New members of the France forum, introduce yourselves here - 2022

Julien · 2022-01-04T08:52:39+01:00

Hi all, Newbie on the France forum? Don't know how to start? This thread is for you ;) We invite you to introduce yourself on this topic, to share with us your expat story if you are already living in the country, or to tell us more on your expat projects in France if you are planning to move there. It will enable us to help you better but above all to wish you a warm welcome. Welcome on board!

Last activity 26 December 2022 by SimCityAT

3442 Views

130 replies

Post new topic

fabienffiActive member20 March 2022 14:26:22

#41

Good luck with your move and welcome to France

LoveGreenTeaMember28 March 2022 09:14:16

#42

Hi Regina! Have a great time in Marseille. I am also retired and will arrive in Toulouse on May 2, 2022. Just like you, I am exploring the possibility of living in France as a resident.

All the best!

-Maria

SbaileycooperMember18 April 2022 00:14:27

#43

@Julien

Hi I’m Stephanie, live in the Vaucluse for 5 years now. I love everything about it, but I am missing friends to chat to. Anyone else in the area?

anoushkapestanalouroMember21 April 2022 11:21:15

#44

Hi guys

My name is Anoushka and we immigrated to France from South Africa. My big family of 7 immigrated with me and we are trying to start a new live here. So far everything is going just fine but I miss home so much. Currently trying to fine work as we are waiting for our paper work to come back from South Africa for us to get citizenship ( my father is a EU citizen).

expatparentspauareaMember22 April 2022 16:57:16

#45

Hi, I'm Hanny! I moved to Pau (Southwest France) in May last year with my family. I come from Colombia originally and we have lived in several countries with my husband and my children (Israel, Nigeria, Uganda), he works for Total and so we have been relocated several times. Last year we arrived in Pau and we like it very much, and the children are delighted. We lived in Paris for a while and were not very happy with the traffic, the dirt and people's attitude in general. We have found Pau to be very welcoming to foreigners and the community is international. My children speak four languages and here they get to practice them all, they have made lots of friends. However, finding playgroups for young kids was kind of a challenge at the beginning so I created a Facebook group for expat parents in order to share ideas of "bon plans" and also to support each other in the adventure of parenting away from home. If there are other expat parents in the Pau area in this forum, I would be glad to invite them to playdates I organise regularly. Many languages are spoken and everybody is welcome :-)

jlcouteMember24 April 2022 06:56:55

#46

@Julien thank you for welcoming us. We will soon be living in Arles, where my husband currently works. I would love to know about the various neighborhoods and elementary schools. Preferably an elementary school that helps children transition to the French language and culture with an actual program and increased sensitivity.

Thank you!

phamnhung162Member11 June 2022 13:58:54

#47

Hello, my name is Nhung. I’m a new member here. I’m from Vietnam and has just moved to Lyon recently. I would love to improve my French skill and meet new people because I have no friends here. I speak English, Japanese, a bit French and of course Vietnamese

Domy1960Member13 June 2022 09:51:16

#48

@Julien

Hello my name is Mark I live in France

Looking for friendship a d improve my french

And English languages

Thanks

casilgrevalyn5Member13 June 2022 10:04:17

#49

Hi how are you doing. My name is greva. Can you send me some of your pictures.

Guest34958357Guest15 June 2022 11:40:26

#50

214245

@Julien

Hi I'm mokrane feyza Algerian living in algeria.plz I would like to know how to have an invitation to attend meetings related in English language or hair style.or to have invitation for a job.plz I need help

Siva VNew member18 June 2022 15:35:15

#51

@Julien

Hullo Julien, Glad to know of this initiative. I am interested in relocating to the brittany area & preferably close to the coast. I will be glad if some one can recommend a location where the cost of a two bedroom house will be very reasonable. I am a freelance IT consultant

& was previously a Professor at an University (teaching programming & other computer science subjects like AI, digital image processing etc.). Looking forward to responses from this group. Thanks, Dr Siva V

Siva VNew member18 June 2022 20:43:27

#52

@Julien

Hullo All, I am interested in settling in the brittany area of france and wud like to buy a property close to the coast. Need your suggestion on a suitable location where a two bedroom house can be bought at a reasonable cost. I am planning a visit in August or September. Am an IT freelancer and a former professor (computer science). I am in my 60s and keen to meet people from this brittany area. Regards, Siva V,

Robert UominiContributor19 June 2022 05:32:58

#53

132

@Siva V Good luck with that. My daughter and her boyfriend have spent months looking for a reasonably-priced house even away from the coast, with no success.

