As a french i d say: Safety (no shootings, few murders) Health (almost free of charge) Culture (theatre, opera etc... Are cheap) Food (fresh and affordable) Calm (especially in the countryside) Food (Yep, it deserves to be mentionned twice 😅)
Pas de fusillade, mais attaque au couteau pour un regard, ou une clope. Ce n'est certes pas la norme, mais ça arrive, il y a quinze jours, j'ai subi une intimidation physique par un fdp au sein d'un groupe de cinq clampins (et certainement pas des Jean, François, Paul et Pierre), et chaque jour il y a plus d'un millier d'agressions physiques, et plus d'une centaine au couteau. Çà, ce n'est pas la France, dans les années 80, on réglait au pire, les problèmes au poing, en un contre un, les couteaux ne sont pas dans notre culture, ni les attaques en bande, trop souvent mortelles. L'insécurité augmente, parce que nos politiques et les procureurs, les juges nommés par un État volontairement défaillant l'encouragent (la prétendue "indépendance" de la justice est une grosse blague et une grosse insulte, que dire des squats qui voient les voleurs mieux protégés que les propriétaires). En France, les victimes sont de plus en plus considérées comme des coupables, et on trouve toutes les mauvaises raisons possibles pour excuser les bourreaux. L'inversion totale des valeurs s'est aussi vue dans l'ouverture des JO, où de multiples signes sataniques sont visibles, tout en crachant sur les chrétiens. C'est un tout, et ce n'est pas une coïncidence, bien loin de là. Et les "fachos" sont bien entendu ceux qui osent le dire, pas ceux qui font de leur mieux pour que ça arrive et que ça continue. Un moment, ce n'est plus de l'aveuglement, mais de la complicité.
As a french i d say: Safety (no shootings, few murders) I would have agreed 15 years ago.. unfortunately it started to change very much for about 10/15 years.. even the countryside is touched today..
@@HaroldHivart 2023 was 1.5 homicide per 100 000 hab. 1990 was 2.2. Go back to grade school, you clearly missed some maths lessons, espece de droitardé.
thanks for your video, I'm french and sometimes I need an aother perspective of my own country to better realise why France is a beautiful country... thanks again
As a French I lived a year in NYC, but for many reasons in this video I decided to go back home. Thank you for sharing your experience All people who like and respect our Lifestyle are welcome. I wish you the best.
We were looking at Panama, Portugal and Spain and had kind of written France off of the list until I stumbled upon your channel. You guys have shown us that France is indeed not as expensive as we initially thought. Thanks, fellow Texans.
Oh good, I'm so glad!! I think in France it all depends on the area you choose and how your life is set-up. Good luck with everything and thanks for watching!
@@SenorJuan2023 Traditional French family eat it with almost everything and every meal, with potatoes, with rice, etc ... Modern "young" families brought back the true meaning of "culinary culture". In the sense they evolve recipes, incorporating foreign tastes and ingredients, have more simple meals. There are less families having 3 course meals or more. More often main dish and dessert. Appéritif and entrées when they receive people and sometimes 5 or full courses to receive families. The most important point is they keep traditional cuisine, and only add variety on their menus with modified recipes, foreign cuisine, etc. 20 years ago, each time I went to friends, it was always and only French cuisine.
So happy you like my adopted country. I moved to France from the UK 36 years ago and never went back. Married a French lady and now have dual nationality (post-Brexit). As a keen cyclist and hiker there is so much to do in the glorious French countryside. I have seen the comments about Annecy which is indeed nice but quite busy and expensive. We have chosen a somewhat cheaper and more low-key option in Savoie, not Haute-Savoie in a village close to Chambéry. 2 railway stations with TGV's serving Paris in less than 3 hours - Chambéry and Aix-les-Bains. 2 airports 1 hour away - Lyon and Genève. Motorways in every direction and high mountains visible from our house. The area between Montpellier and Toulouse is also pretty nice. I am sure that Italy and Spain offer nice options too - but they do get rather hot in summer. To properly benefit from an extended stay in France learning the language to a reasonable level is pretty much essential but Internet does now offer many tools to complement the real-life practice opportunities. Enjoy to the full your brave lifestyle choice!
You have understood the French way of life. Of course, FRANCE is not focused on efficiency and money making as in the US, but the overall quality of life is better I think. What's the worth of being efficient and making money if you don't enjoy at the same time?
I find your videos very entertaining. Thank you. It would be nice if you upped the specifics a little bit. Instead of just saying we looked at several countries, say: We considered Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, … I am an American who has lived in Ireland, Québec (Canada), and now Switzerland. Place does make a difference. I am so happy in Switzerland.
quality of food is a every day challenge, in France as elsewhere. But here, many peoples feel engaged in that, even if we haven't the same advice of what is good food/products.
The difference between food in Europe and the USA is that here in Europe chemical or other harmful additives are absolutely forbidden, but in the USA they are approved by the FDA. This differs on the one hand in the taste of the food and on the other hand in healthiness. It makes a difference whether you can buy fresh food at a local market from the producers around the area or in a supermarket where you don't know exactly where it comes from. Healthy food has to taste good and make you happy instead of getting something that you know is not healthy for your body like in the USA.
Just stumbled on your video by accident! I really enjoy your energy and vibe. Very true about the transport being centered around Paris. We live in Niort (maybe not too far from you?) and part of the appeal was that there's a direct TGV to Paris so we can easily get other places. It's kind of a bummer what a pain it is to get to Bordeaux by train from where we are (no direct trains, long ride), even though it's really not that far. I will also second what you said about health care, in particular with respect to the long-term disease. I have a rare autoimmune disease and I have a specialist in Paris (one of the best in the world). He is maybe the best doctor I've ever had, so thorough, so kind. And the costs are low like you said.
Yes, there is a misconception created by deliberate propaganda in the USA that spreads the idea that you need to pay more to get better doctors here. That if you have a nationalized healthcare like ours, you end up having crappy doctors and crappy hospitals. But i remember how, back in the day, plagued but utter depression since kindergarten, and only having 7 cents remaining on my bank account, i ended up spending 6 months in a luxury private clinic with its massive private park (and several times, too), getting the best doctor around, and paying nothing, despite having no insurance whatsoever. This saved my life, although it took 20 more years for me to finally see the point in saving it. The truth is, no matter how much you pay, no matter how much money you have, everyone is in the same line for the same service. Actually even if you are a foreigner. The only reason why it is not the same in the USA is because americans have been sitting on their thumbs doing nothing for the longest time.
Best part of all is that you are immersed in it. Also, now that you are learning French, the bonus is that learning an additional language would be so much easier. I grew up learning Arabic and French. Because of French, leaning Spanish was much much easier. Good luck
Please do a video about finances. How were you able to afford to move internationally, do you still work (did you need a work visa,) how do you pay for health insurance, were you bi-lingual when you moved to France, Did you buy or rent, is it more or less expensive to buy/rent in France? Do you maintain a house in the USA? What is your monthly budget like in France vs the USA?
To immerse yourself in french, switch to a french playlist background music, and you will make a personal connection with the culture French music from 20 to 40 years ago is terrific. Jean Jacques Goldman, France Gall, Balavoine, Mylene Farmer, Michel Berger, Gainsbourg, Johnny Halliday, Michel Polnareff, Zazie, Patricia Kaas, MC Solaar, Francis Cabrel, Celine Dion, Nicoletta are overall solid proven choices. You'll adore some of their songs. Copy paste this list and you'll thank me later.
