things i wish i'd known before moving to france. 🍷 | american living in paris and limoges france.
Vložit
- čas přidán 8. 06. 2024
- In this video, I'm sharing all the things I wish I knew before moving to France!
When I first moved to Paris back in 2014 at the age of 23yo, I had no idea my original 6 month plan would eventually turn in to a 8+ year plan!... WOW HOW TIME FLIES!
Socials:
Instagram: @jordanpatrick 👉🏽 / jordanpatrick
Tiktok: @califo.ricain 👉🏽 / califo.ricain
Spotify:👉🏽 open.spotify.com/user/hovisfr...
My Merchandise Shops:
WESH-COAST: www.weshcoast.net/
French-American Collection: la-natives-collection.creator...
⭐The most important things to know before moving to France⭐:
1) MUTUELLE 01:12 : If you are working in France, you will be given a French social security number and your employer will provide you a mutuelle which is really important when it comes to health care! You will have certain valuable benefits which can help you stay healthy and be reimbursed for medical expenses. I've mentioned the #1 thing I wish I would have known right up front!
2) FRENCH CRITIQUES 02:34 : Critiquing is a big part of the French Culture. It doesn't mean they are being rude, they are just offering their advice to do something better. It's a sign of respect that you're doing a good job!
3) DATING IN FRANCE 03:38 : Dating life in France is very different than dating life in the USA. I've made a couple videos about that before in English and French... you can find those here if you're interested:
English: • DATING IN FRANCE vs US...
French: • DATING AUX ÉTATS-UNIS ...
4) PLAYING SPORTS IN FRANCE 04:03 : In the US we have a lot of "free" public courts, fields, facilities that you don't have to pay for at all....but it France most facilities are private, which means you'll need to sign up for a club each year in order to use those facilities, otherwise you pay each time and if you plan to play your sport regularly it will get expensive! I recommend inscribing in a sport club because the prices are much cheaper than club sports in the US, and you'll be able to compete in competitions and make new friends who share the common interest!
5) SAVE ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS 04:58 : Save all your payslips and various important documents and contracts! You never know when you'll need to provide them whether it's apartment hunting, job searching, requesting the nationality, health care, or retirement! It's extremely important to save all of these documents as your proof of living/working!
6) GAINING POINTS FOR RETIREMENT 05:40 : While working in France and paying taxes, you're gaining points towards your retirement! That's why it's so important to keep your documents in order to prove your contributions and later collect your retirement checks!
7) MAKING FRENCH FRIENDS 06:07 : Compared to American social norms, the French are known for being rather "cold"...and although it's hard to break barriers and becoming close with the French, once you do, you'll be friends for life.
8) MINIMALIST LIVING 07:47 : You never know where the wind is going to take you after moving abroad. I've moved 10+ apartments in France and I recommend packing light! That's definitely something I wish I would have done from the beginning (would've been a lot easier)!
9) FRENCH DRIVERS LICENSE 08:15 : You have 6 months to exchange your license into a French one. (Eligible US states: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.)
more info here : franceintheus.org/spip.php?ar...
10) OPEN MIND 10:07 : EMBRACE THE CULTURE AND STOP COMPARING EVERYTHING TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY!
Thanks for watching and seeya in the next one, ciao ciao for now ✌🏽.
Jordan Patrick
Insta📸: @jordanpatrick 👉🏽 / jordanpatrick
TikTok 🎥 : @califo.ricain 👉🏽urlebird.com/fr/user/califo.r...
💙MY NEW PUBLISHED BOOKS!!!💙
⭐🇫🇷 : All BOOKS : www.amazon.fr/dp/B0CH7WXH8Z?b...
⭐🇺🇸 : ALL BOOKS : www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH7WXH8Z?...
_______________________________________________________________________________
⭐OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE:
LIVING ABROAD IN FRANCE: • Q&A LIVING ABROAD IN F...
TRAVEL EUROPE ON A BUDGET: • Travel EUROPE on a BUD...
TOP 5 BEST FRENCH MENTALITIES : • Video
HOW AND WHY I MOVED TO FRANCE : • HOW TO MOVE TO FRANCE ...
HOW I BECAME FLUENT IN FRENCH : • Language Learning Tips...
Merchandise Shop:👉🏼 teespring.com/stores/jordan-p...
🔸New Videos Every Sunday @ 6pm Paris time (9am PST)
Don't forget to subscribe and seeya next week! 🙃😘
Re: making friends and the French seeming cold: a French friend (and my former boss) once told me that Americans are like peaches and French people are like coconuts. With a peach, everything is soft and sweet on the outside and then you hit a hard shell. With a coconut, it’s the reverse: you have to get through the hard shell to find the sweetness. He made this comparison while saying that he found Americans to be initially very open and friendly (we hug everyone! Or, we used to.) but then there was a barrier to proceeding further, whereas with French people, it was hard to get to know them but once you did, you were family. (PS to Americans - be careful hugging French friends / coworkers … it will be presumed there’s a love affair.)
haha OMG I loved this analogy!! Thank you so much for sharing this story, it's so true. I can definitely see the comparisons with American peaches and French coconuts! LOL I would love to use this example in a future video! :) (PS: that's also so true about hugging Frenchies, that's way more intimate than doing the cheek kiss for them ^^)
,,ichu re r was 6
I am surprised the French know about coconuts.
@@TechCrazy why?
@@TechCrazy There are literally coconuts growing in France.
Yep. It might be hard to became friends with some French people but when you get there you'll have they friendship for life!
