Teacher wanting to retire in France

[ibteach]

I am planning on retiring to France in four years My first year of retirement my daughter,who will be 16, will join me for a year. She will probably be homeschooled, but I also want her to interact with kids her age. She will have at least four years of French. Do you have any suggestions as to where we ought to look to live? We will be staying in France for a month beginning this summer and each summer thereafter, so we can look around and get used to the people,culture,etc.

Do you think Paris should be the best place to be?

Thanks!

[Bevdeforges]

Paris is definitely the "center" of France - at least as far as resources, things to do, etc. But it's also expensive and, for someone who is retired, probably far more hectic than you really want.

I'm partial to Normandy - in part because I've always found the people there to be friendly and open to strangers. There's also a reasonable English-speaking community there and you have fairly handy access both to Paris and to the UK via ferry services. (You can often pick up the BBC radio services on your car radio there, too.) Have not spent much time in Brittany, but it has some of the same advantages.

You also may want to take a look at Montpellier. It's getting crowded, as it's one of the most popular areas in France for refugees from the north. But it's also a huge university town, almost like the college towns you find in the Midwest in the US. Lots of young people and always lots of concerts, places to hang out, lectures and clubs and associations that would more than keep your daughter busy and involved.

Alsace can be interesting, too, because of the access to Germany and Switzerland and the dual French-German culture in the region.

In short, there are zillions of options. It all depends what you're looking for. But with a few summers to check things out, you should certainly have fun.
Cheers,
Bev

[ibteach]

Thanks so much for responding so quickly. I know we have plenty of time, but I am one of those people that really need to plan. We are taking a 29 day trip to Europe this summer beginning in May and I had everything planned out by Sept. I just like to read what everyone has to say so that I will be prepared.

My one year with my daughter will be just for her and for me to get ready for my move; then I will move back to the U.S. for her to graduate. I am thinking she might move back with me and go to college, but I am not sure of the cost, etc. so I am not sure of all of that.

Do you think it is best to buy or rent?

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Janice

[_Sarah_]

Originally Posted by ibteach

My one year with my daughter will be just for her and for me to get ready for my move; then I will move back to the U.S. for her to graduate. I am thinking she might move back with me and go to college, but I am not sure of the cost, etc. so I am not sure of all of that.

Mainstream college/university in France is as cheap for the locals as it is for international students. Except to pay no more than a couple hundred euro a year, it's awesome!

[ibteach]

Originally Posted by _Sarah_

Mainstream college/university in France is as cheap for the locals as it is for international students. Except to pay no more than a couple hundred euro a year, it's awesome!

Thank you that is good news!

[bluechip]

Originally Posted by _Sarah_

Mainstream college/university in France is as cheap for the locals as it is for international students. Except to pay no more than a couple hundred euro a year, it's awesome!

It is also true that you can get the educational quality at the same low level...