Bonjour. I’ve been to France over 30 times usually twice a year and i know it’s cultural, what it has to offer, nice people etc. I’m now retired living in an historic farm house in Cape May. I am returning to France October 32 for 17 days and will be basing in the western Brittany, Loire river valley, Tours and Limoges areas. I have connected with a Leggette agent for that area and will be visiting several houses for possible purchase in the areas of Rochechouar, Saint Mathieu and Les Salles-Lavauguyon as a start. I think you are in the Bordeaux area and there are some options there too. I live alone with my 6 year Frenchie Gigi who won’t be joining me for this trip. Your thoughts are welcome. A bientôt. Josef.
Wow .. excellent video. bonne qualité .. would have made my move from Oregon much easier! Thank you so much for your channel. I know it will help many travelers coming to France. -Daniel (Paris)
Yes, it was a surprise to us too! There's still a lot of options going from other large French cities near us in the Southwest (Bordeaux, Toulouse) but not as many as we thought there would be without going through Paris. On the upside, there is highspeed rail (2 hours) from Bordeaux to Paris, so it's not so bad to get there for connections. Thanks for watching!
Hearing your experience with diabetic care makes me feel better about a possible move to FR. As a T1 pump user, healthcare has given me the biggest pause. Thank you!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting! Totally feel what you're saying. I'm not sure if we mentioned it in the video, but Jason is also T1 and uses a pump and a CGM. It was nerve-racking not knowing if it would be difficult to get his supplies. We brought 3 months with us just in case! But it's been really smooth. The most difficult thing has been navigating medical care in French, but we've found his French endocrinologist and the pharmacies to be super helpful. He did have to change CGM makers because Dexcom wasn't on the French plan, but now he's switched and we literally pay ZERO for anything related to his diabetes because it's a long-term chronic illness. The first few months before we were on the French system, we did pay for an order of Dexcom CGMs in cash and it was 65% LESS than we paid in the U.S. Same box.
Very interesting! The visa reason and the health care reason made a lot of sense. To be honest, the thrill of the delicious bread, food, market food, restaurant/cafe experience, mastering a new language, immersing yourselves in a new culture, convenient travel options, all could have been found in places like Spain, Portugal or Italy. In fact, the Bordeaux area is about as remote as you can get if getting to other European capitals is a priority. I think you just had it in your head that France was your place, and it became a self-fulfilling prophecy! Which is fine. I'm delighted to be in France, but would probably choose Portugal if I were to do it all again, just for the winter weather.
If you plan to move and travel (for leisure or work) is high in your priorities list, then southwestern France might not be the best option. Unless you plan to go a lot to Portugal/Spain (then it's the best place to be). And while cities like Bordeaux (or Nantes) are important by French standards, their airports have limited direct flights options. You can either get closer to Paris as mentioned in the video. Or Lyon and Marseille (still smaller than Paris, but better connected than other cities). Or, get somewhere close to the border on the southeast/east/northeast, within a range of French AND foreign airports. I usually take flghts/trains out of Geneva which is closer, but Lyon is about an hour drive away. This nicely complements my options (and different country = different flag airlines = different connections). Yop of my mind combos: Lyon/Geneva, Lilles/Bruxelles, Strasbourg/Basel/Stuttgart.
Thanks for sharing such valuable information in a clear and concise manner. So glad to hear it seemed pretty easy to make the transition to living longer-term in France from the U.S.
Well, you didn’t say anything about why to move to France that I already didn’t know, but I really like the way you said it. You come across as straightforward, down-to-earth, and authentic. Thank you! You convinced me to subscribe without even trying to.
Yes I live in the southeast and luckily have the TGV 10 minutes away on foot and the airport a half hour by car. I chose a big city for these lifestyle reasons….though I would love sometimes to live in the countryside….but in the southeast (Provence) property is so expensive.
TGV in 10 minutes on foot??? Uh-mazing! I love our village lifestyle and wouldn't trade it, but I do wish we could walk to a train station. Any train station! 😂 I jokingly tell Jason what I really want is a little city studio apartment to stay in when we go to the theater, museums, want more of the cafe scene, or to catch the TGV somewhere and THEN come back to our village and the countryside the rest of the time. A girl has to have dreams! 😉 Thanks for your comment and watching!
@@BaguetteBound Bordeaux is a beautiful city. Perhaps you should stop "jokingly" telling Jason about wanting a studio apartment there and say it with more force! 🤣🤣🤣 (Only joking myself!)
What you forget to tell is some long term and uncurable diseases or affliction have full coverage in the strictest sense (zero copay, zero expense other than basic private insurance plan). Though I can only hope noone would need it as it has a grim meaning.
What about #7= cost of living ?? In new england, the cost of heat is insane, the cost of electric is highest in the country except Hawaii. Food, gas, phone, internet, taxes( federal, state, real estate), insurances ( home, car, health) is all insane. In comparing costs, i am expecting my expenses to be about half what i am payng here. Cant wait. Have about 15-17 months to fully move. Downsizing and researching what areas i feel might be best for me. I am thinking mainly about climate ( less rain and low summer humidity) and some english speaking expatriots nearby. Thinking brittany, normandy and provence, but provence may be a bit too expensive. Doesnt Nice have an internation airport with flights to the US ??
Nice video. I’m a retired american living the last 26 yrs in Germany. Wanna talk about learning a language!? I worked every day in English, so it took me 5 yrs before I began to feel able to let my personality out some… French food slams German food any day of the week! Lucky you guys!!! Travel… that extra step to take can be a pain, but the payoff is killer! You are only in your 1st year! And also for us Americans, any new quaint place nearby is like crazy cool! You’ll be pinching yourself for yrs to come. Everything closed on Sundays? Took me for ever and sometimes still pisses me off. Private health care of social healthcare in France? Dental in Germany is sort of like having no dental insurance in the USA $$$$ otherwise social healthcare here is dang good. Total hip replacement cost me 300 euros out of my pocket. 2 stents, nearly nothing out of pocket. Are you working for a French firm or self employed? Working for a German company puts one on the social healthcare system automatically. YES… FREASH BREAD IN EUROPE IS AWESOME… BUT HAS TO BE EATEN SAME DAY!!! Good luck guys!!! Welcome to “across the pond”. Oh and what do your friends and family in the USA think about your French adventure!?
@@iparipaitegianiparipaitegi4643 and you can keep old-fashioned country bread on the table for an easy week without any problem! (you just have to cover it of course)
C pas terrible la baguette congelé 😢 Vaut mieux la laisser décongeler doucement et la mettre au four à 120 degrés 3 4 minutes et ? Là ❤@@iparipaitegianiparipaitegi4643
After eating the simple French food from the convenient shops like Franprix and just any random boulangerie, my family have concluded the US food is poisoning us. That alone makes me want to move.
There it really shows that you are from America. I, coming from Germany. know of course that Paris is the center of France and all goes through. Paris.😄
Non ! C'est chiant de devoir toujours passer par Paris pour aller de province à province. Le mois dernier, je devais faire l'aller-retour Angers / Toulouse en train, et évidemment, j'ai du passer par Paris ! Ça m'a pris 7heures aussi bien pour l'aller que pour le retour, en TGV en plus, et ça coutait super cher. Ça met moins de temps en voiture, donc si on veut vraiment encourager les Français à choisir le train plutôt que la voiture pour des raisons écologiques, il faut vraiment rendre le train plus pratique...