Yess so true! They don't have as many casual relationships like in the States where friends come and go more regularly through school or work, which also remains open-ended because you might cross paths later in life. Here in France however, they don't bother with casual friendships and prefer to keep their friend circles small, close, and for life. I understand both sides and try to defend them both whenever I hear someone talking bad about the opposite side. I'll admit I've become French in that sense and try to keep the handful of good friends I have in both places and less interested in acquaintances these days ^^
@@JordanPatrick I think both ways can be great and constructive. I get that about having less acquaintance also perhaps older you get you became more interested in developing long terms relationships.
This is what I tell people all the time but I don't think they understand
@@JordanPatrick casual relationships like in the states? All 50 states and all 350 million people? Not in my experience.
As a french man I can say that it will become harder because more and more people in France know that the American government is working against France
Hi, just found your channel. My son lived temporarily in France, college in Lyon and a job in Paris, he came back to the states a couple years ago. I was so grateful to the people and nation of France for being so good to him and keeping him safe.
Oh that's awesome to hear and glad to know he had a great experience in France! Lyon and Paris are both amazing cities and of course after living in Paris it will always hold a piece of my heart...I imagine for your son as well! (PS: I hope you visited him in France while he was living there!)
There are a lot of things in France that will haunt your life, for example: the French driving license is for your whole life, and you can drive anywhere in Europe and other countries without changing it, You can also ask ( depending on income) CMU (free mutual) to social security, The French are very polite, and not mean or mischievous as everyone says.
The culture is open to all, the commemorations also celebrate the American soldiers who came to save France.
Americans are loved in France.
The French are also very ecological, there are large sorting bins, and they provide thick bags so as not to mix up household waste packaging.
Bonjour! Yes I agree about a lot of these positive points. Especially the recycling aspect, I have so many of these reusable bags and bring them with me everywhere so that I don't ever need to ask for any plastic bags that are horrible for the environment. However there's one thing that is no longer true about the driver's license in France....it's no longer "for life". I got my "permis français" in 2019 and they now expire every 15 years. So eventually I will need to renew it. (it's still much better than in the States which expires every 5 years!)
On the other hand in France we think more and more that the majority of Americans do not like the French, there is everywhere French bashing from Americans and English on social networks, in movies, TV series, newspapers, tabloids, the TV shows... They are even insulting to our fighting ancestors. There is no such thing against Anglo-Saxons in France. On the other hand, many French people are increasingly aware of this incessant Anglo-Saxon French-bashing and are beginning to hate these kinds of things and to be suspicious of the Anglo-Saxons. Many are starting to say that today it is better to have the best enemies in the world than to have the Americans and the English as friends. We are more respected. It' sad but that's the way it is.
Lived in France for several years. Wish I'd been better with the language. Would never had left if the relationship that took me there had worked out. A fantastic place with wonderful people. I never met a rude person in France. Quite the contrary.
That's so nice to hear that you enjoyed your time in France! I agree that the stereotype of French being rude is such a myth! They may not be as open spirited or friendly as some other countries in the western world, but that's just a part of the culture and nothing rude :)
That is because you never met me :evil: lol
Lol "never met a rude person in France"
And them there is me : got robbed first week in France
@@keu.45-log Unsurprising. Especially in Paris or Marseille. Some may call me a racist for saying it, but here is the truth: France is really a tourist attraction. Hence, there are plenty of robber gangs in the ghettos (suburbs) of great towns, that target mostly tourists. If you wear your bag, they may attack you. You will hear arabic a lot in these cases, but not always. And on top of it, there are the roms. People from Eastern Europe, beggar gangs (yes), and such things. This is on top of the 'normal' criminality. It is getting worse and worse, especially with the European rules that made a sieve of our borders. There are all sorts of people and traffics that use this, and these days, we start to see people getting gunned in the streets. I have seen this twice in 2022 already. I believe this kind of stuff happens more and more in 'western countries'.
@@nox8730 yes I am Algerian and I got robbed by Moroccans,there were two of them and they threatened me with a knife and when I heard them speak arabic I told them I am form algeria and I spoke in arabic too and they said give as the money you have and we will let you go safe so I did what they said . They are probably illegal immigrants and it's so sad how the situation is getting worse
I love that French people don’t have taboo subjects like they love to talk about everything under the sun and sincerely criticize it. I’m like woah lol Americans tend to censor many things and if they’re not comfortable with a topic they will check out and say that it’s rude to talk about certain things 🤣 I love critiquing and it’s one of the things I love about French culture.
HAHA so true! You must fit right in with the French culture then! I used to take offense to critiques on the regular, but now I take it as a positive thing because they are only trying to help and give suggestions! :)
oh we do kind of have "taboo" subjects in France.Talking about "money" or "salary" for exemple isn't something we talk much about, and can be rude for some. Americans have less of a problem regarding talking about money. The French on the contrary...is more of a private matter :)
The french are much more taboo based than amaericans. Not sure what you're smoking
@@Mateo-et3wl You say bullshits
Politeness is a big deal in France....especially verbally..."Merci, Madame.."-stuff.
Yes I agree! That's definitely something good to know!
It used to be...
@MrTherealpad MDR Vous vivez au 19ème siècle ?
@MrTherealpad Je ne parlais pas de moi perosnnellement, mais, maheureusement, de l'évolution de la société...
@MrTherealpad Apprends à lire et comprendre avant de venir jouer les donneurs de leçons sur Internet. Mon premier message indiquait clairement que je parlais d'une malheureuse évolution de la société, qui s''apauvrit à tous les niveaux. Donc remballe ce ton hautain et condescendant, j'espère que tu es moins pédant et vindicatif avec tes enfants...
