attitude. (And yes, bigger countries do the dubbing thing, and not every European citizen, or nation, has the same mentality about learning foreign languages. But we watch each other’s films, and we will appreciate the little cultural differences that show up in them, instead of just using 60% of the material to do a remake with 40% rubbish in it.)
Come to Europe by all means if you wish. But only do so after making a serious attempt to dive into your destination’s culture. Thanks to the internet and digital media, it has never been easier than today to do so without even leaving your American home. You can get any content, research any subject, listen to any language in film, music, audiobooks, web radio or television.
And by the way, I’ve worked for a French company, not in France, but mostly with French management. Don’t think, as an American, that Europeans aren’t competitive, or don’t work hard. They just don’t make a song and dance about it at the office, unless they’re in a spectator sport. Whenever a European team wanted to win a competition in US motor sports, for instance, they just went and did it.
There is a French expression that is often misinterpreted, it’s “savoir vivre”. It has a similar Italian equivalent. People think it means something like enjoying life, making the most of it, taking it easy. It does contain a little bit of that. But mostly it means “know how to behave, know your way around other people, know how to understand the world around you, and hold your place there”. It’s not exclusive to France, but it is important especially in France. French “rudeness” as experienced by foreigners is often a reaction to a display of lack of “savoir vivre” displayed by the foreigners beforehand.
@thomasalbrecht5914 Entièrement d’accord avec tout ce que vous dites. Spécialement en ce qui concerne le savoir vivre, souvent mal interprété.
Twenty years of english neighbours in rural Brittany and they still do not speak a word of French except for bonjour which still gives them the giggles and still they get pissed by the french people not speaking english and closing between 12 et 14 heures for lunch. In their eyes everything is better in the Uk - except for the weather, I gather!
Besides that, they are quite charming and I have made my goal to study them as if I were an anthropologist or a student in Sciences sociales - besides given them consequent help on a regular basis 😅
They think of countries like France, Spain or Italy as theme parks, with some beautiful stuff and some special food... so yeah in Disneyland Orlando they speak english, of course and there is no bureaucracy. So they get mad when the locals act funny as no speaking english or their favorite brand is not there...
Every human being wishes to recreate a piece of home when they migrate to a new country if only to feel a little less alien. It's not unique to Americans. The ways that Americans are different is a complete lack of ability in another language- I think in general language learning is harder for them. Secondly - American culture is one where you can find almost anything that will cater to a customer's tastes and wishes - for them it's almost unfathomable that a supermarket won't have 20 different cereals for example. That takes adjustment but I can also see why huge variety is a positive for them even if food quality is often lacking. Finally - I never understand why it's so bothersome that immigrants like those ones in Brittany never learn French. Are they pleasant people contributing to their local community? That's good enough. I find Europeans often far too insistent on immigrants learning their particular language that they miss what matters more - a person's character and contribution.
@vmoses1979 that’s not the point - of course you can “create a bit of home atmosphere” when emigrating. The point is you can’t expect others to do it for you. If you want to make friends abroad, you will either live in an bubble of people of the same immigration background, or you will have to make a serious effort at mingling with the locals, and that means adapting to them. If you don’t make the effort, that’s not the locals’ fault, but it’s you being lazy. And if you’re lazy, you won’t make a contribution to local life, you will at best not be in the way, and be a source of entertainment to those locals who will take an interest in you, because you’re exotic. Like in the case of the Brits in Brittany.
Europeans tend to be pretty tolerant towards people coming from other backgrounds these days. We are certainly very good though at minding our own business, especially in cities. You can even get away with just speaking English in many European countries - that’s why we get so many English speakers who don’t make an effort. But it’s *them* doing the complaining, and I only complained about that attitude of theirs. If you complain that Europe isn’t Britain or America - well sorry, maybe you’re better off where you came from. If you have trouble finding friends, ask yourself what you do wrong, not what the others are doing wrong.
I'm Danish and I have lived in France for 25 years now. I cook a lot myself and we have different meats and cuts in Denmark, but I have found that if you go to your local butcher and explain what you need, even sometimes with a downloaded photo, they will be more than happy to accommodate. They even find it fun and interesting, especially when I have brought back some food that I have cooked for them to taste. It may be a little bit more expensive, but you get what you need and establish a relationship with your local food providers as well.
That's the way to go.
Spot on!
you have inspired me to do the same ! sincerely, "desperately in need of guanciale"
@@ianmckenzie7255 Thanks Ian. I’ll give the guanciale a try!😉
@@henrikmadsen6100 I attempted with the French equivalent word, "joue", but maybe as you said : they just don't usually purchase it ! Maybe a good way to build a rapport :)
Love your channel you have a new subscriber greetings from Normandy 🇫🇷 I moved here in 2006. I’m never going back to United States unless it’s to visit family, but I told them because of this year’s election they can come and see me.
You must be a Demo-communist.
The only rude people I encountered in France were American tourists. As an American I felt so embarrassed they were perpetuating this disgusting stereotype. This was in early 2002 and my French colleges expressed genuine, heartfelt empathy to me regarding the 911 attacks. I was floored--why would people halfway around the world care? I now realize their empathy comes from an understanding that we are all connected, no matter the distances, languages or border walls.
rude french people exist too. i've definitely encountered rude french people. just like i've encountered rude americans and canadians. saying that rude french people don't exist... ultimately places french people in general on a pedestal. however, tourists are definitely more rude and they tend to stick out more.. because... they are loud haha
😂 You felt impressed that in Europe people read about global issues? I am always impressed on how here Americans don’t know anything about other countries. How can any American not save money to go to the Louvre as an example or the British Museum? There are flights for like $500 now to go to Paris. If I was born here I would’ve made it my goal to see all of Europe before turning 30. I would at least expect my parents to have already done that once with me before turning 18 but probably would be busy eating processed food 😂
@@sakispsinakis you missed the point and are just rude
@ I am actually being polite to be honest and kept my nerves before replying. You are just ignorant. I live in the tristate area and work in finance downtown. I know exactly what I’m saying.
@@sakispsinakis I don't understand how you working in finance has anything to do with the topic but ok
The keyword here is that people cared, not the fact that they knew about it
lol. I read the article & being married to a French guy, traveling back & forth from the YS to 🇫🇷 for decades, & I thought celery????’ I can’t remember ever seeing it there, much less eating it. Now, celeriac is another, lovely story.