@@mfcq4987 Lol et vous allez la payer comment votre route Toulouse Angers surtout que les Angevins ne font rien pour tourner leur ville en hub majeur ? Vous croyez que les lignes de train sortent de terre gratuitement ? Cela n'a rien à voir avec l'Etat mais demande un investissement local déjà. Le jour où les Toulousains et les Angevins feront le nécessaire pour supporter le coût d'une ligne directe, ils auront leur ligne directe. Des villes plus petites ont fait cet effort, même des villages. Déjà même pas foutus de financer leurs propres RERs. Cette route Toulouse Paris Angers est la plus logique qui soit vu la situation et ne met pas tant de temps en plus que s'il y avait une ligne directe. Un Paris Angers c'est 1h30 et un Paris Toulouse c'est 4h30 soit 6h avec le temps de la correspondance cela met 7h ou 7h30 contre 6h30 en voiture s'il n'y a pas d'embouteillages. Tout le monde ne veut pas passer 6h30 dans une voiture et préfère le comfort du train et la pause de la correspondance. Les billets commencent à 40 euros, en général sont à 60~65 euros. C'est combien le péage, l'essence et le coût de l'usure de la voiture ? Les Français sont très incités à utiliser le train et le nombre de passagers augmente de manière exponentielle chaque année.
@@mfcq4987 Lol et vous allez la payer comment votre route Toulouse Angers surtout que les Angevins ne font rien pour tourner leur ville en hub majeur ? Vous croyez que les lignes de train sortent de terre gratuitement ? Cela n'a rien à voir avec l'Etat mais demande un investissement local déjà.
@@mfcq4987 Le jour où les Toulousains et les Angevins feront le nécessaire pour supporter le coût d'une ligne directe, ils auront leur ligne directe. Des villes plus petites ont fait cet effort, même des villages. Déjà même pas foutus de financer leurs propres RERs.
@@mfcq4987 Cette route Toulouse Paris Angers est la plus logique qui soit vu la situation et ne met pas tant de temps en plus que s'il y avait une ligne directe. Un Paris Angers c'est 1h30 et un Paris Toulouse c'est 4h30 soit 6h avec le temps de la correspondance cela met 7h ou 7h30 contre 6h30 en voiture s'il n'y a pas d'embouteillages. Tout le monde ne veut pas passer 6h30 dans une voiture et préfère le comfort du train et la pause de la correspondance.
Hi Folks! Found your channel through Tommy @ Traveltirement. I'm Billy, a cook from Nova Scotia, Canada with good French language skills. Does France allow volunteers from other countries to work there, like in a religious capacity where there is no exchange of monies? Great info...I subscribed. Yeahhhh
Welcome Billy! As far as we know, there no restrictions on volunteering. If you're staying longer than 90 days on a Canadian passport, you'll still need a visa like the long stay visitor visa, but its only specific about not "undertaking professional activites" here in France. Thanks for watching!
As a diabetic, how do you know you’re not getting sugar in the bread there? Curious if bread in France is something completely different than here in the states. I’m not even diabetic, yet due to family history i eat almost no bread at all, and even then homemade only with almost no sugar. Take care!
Sadly, bread does still have carbs in France. Jason manages it carefully with his insulin (as he does with all food, as even vegetables have carbs in them) as part of an overall healthy diet. Something interesting we have heard is those who are sensitive to gluten in the US may have an easier time with European bread because flour grown here is lower in gluten protein, just due to differences in type of wheat and growing conditions. Thanks for watching!
@@BaguetteBound You can also look for more traditional non white breads at the boulangerie. Or ask for a low glycemic index bread. They make lower sugar spikes and reduce stark cravings over the course of the day.
You are so right about the centralization : make the experience of going from Bordeaux to Lyon by train : once via Paris, once not… Good luck with the second option !!! 🙂
Bordeaux is definitely not a « major » city in France, especially when you want to travel: small airport, far from any border… It’s just famous because of the wine making in the area.
Nope, Bordeaux is the 9th city in France, capital of Aquitaine, center of the most famous french wines, a center of industrial, cultural and commercial activities. You clearly don't know this city.
Good video, like the others. 1. Baguettes: It's a lovely bread, but it's white. Try some darker pan au levain or other dark breads for great taste and better health especially for gut health and diabetes. 2. Visas: It's much easier to move to France if you've sold a house and have plenty of money from it. There is a minimum income that immigrants to France must make in order to qualify for a visa and/or residence especially if you don't have the proceeds from selling a house. They want to know that you won't depend on the state for assistance. Bon appetite!
Thanks for the video. Do you find that the taxes in France offset the cost of healthcare costs? Because when I think of American healthcare, I don't just figure in premiums, but the annual deductible as well. So, I'm just wondering if it's basically a wash.
YES! I LOVE paying my French taxes! 😂 It sounds funny, but it's true. I feel like I get so much for them compared to the States and the whole health care system just feels simpler to navigate because exactly what you mentioned - it's not just premiums in the US but also deductibles, co-pays, out-of-pocket maximums, etc. We definitely want to do a video comparing the TOTAL tax burden for a median-income family in each country because I think often people see the total tax rate in France and think it's higher, but don't realize your property tax is crazy low here, you don't have state tax, and your health care costs are included in that number, so out of pocket will be a fraction of the U.S. It's really part of a whole picture.
You've got to look beyond the balance sheet at the whole picture. When everybody gets good health care there will be less days off due to sick leave and a more productive country. Also, it is not good for society as a whole that people die simply because they don't have enough money to afford decent healthcare. By the way, I'm not French!
Healthcare costs are very high in France, but most people in France are delighted that they don't have to contribute an enormous amount to the healthcare system, and are happy for the rich to be soaked to pay for it all. It's one reason why a lot of young French professionals leave France. They are fed up of being punished for their success.
@@duncansmith7562you don't know what you are talking about. Healthcare is not payed buy rich people. Part of the money comes from employees (about 1/3) and part from employers (the other 2/3). Retired people don't pay, students pay a little, and unemployed people don't. And that is all for Healthcare. Of course rich people pay taxes, but not Healthcare (or not an important amount as far as I know)
@@fzkxl9931 i know exactly what i am talking about. read and educate yourself. regarding the employees you talk about: it is the richest of the employees that pay the bulk of the NI taxes (and yes, they are taxes, not contributions, as one is forced to pay them). regarding the employers you talk about: the vast majority of employers are rich, and if the employer is the government, it is income taxes from the rich that fund the government. the students, unemployed and old have health care all paid for by the rich. you know nothing.
Agree with the language motivation due to my background in south Louisiana and paternal grandparents spoke Cajun French / le cest le bon temps rolle! Not sure that is spelled correctly, but you hear that all the time here. 🎉
Italy, Spain and Portugal. In the end our heart was set on France because it was the language we most wanted to learn, the culture we most wanted to live in, it's in a central location for travel, and we knew I qualified for a visa that would allow me to continue to work.