Siva VNew member21 June 2022 14:52:45

#54

@Robert Uomini

Thanks for your feedback Robert. I plan to check things out this September or earlier.

I did find houses near villages at reasonable cost. My best wishes to your son. What places did he visit? Thx Siva

Robert UominiContributor21 June 2022 16:29:47

#55

132

@Siva V They visited central Brittany and stayed away from the coast because of the high prices and the unavailability of a large lot.

SplattyNew member21 June 2022 17:58:18

#56

Hi, Beth here! My French husband is being transferred to France for work. We met in Paris 25 years ago, then he moved here (New York) , then we married, had a child (no longer a child!). We're both happy to be going back - I was a French/German major in college and lived there a couple of times. Looking forward to having a place to go with all my questions

SplattyNew member21 June 2022 18:00:25

#57

@pmaz Hello, fellow New Yorker! Have you found a good place for French lessons? I'm a bit rusty. But just conversation might work for me (and help reading the paper!)

SplattyNew member21 June 2022 18:01:04

#58

@Lisa Rad would love to see your shows! Put me on your mailing list. [link moderated]

Karl Davies JordanMember23 June 2022 00:22:45

#59

@fabienffi hello everyone New here and do not know how it works .

boatman1940Contributor23 June 2022 11:45:56

#60

109

Hello Karl

John Lee

Just ask what you want to know about. I live near Figarol 31260 from April to Oct since 2014. Since we started working on my Wife's family home. The Menu is at the top. Or just ask a question. I have had to deal with visas and the Gov here so can be some help with paperwork. Our part of France 31260 is cooler, quiet, and less expensive. Our other Home Oct to April is Fort Lauderdale Flordia where I built boats for 2 companies and then ran a Boat Yard for 20 yrs. Now I help neighbors with their tractors, cars, mowers, and electrical problems.

IslandladyMember27 June 2022 00:19:43

#61

@Julien I m a retiree from the US, planning to move to France. Planning a visit next spring to decide which city to move to. I d like to have a reasonable access to the water, enjoy cultural activities and find new friends, expats and French.

IslandladyMember27 June 2022 00:36:14

#62

I just replied, but didn t state my name, I m Carole. I m an American retiree and i decided to move to France. I m originally from Haiti, so French is my native language. I m planning a visit for about a month next spring in order to decide where to settle; I m planning the move for early 2024.

I;d prefer to live in the southern regions because of the climate; looking at Nice, Montpellier and Bordeaux. I want to have a lot of activities to choose from, especially cultural events. I hope that it will be easy to meet people and make friends, since i d like to have a social life. Any pointers would be appreciated.

IslandladyMember27 June 2022 00:41:19

#63

@yogitheresaconroy Hi Theresa, I ll be doing the same and one of my biggest challenges is what to do with the furniture that i dont want to part with. How are you handling disposing of your possessions? Are you shipping anything to France?

jhw108New member30 June 2022 10:55:44

#64

Hi All,

I'm John, semi-retired and hoping to get a long stay visa. Waiting to hear from VFS.......

Originally from San Francisco, now Florida. Has anyone had a visa interview?

WooTMember01 July 2022 20:25:24

#65

Hi, I’m George, retired in Chicago. Want to join my son and his family. My son married a citizen. Two new children. He’s working on his citizenship. I want to avoid VA long-term care or VA assisted living.

My family lives in Mervans, a farming village of some 1200 souls.

Sonia1000Member12 July 2022 12:01:58

#66

Hello everyone,

I am Sonia, 39 years old (no children) and German. After 7 years in Switzerland I am about to move to Colmar while I will be working in Germany. I speak French, but I would also be very happy to meet English or German speakers in the area. Don`t hesitate, please get in touch! :-)

hilld7New member17 July 2022 14:04:11

#67

Dave here, married to Lyn for many years, both of us retired. We have a house in the Dordogne between Monpazier, Beaumont and Belves in the postal code area 24440. Prior to Covid we were planning to travel out 3 or 4 times each year for a month at a time. Obviously our plan fell apart. I wanted to join this forum to share information and advice on issues and forthcoming events.