Bottom line: learn French at a minimum B1 level if at all possible before moving there, take advantage of ex-Pat groups & embrace challenges.
It’s an entirely different culture & a lovely one. I think way too many people are in love with the idea of France without understanding what it is, at all.
Thank you for suggesting B1, which I consider attainable by most people. The thought of needing to be fluent is intimidating.
Depending on how fast or easily you learn I think A1 or B2 is enough. Usually, you will come in a 1 year long stay visa and that will leave you time to keep learning everyday's life French, through the farmer's market and local interaction and a more formal (less than a few decades ago) through TV or radio news.
At the end of the period, you should almost feel like a fish in a tank for daily life and make do to renew your visa or apply for your first residency permit which is usually a 2-3 years authorization (even if the card itself is stamped with 5 years sometimes, but restricted, just in case you want to renew).
In short, you just have to know enough to go through daily life and level B1 is a level that lets you acclimate much smoother, in addition to reigning over the prejudices and rumors nourished in the environment you grew and lived in.
Like Jason and Rayna said, if you don't try or even have the will to try, you will never feel at home anywhere outside your comfort zone.
Céleri oui , you can find it easily in france at carrefour or leclerc ... what's the issue?
Maybe not beautiful as in the us because they are not GOM?
@@rhdrhd3255 The fact is that celeri isn't as popular as it was a few decades ago. But you still can find fresh celeri in farmer's markets sometimes or in Asian food stores.
For regular stores, you just need to know what day the renewal occur. Best and big sales are restocked everyday while the others are restocked once or twice a week.
British, three years living in Poitou-Charentes, frequent visitor to the country since I was a child, speak reasonably good french and have helpful french neighbours ... and I am still 'settling in' 😃 !
I’m so glad you made this video, because I was appalled at the immature, trivial comments the woman made in that article. First and foremost, how can you make plans to move to another country and NOT learn the language but expect to make French friends? How unreasonable and self-absorbed is that? I lived in Spain and Germany for a few years, and I felt so much more connected and frankly, joyful by learning as much of the language as I could and engaging with locals and their culture through respecting their language. Not always perfect by any means, but I always tried and it paid off. Great perspective from you guys❤️
oh my. this is spot on. i’ve not moved to France but I’ve been married to France for 45 years, becoming a dual citizen 5 years ago. totally, totally spot on. enjoy your lovely life in France! thanks for providing a great resource for those of us who love France and try to explain why it’s not “the USA with better bread!”
Good video! Dutch person here, I've lived abroad since 1981. You could make the same video about people with other nationalities who come to France. Learn the language, enjoy the culture and get of your high horse. The French are very nice and hospital people and have high standards when it comes to politeness. If they think you are being impolite (by not saying bonjour or svp or starting a conversation in English) they'll let you know. They aren't rude, you are.
Ja hoor, precies dat.
I moved continents to live in Canada. The best part of this life change was that it WAS different. I loved that it was not the same. I personally do avoid ex-pats, unless I meet them by accident. I do know someone who moved to France, and lives their life entirely within an expat community and makes no effort to speak French. It begs the question, what the heck did you move there for? Emigrating to a new country is a complete life change. Address it as such and embrace the change, otherwise just stay home.
@@steveo5138 They may have moved for any number of reasons not to do with the culture or language - lower cost of living, better weather, proximity to other travel destinations, cheaper healthcare costs etc. We don't live in 1850 where if you left your village in Germany and got on a boat to Canada - it was a permanent life change and you embraced every aspect of life in your new home down to anglicized your name and speaking only English etc. I really don't understand this mentality that insists on total assimilation even when that may not be possible or even desirable.
Bravo à vous deux . Longue et belle vie en France
Bonjour, vous avez une très bonne analyse; lors de mes voyages aux USA j'ai eu des surprises! Il n'y a pas une population américaine type mais plusieurs, un Newyorkais n'a rien à voir avec u Floridiens ou autres, en France il n y a pas un type de Français mais plusieurs, un Charentais est différent d'un Savoyars, de mème en Allemagne, Italie,Espagne,Belgique etc... J 'aime les rencontres des différentes cultures!
Merci
My late s-i-l (American) came to the UK and had a bad time with culture shock, even with a common language - it's too easy to compare, you just have to accept that things are different. I worked and travelled a lot in France, though sadly not been able to relocate there, and met with both frustrations and delights. Try looking forward to fresh bread, cycling 8kn and finding the only boulanger in town is away on his 2 month holiday. But picking up sun-warm fruit from a roadside farmer's stand and eating it with goats cheese and a chilled rosé makes up for all of that. If celery's your worst problem you're doing OK.
Tout cela, c'est juste du BON SENS. Cela vaudrait aussi pour des Français s'établissant en Allemagne ou en Espagne. In Rome, do what the Romans do.
Oui, mais l'adaptation au sein d'un pays européen est bien plus aisé que depuis les USA, car les différences culturelles sont largement moins accentuées...les américains sont habitués a de grosses autos, a de larges routes et places de parking, a de l'essence pas chère, a des grosses quantités de nourriture (la qualité important relativement peu) , a moins de bureaucratie, etc...il est comparativement plus facile pour un français de vivre aux USA, à condition d'apprendre l'anglais et... ce damné système impérial ultra compliqué et les ridicules degrés fahrenheit...
@@leneanderthalien en tant qu'américain en France, je ne peux qu'être d'accord avec vous... bien que je ne regrette pas d'avoir quitté mon pays natal pour une meilleure qualité de vie concernant la nourriture, je ne peux pas m'empêcher de penser à l'acceuil au niveau administratif pour qqn dans le cas invers... sans oublier la bienveillance générale des gens... compliqué tout ça
I was both amazed and appaled this story made it to any newspaper. One couple moves to another country, makes no real effort to adapt, goes back home by blaming the country they 'tried' to live in in and this is news?
When you listen to the video you realize that they are being "Americans". Something I gave up a long time ago..
I was completely appalled by the couple and how ENTITLED they were....
Its like stories about people buying tiny homes and not liking it, or people being able to buy their own place when they just stopped buying Starbucks (and a huge loan from their parents) is just glossed over. Its an article meant to deter people from doing it. Its practically propaganda.