It’s true that the French love to criticize.
They always want the best, the most beautiful, the easiest and the cheapest in the same time.😅
Mostly, at work or during trainings, and sometimes with friends or families, very friendly, the constructive criticism, help us to get better, in our job and with the others. ☺️
I agree! Thanks for sharing :) Sometimes we can't have it all!
Do you know the expression "you can't have your cake, and eat it too"?
It basically means you can't have everything ^^
@@JordanPatrick Hihi, ^^ . There ´s a equivalent French expression : ´´Il veut le beurre 🧈, l’argent du beurre 💰 et le cul de la crémière. 👩 🥛 ´´
Translation : ´´ He wants the butter, the money from the butter sales, the good compagny, and the kind services of the woman dairy producer . ´´ 😉
I'm French and my American friends always ask me "why are in such a bad mood" and "why do you always start debates" 😂
But i saw too a lot of Americans just complaining about everything! For example when they moved to another country, i saw the Americans are the most people who complaining about the new country and their culture! And all the time comparing and all the time saying so weird! Like Emily in paris! Im not joking really they are! Its not good too to act like that to the others country! Cause your country (USA) or even my country they are not the standard that all countries have to be like! If you look in the CZcams you will find that most of the people who criticise the other countries and the people there in the countries are Americans! And most of the people with different nationalities that I know agree with me and say the same thing (why are some Americans just criticise other countries and the people there ?) most of other nationalities when they move they know that the people there will be different and try not to complain all the time! But people in france just criticise you they want you to be better cause as I understand from them they used to do that to help each other to be good!
Hahah I can understand both sides ^^ share with them this video and they might understand better LOL
Once you understand the benefits of living in Europe....the US simply cannot compare. Health care, strong retirement, education, home prices. The list goes on.
Yeah I agree, those are also benefits that I can no longer see myself living without!
What about diversity? Is the world at your front door? Are there authentic Mexican restaurants if I’m craving for Mexican food? Thai? Venezuelan? Is France as diverse as the US?
@No Name in the US, every town is diverse except the ones in the south so I thought France was as diverse as the US but I guess it’s not
@@falischika6221 i am going to be very controversial here and say that I personally find food in france quite boring since a lot of it is very similar and very French (meat in a sauce or something like that) which is obviously expected but I do think their belief that their food is the best does limit the amount of diversity you get in the food but I am personally comparing it to the UK which probably is one of if not the most diverse countries in the world when it comes to food and many other things but over the years it does seem to be getting a bit better. this is my personal opinion and some people may say differently.
lol as a french who left france, the country is going down the drain, it's nothing like I used to know. Every french person will tell you this, guarantee.
I’m trying to get accepted to a graduate program in France. It’s my biggest dream! Watching videos like this dreaming 😄
Oh that's awesome! You must be excited :) Hope it all works out soon and you get accepted ^^ You're gonna love living in France!
@Estela Lopez it also depends on their behaviour, but stupid people can be found all over the world.
Thank you for mentioning many topics that I have never heard before such as about getting a drivers license or about health insurance. I hope you continue to live a satisfying and wonderful life. (I live in Spain).
Hellooo! Thanks for your comment, I'm glad I touched on some topics that are less talked about in other "living abroad" videos you might have seen! OMG amazing, you're in Spain ?? I loooove Spain and hope to live there some day for the warm weather, culture, and people! (It's by far my most visited country in Western Europe, I must have gone there on holidays more than 30 times during my 8 years of living in France :) )
Hello Jordan,
Can I make a critique ? ;-)
In France, we don't put wine in a beer glass !
HAHA yes I accept your critique! I knew someone would point this out ^^...I don't know where my wine glasses are 😅. They are in a box somewhere and I haven't find them since I moved into this apartment last year! I'll try to find them before my next wine drinking video ^^
Mais comme forme de verre c'est presque un ballon, donc pour ça passe 😄
😂😂
In Murca we drink in red cups...
HAHA j'ai aucun problème d'utiliser n'importe quoi pour boire mais je pensais que ce verre a été plus stylé qu'une tasse en plastique LOL 😅
Certainly would have guessed you'd have had a minimum of 100k subscribers after watching this...very surprised to see you don't! Excellent videos and quality!
Thanks for the awesome comment man! I'm still pretty new to youtube so I don't yet have a lot of exposure but I'm slowly gaining views and subs each day so I'm on the right track!
These are some really good tips, really appreciate it
Thanks! Glad it could help if you're planning on moving to France !
Excellent video. Thank you for posting it. Enjoy the wine!
Thank you! This was one of my favorite video topics :)
Wow! This is so helpful and practical, thank you!
You're welcome! Happy to help!
Great video!! Best of luck in France. Ça vaux la peine!!
Hiii thank you for your comment et ouiiii !!!
Nice video, very different from about all the other "culture shock" videos I've seen so far, it was quite refreshing. :)
Oh thanks man! I'm really glad to hear that :)
Carry on ! Unpretentious and very straightforward with good points. Good luck !
Thanks mate ! Almost 9 years in France now !
Thank you for this straight forward advice and video brother!
Merci! 😊🙏👍
My pleasure ! Hope this advice comes in handy!
This is great information, very helpful, thanks!
