If you’ve decided to move to France, it makes perfect sense! After all, who would not want to live in a country that offers breathtaking countryside, glorious weather, and a family-focused mindset, and not to mention – incredible cuisine? However, you must learn more about the cultural differences before you relocate to one of the many beautiful French cities. Regardless of whether you want to move to Paris or Perpignan, learn how to adapt to your new life in France.
Try the Cuisine
If you want to become a local, you must try the cuisine. The idea of sheep brains might not be your first choice on the menu, but you might find it is a delicious dish you could happily enjoy every evening of the week. Try everything once so you can learn what you do or don’t like, and you will then be able to make recommendations to your loved ones when they visit you in your new home.
Learn French
While French people will not expect you to be fluent in their language, they will expect you to know the basics. Don’t settle for getting by on English, especially if you plan to move to the country, as the locals take great pride in their language and may only offer a reply in French. If you try to communicate in French, they might be happy to come to your rescue and speak to you in English.
Not only will learning French help you become a part of a community, but it will also allow you to talk to a doctor, waiter, or neighbor with ease. Learning the lingo will take time, and the French idioms might uundoubtedly confuseyou along the way, but a little effort and education could help you enjoy full conversations in another tongue.
Learn How to Greet Your Colleagues
A simple, “Hi” might be sufficient in your hometown, but it will appear rude in France. Start your working day by greeting your closest colleagues with a handshake, including your manager, and follow it up with, “Bonjour” and the person’s name. It might seem a little strange at first, but it is normal behavior in France. Also, it is recommended to not say, “Bonjour” to the same person twice in one day.
Know When to Kiss on the Cheek
If you are greeting a woman, it might be a faux pas to shake her hand. Instead, you should kiss her cheek, which is known as a la bise. You must know the woman well to do so, as it might otherwise be a little intimidating. It can also appear rude to reject la bise. You should only initiate a la bisein an office if you know a female well; otherwise, you should justdo so with family and friends.
Prepare for a Long and Large Dinner Party with Friends
France offers arguably one of the finest cuisines in the world. The French, therefore, take great pride and passion in their cooking, so you would be wise to loosen your belt when visiting a friend’s house for dinner. That’s because they will commonly offer two starters, multiple main meals, salad, cheese course, two desserts, and a seemingly endless supply of wine. So, you will spend many an hour around the table enjoying long conversations. Sounds good, right?
Start Traveling Across Europe
Living in France will make other countries more accessible than ever before. That’s because it is flankedby neighboring Spain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, and the UK. So, you will rarely need to step aboard a plane to enjoy a fantastic holiday. Simplywrite a list of 20 bucket list destinations and start traveling. It is a big perk of living in France.
Be Patient
It may seemingly take a while to get anything done when you first move to France, as you could easily wait ten weeks to get your internet, phone, or utilities connected. Patience is necessary when you first move to the country, as you must simplytake a deep breath and try again in a week’s time. Once you have everything up and running, you’ll find everything runs smoothly, as the country offers excellent healthcare, transport, and welfare systems.
Adapting to the Cost of Living
The cost of living will be determined by whether you choose to live in the countryside, or in a city. For example, Paris is truly breathtaking, but it’s also an expensive city in which to live. The pastoral landscapeof Normandy or beautiful town of Brittany are both affordable places to live. It helps to pick an attractivedestination with low living costs, so you can quickly feel comfortable in your new home.
Take a Relaxed Approach to Work
Working through the 9 to 5 without a break is not the norm in France. If you want to fit in with your colleagues, you should take regular lunch and coffee breaks, regardless of your mounting deadlines or essentialtasks. Overworking yourself is notideal, so you should take a more relaxed approach to work to avoid appearing a little strange.
Avoid Talking About Money
Gloating about wealth is seen as rude in France. Many people will determine your social status based on your career, the university attended, your awarded diplomas, and your social group. If you want to enjoy a pleasant conversation with locals, try to start a discussion related to food, culture, politics, family or even office gossip, but steer away from talking about money.
Build Friendships Slowly
It can take time to form connections with French locals, as they might appear abrupt when you first meet them. Don’t be tempted to invite a new friend immediately over to home, as it can take a while to build a network with locals. You can guarantee they’ll welcome you with open arms once you start to break down the barriers.
Have you got any top tips for adapting to French culture? Share your advice and experiences by posting a helpful comment below.
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