Typical of the media always enjoying throwing in some French-bashing on the slightest "opportunity". Reminds me of that foolish girl that went to Lyon and complained when she did every possible thing wrong and didn't get friendly responses she was expecting.
Ah well, good riddance...
Some people will never get that only the US is like the US.
The whole rest of the world is different...
Very much so !
Love from Norway 😅❤
I read that article and just laughed. They obviously had no idea and were not trying to acclimate at all. Her complaining about not learning the language was no one’s fault but her own.
I often read those articles on the CNN website and this one definitely stands out as the other stories about Americans moving abroad are usually quite positive.
There will always be the.moaners. Ive heard Brits over in Spain sneering at eg the postal service. Which is fine. One man (I imagined him with Colonel chappy moustaches) boasted, in a letter to Eng. Language paper, that in 18 years here he had never spoken a word of Spanish. ¡ Estaba furiosa y soy inglesa!
Not learning the native language? That’s a priority. That’s not optional.
You just decide to do it.
she talked about her faillure to integrate in a way that puts the blame on herself. It's probably on purpose. She tried to avoid blaming the french
@@cmolodiets well not trying to learn french makes it difficult to blame french people if you want to integrate in france
I saw the article. Couldn’t believe the whining. Haha! Celery. Import you car?? Unbelievable. I really miss France. Hope your family will stay there and flourish. Sounds like you’ve got the spirit!
It made me laugh also to hear that they spent all that money and trouble to import a car!
Yeah, I don’t get why you would even leave your own country if you think it’s better than anywhere else in the world.
Fun fact you can find celery easily maybe not as beautiful as in the US don't know
But i am sure because they are not GOM from monsento?
More advice for anyone who cooks in Europe : do things the other way around : first go see what's nice and available in whatever season (and mood) you're in and cook something with that, instead of wanting to cook somethng specific and then struggling to find what you need. This is actually true EVERYWHERE.
It boils down to : adapt to what's possible rather than aim for the ridiculously difficult and be frustrated when you fail.
Excellent advice.
What you are saying is valid for moving in any country. You have to adapt to the local culture.
Amen. If you don't plan on learning the language and adapting somewhat to the country you're moving to, you are coming with a colonizing mindset. Our lifestyle/culture/language/food is the best, no need for that changing/adapting nonsense
@@patanouketgersiflet9486 like the latinos in US ?
Everything you mention is spot on. I bought my house in the south of France two years ago and moved here full-time 18 months ago. It has been an amazing experience. I'm an outgoing person and within 6 months, I had developed a network of friends in both the expat community as well as the french community. I feel quite fortunate that I have become integrated into my community. Vive la France!
What sorts of things have you done to integrate yourself into your community?
Bravo Baguette bound: you got the vibe. French guy here. Lived in Ukraine for 7 years, 1 year in Russia, 1 year in Kazakhstan , 8 years in central Illinois, 1 year in Lebanon and travelled extensively in Africa. My worst difficult time: adjusting to living in the USA. But at the end of the day, if you accept the good in all cultures and countries, you end up rich of experiences, you have real friends for life in foreign countries, you can speak or at least babble in other languages and you can teach your kids that we really all are one world.
Moving to France even from Ireland is difficult. Two years is the minimum time and stop thinking about America and cooking is so different. Best part about France you don’t really need a car to shop.
I lived in Germany for 6 months no language but found it fantastic and a great experience.
I'm an American who has lived in Paris for 20 years. If I had a nickel for every person I've met while living here who told me they were moving to France. Even people that tried to stay after vacations, studies, job mission ends, etc but ended up going back home. After over 20 years of living here, when I encounter people who tell me they are moving here or want to move here, it goes in one ear and out the other.
yes it's difficult to live in another country but that's true for everybody on earth
When I first arrived here a few months ago, I wondered what the heck did people cook with leeks 😅. Now I am the leek queen! 😂 Embrace the differences, and you just might be pleasantly surprised. ❤
As good as the chicken is here in France, I have become a duck fan since starting a new life in France.. Duck in all its forms is my favorite meat.😋😋
@@geoffoakland Me too ! But when I was a kid living in south west France, there were more geese than ducks in farm yards and most "foies gras" came from geese, now it's the other way around !
@@thierrycambon116 interesting. I don't know why duck isn't eaten more frequently in the US. Turkey is very popular however, almost as popular as chicken
Haha me too, but in The Netherlands! I LOVE leeks now and wonder why I never learned to use them in the USA. I also love endive (andijvie in Dutch), chicory (witlof in Dutch) and so many other things. I've been in Nederland for almost 9 years and over that time I have completely changed the way I cook. I learned Dutch cooking, and I learned what works here and what doesn't. For example, I made soft tacos for some of my Dutch friends. I showed them how to make them and how to eat them with your hands. They copied my example but then ate them with knife and fork. I dreamed of opening a Tex-Mex restaurant, but later realized that the flavor profile is just not what Dutch people would eat very often...not often enough to make a Tex-Mex restaurant successful. I've learned so many other interesting things Dutch and European in my 9 years and I don't miss living in the USA at all.
Hercule Poirot appreciates.
Moving to a country without learning the language means condemning yourself to isolation, lack of integration, and a failed experience.
Alas, many do it, because it is not easy! But it leads to this type of failure. And it is valid for any country.
Well, French bureaucracy is hell... for the French! But ultimately it seems to be the case in many countries, according to the various testimonies!
I have experienced much worse: Russia!
As for food, I have spent my life between England and France. Habits are, let's say... different!
In England, I eat like the English, in France, like the French! We can lack this or that product, but we compensate with something else, adaptation is essential.
Well, if you ultimately miss the good food of the US version of McDonald's, at least you will have experienced stinky cheeses for two years! 🧀
French bureaucracy is not insurmountable, as long as you have a reasonable level of French - that is a non-negotiable pre-condition to settling in France. The trick is to talk to people in the administration you are dealing with. You may need two or three meetings before you officially submit a request or sign a form. Talk to as many friends and acquaintances as you can to get their input. Make friends with the person at reception in your Mairie or with the Secrétaire-général. Make friends with the people in your France Service office. Maybe we were lucky, but our local tax office was incredibly patient and helpful. We imported a car, but that was from another EU country - and nevertheless required proper preparation. It's a waste of money, not to mention the stress, to ship a car from a non EU country. Animals: expensive but doable. Once your animal is in France, I would recommend getting an EU companion animal passport. In that way your dog, cat or ferret can cross borders in Europe and the Mediterranean with no difficulty.
