Largest British expat communities in France

[Bevdeforges]

Oh dear, I do think we've scared off the OP altogether. He or she hasn't been back since they posted the initial question.

I've lived in areas where I was pretty much on my own, with few if any anglophones nearby, and I've lived in areas where there are several expat groups to choose amongst. It's really exhausting having to live your life entirely in a "foreign" language, even if you know the language reasonably well. (Or at least well enough to get by.)

Having a few friends who literally "speak your language" (both linguistically and culturally) is always a huge advantage as there are things you can comment on and discuss with other foreigners that you just can't mention with your host country natives. But like many here, I don't see the point of moving to a country unless you make the effort (and it's always the foreigner who must make the effort) to get out and try and make friends with "the natives."
Cheers,
Bev

[Micha]

This is all very helpful. Trust me, I am not at all interested in moving to France in order to primarily associate with Brits ... otherwise, why not move to London? However, I am American and primarily English-speaking, and since I would not know that many people when I got to France, I want to know there is an at-least semi-organized English-speaking community where I can get support in becoming acclimated to a new environment. Even with the best preparation and even assuring that my French is back "up to speed," I know I'll need some help in making the transition.

[Coton90]

This maybe of help to you:AngloINFO France. Everything for expats living in or moving to France
Click on the city you're interested in and see what's going on.

Actually for newbies to France there's a lot of good basic information here so its worth your time to take a look at it.

Cheers

[Micha]

Thanks very much, this looks very helpful!

[dcat]

Micha, that makes very good sense. Although I wouldn't want to immerse myself exslusively in an expat group, knowing some people, both on bulletin boards and in the location can be very helpful. That is why I am a member of this group, and I have also attempted to make some acquaintances in the area where I plan to move so that I will at least know one of two souls when I get there.

Originally Posted by Micha

This is all very helpful. Trust me, I am not at all interested in moving to France in order to primarily associate with Brits ... otherwise, why not move to London? However, I am American and primarily English-speaking, and since I would not know that many people when I got to France, I want to know there is an at-least semi-organized English-speaking community where I can get support in becoming acclimated to a new environment. Even with the best preparation and even assuring that my French is back "up to speed," I know I'll need some help in making the transition.

[RichardP]

Originally Posted by Isualt

One thing I cannot understand is, if some of you want nothing to do with expats in France, why follow this site (expat forum...) and make so many posts? It is after all for English speaking expats as it is in English!

Advice on where to live, take into account your current lifestyle and the activities and services you are used to. Do you need a social circle and to make friends? List what you would like from your new life in France and compare. Then, do you understand and are able in French, to do all the paperwork and make countless telephone calls (especially to companies like EDF) to set up your life in France. If your property needs work, do you know trusty workmen to do it? Then which dentist, doctor etc...

Without my French, English, Australian, Bosnian, Algerian and Norwegian neighbours we would not have been able to have done so without lots of stress. And we are both fluent in French and had previously lived in nine different countries. To have such a mix of nationalities, religions and cultures is a joy and amazingly we all want the same thing out of life. Life is too short to apply outdated stereotypes to any nationality - enjoy and experience...

I would suggest the main reason many of us use this site is to do just as you appear to think we shouldn't do. Most of us are "native English speakers ", in the main, we all enjoy living in our new found lifestyles, we came to where we are to get away from that which we had and we hate it being spoiled by a minority, (as someone earlier said --superior minded ignoramiouses).

We certainly have had problems with French paperwork etc, and our French is less than good, so if we have a problem we ask for help from the FRENCH. Its a total learning circle. What most of us seem to dislike is those from our "Mother Countries" forming little cliques only to abuse the way of life they chose to come to, expecting all and sundry to bow to THEIR wishes.

An example, last week-end we visited a Brocante, 200 plus stalls offering all that was not wanted stallholders. Ahead of me were a group of English speakers, they were pointing at articles and asking the prices, if the stallhoder didn't answer in English, stared at the seller and asked in a louder voice -- "HOW MUCH" ---- when the same French spoken answer was supplied the English speaker just dropped the article back on the table and walked away, then started complaing about the "TAT" and RUBBISH " being offered for sale. Now I have visited "Car Boot" sales in the U.K. and believe me, they are no better nor worse that the brocantes here, and i daresay the "garage sales" in the States are much the same.

[Isualt]

<I would suggest the main reason many of us use this site is to do just as you appear to think we shouldn't do.> Quote

Not sure what this means...

