From things to consider before moving to France to French TV shows (besides Emily in Paris) and France’s best food and drink festivals, this week’s La Belle Vie newsletter offers you an essential starting point for eating, talking, drinking and living like a French person.
La Belle Vie is our regular look at the real culture of France – from language to cuisine, manners to films. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to your newsletter preferences in “My account”.
Americans have long been fascinated by France. My history lessons in school always conveyed the importance of French assistance during the American Revolutionary War, and centuries later – during the inter-war period – Paris was a haven for writers, artists and musicians.
As such, it’s of little surprise to me that after the 2016 election, which saw Donald Trump win his first term, many Americans googled how they could move to France. A similar trend seems to be taking shape following the most recent election.
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But moving countries is not for the faint of heart – there are some serious things worth considering before making that decision.
8 things Americans need to know before moving to France
In my years in France, I have seen many instances of foreigners moving to France with rose-tinted glasses. This does not solely befall Americans. Brits, Australians, and Canadians are just as likely to have high expectations of ‘La Belle Vie’ (wordplay intended) when moving to France, only to be disappointed by the reality of life here.
I have had several discussions recently about a trending CNN article (HERE), which tells the story of an American couple who moved to France and after just a few months decided to vacate the country, having found themselves lonely and dissatisfied.
Whenever an article like this pops up, I feel for the people at the centre of it. I understand how difficult moving can be, especially if you do not speak the language. That said, one of the first things you can do is recognise that France is not your home country.
Culturally, France will be different from what you are used to (don’t expect there to be frozen yogurt in every grocery store). It might help to start off by watching a few TV shows set in France (aside from Emily in Paris).
9 French TV series that aren’t Emily in Paris
I would argue the next step would be to learn French. Signing up for a French class is a great way to meet other people who are new to France, and it will help you be able to integrate and make friends.
There are some other techniques too – I must admit, I haven’t used all of them, but I think the best was working at a restaurant/ bar. This really forced me to get out of my comfort zone and speak to people in French.
Bar work, boyfriends or classes: The best techniques for learning French
While I disagreed with several parts of the CNN article, one that stood out was the attack on French gastronomy. I agree that sometimes people can be a bit over-zealous in calling French food the best in the world (personally, I would give this honour to Italy).
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I can understand not enjoying a few specific dishes – perhaps Ratatouille is not your thing, but French food is so diverse. It’s not just “brie, pâté, pastries and French bread” as alleged in the article.
For those who want to explore French food, you can start by visiting a festival and testing what’s on offer.
25 of the best food and drink festivals in France
Another way that people go wrong is by not adequately researching different parts of France. While there are some truly beautiful places, there are also plenty of moche towns.
Sometimes, a beautiful place turns pretty ugly in the off-season, which people do not realise if they had only visited during the summer or high-holiday periods.
Revealed: The ‘ugliest’ places in France
And finally, while there are some particularly unsightly places, there are of course several lovely villages dotted across France.
Here are some of the best from this past year.
France’s top 14 favourite villages for 2024