Hello and welcome! Glad it was helpful! ^^
French love: The French take their time to get to know you, there are no 3rd dates, sometimes you wait months before making love, on the other hand when he kisses you ( with the tongue, mouth not open) it's official you're in a relationship.
and taxes are directly in the prices of the products, tips are not mandatory either
@@annaboer3716 you got me with the taxes included on the prices.. time to whip out a plane ticket
Thanks those are good points! True French dating is less dating, more a question of do we like each other enough to be exclusive or will we just be friends...within 2 dates you know which direction ^^.
I love how the tax is included on the price tag! It makes grocery shopping and eating at restaurants so much easier! :)
Thank you! I am moving this January and I’m so excited
Ohhhh amazing! You're gonna love it!!! Where are you moving? Let me know if you'd like some recommendations! Send me a DM on insta! @jordanpatrick
I don't know what to do! but truly you've helped! just need to give more thought!!! Definitely a dream place for me!
Hopefully you'll get the chance to make that dream a reality!
Thank you! Great video!
Thanks for watching!
Excellent advice! There are a lot of videos from people who have moved to France and either got kicked out or decided to move away. Congratulations on your success.
Thanks! I think I'll make another video about things I wish I knew before moving between Paris and the French countryside because I have a lot to say on that topic as well!
this is so helpful , now I'm enlightened.
ah cool that's great to hear ! ^^
Some of these points really resonate with my experience as well. Could you talk more about the “retirement points?”
Hey thanks for your comment and happy to hear you can relate to some of these!
That's a pretty good idea actually to make a video all about preparation for retirement as an EXPAT. I feel like that can useful for a lot of people working abroad in France ^^
Great points!! So true about the groups of friends 😂 love your point of view!
Haha we can't make all our friends on the streets in Franceee?? LOL it was a rude awakening to learn it takes months and months to build friendships with the local Frenchies ^^ ! ..Thank you for your comment and cool to know you know how it is!
@@JordanPatrick absolutely understand!! it took us years to find close friends in the city!
These are all very helpful tips. The driver’s license tip is very good to know. Thank you.
You're welcome, always happy to help give some insights!
Bravo pour ton parcours, ça force le respect!
Merci! C'est une expérience excellente qui continue toute la vie! :)
Thanks for your helpful video and best wishes for your future.
I live in Atlanta and I've been encouraging my daughter to someday move to Europe, especially France. She is 13 and has an interest in visual arts and history. She also likes French culture, so I recommended that she can either go to France as a student or stay here in the states, but do a study abroad in Paris just to see how she likes it there. How easy is the process for getting a student visa in France? Do you also have to get a work visa as well if you plan on working there while being a student?
Hello! Thanks for your comment and that's awesome to hear you are urging your daughter to move abroad one day! I think having a parent on board is a great way to have a support by your side! (My parents weren't as thrilled about the idea as you are!). To answer your questions: YES, the student visa is easy to obtain, it just takes time gathering the necessary documents and waiting for the processing period (can take up to 6 months as the French administration likes to take their time!) Studying Abroad through a US school is definitely an option, however to save money it might be worthwhile to apply directly to a French public school or even a French private school, like the one I went to (the process might be a little tougher to figure out, but you'll pay much less than tuition in the states...plus you'd be obliged to go back to the states in order to obtain the diploma, so coming back to Europe afterwords to find work might be a challenge). When it comes to remaining in Europe after completing your studies, yes she would need to find work as an intern to start, or work contract that she can use to apply for the work visa. This can be a challenge within itself because the employer has to do more paperwork by showing she is the necessary candidate for the position...but I know many foreigners living in France that have made it happen including myself so if there's will, there's a way!
I'm excited for you guys and the new adventure your daughter and you will be embarking on! Hope this information has helped, cheers!
The place where your work had to introduce you to a mutuelle when you signed up your contract. They passed a law a few years ago.
That's good that it's required to inform all employees now, because I really wish I would have known about that at my first two jobs in France!
I love Americans when they are surprised with things that are normal in civilized countries, such as public health and social insurance, or people living to enjoy, not to die at work :)
I agree it's a much more relaxed and health secure feeling in a society who has more basic human rights! I'm proud to be French now and would have a much harder time moving back to the states where I feel less secure especially from a health insurance perspective!
I recently moved to France because of those reasons - to enjoy "things that are normal in civilized countries..."
Yeeeeah, but American military surpasses the "civilized" countries ones by x20 😁
I don't know if you are European but if you are, please, be humble 🙂 Our "very civilized" countries (I am French) just made millions of men die in just 8 years (WWI and WWII). Let's never forget this when we speak about civilized nations… 🙂
@@heliedecastanet1882 Et comme d'autres pays lol la france n'a commencé aucune guerre mondiale!
Great information, thank you!
Thanks for watching, and glad I give you some insight! :)
Very honest! great! merci beaucoup
This was one of my favorite videos to make because it was kinda personal, but also fun and useful for people planning to move to France!
Your last point hot home. I moved from america to Paris in July this year and find myself constantly comparing america vs France. I keep having to catch myself in those moments and remind myself to be open minded. France is wonderful in many ways so I'm learning to just enjoy the culture. Your point about the license, i thank God i come from Wisconsin and we have that agreement with France 🙌🏽. Friendship wise, i haven't made any friends just associates from work, gym, etc. That point is certainly true. 💯
Thanks for the comment and for sharing!! It's hard not to compare things in a new country or city to what you're used to in former everyday life. That's probably one of the first pieces of advice I try to share with people moving anywhere abroad. "Let go of past 'norms', and embrace the new 'norms'."
Based on your first name, I would have assumed you were French! Hope you're enjoying your new life in France!
Thank you for this video
Hiiii I'm glad you enjoyed it :) !
