want to live in France

[zoed]

Hi there Ill keep this short as possible...
I am a single mum, 35 years old with a 7 year old son. I wish to live in france. I spent 3 summers working there before my son was born but fell in love with the place and am sick and tired of the yob mentality in the UK. How workable do you think it is for me to start again? I know not one single person in france, but that doesnt worry me. My knowledge of French is good working knowledge, (my grammar isnt brilliant but my conversation is good...)
I own a house in Uk which I am willing to sell, which would leave me with money to start again. Am I in dreamland here?
Im currently a medical secretary/administrator for nhs and have good typing skills and admin, (10 yrs experience) but i know im unrealistic to think that I could get the same type of job in France due to me not being fluent in french,however i would be willing to work in a shop, cleaning, barwork, anything? how workable is this having a son? would that kind of job pay for myself and my son to live simply but happily??? im not materialistic or money orientated, just enough to live on etc is good enough for me.

[giantpanda]

Hi!

I suggest you do not consider to move to France, before you have a job ( not a CDD = contrat à durée déterminée, but a CDI = contrat à durée indéterminée, after the test period).. That is the main obstacle.

Yopu would have to contact the ANPE ( Agence Nationale pour l'Emploi ) - to look for a job.

Yours,

giantpanda

[zoed]

But how will i know if its a good area for us before getting there?? how do you get a job without travelling to that country? Im not gonna get a little bar job from over here or a cleaning job or working in a shop? they want to interview me first surely?

[Bevdeforges]

Given that you're an EU national, you do have the right to just move to France if you wish - but you're right in that it's unlikely you will be able to find a job without being here on site to interview. And it's darned difficult to interview here in France unless you have at least conversational level French.

Your best bet might be to arrange a holiday in some part of France that strikes your fancy, and spend some time assessing the job situation while you are over here. While you're at it, take a look at the windows of the immobiliers (estate agents) to see how rental costs fit in with the salaries you can reasonably earn. It may take a couple holiday trips to a couple different locations, but you're the only person who can decide whether or not you can manage on the available salaries, given your experience and training.
Cheers,
Bev

[johnhf1947]

Hi Zoed

Some ten years ago my lady did what you are contemplating but in reverse. Being the amiable lunatic that she is she gave up a secure senior teaching career (with flat,cat,all of that) and came to live with me in London.Her English was very sparse but she found a job in a 'posh' supermarket that specialised in hiring overseas nationals (at slave wages,naturaly) Her English improved rapidly (much to my embarrassment now,since we have been in France for five months and my French is chaotic) but however she ended up in the French/UK education system since she was a qualified teacher.
Just an idea,but why do you not try and work for a while with a French organisation based in the UK? You would thus gently immerse yourself in the culture, hear French on a regular basis and possibly be transferred to France if everything went to plan.
I wish you the best of luck and if you end up in France Centre drop us a live via the Forum. We live in a very French part of the country, I believe I am only the second Brit to arrive recently in the ancient city of Bourges - as is born testament by my somewhat irate posting yesterday (see pacs)
Salud,John

[zoed]

Thanks for the advice John, I live in the midlands, so ill have to do some research into what french companies are based around here??? where to start? lol
I have actually worked in france, i did 3 summer seasons (6 months at a time so 18 months in total) for eurocamp as a courier. I fully immersed myself into the french way of life. I preferred the french to the english (and still do! lol) so i feel quite confident in my abilities to be speaking it, (my writing is terrible, but my speaking is v good conversation level).
If anyone has any pointers as to which companies are based here, i would be grateful. thank you

[DavidB]

Go for it Zoe!
Yes there's always a chance it won't work out but it sounds to me that you need to try this for both yourself and your boy.
You could always come over on a short term rent to try things out.
With your knowledge of speaking French and a determination to succeed then there is no reason why you cannot achieve your goal, despite what some of the doom-mongers might say.

[mmm]

hi zoed

my sister has been living there for about 20 yrs she went over as an au pair (advert in the lady magazine)with out speaking french, so if there is a will theres away

[giantpanda]

Originally Posted by mmm

hi zoed

my sister has been living there for about 20 yrs she went over as an au pair (advert in the lady magazine)with out speaking french, so if there is a will theres away

Hi!

Unfortunately the law has changed.

Hardly a good counsel, to come and hope for the best.

Better to know what you are up against.

I am not in favour of hiding the effective obstacles, especially that in many cases, some people, thing if they start again somewhere else, all the former difficulties disappear.

Yours,

giantpanda

[mmm]

Originally Posted by giantpanda

Hi!

Unfortunately the law has changed.

Hardly a good counsel, to come and hope for the best.

Better to know what you are up against.

I am not in favour of hiding the effective obstacles, especially that in many cases, some people, thing if they start again somewhere else, all the former difficulties disappear.

Yours,

giantpanda

hi

Yes I have to agree with you, it is better to know what your up against especially in new territory, but there is nothing wrong with wishing people the best and i still stand by what i said if there is a will there is a way, and of course your problems, difficulties will follow you where ever you go but whats wrong with taking a chance you never know whats round the corner

mmm