I follow this site because it is the voice of reason and in the main is devoted to giving well founded information and good humoured advice on life in France. I looked at other sites and they were full of British expats "moaning" about English people living in France ( and elsewhere) — stereotyped — loud mouthed, ignorant and making no attempt to learn to speak the language or to integrate. Furthermore, they say how they have made friends with French neighbours etc and have learned to speak French (never how) and as they now have nothing to do with their fellow countrymen life is perfect — to me so untrue and snug!

I may lead a charmed life but I have never come across this type of British expat in the now 10 countries I have lived in — maybe because I do not go to the bars, international clubs, supermarkets or car boot sales they allegedly frequent. Nor, have I seen or heard any French, American, Australian or any other nationality make adverse comments on their own countrymen. My reason for the post was to "challenge" the stereotype picture and hopefully lead members to give more accurate information to the original post.

Setting up a new life in France is not easy, especially if you must find work. Making friends quickly with the French in small French villages or rural areas can be almost impossible as is the same to finding a way to learn French. The reality of it, loneliness and stress can break people's relationships and health. A cup of tea (or coffee) and a good whinge with a fellow expat who has gone through the same can work wonders. As does the usual unbiased and experienced information on this forum.

[contentedscot]

I looked at other sites and they were full of British expats "moaning" about English people living in France ( and elsewhere) — stereotyped — loud mouthed, ignorant and making no attempt to learn to speak the language or to integrate.

I think other posters have highlighted this to warn would-be arrivals of some of the reasons why some French people resent the presence of ex-pats.


Furthermore, they say how they have made friends with French neighbours etc and have learned to speak French (never how) and as they now have nothing to do with their fellow countrymen life is perfect — to me so untrue and snug!

I learned to speak French at University and kept my level topped up with reguar visits to France for business and holidays. I am also of an age where I have already forgotten what I was doing 5 minutes ago, but memories of the 1960s and 1970s are often very clear. That helps remember the French that I learned at school and University.

I am happy - I am not smug. I am happy that I have so many new friends who have helped me settle here. As it happens my new friends are mostly French. If I hadn't made so many French friends I would have sought help from other ex-pats.

For the third time in this topic I will try to make it clear that I am not shunning my fellow countrymen here - I have not been avoiding them - I just have not found the need to go out and look for them - there is a world of a difference between the two.

I happen to live in a town where there are very few British people. If I bumped into some and we seemed to get along together I will happily let them buy me a beer or three. And if I am looking for support I know I can find it in this forum, or from using my new ex-pat friends to introduce me to the larger ex-pat community.

Nor, have I seen or heard any French........... make adverse comments on their own countrymen.

When I told one French friend - whom I have known for 35 years - that my wife and I were planning a move to France, his first question was "Why do you want to come and live among us horrible French people," And last year I read a letter in the Figaro written by a French person that he would much prefer to have polite English neighbours than inconsiderate French ones.

Setting up a new life in France is not easy, especially if you must find work. Making friends quickly with the French in small French villages or rural areas can be almost impossible as is the same to finding a way to learn French

I am sure this unbiased and experienced information again will be very useful to people who are thinking of moving to France. But believe it or not the information I am providing is accurate, unbiased, and based on my experience - which again might be useful to others thinking about a move here.

[RichardP]

Originally Posted by contentedscot

I looked at other sites and they were full of British expats "moaning" about English people living in France ( and elsewhere) — stereotyped — loud mouthed, ignorant and making no attempt to learn to speak the language or to integrate.

I think other posters have highlighted this to warn would-be arrivals of some of the reasons why some French people resent the presence of ex-pats.


Furthermore, they say how they have made friends with French neighbours etc and have learned to speak French (never how) and as they now have nothing to do with their fellow countrymen life is perfect — to me so untrue and snug!

I learned to speak French at University and kept my level topped up with reguar visits to France for business and holidays. I am also of an age where I have already forgotten what I was doing 5 minutes ago, but memories of the 1960s and 1970s are often very clear. That helps remember the French that I learned at school and University.

I am happy - I am not smug. I am happy that I have so many new friends who have helped me settle here. As it happens my new friends are mostly French. If I hadn't made so many French friends I would have sought help from other ex-pats.

For the third time in this topic I will try to make it clear that I am not shunning my fellow countrymen here - I have not been avoiding them - I just have not found the need to go out and look for them - there is a world of a difference between the two.