I’m considering Spain but I’m also thinking of France. One thing that France has over Spain is honoring Roth IRA. Spain doesn’t. I also studied French in HS, college and grad school. I want to be where it doesn’t snow. I’ll be in Spain from Jan-March 2024. I may take trip there to check it out.
@@Alex-mp1zb yep, I live in the deep south, 30 minutes drive from Spain, there is a lot of snow in the Pyrennees for most of the winter, the wind can be ferocious and cold, today here, miserable weather, totally wintry. there are many cultural and social reasons for choosing France over Spain, but not weather ones, for most people.
We have a small American community near Béziers. Really cheap housing, canal du midi, all commodities, airport and soon tgv, 20 min from the beach. Close to sete, Montpellier, not far from spain.
We were actually going to live in Béziers the second half of the year in our original plans! Then we we realized we needed to enroll Juliana in French public school instead of homeschooling to travel more, we didn't want to move mid-year. We still haven't made ot there, but we hope to!!
@@BaguetteBound other places to see in languedoc are Narbonne, Sète and Agde. The Cévennes also are amazing. Now I must admit that being a Huguenot I have a biased trend towards protestant strongholds where I find people more open-minded. Btw the best place here for a week of is the Lazaret in Sète. Now you'll need decades to really visit France. How about renting a houseboat on a canal in burgundy ? Or horse riding with the gardians (cowboys) in Camargue ? Etc
Great vlog again... maybe a random question but: do you think it would reasonable for a vegetarian? From what I know about french cuisine, lots of meat options and apparently delicious and lot of variety.... curious to know what if there are much vegetarian/vegan options on menus etc. thanks and best wishes!
I think it depends a little on where you are. For example I saw more veg/vegan options at cafes when we were in Montpellier near the University, than I notice in Bordeaux. And in the countryside you can look for the things that are traditionally french vegetarian like ratatouille, omelets, salads, and some savory crepes. There is a lot of pizza weirdly enough, which has veg options. Paris you can find lots I bet if you're expanding the search beyond traditionnel French. But in the countryside it's definitely a little more challenging to fi mnd creative vegetarian cuisine at restaurants. I have noticed a lot of really nice restaurants offer a vegetarian option with their multi course chef's menus, you'd just have to check ahead. On the other hand, if you're cooking at home, the produce here is incredible! I've seen meat substitute products, nut milks, etc in larger grocery stores. And of course you can always pop into a boulangerie and grab a baguette in an emergency...they're everywhere! 😂 Thanks for watching!
As a long time expat (originally from California, now a French citizen), I agree with most of these points. The French love to complain about their country and fellow citizens, but hate it when foreigners join in. The country is extremely centralized, with many decisions being taken in Paris that affect the people in the provinces. My wife is a French MD (surgical pathologist) and was rather alarmed by what she saw in the U.S. (Boston and then Rochester, NY). With the exception of a few militarily strategic towns, most of France's historic towns and buildings have remained intact.
De mon côté, alors que je suis un (vrai) Français, j'ai bien souvent envie de fuir la France, ce pays semi-soviétique, pour aller jouir de la liberté nord-américaine...
I live in Toulouse, I would love to ask you some questions like what do you think is different in the culture, philosophy, ways of life, thinking, France VS USA, I would be interested to know 🙂 I hope the RN will not kick you out of France though😪
comme claire, pkoi cette question idiote?? avec le RN!! vous vous faites des idees stup.. de gauche sur le RN avec cette question!! Quittez la gauche qui vous raconte n'importe quoi!!
hI! USA stole my kids and holding me hostage 4 years now but I keep pleading to go back to France! What Visa should I apply for to stay here? 1 year visitor visa? (plan is to buy a home once I look around). and what insurance do u recommend to buy to attach to visa application?
Hi Anna! If you don't need to work, the long stay visitor visa is a great one. It's straight forward to apply for and easy to renew as long as you meet requirements. We used the book Foolproof French Visas (you can find on Amazon) to help us through the application process. When you apply for the visa, usually it will specify what they want to see in a health insurance policy as far as coverage limits. Check out IMG global or AXA. Good luck!
If you're an English speaker French is easy. Most of English vocabulary comes from either directly from Latin or from French. The grammar is little but different but not drastically
You're lucky you've been able to find a doctor and a diabetes specialist to register with. Many places in France are medical deserts. Specialists don't take any new patients, people have to wait weeks for an appointment with a general practitioner... France used to have the best healthcare system in the world but sadly, this is no longer the case. Too much capitalist encroachment, too many botched reforms!
Ignorant comment from someone who has never traveled outside the Billionaire-dictated USA. There is no ACTUAL English expression: "socialism medicine" OR "sovietic medecine." If you want to show off your inexperience, learn to spell your disinformation.
Hey, I am in the UK and considering this move. My 13 year old daughter stopping me from moving as I fear it's too late for her to learn the language. Any suggestions?
As long as u have enough incomes, or a job here, its less a problem. If i can give u an advice, learn a few of the language before coming, it will help. And if u know a GB citizen here who can help u, its a plus!! lots of them in south west of France and normandie so it is possible.
As a french i d say:
Safety (no shootings, few murders)
Health (almost free of charge)
Culture (theatre, opera etc... Are cheap)
Food (fresh and affordable)
Calm (especially in the countryside)
Food (Yep, it deserves to be mentionned twice 😅)
Pas de fusillade, mais attaque au couteau pour un regard, ou une clope. Ce n'est certes pas la norme, mais ça arrive, il y a quinze jours, j'ai subi une intimidation physique par un fdp au sein d'un groupe de cinq clampins (et certainement pas des Jean, François, Paul et Pierre), et chaque jour il y a plus d'un millier d'agressions physiques, et plus d'une centaine au couteau.
Çà, ce n'est pas la France, dans les années 80, on réglait au pire, les problèmes au poing, en un contre un, les couteaux ne sont pas dans notre culture, ni les attaques en bande, trop souvent mortelles.
L'insécurité augmente, parce que nos politiques et les procureurs, les juges nommés par un État volontairement défaillant l'encouragent (la prétendue "indépendance" de la justice est une grosse blague et une grosse insulte, que dire des squats qui voient les voleurs mieux protégés que les propriétaires). En France, les victimes sont de plus en plus considérées comme des coupables, et on trouve toutes les mauvaises raisons possibles pour excuser les bourreaux. L'inversion totale des valeurs s'est aussi vue dans l'ouverture des JO, où de multiples signes sataniques sont visibles, tout en crachant sur les chrétiens. C'est un tout, et ce n'est pas une coïncidence, bien loin de là. Et les "fachos" sont bien entendu ceux qui osent le dire, pas ceux qui font de leur mieux pour que ça arrive et que ça continue.
Un moment, ce n'est plus de l'aveuglement, mais de la complicité.
As a french i d say:
Safety (no shootings, few murders)
I would have agreed 15 years ago.. unfortunately it started to change very much for about 10/15 years.. even the countryside is touched today..
@@HaroldHivart maybe in far right medias. But statistics are there for a reason.
There has never been so few homicides.
@@etienne8110 2023 has been a record year in France for homicides...
@@HaroldHivart 2023 was 1.5 homicide per 100 000 hab.
1990 was 2.2.
Go back to grade school, you clearly missed some maths lessons, espece de droitardé.
thanks for your video, I'm french and sometimes I need an aother perspective of my own country to better realise why France is a beautiful country... thanks again
Bienvenue à vous les amis. La baguette est la meilleure raison !