For friends, it really depends of the region, in south france people are more outgoing and opened for example :) nice video ^^
Thanks! Are you living in the south? I'm thinking about moving to Toulouse, Marseille, or Nice in a few months!
@@JordanPatrick Hi sorry i didnt see your message :) i used to live in Toulon near Nice, Marseilles! Now i live in Paris for work but im not going to stay, no way haha!Toulouse is called "la ville rose" both south east and south west are great :) dont hesitate if you need any info
@@JordanPatrick Montpellier is the best south city for sure
Dans notre vocabulaire nous faisons un distinguo: il y a les amis et il y a les connaissances..et quand on me pose la questions je réponds: c est une connaissance ou l'on s est croise a tel événement..
Thank you for these informations and I have plan to move there :)
You're welcome! I hope some of these points help you know some things in advance before you move! Congratsss I'm excited for you and hope you have an amazing time living here in France! ^^
@@JordanPatrick I found out your videos last night and I really love it!
The first time I went to France, I knew little and made a silly mistake. I had the phone number of friends who had stayed with me in the US. Getting off a train in their town near their country home I called their number and couldn't get through and ended up sleeping in the station. The next day I learned that while in France one has to put in 0(zero)before the number. My friends had left me the form of their number for calling from the States. Sometimes the simplest things can bother you.
Merci, such an informative and fun video. Critiquing .. wow it is a good thing, thanks for sharing that nugget. Could you please cover expats visas? I cannot believe that healthcare is that easy (well comparing to the Us where it is almost a privilege).
It's my pleasure to help give some guidance and advice! Feel free to send me an email on my relocation agent email and we can schedule a consultation if you're serious about moving to France and I can get you some personal advice for your current situation: visa types, incite on the process, help you get set up with an apartment with utilities, French social security + healthcare guidance, opening a French bank account, etc. :)
E: jordan.patrick@easystart.me
W: easystart.me
First time on your Channel - great content - I am moving to France permanently in March - the Visa process is difficult - would love to hear your take on Paris vs other parts of France - I am beginning in Paris - appreciated.
Hey thanks for your comment and that's awesome to hear you're moving to France soon... hope the process goes well for you!
Paris is a great city...especially if you like busy-ness and activities to do, but of course housing is going to be very expensive compared to many other French cities.
The benefits to living outside Paris is that you'll get more space for less money and if you like nature and calmer streets, then a smaller city might be the better option.
Ok, my 2 cents. Paris sucks. Now, many french people like me would say the same. Cost wise, my current appartment is in the center of a middle town. It is a good building in a decent place, thick walls and such. 53m² for 360 euros/months + water (~40 euros). In Paris, the same appartment would cost you maybe 1000 euros/month, or more.
About your payslips, you should be able to ask them to your past employers, they are supposed to keep track of it for years. With it, you should also ask the "Attestation d'Employeur" (AE). It's basically a document summarizing all your employment details (with payments) from that specific employeur. It's normally meant to be used by Pôle Emploi (the organism that gives your allocations chaumage when you are unemployed, they use it to know your employment history but also how much allocations you are due). Perhaps your retirement company is able to use that too (and I know some other organism that need to know your past payslips prefer that document anyway because everything they need is there, so it's more practical than possibly dozens of individual payslips papers). Good to note that some employers might send that AE to Pôle Emploi automatically when you stop working for them. And also note that every past employer is obligated to provide the AE, by law, no exceptions, no conditions (aside not working for them anymore).
Thanks for the video
Hope it gave some insight when it comes to living in France!
I'm German, spent 20 years in UK, and 1 year in France.
I didn't get the lunch time period in France, they all go home, all shops closed, they eat and sleep, do something else maybe, and then back to work.
Also, when I arrived in France, and got my place to live and everything sorted, I've got money every month from the social security. Apparently, they have to do that, it's Europe.
I have to say, the year in France was fantastic.
I know,everything is amazing in france!
2.50 you described it VERY WELL the matter of fact THE BEST DESCIRBE IS ABOUT CRITIC is that one care and take the other as equal (means accepted ) and try to help for to develop faster and make it easier for to get information how other way things can be seen. that will lead to be OPENMINDED and less feel frustrated once some REALIZED THAT.
Thanks jordan I did find this video helpful. I'm supposed to write a short story as a tourist and I'm thinking of using france. It's an older city as far as I know and there should be enough differences for me to point out that would clearly show I'm in france and not in canada anymore ^-^
Ahh cool good luck writing your short story! Sounds like it will be a good read!
Bonjour, je suis tombé sur votre vidéo par hasard est c'est très intéressant de voir la vision et l'expérience des étrangers qui veulent vivre en France, je tiens tout d'abord à vous féliciter pour votre apprentissage de notre langue cars elle est très difficile. Pour le code de la route je vous confirme c'est difficile est stressant, pour avoir le permis de conduire c'est très cher en France. Je vous souhaite une bonne journée 😄
I plan on going to Sorbonne and this vid helped a lot
Oh great, that's exciting news!
I just recently started working as a relocation consultant agent for a start-up company that helps expats move to France!
If you are serious about learning more and moving to France, feel free to send me an email on my company account and we can schedule a consultation meeting to discuss things further.
Email: jordan.patrick@easystart.me
Website: easystart.me
Je me retrouve dans tout ce que tu dis (les critiques et les amitiés) tu nous as bien cernés😅 bravo!
