Biarritz/Bayonne/Dax Expat community

[yanh]

Hi all-
I'm thinking to moving permanently somewhere into this general area, including also possibly St Jean de Luz or Capbreton. Just wondered: is there a thriving British ex-pat community in the area for socials, mutual support etc etc. Would love to hear. Thanks

[Melina_and_Randal]

Hi there,

We just moved to Urrugne, just next to St.Jean-de-Luz. Did anyone ever get back to you about the Expat community issue near Biarritz? My wife is Canadian, and she could really use a friend who speaks English just about now.

Cheers,
Randal

Originally Posted by yanh

Hi all-
I'm thinking to moving permanently somewhere into this general area, including also possibly St Jean de Luz or Capbreton. Just wondered: is there a thriving British ex-pat community in the area for socials, mutual support etc etc. Would love to hear. Thanks

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by Melina_and_Randal

Hi there,

We just moved to Urrugne, just next to St.Jean-de-Luz. Did anyone ever get back to you about the Expat community issue near Biarritz? My wife is Canadian, and she could really use a friend who speaks English just about now.

Cheers,
Randal

To be honest, there isn't necessarily an organized anglophone community everywhere in France, even though there may be a number of anglophones in the area. (Some anglophones are trying to blend in and may not be interested in hanging out with others.) Try checking with your local mairies. The mairies tend to subsidize nearly all the clubs and associations in town and they may know of something in the area. (Don't limit yourself to just your own mairie - ask at the mairies in the area.)

See if any town in your vicinity has either an AVF (Accueil des Villes Françaises), which is a general welcome club for newcomers to the area. Not all AVFs have English language activities, but many do. (AVF -- Accueil for more information)

Failing that, see if any of the towns nearby have any associations with "Accueil" in the name. For various reasons, some AVF groups have gone private and often call themselves something like "Accueil Biarritz" (one town I have to know has such a group). They may know of English language groups or clubs in the area, even if they don't have activities in English themselves.
Cheers,
Bev

[frizz]

Originally Posted by Melina_and_Randal

Hi there,

We just moved to Urrugne, just next to St.Jean-de-Luz. Did anyone ever get back to you about the Expat community issue near Biarritz? My wife is Canadian, and she could really use a friend who speaks English just about now.

Cheers,
Randal

Hi

We are in Bardos -about half an hour away - always happy to meet up with others in the area!

[Salsa]

Originally Posted by Melina_and_Randal

Hi there,

We just moved to Urrugne, just next to St.Jean-de-Luz. Did anyone ever get back to you about the Expat community issue near Biarritz? My wife is Canadian, and she could really use a friend who speaks English just about now.

Cheers,
Randal

I will be moving to the area but not until March/April 2009.....I am English and happy to meet new friends - english speaking , but also want to meet people to help me speak French!

[Cyndithia]

I'm an American living in St-Jean-de-Luz...let me know if she still wants someone to talk to. I'm completely bored here!

Cynthia

Originally Posted by Melina_and_Randal

Hi there,

We just moved to Urrugne, just next to St.Jean-de-Luz. Did anyone ever get back to you about the Expat community issue near Biarritz? My wife is Canadian, and she could really use a friend who speaks English just about now.

Cheers,
Randal

[Salsa]

To all that have posted in this thread... I will be staying with my partner's family when first arriving but will eventually be in the Urrugne/St Jean area - I arrive at the beginning of April so please do stay in touch to make contacts nearer that time. I don't think there is a huge amount of Expats (at least not that I have seen so far through forums) in this area so would be nice to make new friends when I get there to begin this adventure with!
Salsa! x

Originally Posted by Cyndithia

I'm an American living in St-Jean-de-Luz...let me know if she still wants someone to talk to. I'm completely bored here!

Cynthia

Lovely beach though. Slept on it for a couple of Easter nights back in long gone student days, remember it well!

[Jiminic]

Originally Posted by yanh

Hi all-
I'm thinking to moving permanently somewhere into this general area, including also possibly St Jean de Luz or Capbreton. Just wondered: is there a thriving British ex-pat community in the area for socials, mutual support etc etc. Would love to hear. Thanks

We have been living in Ciboure since September 2008 and would be keen to meet up with any english speakers too. Let me know

[Salsa]

I am moving there in one week, unfortunately have not had any direct responses with regards to my previous posts asking for people to meet/chat/learn french with...so I am not finding a thriving ex-pat community from my experience on here so far when talking about that area But - I am willing to get one going