😂
I have to say, I laughed out loud when reading the article about how Johanna was frustrated because she couldn't order a martini at a bar in France - they just told her that they don't make them. Imagine walking into a bar here in the US and asking for pastis and getting upset because they don't have it. France is not America.
We have martini in France,blanc,rouge etc...
@@christopheb.6121 I think she meant about the cocktail, not the "aperitif". I had the same experience, but the other way around. In Pasadena, CA, I ordered a Martini. I was expecting vermouth but was served the cocktail, a Martini, which I did not like. And I was so ignorant regarding cocktails and obnoxious back in the days that I end up being rude with the waitress, which even after 20 years I do not forgive myself. Long story short, she explained the content of the cocktail, I truly apologized and gave her a $15 tip to make up for my bad reaction towards her.
@@christopheb.6121 C'est le martini de James Bond, avec l'olive et le verre en forme d'entonnoir. Dans l'article, on la voit en boire un dans son appartement de San Francisco. Martini en France, c'est une marque de vermouth italien. US = cocktail. France = apéritif. Si on ne comprend pas cette différence et ce que ça implique, dure de s'acclimater.
@@christopheb.6121 Salut Christophe, ce qu'avait commandé cette conne n'était pas un "simple" Martini comme on en boit chez nous, du moins pas tout à fait.
Aux States un "Martini" est un cocktail composé pour moitié de Gin, (Avant c'était de la Vodka...) et de vermouth sec, à savoir du Martini Dry avec l'étiquette verte, le tout servi dans un verre à pied au haut en forme de cône plat très évasé, avec une olive verte afin de donner une petite touche salée. Tu as dû voir ça dans tous les films américains, surtout ceux des 50's et des 60's, quand ce cocktail faisait fureur.
À présent il a été remplacé par le Negroni et le Margarita. Voilà l'explication de ce malentendu entre cette idiote et cette pauvre serveuse, pour qui un Martini ne pouvait être que les vermouths rouges ou blanc que tu cites dans ton message, le "Dry" se buvant surtout en cocktails... 🤗
@@christopheb.6121même rose!
"Patience and length of time do more than force or anger" Jean de la Fontaine.
merci !!! j' adore Jean de la Fontaine qui a su, en respectant les règles d' usages, de se servir des animaux, pour montrer tout les vices et les vertus de l' espèces humaine.
Si peu de mots si bien écrits, qui exprime une belle philosophie, n' est pas donné à tout le monde, sauf à De la Fontaine . J' ai noté
@@didierjacob250 Let us render unto Caesar what is Caesar's. de la Fontaine was an admirer of the Greek fabulist Aesop.
@@CROM-on1bz Tout le monde a toujours copié tout le monde, et même Esope à sans doute, été inspiré par d' autres, tu parle du fond ou de la forme ?, parce que Esope n' a pas dicté cette belle pensée que tu as citée de J de la Fontaine, ni toutes les fables qu'il a écrit...pourquoi cité Esope ?
@@didierjacob250 And knowing both fabulists well and given that there are at least two millennia of difference between them, I can admire Jean de la Fontaine: Either for his erudition and his knowledge of ancient texts. Or for his knowledge of the customs of the time of Louis XIV and his perfect way of mocking them with a perfectly prudent second degree. But we agree, the guy is great.
@@CROM-on1bz vous mélangez un peu tout , c' est pas grave , " qu' importe le flacon, pourvu qu' on ai l' ivresse " j' ai noté la citation bye
Viva la France. Learning the language is key because the language is the culture, and people have to willing to make many mistakes. while doing it Most other cultures are way more accepting if you try and they'll teach you. I hiked in the Dordogne actually near where you live. Myself and two sons started out in Les Esyzes and ended up in Soulliac. The French people we met on the way were super curious and very pleased that we passed our time in the French way. It was an unforgettable experience and contrary to what guide books said at the time the French were super,super interested in us. There is so much there to do and see. I had two years of high school French and racked my brains to speak French as much as possible. That effort was harder than the hiking. Bonne chance to all who are intrepid enough to go and try being there. It's worth the time and effort. If you want a heads up on French culture, there is the comedian Paul Taylor who pokes fun at the cultural mores. You can catch him on TH-cam. Worth the watch for sure.
( -Viva- vive 😉)
I completely agree. Anyone who's getting into this should expect it to be difficult, then when it is difficult, it's just everything going to plan. Learning a new language is a huge thing. It's maybe the most difficult thing we ever do and the first time we did it we were little more than babies, we weren't trying to learn anything and no one was trying to teach us. It's amazing. Going to a new country and not knowing the language is like being stupid everywhere you go. Even everyday things turn into Mr Bean goes to the petrol station, Mr Bean tries to buy a phone card, Mr Bean tries to get a puncture repaired, Mr Bean doesn't know what you mean and so on. It's all part of the fun, but it's a mountain that has to be climbed.
Omg, this is such a great description of how this feels. 😂
Very common sensical. Love your channel because you tell it like it is.
I'm an expat Brit, married to my lovely Brit wife, and we bought a house and moved here, to the very north of France, more than 30 years ago. After spending 22 years working here I've now been retired for 8 years, and my wife is retiring next April. I've been listening to your videos for several weeks now and it's interesting comparing your experiences as Americans here with our own as Brits. They're not dissimilar. But you're absolutely right, it takes time - lots of it, both to adapt to the French way of doing things and to disengage the inevitable preconceptions you arrive with. Our 26 year old son was born here, went to school here, and is now doing a master's in translation (guess the two languages!). Relax, enjoy the experience, and living your dream. We are now naturalised French citizens and enjoy dual nationality. France is now our home, and that's how we feel coming back after visits to the UK. I hope you end up staying in France and keep those videos coming. Bon courage!
il est agréable d' entendre des britanniques qui aiment un peu, beaucoup la France.
Et puis après tant de guerres utérines, l' entente cordiale enfin, et je crois que l' on va en avoir besoin...
You're an immigrant, not an expat. Immigrant isn't a dirty word :)
@mimoleclair9824 Agreed! 🙂
@@didierjacob250 On a besoin de l'un l'autre.
@@rowingfrance Cheers!