Merci ^^ ce sont tous les choses que j'aurais du mal à savoir avant d'arriver en France, mais je n'aurais rien changé ! ^^
Next one to get right in Europe is not to drink wine out of a beer glass. But you’ll get there... 😜
HAHAH so many comments about my glass LOL I know it's a shame but I couldn't find my wine glasses after moving apartments! ^^
Good solid advice
Thank you! Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
rahhh, c'est un verre a bière malheureux ;) il te reste encore beaucoup de choses a apprendre ;)
Thanks for sharing! I really want to live in France... now to figure out where. 🤔
My pleasure! There are so many great places to choose from within France ! :)
I'd also mention that getting a driving licence in France is extremely expensive: You need a minimum of 20h of lessons, each costing around 50$ plus other fees so at least 1200$. Bare minimum.
Yeah that's true! Plus the exam costs money, and often times people don't pass their first chance, so it's an extra 50€ every time you take the exam! Super expensive compared to the US, which if you're over 18 years old, you don't need to take lessons, just practice with a parent and take the test which is maybe 30$ and much easier!
1200€ is not much for a skill you will have for the rest of the life. Living here I can tell many still don´t know how to parallel park properly or how to act when lanes in intersection change. People driving straight from lane that only right in intersection (some do it to budge in busy traffic some are clueless) and so on. That cost isn´t what I would call extremely expensive. The fact that many cars have dents and scratches is another proof, because often it´s just lamp posts and barriers not other cars. Then again French people have utilitarian attitude toward cars and cars are treated like household appliances, car enthusiasts and expensive lease car owners can be seen parking in far off side of parking lots and private parking to minimize risks. In most other EU countries drivers licence will definitely cost more. Lot of beginners don´t pass on their first try and this comes as a surprise to Americans who take it as a human right and can have much more faults at their exam.
You seem a bit tormented by your experience, but your priorities are in the right place. I had the advantage of being born with dual nationality, but there were still some complications. It's been so long now that I can't imagine living anywhere else. (i moved here at age 20.) I actually appreciated the difficulty of making friends in France because when you make a friend, it is a real one on whom you can count.
Great video. Enjoyed watching it. But did you know that the correct verb sequence for the title is "things I wish I HAD known" ? Very common error on youtube.
Hey thanks for the correction! I looked up the difference between the two and I guess I was using the subjunctive as if I hadn't yet moved to France, but since that action has passed you're right it should be "had known" ...thanks for the English lesson! ^^ I like being corrected when I make mistakes like these!
Thank you 😊
You're welcome, glad I could help!
This is great information thank you! I wonder if you could do a video on Marseille? I have so many questions about living there. And moving there from California might be an opportunity for me. But I’ve heard so many critiques on Marseille that I’m worried. I’m wondering if the towns around it might be better. Like Aix-en-Provence.
I am from brussel in Belgium. I know France very well except the south where i come only for vacation. For me, Aix en Provence is a better place to stay and live.
Hey thanks for your comment and interest in moving to France! I've visited Marseille a couple times and it was nice to visit, but I've also heard mixed reviews on living there (although it was my goal at one point to find a job there and discover the south from a living perspective)!
PS: I started working as a relocation agent for expats moving to France and I'd be happy to talk further with you about your plans and goals by organizing a consultation with you my email if you wanna shoot me a mail I can help you with the process of moving to France with some personal advice: visa types, incite on the process, help you get set up with an apartment with utilities, French social security + healthcare guidance, opening a French bank account, etc. :)
E: jordan.patrick@easystart.me
W: easystart.me
@@JordanPatrick thank you so much! I am sorry for the delayed response. I will know more concretely if I am going to France in the next couple of weeks! But I would absolutely love all the help I can get! I will let you know soon! But I would love to know how much a consultation would cost! I definitely appreciate any insight into this process. I’m so nervous! Thank you again :)
@@lenal5145 thank you so much! That’s exactly what I was thinking! Thank you so much for your thoughts. Where do you normally vacation in the south of France? I’m looking for day/weekend trips too!
So bad no one said you about the mutuelle... and if you were student, you have one as student, and if you work as an employee, the enterprise give you one, too.
Yeah that's the thing, Europeans are familiar with it and used to it because it's normal here! For foreigners who never had that growing up, I was completely shocked when I learnt that years later! Great surprise!
@@JordanPatrick You don't say it in your video but you have to pay for it !
A mutuelle is not free !
If you take it individually, you'll have to pay each month, like an insurance.
If you subscribe in your business, they will take it out of your paycheck.
But it's true that it's a very important social protection.
Thanks for clarifying! I know when you work in France, the company has to provide you a mutuelle, but a part of your salary goes towards those benefits. In the States, companies aren't required to provide health insurance so that was mainly the point I was trying to make is that France takes better care of their citizens and employees :)
Bruv you can mail to your old employers and ask for your papers, hr will mail it to you in a nice pdf ( it worked like a charm for me with a job from 10 years ago) glad you like ot here !
Hi Jordan! Awesome channel. I was wondering if you could help me out with a question I had. I'm interested in moving to France and enrolling in classes. I was wondering if French Universities accept ACT scores, or if I had to pass le bac. Going through a US university's exchange program is not an option for me. I was studying engineering and like you, got into a little trouble here in the US lol.
That's a great question about ACT scores. Unfortunately I don't have an answer for you because I've never taken the ACT. Basically the Bac is equivalent to obtaining your high school diploma...so NO you wouldn't need to re-pass high school! Wouldn't that be a nightmare LOL. If you were interested in going to an International Business School here then you might be able to transfer some of the courses you've already completed towards your bachelors degree here (Bac +3) and then need to take the remainder of the classes at your school here which might take only one to two years.