C'est Vrai ! 😂 Merci !
Indeed! De fato!
De plus en plus difficile d'en trouver une bonne !
As a French I lived a year in NYC, but for many reasons in this video I decided to go back home.
Thank you for sharing your experience
All people who like and respect our Lifestyle are welcome. I wish you the best.
We were looking at Panama, Portugal and Spain and had kind of written France off of the list until I stumbled upon your channel. You guys have shown us that France is indeed not as expensive as we initially thought. Thanks, fellow Texans.
Oh good, I'm so glad!! I think in France it all depends on the area you choose and how your life is set-up. Good luck with everything and thanks for watching!
@@BaguetteBound Do they eat baguettes mostly with butter, in sandwiches, etc.?
@@SenorJuan2023 Yes, or just cut up on the side of any other meal (to mop up the sauce 😉). Also at breakfast with butter and jam.
@@SenorJuan2023 Traditional French family eat it with almost everything and every meal, with potatoes, with rice, etc ... Modern "young" families brought back the true meaning of "culinary culture". In the sense they evolve recipes, incorporating foreign tastes and ingredients, have more simple meals. There are less families having 3 course meals or more. More often main dish and dessert. Appéritif and entrées when they receive people and sometimes 5 or full courses to receive families.
The most important point is they keep traditional cuisine, and only add variety on their menus with modified recipes, foreign cuisine, etc. 20 years ago, each time I went to friends, it was always and only French cuisine.
@@Belaziraf Exactement !
I would kill for a fresh baguette with a good slice of French ham and butter!
Plus Camembert.....💥 So good.!
Camembert sandwich with a glass of bourgueil ! 🙃😉
I second all the above.
So happy you like my adopted country. I moved to France from the UK 36 years ago and never went back. Married a French lady and now have dual nationality (post-Brexit). As a keen cyclist and hiker there is so much to do in the glorious French countryside. I have seen the comments about Annecy which is indeed nice but quite busy and expensive. We have chosen a somewhat cheaper and more low-key option in Savoie, not Haute-Savoie in a village close to Chambéry. 2 railway stations with TGV's serving Paris in less than 3 hours - Chambéry and Aix-les-Bains. 2 airports 1 hour away - Lyon and Genève. Motorways in every direction and high mountains visible from our house. The area between Montpellier and Toulouse is also pretty nice. I am sure that Italy and Spain offer nice options too - but they do get rather hot in summer. To properly benefit from an extended stay in France learning the language to a reasonable level is pretty much essential but Internet does now offer many tools to complement the real-life practice opportunities. Enjoy to the full your brave lifestyle choice!
You have understood the French way of life. Of course, FRANCE is not focused on efficiency and money making as in the US, but the overall quality of life is better I think. What's the worth of being efficient and making money if you don't enjoy at the same time?
merci d'aimer mon pays..
France is a beautiful country with delicious cuisine 🧑🍳 beautiful traditions and culture!
I find your videos very entertaining. Thank you. It would be nice if you upped the specifics a little bit. Instead of just saying we looked at several countries, say: We considered Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, … I am an American who has lived in Ireland, Québec (Canada), and now Switzerland. Place does make a difference. I am so happy in Switzerland.
switzerland is very very expensive even in countryside, cost of living in France is really strongly different between major cities and countryside.
quality of food is a every day challenge, in France as elsewhere. But here, many peoples feel engaged in that, even if we haven't the same advice of what is good food/products.
The difference between food in Europe and the USA is that here in Europe chemical or other harmful additives are absolutely forbidden, but in the USA they are approved by the FDA.
This differs on the one hand in the taste of the food and on the other hand in healthiness.
It makes a difference whether you can buy fresh food at a local market from the producers around the area or in a supermarket where you don't know exactly where it comes from.
Healthy food has to taste good and make you happy instead of getting something that you know is not healthy for your body like in the USA.
Just stumbled on your video by accident! I really enjoy your energy and vibe. Very true about the transport being centered around Paris. We live in Niort (maybe not too far from you?) and part of the appeal was that there's a direct TGV to Paris so we can easily get other places. It's kind of a bummer what a pain it is to get to Bordeaux by train from where we are (no direct trains, long ride), even though it's really not that far.
I will also second what you said about health care, in particular with respect to the long-term disease. I have a rare autoimmune disease and I have a specialist in Paris (one of the best in the world). He is maybe the best doctor I've ever had, so thorough, so kind. And the costs are low like you said.
Yes, there is a misconception created by deliberate propaganda in the USA that spreads the idea that you need to pay more to get better doctors here. That if you have a nationalized healthcare like ours, you end up having crappy doctors and crappy hospitals. But i remember how, back in the day, plagued but utter depression since kindergarten, and only having 7 cents remaining on my bank account, i ended up spending 6 months in a luxury private clinic with its massive private park (and several times, too), getting the best doctor around, and paying nothing, despite having no insurance whatsoever. This saved my life, although it took 20 more years for me to finally see the point in saving it. The truth is, no matter how much you pay, no matter how much money you have, everyone is in the same line for the same service. Actually even if you are a foreigner. The only reason why it is not the same in the USA is because americans have been sitting on their thumbs doing nothing for the longest time.
heureux de vous accueillir en France et que vous vous y plaisiez.
pleased to welcome you to France and hope you enjoy your stay.
Best part of all is that you are immersed in it. Also, now that you are learning French, the bonus is that learning an additional language would be so much easier. I grew up learning Arabic and French. Because of French, leaning Spanish was much much easier.
Good luck
Please do a video about finances. How were you able to afford to move internationally, do you still work (did you need a work visa,) how do you pay for health insurance, were you bi-lingual when you moved to France, Did you buy or rent, is it more or less expensive to buy/rent in France? Do you maintain a house in the USA? What is your monthly budget like in France vs the USA?
To immerse yourself in french, switch to a french playlist background music, and you will make a personal connection with the culture
French music from 20 to 40 years ago is terrific.
Jean Jacques Goldman, France Gall, Balavoine, Mylene Farmer, Michel Berger, Gainsbourg, Johnny Halliday, Michel Polnareff, Zazie, Patricia Kaas, MC Solaar, Francis Cabrel, Celine Dion, Nicoletta are overall solid proven choices.
You'll adore some of their songs. Copy paste this list and you'll thank me later.
or just simple suggestions such as one song from time to time; I would suggest "Manau - La tribut de Dana"
Bonjour. I’ve been to France over 30 times usually twice a year and i know it’s cultural, what it has to offer, nice people etc. I’m now retired living in an historic farm house in Cape May. I am returning to France October 32 for 17 days and will be basing in the western Brittany, Loire river valley, Tours and Limoges areas. I have connected with a Leggette agent for that area and will be visiting several houses for possible purchase in the areas of Rochechouar, Saint Mathieu and Les Salles-Lavauguyon as a start. I think you are in the Bordeaux area and there are some options there too.
I live alone with my 6 year Frenchie Gigi who won’t be joining me for this trip. Your thoughts are welcome. A bientôt. Josef.
I really enjoy watching you guys, as a french it is good to hear what u feel about this place 😉👍👍✌
Si vous savez skier, nous avons en France les plus belles pistes de ski du monde avec la Suisse, l'Autriche et l’Italie.