Dave

harmvos78Member25 July 2022 23:04:56

#68

@Julien,

Ik was starten yo work in 2005 in the drome at a camping. After I have found a job in a bistro. I have stayed the season working there.

After that year I have taken lessons french in St remy de chevreuse near Paris.

I planned yo stay another year by working in Toulouse and I stayed in Occitanie till 2018 and I went back yo the Netherlands where I have got my CAP/BEP cook. I have done the same level in Souillac, but It didn't work out.

Id like yo meet frenvh people in the Netherlands, but I don't know where and what they do.

Perhaps here on this site?

bikepalMember09 August 2022 15:25:10

#69

@Splatty I am not sure how this site works, but trying to get the hang of it. Where in France are you going to live? I moved from NY to Montpellier-it's a great city here. Good luck with the move, and you know you're gonna love it, right?

bikepalMember09 August 2022 15:30:03

#70

@Islandlady Hi Carole. My name is Pat-I posted something on here-who knows if I did it correctly. I moved from NYC to Montpellier. I have found the people in the City to be incredibly nice, lifestyle very laid back and plenty of cultural things to do. I think that it helps to have a car and to be able to travel around a bit, but I have not yet fully explored buses or other transportation as I have only been here 2 weeks! But I have been to Montpellier many times in the past. Feel free to ask any questions..........

tangochica007New member10 August 2022 14:13:37

#71

I doubt that very much

BhavnaTeam10 August 2022 15:17:29

#72

40061

Hello everyone,

Welcome on board !

Thank you all for your introduction however please create a new topic on the France forum if you are looking for information : France forum

It just gets confusing when members ask for information or interact on the new members thread as all the posts are mixed up.

All the best,

Bhavna

jozefbehrMember12 August 2022 06:12:28

#73

Hello Everyone,

Hi I'm Jozef Behr and here to connect the peoples. It is best place to connect each other.

imrankhanlodhi08Member12 August 2022 06:28:00

#74

Yes ofcourse

jeffbawden1952Active member12 August 2022 06:39:42

#75

@Robert Uomini

Prices in France have gone through roof

Especially sea areas

jeffbawden1952Active member12 August 2022 06:42:48

#76

@Islandlady

Prices by water sky high

Since covit the great french social severely curtailed which is shame as that's reason I moved to France good luck

barrieportugalNew member13 August 2022 15:41:30

#77

Hi, I'm English and my wife is Portuguese. We are in our early 60's and in good shape. We currently act as gardeners/caretakers/cleaners/guardians of two large properties in Portugal. We are eligible to live and work in France. We would love to move to France, preferably the South. If anyone knows of a similar job(s) please let us know. We don't want to sell our property in Portugal, so the job would have to come with a house as part of the package.

Many thanks

Barrie and Celeste

IslandladyMember13 August 2022 19:35:11

#78

@elkc7 Hello Emma, I m also thinking of retiring in France. Mention s one of the towns that I have narrowed down to live, since I want the warmest climate. I d be curious to hear about your experience; I ll be alone, Bonne Chance

IslandladyMember13 August 2022 19:36:38

#79

@Guest56416 hello, o m considering Menton for retirement and would love to see what your experience is

BhavnaTeam14 August 2022 05:09:46

#80

40061

Hello everyone,

@ Islandlady, that user is no longer on the website.

May I suggest that you open a new thread on the forum so that active members from Menton might give you some insights ?

- France forum

all the best,

Bhavna

Closed

Articles to help you in your expat project in France

A Student's Guide to Clubbing in Paris
Paris is probably the worst city you can go to if you don't have friends and only a guide book for nightlife ...
Income tax in France
It's well known that France has one of the highest tax rates in the European Union, although not as high as ...
Getting around Lille
Situated in the heart of France's northeastern rail network, Lille is well-connected by rail to London, ...
Accommodation in Toulouse
Located in southwestern France, in the Occitanie region, Toulouse is known as "la Ville Rose" (the Pink ...
Working Holiday Visa in France for Australians
A true love affair has developed between Australians and France. The reasons for this are numerous but often ...
Working in Bordeaux
Located in the Gironde region of southwestern France, Bordeaux is one of the country's largest cities. This ...
Getting around Bordeaux
Located along the Garonne River, Bordeaux is a dynamic and vibrant city with excellent connections to the rest of ...
How to Get Your Sport On in France
I am an incorrigible sportif. A total addict. I’ll play any game, with anyone, anywhere. It’s just ...