Moving to Le Havre in August, scared is the only word that comes to mind!

Jasmin119 · #1 (**permalink**) 21st June 2011, 02:09 PM

My husband has be transfered to Le havre so we will be moving there in August.
I am South African, I speak no french, am pregnant and have a 3.5 yrs son.

I am trying to remain positive but all I can see is hurdle after hurdle and honestly a very lonely life me to come.

We have been based in Dubai for 2.5 yrs and when we visited Le havre in May I was left feeling vey scared. I experienced little patience from some locals as I tried to communicate in stores and pharmacies. Our house hunting was very disappointing with very little available for rent.

I need to see the bigger and brighter picture so I can be supportive and present for my family.

Our son is the very high energy type so I am hoping there will be activities that he can do. Being pregnant Im in need of some recommendations and advice.

I am worried about fitting in, about learning French. My husband is French from Paris but this has not improved my skill at all. Our boy in fluent in both languages so for him I think the move will be quite interesting than daunting.

Hello out there can you help me...

I thank you in advance!!

Jasmin/ Pali

rynd2it · #2 (**permalink**) 21st June 2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasmin119

I am trying to remain positive but all I can see is hurdle after hurdle and honestly a very lonely life me to come.

Hello out there can you help me...

I thank you in advance!!

Jasmin/ Pali

Hang in there - it's not that scary

Having been here for five weeks now speaking some French (my wife speaks none) we have had nothing but help from the locals. All our problems have been with organizations in the UK & USA, not France.

House hunting is a challenge - more details as we progress

David

Bevdeforges · #3 (**permalink**) 21st June 2011, 08:51 PM

Hang in there. It will be tough at first - and being pregnant is probably just making things worse (hormones, etc.).

First thing you need to do is to get your spouse visa organized. On arrival, you'll have to make an appointment with the OFII to validate your visa and sign your CAI (contrat d'accueil et d'integration) which will include French classes for you.

At 3.5 years, your son will be eligible for the maternelle, which should keep him busy during school hours and give you a bit of a break. You will need to get registered with a local obstetrician and you may want to visit the maternity department of a couple of the hospitals in the area just to get an idea where you will want to have your new baby. It will certainly help ease your mind to meet some of the personnel and choose where you'll have the baby. I've heard good reports from the mothers-to-be who have made visits to the local maternity departments - and so far they've all reported that the nursing staff does make a real effort to help out those who don't speak much French.

In September, there should be some sort of a "Forum des Associations" where you can find some of the clubs and associations in the area. Le Havre has an AVF (Accueil des Villes Francaises) which is a newcomers group in France. They may have a Jeunes Mamans group, which you could attend with your son. They may also have a French conversation group, where you can meet other foreigners living in the area, and practice the French you are learning. You'll also get to meet some of the French people in the area.

I know how you must be feeling, but just keep progressing one step at a time and I'm betting you'll settle in just fine.
Cheers,
Bev

arena · #4 (**permalink**) 22nd June 2011, 09:24 AM

Hello,

Le Havre is fantastic! I have lived here with my french wife for just over a year we have just had a bay also and so can give some good recommendations for health care.

It took us about a year to find a good house it is not easy as David said. I speak basic french but have found people in Le Havre to be very welcoming and have made many friends, people in shops are all the same dont worry about that.

I feel sorry for your husband they hate Parisians in Normandy

you will be fine.

The AVF in Le Havre is also good so check them out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasmin119

My husband has be transfered to Le havre so we will be moving there in August.
I am South African, I speak no french, am pregnant and have a 3.5 yrs son.

I am trying to remain positive but all I can see is hurdle after hurdle and honestly a very lonely life me to come.

We have been based in Dubai for 2.5 yrs and when we visited Le havre in May I was left feeling vey scared. I experienced little patience from some locals as I tried to communicate in stores and pharmacies. Our house hunting was very disappointing with very little available for rent.

I need to see the bigger and brighter picture so I can be supportive and present for my family.