Je suis un pro du ski. T'as pas idée à quel point je descends vite... sur le cul. Non, sans dec, la luge. Bien plus fun.
Wow .. excellent video. bonne qualité .. would have made my move from Oregon much easier! Thank you so much for your channel. I know it will help many travelers coming to France. -Daniel (Paris)
Packed with knowledge! Didn’t know about Paris centric transportation. Thanks!
Yes, it was a surprise to us too! There's still a lot of options going from other large French cities near us in the Southwest (Bordeaux, Toulouse) but not as many as we thought there would be without going through Paris. On the upside, there is highspeed rail (2 hours) from Bordeaux to Paris, so it's not so bad to get there for connections. Thanks for watching!
Hearing your experience with diabetic care makes me feel better about a possible move to FR. As a T1 pump user, healthcare has given me the biggest pause. Thank you!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Totally feel what you're saying. I'm not sure if we mentioned it in the video, but Jason is also T1 and uses a pump and a CGM. It was nerve-racking not knowing if it would be difficult to get his supplies. We brought 3 months with us just in case! But it's been really smooth. The most difficult thing has been navigating medical care in French, but we've found his French endocrinologist and the pharmacies to be super helpful.
He did have to change CGM makers because Dexcom wasn't on the French plan, but now he's switched and we literally pay ZERO for anything related to his diabetes because it's a long-term chronic illness. The first few months before we were on the French system, we did pay for an order of Dexcom CGMs in cash and it was 65% LESS than we paid in the U.S. Same box.
Wondering if this is also true for staying near Lyon. Seems closer to Switzerland and Germany.
Lyon is different. You have high speed rail links and a big airport there
Very interesting! The visa reason and the health care reason made a lot of sense. To be honest, the thrill of the delicious bread, food, market food, restaurant/cafe experience, mastering a new language, immersing yourselves in a new culture, convenient travel options, all could have been found in places like Spain, Portugal or Italy. In fact, the Bordeaux area is about as remote as you can get if getting to other European capitals is a priority. I think you just had it in your head that France was your place, and it became a self-fulfilling prophecy! Which is fine. I'm delighted to be in France, but would probably choose Portugal if I were to do it all again, just for the winter weather.
French baguette are so good!
If you plan to move and travel (for leisure or work) is high in your priorities list, then southwestern France might not be the best option. Unless you plan to go a lot to Portugal/Spain (then it's the best place to be). And while cities like Bordeaux (or Nantes) are important by French standards, their airports have limited direct flights options.
You can either get closer to Paris as mentioned in the video. Or Lyon and Marseille (still smaller than Paris, but better connected than other cities).
Or, get somewhere close to the border on the southeast/east/northeast, within a range of French AND foreign airports. I usually take flghts/trains out of Geneva which is closer, but Lyon is about an hour drive away. This nicely complements my options (and different country = different flag airlines = different connections).
Yop of my mind combos: Lyon/Geneva, Lilles/Bruxelles, Strasbourg/Basel/Stuttgart.
Thanks for sharing such valuable information in a clear and concise manner. So glad to hear it seemed pretty easy to make the transition to living longer-term in France from the U.S.
Kudos to you for venturing into a whole different culture, language and lifestyle as adults and with a young child; courageous and inspiring!
Well, you didn’t say anything about why to move to France that I already didn’t know, but I really like the way you said it. You come across as straightforward, down-to-earth, and authentic. Thank you! You convinced me to subscribe without even trying to.
Well, thank you!
Merci les amis américains
Yes I live in the southeast and luckily have the TGV 10 minutes away on foot and the airport a half hour by car. I chose a big city for these lifestyle reasons….though I would love sometimes to live in the countryside….but in the southeast (Provence) property is so expensive.
TGV in 10 minutes on foot??? Uh-mazing! I love our village lifestyle and wouldn't trade it, but I do wish we could walk to a train station. Any train station! 😂 I jokingly tell Jason what I really want is a little city studio apartment to stay in when we go to the theater, museums, want more of the cafe scene, or to catch the TGV somewhere and THEN come back to our village and the countryside the rest of the time. A girl has to have dreams! 😉
Thanks for your comment and watching!
@@BaguetteBound lol and I’d love a little pied à terre in the countryside to get away from it all. The grass is always greener….
@@BaguetteBound Bordeaux is a beautiful city. Perhaps you should stop "jokingly" telling Jason about wanting a studio apartment there and say it with more force! 🤣🤣🤣 (Only joking myself!)
La Provence du ”haut ! ’ est très largement aussi bien 😊et surtout beaucoup moins chère ❤
So happy to have a beautiful and nice american familly in our beautiful country
Longue vie à vous Baguette Bound en France
thankyou from athens greece
What you forget to tell is some long term and uncurable diseases or affliction have full coverage in the strictest sense (zero copay, zero expense other than basic private insurance plan).
Though I can only hope noone would need it as it has a grim meaning.
super inspiring thanks for the video
C'est dithyrambique! Merci. j'espere que l'office du tourisme vous sponsorise. Sinon, vous devriez leur demander
What about #7= cost of living ??
In new england, the cost of heat is insane, the cost of electric is highest in the country except Hawaii. Food, gas, phone, internet, taxes( federal, state, real estate), insurances ( home, car, health) is all insane. In comparing costs, i am expecting my expenses to be about half what i am payng here.
Cant wait. Have about 15-17 months to fully move. Downsizing and researching what areas i feel might be best for me. I am thinking mainly about climate ( less rain and low summer humidity) and some english speaking expatriots nearby. Thinking brittany, normandy and provence, but provence may be a bit too expensive.
Doesnt Nice have an internation airport with flights to the US ??
Thank you guys very much for this video. Just subbed. Merci!
Thanks! See you around the channel!
Nice video. I’m a retired american living the last 26 yrs in Germany. Wanna talk about learning a language!? I worked every day in English, so it took me 5 yrs before I began to feel able to let my personality out some… French food slams German food any day of the week! Lucky you guys!!! Travel… that extra step to take can be a pain, but the payoff is killer! You are only in your 1st year! And also for us Americans, any new quaint place nearby is like crazy cool! You’ll be pinching yourself for yrs to come. Everything closed on Sundays? Took me for ever and sometimes still pisses me off. Private health care of social healthcare in France? Dental in Germany is sort of like having no dental insurance in the USA $$$$ otherwise social healthcare here is dang good. Total hip replacement cost me 300 euros out of my pocket. 2 stents, nearly nothing out of pocket. Are you working for a French firm or self employed? Working for a German company puts one on the social healthcare system automatically. YES… FREASH BREAD IN EUROPE IS AWESOME… BUT HAS TO BE EATEN SAME DAY!!! Good luck guys!!! Welcome to “across the pond”. Oh and what do your friends and family in the USA think about your French adventure!?
You don’t need to eat the baguette the same day. Just froze it and toast it when you want to use it several days later.
@@iparipaitegianiparipaitegi4643 and you can keep old-fashioned country bread on the table for an easy week without any problem! (you just have to cover it of course)
C pas terrible la baguette congelé 😢
Vaut mieux la laisser décongeler doucement et la mettre au four à 120 degrés 3 4 minutes et ?
Là ❤@@iparipaitegianiparipaitegi4643
After eating the simple French food from the convenient shops like Franprix and just any random boulangerie, my family have concluded the US food is poisoning us. That alone makes me want to move.