(I had nearly finished my degree in the States, so I believe I only needed 6 or 7 classes to finish my degree here which I was able to compile into one semester!).
Hope this info has been helpful!
@@JordanPatrick thanks for the advice! 🙂
Hello Jordan, your video is useful, thank you. From the US, New Jersey, I am thinking of going to visit my mom more often , also stay longer during the summers, now that she is retired. I am planning to go there with my 2 kids. As a start, I am looking to buy a prepaid phones, temporary high speed internet and such..., what do you recommend? Thank you in advance.
Hiiiii! That's great news! That would be an excellent idea for introducing children to new cultures from a young age so they are aware of cultural norms and exposure as a kid! :) I wish I would have had the same exposure growing up! ^^
Yes that's great that you're looking into things you might need in advance like a prepaid phone and internet! I've never used a prepaid phone here myself, but I would recommend checking out "Free mobile" (the name is a little deceiving I reckon🤣) but it's a very cheap phone provider and offers great deals. I had a phone with unlimited calls and texts for only 2€/month!!! Of course with internet it will be a little more expensive, but you might get a good deal like internet at home and phone for like 20€/month. (not sure about the prepaid option, but on my American phone I have internet abroad with T-mobile, and they were the first provider to offer that (but years ago), so they all probably offer it now. It might be worth while to check with your current provider and see if they have options for you to continue your current plan with international options.
The "Whatsapp" application is great for messaging in Europe because it's internet based, so people in bigger cities use it and it's a universal form of "imessage" no matter the phone type someone has!
I hope some of these tips have been helpful for you and I'm excited for your upcoming trip abroad! :) Keep me updated!
@@JordanPatrick , thank you so much for for your feedback/recommendations! I am looking over the Free Mobile's site and will contact them about some of their services. Not sure if they have a referral program, I can put you down when I use their service(s). I will update you; I am sure I will have more questions. Thanks again.
We, french, have a formal politness. It des not mean that we are cold but it means we are respectfull with others, as french as foreigners, so with you !
It is very important to learn few words of french . Il means that you respect us and this politeness code and then things are easy ! But please don't hug, it is as bizarre as "le bise" (kisses on cheeks) for you ! 😂 And don't worry you are wellcome in France (especially in Paris 😊) and we have made improvement in our level in english ! So , see you soon and enjoy your trip !
I came to the US and went to the see a doctor just like that. I could not believe that I had to pay! I was working in a national park.
It's really shocking for foreigners in the US....and even for me too now that I've been in France for 8 years ! I pray that I never have a serious accident in the states because I'd be screwed LOL
You have private insurance in France as well, voilà la mutuelle qui est fornis par ton entreprise. If you've had good medical assistance in the US then that's great for you, but it's not "donné" even with insurance in the states, there are other costs that are not included that you need to pay separately (not to mention the costs of women to give birth in American hospitals which is thousands of dollars given the amount of nights at the hospital, whereas it's très peu en France genre 100 balles au total selon plusieurs jours)@@Dms-sn8qj Everyone can have different experiences, but glad it's working for you!
Just discovered your channel during COVID lockdowns.
I must say I would be intrigued to know more about your perspective on dating French guys as a guy from the U.S it's kind of hard to come by bi dudes or gay dudes from the U.S speaking about THEIR experience with dudes.
I dunno if you're still single (I just rewatched your dating videos) but it would be cool if you find a boyfriend one day to have some of your thoughts about it.
Thanks for your comment and suggestion. I don't really have any plans to make new videos about dating... But I'll keep that in mind when I'm thinking of new video ideas 👍🏽
5:27 The number 1 thing to know before moving to France (in my opinion as a French economist) is the French love administration, we are an old-fashioned, paper intensive nation. It's not just about keeping pay silps, its keeping everything, bank statements, hospital bills, energy bills, etc. It's not uncommon for the average person to have an entire filing cabinet or boxes with documents. This is because as wonderful as the French are, its very common for central and local administration to "misplace" your documents, thus having a hard copy will make your life much easier. Do not rely on your school, job, bank, hospital having a "record" of you.
Hey thanks for your comment! That's a really great point. I like to keep traces of everything electronically in an online data base, especially pay slips, tax documents, ordonnances, etc. just in case you lose the paper forms and it's a lot easier to search for too whenever you need it. I should probably invest in a scanner, but I don't have a lot of space in my new Parisian apartment LOL
Great vlog! Jordan, in your opinion, which is a better town to retire in - Saint-Germain-en-Laye, or Fontainebleau?
Bonjour, i am french and i leave near St Germain en Laye since 30 years. St Germain is very close to Paris and there's RER (train) each 15 min to go to the centre of Paris in few minutes. Lot of persons work in Paris and leave in St Germain . The team of football of Paris is located in this city (PSG). Blois is little far from Paris but it's more quiet and less expansive. St Germain is à beautiful city and it's part of Paris that's why it's more expansive. There's a beautiful Château and lot of parcs and the life is very safe and quiet too. In the same time the city is more alive with good restaurants .
I hope that you understand my coment.
@@mussardi8867 Thank you so much for your comment! That helps me decide where to live. I am currently exploring Toulouse, and I have been here since May 1, 2022. However, I prefer a city near Paris because I have always loved that city since I was young. Have a great day!
I am starting the process. I would like to move by June 0f 25. How hard was it to get a job ? Do you need to be totally fluent in French ?
Love your videos, right on all points.
