France has for many years been a very popular destination for a variety of different nationalities although from the make-up of this post it would appear that many find it difficult to learn the language in a short space of time and to socialise in the country. France on the whole attracts a great variety of different visitors from investors to tourists, students to retired people as well as a variety of international businesses.
This particular thread on the expat forum covers a number of subjects which have prompted significant interest and comments from those who read the form. It would seem that while many people feel that their situation is “uncommon” it would appear that more and more people find it difficult to socialise in the early stages of a move to France as well as problems with the language.
Socialising
Socialising in your new country of residence is often something which is overlooked and given very little thought either by those advising and those moving to the likes of France. You can have the best property, the best school are your children and an excellent job but if you’re unable to socialise in the region then the days can prove very long and at worst depression could be an issue.
It is vital that at the first opportunity you ingratiate yourself with the local community, become aware of your surroundings and do the best you can to “fit in”. It will take time, it will take patience and it may not all be plain sailing but moving to a new country is difficult enough by itself but spending 24 hours a day cooped up in your home is not healthy and is not helpful.
How would you cope in the event of an emergency or an unforeseen circumstance if you were not able to communicate and were not fully aware of your surroundings?
Problems with the French language
The post has attracted the attention of many foreign students in France (and particularly Lyon) who have signed up for the compulsory French language lessons but would appear to be struggling to become fluent in French. While there are very few who have given up on learning the language it is apparent that this handicap can have serious implications in the short to medium term. There is nothing worse than living in an area in which you do not understand fully what people are saying, the general notices in the region and where to get help.
Yet again there is a pull towards attempting to find those speaking your mother tongue and while initially this can be a great help in the settling down process, medium to longer term there are issues to consider. The more you can converse with French speaking people in Lyon the more chance you have of picking up the local dialect, understanding exactly what people are saying and becoming more and more fluent yourself. However, by mixing with people (in this instance who speak English) in some ways this can be seen as the “lazy option” as you are not forced to learn the local language as quickly as you possibly should do.
Visas
As with any move overseas it is vital that you understand the visa system before you make the move and any implications for delays and errors. The French visa system has come under severe criticism over the years with many people coming forward with stories suggesting that different French embassies around the world will give you different advice on French paperwork, with possible serious implications. Whether there is a misunderstanding at the embassy level, or indeed different understandings of the system, is unclear but the growth in Internet now offers a more direct approach for those looking for specific advice on paperwork.
The French visa system on the whole seems to be a little more relaxed than many others around the world with visitors able to enter the country on simple visitor visas and then make specific applications for various visas and residency paperwork on landing. There are however fairly strict guidelines and deadlines with regards to what needs to be done although we have heard of many instances of foreign nationals apparently living in France “illegally” for many years due to incorrect paperwork and not receiving any indication from the authorities.
Preparation
When you are looking to move overseas it is vital that you prepare yourself for the initial move and the aftermath of what can be a stressful and confusing period of your life. As we mentioned above, you can have the best property in the world, the best school for your children and the best employment position but if you are unable to live a full life (including a social life) then this can seriously impact upon your personal life.
As you will see on the expat forum there are many ways to prepare yourself for a move overseas and while it can be helpful to make contact with those speaking your mother tongue there is still a requirement to mix in the local domestic community as soon as possible. In some cases when overseas visitors tend to mix in their own compact inner circles it can come across as arrogant or disrespectful to the local community which can cause problems in the future. Finding a mix between spending time with the local community and those speaking the same language as you is vital because at the end of the day you are the one who chose to move overseas, so why not interact more with the local community?
Conclusion
While the more formal preparations for moving overseas such as employment, visas, a place to stay, schools and other similar elements are vital, many people seem to place little importance on the “afterlife”, i.e. when they have arrived. Many people find French a difficult language to understand and learn and while there are specific French teaching establishments available for overseas visitors a lack of those able to communicate for example in English has been cited as a possible drawback.
The old saying “when in Rome do as the Romans” is one which often crops up and perfectly illustrates the need to appreciate, acknowledge and mix in your local surroundings when moving overseas. Life can be very lonely unless you make an effort to extend the hand of friendship to your new neighbours.
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