There it really shows that you are from America. I, coming from Germany. know of course that Paris is the center of France and all goes through. Paris.😄
Paris has a central location on the map and France isn't big, so that's normal that train lines and roads often go through Paris.
Non ! C'est chiant de devoir toujours passer par Paris pour aller de province à province. Le mois dernier, je devais faire l'aller-retour Angers / Toulouse en train, et évidemment, j'ai du passer par Paris ! Ça m'a pris 7heures aussi bien pour l'aller que pour le retour, en TGV en plus, et ça coutait super cher. Ça met moins de temps en voiture, donc si on veut vraiment encourager les Français à choisir le train plutôt que la voiture pour des raisons écologiques, il faut vraiment rendre le train plus pratique...
@@mfcq4987 Lol et vous allez la payer comment votre route Toulouse Angers surtout que les Angevins ne font rien pour tourner leur ville en hub majeur ? Vous croyez que les lignes de train sortent de terre gratuitement ? Cela n'a rien à voir avec l'Etat mais demande un investissement local déjà. Le jour où les Toulousains et les Angevins feront le nécessaire pour supporter le coût d'une ligne directe, ils auront leur ligne directe. Des villes plus petites ont fait cet effort, même des villages. Déjà même pas foutus de financer leurs propres RERs.
Cette route Toulouse Paris Angers est la plus logique qui soit vu la situation et ne met pas tant de temps en plus que s'il y avait une ligne directe. Un Paris Angers c'est 1h30 et un Paris Toulouse c'est 4h30 soit 6h avec le temps de la correspondance cela met 7h ou 7h30 contre 6h30 en voiture s'il n'y a pas d'embouteillages. Tout le monde ne veut pas passer 6h30 dans une voiture et préfère le comfort du train et la pause de la correspondance. Les billets commencent à 40 euros, en général sont à 60~65 euros. C'est combien le péage, l'essence et le coût de l'usure de la voiture ?
Les Français sont très incités à utiliser le train et le nombre de passagers augmente de manière exponentielle chaque année.
@@mfcq4987 Lol et vous allez la payer comment votre route Toulouse Angers surtout que les Angevins ne font rien pour tourner leur ville en hub majeur ? Vous croyez que les lignes de train sortent de terre gratuitement ? Cela n'a rien à voir avec l'Etat mais demande un investissement local déjà.
@@mfcq4987 Le jour où les Toulousains et les Angevins feront le nécessaire pour supporter le coût d'une ligne directe, ils auront leur ligne directe. Des villes plus petites ont fait cet effort, même des villages. Déjà même pas foutus de financer leurs propres RERs.
@@mfcq4987 Cette route Toulouse Paris Angers est la plus logique qui soit vu la situation et ne met pas tant de temps en plus que s'il y avait une ligne directe. Un Paris Angers c'est 1h30 et un Paris Toulouse c'est 4h30 soit 6h avec le temps de la correspondance cela met 7h ou 7h30 contre 6h30 en voiture s'il n'y a pas d'embouteillages. Tout le monde ne veut pas passer 6h30 dans une voiture et préfère le comfort du train et la pause de la correspondance.
Hi Folks! Found your channel through Tommy @ Traveltirement.
I'm Billy, a cook from Nova Scotia, Canada with good French language skills.
Does France allow volunteers from other countries to work there, like in a religious capacity where there is no exchange of monies?
Great info...I subscribed. Yeahhhh
Welcome Billy!
As far as we know, there no restrictions on volunteering. If you're staying longer than 90 days on a Canadian passport, you'll still need a visa like the long stay visitor visa, but its only specific about not "undertaking professional activites" here in France.
Thanks for watching!
@@BaguetteBound Merci beaucoup pour la information! A Bien tot.
As a diabetic, how do you know you’re not getting sugar in the bread there?
Curious if bread in France is something completely different than here in the states.
I’m not even diabetic, yet due to family history i eat almost no bread at all, and even then homemade only with almost no sugar.
Take care!
Sadly, bread does still have carbs in France. Jason manages it carefully with his insulin (as he does with all food, as even vegetables have carbs in them) as part of an overall healthy diet.
Something interesting we have heard is those who are sensitive to gluten in the US may have an easier time with European bread because flour grown here is lower in gluten protein, just due to differences in type of wheat and growing conditions.
Thanks for watching!
@@BaguetteBound yeah, we order our flour direct from a farm in AZ since it’s less processed. Store bought flour is no-go for us here in the states.
@@BaguetteBound You can also look for more traditional non white breads at the boulangerie. Or ask for a low glycemic index bread. They make lower sugar spikes and reduce stark cravings over the course of the day.
Although bread is carbohydrates French baguettes (and bread in general) have no added sugar.
Thank you… I might !
Baguettes ! 👍😅
Agree! Stand alone reason. 😆
All what u said is so true !
Really nice !
Love france ❤
You are so right about the centralization : make the experience of going from Bordeaux to Lyon by train : once via Paris, once not… Good luck with the second option !!! 🙂
Bordeaux is definitely not a « major » city in France, especially when you want to travel: small airport, far from any border… It’s just famous because of the wine making in the area.
Nope, Bordeaux is the 9th city in France, capital of Aquitaine, center of the most famous french wines, a center of industrial, cultural and commercial activities. You clearly don't know this city.
😃👍 bonne continuation
Good video, like the others. 1. Baguettes: It's a lovely bread, but it's white. Try some darker pan au levain or other dark breads for great taste and better health especially for gut health and diabetes. 2. Visas: It's much easier to move to France if you've sold a house and have plenty of money from it. There is a minimum income that immigrants to France must make in order to qualify for a visa and/or residence especially if you don't have the proceeds from selling a house. They want to know that you won't depend on the state for assistance. Bon appetite!
Thanks for the video. Do you find that the taxes in France offset the cost of healthcare costs? Because when I think of American healthcare, I don't just figure in premiums, but the annual deductible as well. So, I'm just wondering if it's basically a wash.
YES! I LOVE paying my French taxes! 😂 It sounds funny, but it's true. I feel like I get so much for them compared to the States and the whole health care system just feels simpler to navigate because exactly what you mentioned - it's not just premiums in the US but also deductibles, co-pays, out-of-pocket maximums, etc.
We definitely want to do a video comparing the TOTAL tax burden for a median-income family in each country because I think often people see the total tax rate in France and think it's higher, but don't realize your property tax is crazy low here, you don't have state tax, and your health care costs are included in that number, so out of pocket will be a fraction of the U.S. It's really part of a whole picture.
You've got to look beyond the balance sheet at the whole picture. When everybody gets good health care there will be less days off due to sick leave and a more productive country. Also, it is not good for society as a whole that people die simply because they don't have enough money to afford decent healthcare. By the way, I'm not French!
Healthcare costs are very high in France, but most people in France are delighted that they don't have to contribute an enormous amount to the healthcare system, and are happy for the rich to be soaked to pay for it all. It's one reason why a lot of young French professionals leave France. They are fed up of being punished for their success.