Mahalo nui loa! Thank you very much. As a kanaka 'ōiwi (Hawaiian) and a retired expat living almost 2 years in the south of France. I agree with everything you said. Importantly, I will eventually reach out to other expats. Like the CNN couple, I ignored expats, but will open that option. I'm blessed with a loving French husband, thus our transition from Honolulu, Hawai'i was not as bad. Nonetheless, even my husband needs more patience with the French bureaucracy. A bientôt ou "A hui hou"
They sound like the type of people that just needs to move to another state vs country. I can't imagine not learning the language of a country that I immigrated to.
My thoughts exactly ❤
@@martijnkeisers5900 And yet being able to settle in despite not being able to talk to the locals ( duh ) and refusing to socialize with expats. But yeah, getting your car was more important than local language 101
I am a Berliner and have lived in 5 countries in Europe.Learned the language in all five and assimilated into the culture. Also studied the history. And I have found that Americans and Brits are notoriously bad at assimilating. You three are doing it right ! Both have their "exceptionalism". Only Americans and Brits have this ex-pat nonsense. Everybody else accepts that they are immigrants. They are both very language lazy. I always learned the basic BEFORE I moved or it´s like turning up at the exam without having done your homework. I am astounded that Americans just turn up and have studied absolutely NOTHING about the country but expect to be welcome just because they are "Muricans" and are so star-spangled awesome. And my God are they whingy and complaining.
You sound more Russian than German.
Well, Trevor, that's quite a high moral perch you sit on and judge the rest of us from. What about all those German immigrants who showed up in the U.S. and didn't speak English. Get over yourself.
We call english and netherlanders tourists : colon .
They wants the country but not the ways and the people.
Americans are way more adaptative and curious.
@@Lanahani1 They made the country , so get over yourself, yourself!
I'm American, living for 2.5 years in France and I'm embarrassed to say this has been my experience of too many Americans I've encountered. Fortunately, there are also Americans who know the language and don't behave this way, but you don't notice us because we are often mistaken for being from somewhere else! I guess I look and sound German? One time, a guy in Paris insulted me for being an outsider by snarling at me, "Strasbourgeoise." I was delighted for being mistaken for French! 😆
Ahh endives ! Easy, duck breast, sautéed potatoes (in a cast iron casserole, not a frying pan) and... braised endives ! (tip : sprinkle a little sugar on the endives to remove the bitterness and caramelize them ! Salutations de l'Alsace gourmande !😉
I was born in Europe. I didn't know, that the possibility exists, to dip celery stalks. - We never ate it like that. - I first saw it in England.
Lately here too: At events or catering parties you can find celery, carrot or pepperoni sticks for dipping.
We've always eaten the tuber. But it's hard to peel.
We cook the celery tuber in bouillon together with leeks and carrots, chinese cabbage, onions and garlic, etc. Some potatoes also go well with it. You can eat it as a soup. It's a healthy winter dish.
Or we eat it grated, cold as a salad with a french, creamy dressing. 😊 It tastes delicious all year round. 😊
Well done! This video came up on my suggestions. First video of yours I've watched, and subscribed to the channel immediately. My wife and I visited Paris last year for the first time, and plan to return in 2026. We were amazed at the other U.S. tourists who insisted on starting every restaurant interaction by loudly asking "do you speak english?" Our French is rudimentary, but to see others not even making an effort made us shake our heads in frustration.
Great video as always! What's sad is that most people have shared the negative experience of Joanna as if everyone was doomed to fail, instead of highlighting people like you who get it and get the most out of that experience. I'm glad your channel was recommended to me!
I moved quite often (maybe every 7 - 10 years) during the professional lives of first my father, then my husband. My iron rule of thumb was: You don't know where you are, until you have been there for three years. That has worked for me for 73 years and will continue to be my time measure for major changes.
As a french I feel offended by people who wants to live in France without learning the langage. To me this is just beyond stupid.
Not necessarily fluent but a minimum
@@marieadriansen2925 I agree to disagree with you , if you’re going on holiday and minimum is necessary , if you’re going to live in the country I’m sorry you need to learn the language it’s just a sign of respect.
I don’t know… I guess if it happens a lot, then “offense” is what a person might feel. I agree that it’s dumb, though.
I get this. I am an American living in America, which is full of immigrants who apparently have no desire to learn English. I've been told English is very hard to learn. But it's rude to not try.
@@MW-tk5nf one big factual difference is that the USA, unlike France and most other countries, has no official language !
As a Brit in Grasse, my tip would be to always buy produce at the local markets/farms/specialists and only get the remainder of your shop from the supermarkets. Not learning at least conversational French is fatal, as I imagine it would be for a foreigner not learning English and trying to live in the US, Joanna clearly hadn't actually thought through or talked to anyone with experience, about living in a foreign country.
"My Pioneer Cookbook was almost useless in France." 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Everything they say here is accurate, especially the language advice. Immerse in the language so you can get to the point of thinking in French. That took me about 6-8 months of daily immersion, but it was another year to 18 months to get to a solid B2-ish to C1-ish conversational level in most situations.
Been here 18 years now. The paperwork is still not easy but…no regrets. Celery we buy one stick at a time because we use it in sauces/cooking and that’s as much as you ever need. Don’t ever want to eat bunches of the stuff! Don’t bring your car!!! My French is quite ok but husband still not there. Son who was brought up here (from age 11) just got his French citizenship. Yes - not easy but again, je ne regrette rien! BTW not American.
Ha! I was thinking you guys would address this couple’s article. I feel sad for her. I really do. Overall it’s good for everyone else that really wants to try integrating into French culture, just to see where they went wrong.
Bon état d'esprit 😊 Un plaisir de vous suivre, continuez !
As a Brit who has lived in France for 28 years, I totally agree that the bureaucracy is tiresome! But it works! You eventually get your 'carte vitale', which is an open door to health treatment that is either free or partially covered, although you have to do all the work yourself, where in the UK, for example, specialist appointments are booked for you once your doctor has seen you (that's why the UK is known as the 'nanny state'!). Same with the driving licence: when my UK driving licence went missing, who knows where, I found I could no longer renew it, and had to get a French one. So first I had to report it to the local police, and get a document to take to the local authority... I did get it eventually. And after Brexit(😠), the local authorities were incredibly sympathetic and helpful, and we had no dificulty at all getting our permanent residency status approved....though it did take some time! By the way, we both speak reasonable French, and are well integrated into the local community.