Our son is the very high energy type so I am hoping there will be activities that he can do. Being pregnant Im in need of some recommendations and advice.

I am worried about fitting in, about learning French. My husband is French from Paris but this has not improved my skill at all. Our boy in fluent in both languages so for him I think the move will be quite interesting than daunting.

Hello out there can you help me...

I thank you in advance!!

Jasmin/ Pali

Jasmin119 · #5 (**permalink**) 23rd June 2011, 06:12 AM

Hi David,

Thanks so much for your reply, while you are looking for a place where are you staying? Are there like furnished hotel apartments? We will probably have to wait a while for our stuff to be shipped through.

Thanks

Pali

Jasmin119 · #6 (**permalink**) 23rd June 2011, 06:23 AM

Hi Arena,

Thats funny what you say about Parisians and Normands? lol
Love the name Arena, considering it for the baby if we have a girl!
Fantastic hey, okay that sounds good!

Im curious why it took you so long to find a house. What are the areas you were looking? We were told rents will be more reasonable than in Paris but how much can we really expect to pay for a 3 bed palce. Do you have any advice?

Thanks a ton!

Pali

Jasmin119 · #7 (**permalink**) 23rd June 2011, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Hang in there. It will be tough at first - and being pregnant is probably just making things worse (hormones, etc.).

Hi Bev,

You have so much advice to offer regarding France and Le Havre, you should earn a living from sharing your knowledge.

So you mentioned something I had not thought about; my residents visa. Is that something I should arrange at the embassy before we get there? I wouldn’t want to have to exit the country to transfer my current visa to a resident.

And then regarding my son, in Le Havre does the education system only permit immediate residents of the neighborhood to enter a certain school? He has been attending a French nursery so yes the next step is to start him in Maternelle, so am very worried about the rules of the system as it puts pressure to find a house in the right area...

Thank you,

Pali

arena · #8 (**permalink**) 23rd June 2011, 06:42 AM

Hi,

Le Havre is fantastic you just have to find your way around town and all the little nooks and cranies!

We are very picky hence the length of time to find a house so depending on what you are looking for it could take no time at all. We live in Sanvic which is about 5mins out of the centre of town, it is quiet and has lots of family homes aswell as appartments.

I believe you can find a 3 bedroom place from around 500 euros to 1000euros there may be charges on top if you are in an appartment block. We havent rented in Le Havre so I am no expert.

I am afraid my name is boring old Barry nothing as exciting as Arena!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasmin119

Hi Arena,

Thats funny what you say about Parisians and Normands? lol
Love the name Arena, considering it for the baby if we have a girl!
Fantastic hey, okay that sounds good!

Im curious why it took you so long to find a house. What are the areas you were looking? We were told rents will be more reasonable than in Paris but how much can we really expect to pay for a 3 bed palce. Do you have any advice?

Thanks a ton!

Pali

Jasmin119 · #9 (**permalink**) 23rd June 2011, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arena

Hi,

I am afraid my name is boring old Barry nothing as exciting as Arena!

Hi Barry,

Yes Sanvic, thats the area recommended! So you bought a place via an agent? There are so many agents in that little town. Who did you use, I really want to make this process as painless as possible...if possible.

And your baby, what did you have? And when, and where? (pls excuse my nosiness)

Thanks,

Pali

rynd2it · #10 (**permalink**) 23rd June 2011, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasmin119

Hi David,

Thanks so much for your reply, while you are looking for a place where are you staying? Are there like furnished hotel apartments? We will probably have to wait a while for our stuff to be shipped through.

Thanks

Pali

We rented a 45 sqm maisonette from a local agent known to a friend. It's just big enough so we don't kill each other

The contract is for one year but we can get out with a months notice.

We will not ship anything from CA until we know the move date into our new place - storage rates in the US are about half what they are in France plus I don't want it moving too often. Shipping will take about 6 weeks, house purchase (from agreement to occupation) takes three months - and we haven't found it yet after 5 weeks. We are picky

Cheers

David