@@duncansmith7562you don't know what you are talking about. Healthcare is not payed buy rich people. Part of the money comes from employees (about 1/3) and part from employers (the other 2/3). Retired people don't pay, students pay a little, and unemployed people don't. And that is all for Healthcare. Of course rich people pay taxes, but not Healthcare (or not an important amount as far as I know)
@@fzkxl9931 i know exactly what i am talking about. read and educate yourself.
regarding the employees you talk about: it is the richest of the employees that pay the bulk of the NI taxes (and yes, they are taxes, not contributions, as one is forced to pay them).
regarding the employers you talk about: the vast majority of employers are rich, and if the employer is the government, it is income taxes from the rich that fund the government.
the students, unemployed and old have health care all paid for by the rich.
you know nothing.
Agree with the language motivation due to my background in south Louisiana and paternal grandparents spoke Cajun French / le cest le bon temps rolle! Not sure that is spelled correctly, but you hear that all the time here. 🎉
Laisses le bon temps rouler !
Vos grands-parents auraient dû vous apprendre le français.
Which other countries did you consider before settling on France?
Italy, Spain and Portugal.
In the end our heart was set on France because it was the language we most wanted to learn, the culture we most wanted to live in, it's in a central location for travel, and we knew I qualified for a visa that would allow me to continue to work.
I’m considering Spain but I’m also thinking of France. One thing that France has over Spain is honoring Roth IRA. Spain doesn’t.
I also studied French in HS, college and grad school. I want to be where it doesn’t snow.
I’ll be in Spain from Jan-March 2024. I may take trip there to check it out.
@@thecondorpoet5812 For a francophone place where it doesn't snow, French Guiana, Tahiti or Martinique come to mind! But not France.
@@duncansmith7562 It doesn't snow (or very rarely) in Southern France. It might snow in Western France but it will have melted by noon.
@@Alex-mp1zb yep, I live in the deep south, 30 minutes drive from Spain, there is a lot of snow in the Pyrennees for most of the winter, the wind can be ferocious and cold, today here, miserable weather, totally wintry.
there are many cultural and social reasons for choosing France over Spain, but not weather ones, for most people.
We have a small American community near Béziers. Really cheap housing, canal du midi, all commodities, airport and soon tgv, 20 min from the beach. Close to sete, Montpellier, not far from spain.
We were actually going to live in Béziers the second half of the year in our original plans! Then we we realized we needed to enroll Juliana in French public school instead of homeschooling to travel more, we didn't want to move mid-year. We still haven't made ot there, but we hope to!!
@@BaguetteBound other places to see in languedoc are Narbonne, Sète and Agde. The Cévennes also are amazing. Now I must admit that being a Huguenot I have a biased trend towards protestant strongholds where I find people more open-minded. Btw the best place here for a week of is the Lazaret in Sète. Now you'll need decades to really visit France. How about renting a houseboat on a canal in burgundy ? Or horse riding with the gardians (cowboys) in Camargue ? Etc
Great vlog again... maybe a random question but: do you think it would reasonable for a vegetarian? From what I know about french cuisine, lots of meat options and apparently delicious and lot of variety.... curious to know what if there are much vegetarian/vegan options on menus etc. thanks and best wishes!
I think it depends a little on where you are. For example I saw more veg/vegan options at cafes when we were in Montpellier near the University, than I notice in Bordeaux. And in the countryside you can look for the things that are traditionally french vegetarian like ratatouille, omelets, salads, and some savory crepes. There is a lot of pizza weirdly enough, which has veg options. Paris you can find lots I bet if you're expanding the search beyond traditionnel French.
But in the countryside it's definitely a little more challenging to fi mnd creative vegetarian cuisine at restaurants.
I have noticed a lot of really nice restaurants offer a vegetarian option with their multi course chef's menus, you'd just have to check ahead.
On the other hand, if you're cooking at home, the produce here is incredible! I've seen meat substitute products, nut milks, etc in larger grocery stores.
And of course you can always pop into a boulangerie and grab a baguette in an emergency...they're everywhere! 😂
Thanks for watching!
I'm french & vegan, vegan food is now easily available, even in places like Bergerac, which is not far from Baguette Bound
Yep, France is a very centralized country, that's why most of people around the globe only know Paris
As a long time expat (originally from California, now a French citizen), I agree with most of these points. The French love to complain about their country and fellow citizens, but hate it when foreigners join in. The country is extremely centralized, with many decisions being taken in Paris that affect the people in the provinces. My wife is a French MD (surgical pathologist) and was rather alarmed by what she saw in the U.S. (Boston and then Rochester, NY). With the exception of a few militarily strategic towns, most of France's historic towns and buildings have remained intact.
Except grammary, French language is easy to learn since half of the English vocabulary is based on French or ancient French...
De mon côté, alors que je suis un (vrai) Français, j'ai bien souvent envie de fuir la France, ce pays semi-soviétique, pour aller jouir de la liberté nord-américaine...
I live in Toulouse, I would love to ask you some questions like what do you think is different in the culture, philosophy, ways of life, thinking, France VS USA, I would be interested to know 🙂 I hope the RN will not kick you out of France though😪
Why would RN kick them out??? Stop watching TF1 or mainstream media 😂 they are much welcome here.. RN wants to kick illegals only 😂
comme claire, pkoi cette question idiote?? avec le RN!! vous vous faites des idees stup.. de gauche sur le RN avec cette question!! Quittez la gauche qui vous raconte n'importe quoi!!
lshit
hI! USA stole my kids and holding me hostage 4 years now but I keep pleading to go back to France! What Visa should I apply for to stay here? 1 year visitor visa? (plan is to buy a home once I look around). and what insurance do u recommend to buy to attach to visa application?
Hi Anna! If you don't need to work, the long stay visitor visa is a great one. It's straight forward to apply for and easy to renew as long as you meet requirements. We used the book Foolproof French Visas (you can find on Amazon) to help us through the application process.
When you apply for the visa, usually it will specify what they want to see in a health insurance policy as far as coverage limits. Check out IMG global or AXA. Good luck!
As a diabetic, how are you doing with eating so much bread?
I don't eat very much, certainly not by French standards. Although compared to the US where I never ate bread with a meal, it feels like a big change.
I wonder how the difficulty of learning French compares to Arabic?
If you're an English speaker French is easy. Most of English vocabulary comes from either directly from Latin or from French. The grammar is little but different but not drastically
You're lucky you've been able to find a doctor and a diabetes specialist to register with. Many places in France are medical deserts. Specialists don't take any new patients, people have to wait weeks for an appointment with a general practitioner... France used to have the best healthcare system in the world but sadly, this is no longer the case. Too much capitalist encroachment, too many botched reforms!
😂😂😂👌
socialism medicine! lol !😂 ... sounded like sovietic medecine!
Ignorant comment from someone who has never traveled outside the Billionaire-dictated USA. There is no ACTUAL English expression: "socialism medicine" OR "sovietic medecine." If you want to show off your inexperience, learn to spell your disinformation.
Are you republican ?
Higher taxes? I would retire to France but never move there before I'm done making money. FAR too punitive against productive people
Good. Stay away from Europe. We don't need anti-social egoists.
Hey, I am in the UK and considering this move. My 13 year old daughter stopping me from moving as I fear it's too late for her to learn the language. Any suggestions?
As long as u have enough incomes, or a job here, its less a problem. If i can give u an advice, learn a few of the language before coming, it will help. And if u know a GB citizen here who can help u, its a plus!! lots of them in south west of France and normandie so it is possible.