Hi, I'm a US American who moved to Mexico not France a little more than four years ago and I can relate to everything you guys discussed in this video. I was different in my approach to relocating as I didn't try to rush the process. I didn't come to Mexico thinking that I had found my new home, but rather that I would spend time here and see how I liked it and then move on to another country and check that one out to see if I maybe liked it better and then repeating the process somewhere else. I spent three years doing this before finally settling on Mexico. I too can be a little impatient when getting things done, but I had learned patience when travelling and living around the US, so it was easier for me to accept that some things worked at a different pace then what I was used to. And when I was ready to commit I was able to take things gradually one step at a time. So far this has worked for me and I now have a four year temporary residency permit and once that is done I can get permanent residency without any additional legal hurtles to jump over. I've settled on a city, which suits me, but I'm still wrapping up healthcare and banking. When I left the US I only came with a few suitcases and I'm glad I did as it has made traveling around so much easier. Its easy to get caught up in the initial thrill of the adventure and make mistakes, I think the key is to slow down and let things unfold naturally, it will be easier and much more fun.
You guys are amazing, thanks for taking the hit and sharing the information.
I was fortunate enough or clever enough to qualify for a grammar school education at the age of eleven. I studied French for five years so when I retired to France in 2015 I already had a good grounding in the language even if my French was a little rusty. I have lived here for over nine years and have no intention of going back to the UK, limp celery or not. I couldn't afford to live in the UK anyway.
I am the sole English member of the local model aeroplane club and I am active on the open mic music circuit which is largely an expat English thing. One thing I have noticed about the Brits is that those who have never learned French find it a difficult language to learn in retirement. For example the word "my" can be "mon," "ma" or "mes" depending on the gender of what you own and whether you have more than one of them!
There are two common reasons for going home in my experience. The old man is ill and cannot explain his symptoms to the doctor and secondly grandchildren, which is understandable but as I will never have any grandchildren that won't apply to me, so here I'll stay jusqu'a ma mort!
Magnifique!
... et le plus tard possible 😄
You guys are great, thanks for posting this reality check. Your advice is spot on! Thank you for helping make all us Americans in France feel (and look) a little better about this journey we've undertaken. (And love the scarf, Raina. That definitely says "I live here")
No matter where you go, you always take yourself with you!
My first goal is to learn French! IT'S HARD and I'm struggling but getting better. Then on to the limp celery ... put it in a large bowl of ice water and suddenly it is crisp again. I am also looking forward to trying new foods when I get there! Can't wait!
Stinky cheeses are waiting for you impatiently! 🧀🤣
Yay to celery ;)
Duolingo help me learn Russian. I’ve never opened a book of Russian or taken any lessons but I can speak pretty well unfortunately it’s not the language to be speaking right now, but during Covid I have nothing to do so I said why don’t I just learned the most difficult language I can find out there.
Even french people think French is hard :) Bon courage !
The celery is probably imported from the USA. The French don’t eat celery. Never seen one in my life until I came to the US. Try some French locally grown veggies
I would think hanging out with other expats would help you to adjust to a new life! Also what you say about living in France reminds me of the saying"When in Rome do as the Romans do" ie go along with the french way of life.
Brilliant, you're both very wised.
2 weeks ago i saw on french TV an exceptionnal example of integration : there was a party in the french region of Camargue, several people having lunch outside on sunny sunday, and the journalist met a young american woman, i dont know maybe 27-30. She had moved to France 7 years ago and was having lunch with the locals; She spoke french all the time of the interview with very very light american /english accent (You could barely hear it), and no grammar or vocabulary mistakes . This woman had integrated perfectly.
Most important tip (for most European countries): learn the language as fast as possible. Don't try to be 'American'. Just try to adapt as fast as possible. And yes: it takes time. And effort. How do they cope with all those different languages: well, nowadays most Europeans (the younger generations) speak more than 1 language. Sometimes even 4 or 5. Some of them learned that in primary school. We have to. And yes: English is often a bridge to solve language barriers in certain situations. And that gives the impression that if you are English-speaking you don't have to make any effort anymore.
I saw the article also. Thanks for this video. I am an expat now for 12 years. It has had it's challenges, although I am married to a French citizen. It has really been worth it. I truly enjoy all of your videos! Keep them coming!
Your video's extremely nice, understanding, and compassionate. After having read the article, I got the feeling these 2 pampered people expectations are basically Disneyland. That's about the only place where they'll feel comfortable : their own lifestyle in a setting that very vaguely looks like France, Australia, South Africa or Peru, but where everything is like home.
They did not want to resettle, probably never travelled beyond Eiffel tower and Latin quarter.
There are more of their kind than one could think of : they use the supermarket for food otherwise they go back to their country for bigger purchases, remains with themselves or other ex-pats speaking their language, with whom they can criticize France and its people ad nauseam...
This is such a gentle approach of educating others from America on the reality and challenge of moving abroad.....to any country. Great job, you two!!
I really appreciate both your dissection of the CNN piece and your insights on the process of adapting to France. Great insights. Thanks ❤❤❤
Extremely valuable perspective. You guys are getting better and better at this kind of video.
Another great video. We have been in portugal for 6 years. It is work, learning a new language that you may never master, letting go, learning new things, making new friends, and dealing with government entities. Yet it is worth it. My wife and I realize we fit in portugal. Love your channel.
If you are not ready to leave your attitude at home and embrace a new environment and culture, just stay where you are.
It’s not easy but it is challengingly interesting.
So fun ! Moving to france without to learn French ! But… what would think an American if a French move to the US without learning English ?
Well, I once saw a YT video with a French guy who moved to Malta and complained that when he went to a police station to file a report, the policeman did not speak French... 😐 ("il pourrait quand même connaître le français, non?"). That YT guy could not speak English either. Needless to say, the French guy got back to France a couple of months later.
@ stupidity is not specific to some us citizens ! It is unfortunately dispashed everywhere.
Many of the French like to buy just one or two stalks of celery at a time because they use it in cooking and never eat it raw. That's why you see a lot of limp sad mutilated celery. And limp stalks are perfectly fine for cooking. I am lucky to live in an ethnic neighborhood in Paris where the celery is fresh and wonderful (nearly always imported from Italy). What's funny is that I sometimes serve potato salad or tuna salad to friends and they ask "what is that incredible crunchy thing in there?" It is a total discovery. The closest guess is usually fennel, which would of course be a complete mystery to most Americans.