I happen to live in a town where there are very few British people. If I bumped into some and we seemed to get along together I will happily let them buy me a beer or three. And if I am looking for support I know I can find it in this forum, or from using my new ex-pat friends to introduce me to the larger ex-pat community.

Nor, have I seen or heard any French........... make adverse comments on their own countrymen.

When I told one French friend - whom I have known for 35 years - that my wife and I were planning a move to France, his first question was "Why do you want to come and live among us horrible French people," And last year I read a letter in the Figaro written by a French person that he would much prefer to have polite English neighbours than inconsiderate French ones.

Setting up a new life in France is not easy, especially if you must find work. Making friends quickly with the French in small French villages or rural areas can be almost impossible as is the same to finding a way to learn French

I am sure this unbiased and experienced information again will be very useful to people who are thinking of moving to France. But believe it or not the information I am providing is accurate, unbiased, and based on my experience - which again might be useful to others thinking about a move here.

Some people have the advantage of a University educaton, others have pleasure of learning another language whilst still at school, but I would suggest the majority of us failed miserabley ion both areas of advancement.

My "love" France came when serving with the R.A.F.. My knowledge of the language was nil, all i knew was that someday I would like to live here. It took all my working life, all my powers of persuasion to persuade my wife this is where we should live our retirement. we hve been here now for nearly five years, my language skills have been honed listening to French people in everyday life, you could say I have an ear for languages, I chose NOT o involve myself with the "Brit pack" way of life, that said, I still have English people that i chat to on a fairly regular basis, in the same way I have local French people who suffer with a benign smile at my stumbling attempts to speak to them.

As far as living in a rural area,(which do) I have found the level of kindness--helpfulness --- understanding --- etc -- well above and beyond the "norm".

I suppose what it all boils down to is what you are prepared to make of your life in another country, you want to be British /American and remain that way ??? ok, thats what YOU want, others ,(like myself) want the best of both worlds, which somehow we seem to achieve, don't ask me how though !!!!!!.

[dubioustranger]

Originally Posted by xchaos777

Ahhh...but it is hypocritical for sure. I was involved with the sizable French community in Dallas. There you have the NA HQ for Accor and Alcatel with large number of French expats. They would all live literally in the same neighborhood, same schools, same French Drs., realtors, everything. Go to a party, only French. I was one of two American husbands in the group. We would hardly ever be invited to the guy outings like tennis or take in a basketball game...we weren't French...and we knew most of them for 5+ years!

Once I got the French citizenship, that rubbed a few the wrong way too. Yet, they all want their Green card to stay...and want their children to be US citizens born there.

I disagree with that type if isolation and want to experience the culture wherever I am. In France, you will be isolated to the English only speaking community unless you really try and work on the language. To make friends, you will need to be assertive as well...inviting ppl to do things. It will take time to really make French friends here...

A cousin of mine (so, a French guy) worked for a time at the French consulate in SF.
He used to live literally in closed circuit with his FRENCH colleagues and friends.
When I asked him why he didn't try to socialize more with the locals , he had this unbelievable answer : "oh the Americans...they're asking all the time "are you having fun and have no clue...they are so special!" from someone who was a"cultural referee" (whatever that means) at the consulate, a bizarre opinion indeed!
One of his best friends, a French expatriate, didn't like the quality of US furniture , so he moved his personal furniture from Lille to SF via the Panama Canal per cargo! I don't even want to imagine at what cost!
One day with that same guy, my cousin and his "cuckold friend" (another French expatriate whose wife my cousin was sleeping with!-French "superior morals"-) and I went on a fishing party on a river upstate near Sacramento. The three guys (I didn't even give a try, I was more interested in watching the fabulous countryside of northern California) didn't even manage to fish one piece during the whole day!
They were in a foul mood! (French pride, you know...).But it was time for diner. They decided to go to eat at a diner in a nearby town. We all seated at the bar, and the waitress came to take our orders. Then the "shooting" started : one of the guys told to the others (in French of course): "look at hair hairdon it's ridiculous", the others roared in laughter, another , with a smirk, said "it's redneck country here""on est chez les péquenots", etc.the waitress didn't seem to understand (or didn't want to show she understood) that they were making fun of her and instead turned to me. I was red faced and didn't share the general hilarity. She told me : "and you? you are the silent one?"
At that instant, I wished I had been anywherethousands of miles from that diner...what a shame....