As always, you guys are right on point and super kind about everything. I LOVE seeing how much your channel is growing too! Thanks for these incredibly helpful videos. Counting the few years left till I can move to France!
really common sense:
- don’t fight the system, work around it
- don’t except to be the same as USA
- try to learn why the others do differently because after a while it starts making sense
- be agile
très bonne vidéo comme toujours amitiés
I LOVE an endive and radicchio salad (note: ahn-DEEV), even here in Marble Falls, Texas. But I will be 100% with never eating celery again. Anywhere!
Good points on all of these. As for learning French, I decided yesterday to buy (and did, today) some index cards and non-Sharpie highlighters because I am "conveniently" ignoring learning and recalling French verbs and tenses. One pile/one color highlighter will be -er, one pile -ir, one pile -re, and one pile al the irregular verbs. And I am going to slam those flashcards daily, just as I did with anatomy and physiology in chiropractic school.
T-minus 7 months! Thanks for another great video/take.
Oh, you’re learning French, that’s so cool Sue! Will definitely help you meet people. One tip is to watch videos in French to familiarise with the accent. Which part of France are you looking at to move to?
Just looked up your location. You’re in Hill Country. That’s on our list for our Road trip to Texas in March. Any insider tips for an authentic experience in your area?
Jack Allen's for Texas / Southwest food. One of our favorite restaurants in the US! Go grocery shopping at HEB and but fresh tortillas from the bakery. Wimberly is an adorable Hill Country town.
@@BaguetteBound Merci! Je vais ajouter Wimberly à ma liste. We’ll definitely sample Jack Allen’s. I’m just afraid that their servings come in the size of a wagon wheel. 😂. What’s HEB?
One just have to “accept” the challenges that come along. I was born in Paris and lived there for 7 years when I was a student. I use to go back every year to visit my mother who I moved to Paris from NYC. Thanks for the video. Great info for those who have never lived in a foreign country.
I do have to wonder what those folks were thinking when they moved. All their problems were predictable and avoidable. On the other hand, you guys are fantastic.
I cannot imagine moving to another country and wanting things to be the same as the country you’ve left. Simple, just stay where you are.,
Hanging out with other expats... has been so well worth it! I'm american and I ended up joing and canadian expat group (they said they welcome anyone haha) but sometimes... even though I am ALWAYS surrounded by people... the language barrier... just provides a different level of isolation and language fatigue. It was so nice to spend a night out with other people who were like me.... who also just understood exactly what I was going through.
As always...full of warmth and wisdom xx
In my experience, it takes about three years in a new country or town to really feel at home. I start out complaining and comparing everything, and after 3 months realize I have to give it up and go with the flow! Now, about celery! The French don't usually eat it raw, but in soup or stews, so it doesn't matter if it's a little limp. But what's great is that you can pull off just one branch of celery (just enough for that soup) at the grocery store, and buy only that, instead of a whole bag that rots in your fridge!
In 1995 my ex husband (who is english) was transfered from France to French Guyana. When I arrived there I met a friend of mine (our husbands were in the French foreign Legion) and she told me : if you want to have a great experience live the life of the locals. And that's what I did. The first time I went to the supermarket, I saw that products imported from mainland France were 10 times more expensive. So I decided not to stay in the military circle, I adopted Guyanese habits and my children and I spent 2 wonderful years. In our case, there was no language barrier. Otherwise, I would have made the effort to learn the basics before leaving.
Thank you for your videos. You two seem so pragmatically grounded that I feel like I’m getting actual useful advice and perspectives. We’re in the planning stages of our move, and France is definitely on our short list!
Very good video!
Not learning the language. And those are usually exactly the people calling the natives arrogant or rude or whatever because they didn't bother to learn THEIR language to communicate in THEIR country and THEIR culture. It doesn't happen only with Amercans, of course. That type is not limited to a specific country, continent, or social class.
Understanding that the country you are moving to is NOT the country where you come from, that their culture, and their language is NOT yours, and that their ways of communicating are NOT the same as yours, that's the most important thing. Bordeaux or Hamburg are not Boston with nicer buildings. They are places in very different cultures, and just because you meet a lot of people who speak English doesn't change that fact. And to expect that you can get along for an extended period of time without learning the local language is just hilarious.
Language is the most inherently cultural thing there is. 90% of all culture of any place is language. Nothing is more connected to a culture than the expressions, the images, the metaphors, or even the grammar of the local language. Even the specific concept of time is represented in the language. You can ONLY understand a place more than just cursory if you understand the language. Being arrogant enough not to learn the language just makes you miserable, and everybody else as well...
P.S. Why the heck would one want to ship a car across the ocean? Especially to a country known to have a large car industry. The obstacles are huge, from (seemingly) simple things like the color or position of lights to really complicated or very expensive things like proving emission standards. It's really a crazy idea...
They would ship their mercedes to germany…
@@oulibemusic1257 Well, that HAS happened... ;-)
And with members of the military, it happens very often, because the US military pays for the shipping, and they don't have to convert their cars to EU/German regulations. Normal people, on the other hand, usually don't do it because of costs. Same with furniture and other big items. In the end, most Americans who want to live here do realize that we do not live in caves here in Germany, and that it is even possible to buy furniture and even cars here. Mind you, we even have running water here. Sometimes even warm! ;-)
You guys are spot on! We split our time between California and France. Learning just some French helps tremendously and the French will help you with common words and phrases if you ask. Yes, the supermarket….. I ran into the same issue, but once I figured out that I needed to explore new foods to cook at home it’s been amazing and such fun. We also find that getting involved in your local village activities helps to meet people. And yes, France has everything you need, cars, clothes, shoes, appliances etc…etc..etc… so, bring your family heirlooms and buy what you need here in France. 🇫🇷😊
Sage advice! Learning is part of life, wherever you live, and along with it come the joys and challenges. This is especially true when you move to a new country. In the, hopefully, not too distant future, we’ll one day live in France. And until then, we’ll use this time to keep learning all about France, to make the transition easier and more enjoyable once we get there. We realize that it will be challenging and frustrating at times, but that’s true of any place you move to, whether it’s to a new city, state or country. And watching channels such as yours makes it more fun as well as more informative. Merci beaucoup!
We don't get much celery here in southern Greece either, although celeriacs with the darker green tops (celery root) are available. I suspect the French don't *need* the celery stalks to be kept crisp because they aren't eating it with peanut butter as a snack, they're only chopping it up with onion and carrot for stewed dishes.
Thanks for the vlog; really enjoyed it. I also read that article. I live in France.. Just to tackle one thing that I think you were incorrect about (Zute alors!😅) The Celery. I live near Mirepoix which gives its name to the base of all soups and stews in the culinary world: Onion; carrot; celery. Celery is the fundamental ingredient in french cuisine. Its not used very much as a salad vegetable but goes into stews; soups; sauces. You will see whole celery stripped in the shops and markets as the french just take a few of the pieces for cooking at a time. The reason the celery was always limp was because she always shopped in the supermarket! and probably a cheap one at that. It is also NOT IRRADIATED like most veg in the States or elsewhere. It has a short shelf life out of water. Go to any market and it will be field (or garden) fresh and that is where the majority of french get their veg and celery! As you say, they didn't do their homework and they had a story book impression of French life. Its not just americans; many people migrate to france with a similar idea to get away from their problems and usually take those problems with them.
For the ham the difference is the way it was prepared stewed, smoked or dried slowly, the amount of salt, the use of nitrites or nitrates as conservative, the other ingredients as vegetables, dextrose, etc. the presence or absence of rind, the glittery being more industrial. I would just add that in many supermarchés, the weighing is done by the cashier. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I really enjoy these videos. I will never leave Colorado, but these two are just entertaining. As a secular buddhist, I agree that mindset is pretty much EVERYTHING when it comes to happiness. That's why I really think that these two could have found happiness by changing their brains instead of their country. Then again, even the best brain won't get you a $200K home in a lovely village. Keep up the great work. I'll keep watching.
Thanks Raina ,Jason and Juliana ...
I'm french of " Bretagne " ... Saint Malo...and your points of view on my country is also fun than sweet....
Your comments show us that this 'hexagonal land ' is one of the most comfortable place in the world ...
The most visited one on earth , with 1200 sorts of cheese and no school shooting to ....
Jason .... Bac is the abbreviation of...
Baccalauréat...
I'll be bac 😂
Take care and enjoy each days on the native land of 'lady liberty " ...
No Pepperjack cheese?! Oh no😮 Thank you for that tidbit.❤
Hello, I am from Austria and I live in France. Spoke french before moving here. And got a job right away, that is a very good way of conecting with people. Go to the village celebrations, listen to your neighbours' suggestions, ask them for advice...
And if you do not know anything about the country you are moving to, read at least one of the books of the " culture shock" series. Hi from a small village in " Haute Vienne"...
You're awesome! You're one of ours. 🇫🇷 Sorry for my Frenchglish
Such good and honest information. I've lived here over 10 years and am still adapting, though it certainly gets easier and (maybe) more understandable as time passes. Embracing the fact that life is simply different in different places, and not expecting a 'better' variation of your home really opens doors to understanding and new experiences.
Loved your video. You are so right on all the subjects.
Your best video I've seen. I'm myself an expat sort of cuz my parents displaced me in 1960 from my first home country Austria to my second home country Germany. Many may think "Easy! Same language!" that's true but also not. I was ten years in 1960 and had almost to learn a new language, a new dialect and startet at zero with friends. Plus all other points you mentioned in your video. New teachers in new schools, and also new food, new habits, new everything.
My jackpot was, to meet a girl in Germany eight years later and two years ago we had golden wedding. So I'm still an Austrian citizen and live now, due to the not so big distances in Europe, in two countries.
From that article it seems to me Ed would be able to adapt. For one, he did learn some French and doesn't complain about the celery. My advice for him would be to dump the old American wife and hook up with a young(er) Française.
xd
Tarte aux endives avec du chèvre (crottin de chavignol), c'est trop bon. 👌
Merci de la suggestion, c’est vrai que j’aime bien manger des endives braisé mais j’avais jamais pensé à le mettre dans une tarte avec du crottin de chavignol. Je vais aller faire un tour sur Marmiton ça va me donner des idées
You guys are so right. Americans think that you have to very very busy to be an accomplished person. Because they born to be competitive, always do things for a reason to prove their are better. It is like you have to be better so you can make conversation!
Hey you ❤ baguette bound, hope one day we will where you are just to say hello…. We are from Copperopolis, Ca.
I approve. I am French, and I mowed to 4 different countries. Each time, I was open to the local culture and had some expat friends from Europe . Everything's time time even in the US.
We have a "dicton in French " :
L'herbe est toujours plus verte chez le voisin.
Nice WE
On top of that they moved from a big city (San Francisco) to a much smaller and aging one. I guess that's part of the appeal but it's still another cultural shock.
I read this CNN article you refer to. I also lived in the US for 6 years while attending graduate school, and am a French speaker. I concur with what you say here. I think the best way for an American to emigrate to the US is to follow Juliana's approach. Socialize and listen carefully (literally and figuratively) so as to learn a new language and how things work. When moving to a new country, with a new culture, you have to be comfortable, at being a bit uncomfortable. What is so amazing about Juliana is that in such a short time she mastered French pronunciation so well, that it will make her life so much easier in learning, communicating because it opens other people up to her. When you hear her speak, you (as a French speaker) do not hesitate to engage, because she sounds French, and this is a huge advantage for becoming part of the community. To be able to function in an unfamiliar environment is a critical skill. As a test, try this exercise: switch over your smartphone and computer operating system to French and watch TV and YT only in French, and do not use any translation functions. How well can you cope? This gives you a feel for what you might experience when you step into a new country.
This is so true! I moved from NY to Michigan and I thought I moved to a different country . They didn’t have 1/2 the foods I was used to …very unexpected! . So no matter where you go it’s going to be a change …. Different!
My Mato, when in Rome do as the Romans.
A language is not just a way to encode words. Language is the basis of civilization: a way for people to exchange ideas, share them, and ultimately create a common culture. It is impossible to separate a language from the culture in which it was formed.
Learning the language of the country is therefore not just to communicate with those who do not speak English. It is essential to understand and integrate into your new environment.