Your driver license experience was opposite,of mine : French guy, I lived in the States (Md) for about a year when I was sixteen. I got my driver license : never passed an easier exam in my life, both theoretical and in the road, with an automatic gearshift on top, after maybe 6 hours in the road. Returned to France, didn’t drive for 2 years, and when I turned 18, got my US licence translated, et voilà, was issued a French driver license valid for life, without restrictions. On the road, with 0 experience, and a manual stick shift. First hours in {Ari’s were just a nightmare. 😂 maybe the system you experienced is safer though more stressful.
Howdy Jordan, are you by any chance still living in Limoges? Ill be working there in october as a spanish language assistant and I was wondering if you'd be interested in an english-spanish tandem since you're learning my native language and I'd like to keep up with my english level speaking with a gringo 😄
Hello!! Or should I say Hola! ^^ ...yes I'm still living in Limoges, but I'm planning to move somewhere new at the end of August. That's sad that we will just be missing each other because that would have been great! I'm sure I'll be visiting Limoges from time to time, so maybe we can keep in touch! Feel free to write me on instagram! @jordanpatrick
@@JordanPatrick Perfect!!
Can you tell me where can I find the 13 states that have the agreement with France to exchange the driver license please?
Yes! I listed the 13 states in the video description ! :)
I saw some teenagers in a park in Poitiers enjoying the sunshine. Oh how nice, I thought, now if we were in Britain they'd be swilling cans of lager.
Just then, one of then produced a large bottle of WHISKY!
If you feel like answering this (not exactly on topic), what are some other French provincial cities besides Limoges that you particularly like? I like to think about where I might go.
Hey yeah sure, I love you question! I've traveled all around France so I'm happy to share some of my favorites ^^.
If you have a full week, Basque country is great because you have many beautiful cities close to each other that are unique in their own way: Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Biarritz.
If you have a long weekend, Toulouse (la ville en rose) is beautiful and unique with it's red brick architecture throughout the city and you can take a day trip to Carcassonne which is incredible.
Montpellier in the south is a beautiful city close to the sea and a day trip to Nîmes is well worth it. (I did some travel videos there last summer ^^)
Bordeaux is a wonderful city as well and of course wine tasting would be a must! A nice day trip from there would be Saint-Emilion. (also did that last summer)
Other honorable mentions that are great: Lyon, Nantes, Strasbourg.
Somewhere I've always wanted to go, but haven't been yet is Clermont Ferrand.
This summer I'm going with friends to Nice, Monaco, Cannes, and St Tropez. I'll try to make some videos while I'm there so stay tuned :)
@@JordanPatrick Thanks, Jordan. It's good to get your recommendations.
Very detailed video. It's my dream to leave Southern California and move to France but not after the French critique part
The critiquing is in the culture, not meant to be taken too harshly, but from an American perspective it can be tough to take sometimes because we are so used to things being sugar coated ^^
I’m from SoCal to and the honest opinions expressed by people is what I value in cultures. Even if I disagree with them I like the ability to make a case for certain topics. The critiquing is an alluring aspect to me and it makes me want to go to France even more 😄
En France on aime les débats, des petits on nous apprends à débattre à défendre notre point de vue a se poser des questions .. j'ai deux garçons et mon fils cadet de 4 ans commence à s y mettre en m'entendant débattre avec son frère aîné..lol
Hello ! 👋
Is it really easier to get a driver’s license in USA ?
Is it because the written test and the drive test are in English ? ☺️
Now, you have a French driving license. Congratulations ! 🎈 👏
So, can you drive a car in all the United States, with a French driver’s license ?
You can drive in all European countries. ^^
I think I'll answer all of these questions when I eventually make a video about driving in France vs USA...but I'll try to answer some of these now.
YES it's much easier in the states! For the written test you are not limited on time, so you're not stressed! And there is only 1 correct answer for each question. (the French one you can have 1,2 or 3 correct answers for each question...but you don't know how many are correct for each question.....and you only have 25 seconds to read and answer the question. So when you add the fact that it's in French, it's even harder!)
With a holiday/travel/student visa then you are able to drive in the US or France with your country's driver's license! :) But if you move there for work or permanent residency then you need to change to the local license. ^^
@@JordanPatrick Thanks a lot for your precise answers. It’s important to know that, when we travel . 🌎
I like your flat. or more you HOME because it is cosy (at least it looks cosy) and that is what one need after the work a place that is cosy for to relax.
Is Florida one of the states where one can change the driver’s license to suit France?
Tellement mignon !... et intelligent... en plus !!!
Aha merci c'est gentil!
im moving to france soon to be with my fiance i have never lived there before im from santa monica california i am trying to get together the things i need to move there do you have any advise
Hey that's amazing! Congrats on the upcoming move and engagement! I think I mentioned this in the video, but my biggest advice would be to have an open mind to the new culture you are about to enter :) ...even if there are "norms" that you miss from the US, accept that France might do those things a bit differently and try to adjust to the new lifestyle :)
Good luck with the research phase before your trip ^^, it's an exciting time!
You must be new in the mediterranean world. I didn't see you give a single sip on that wine the entire video, while I have drunk half a bottle during your video only!
French people are usually known for complaining a lot... and critic is part of it :D
But, yes, critic (or suggestions) can help you progress or question yourself, and that can be positive when it's founded.
And it doesn't mean that you hate what you critic. A lot of people have a hard time with that.
Yes the French critique is definitely something to be appreciated! Some cultures can take it as a negative thing, but here it's a friendly suggestion that shows they are trying to help give some useful advice! :)
Merci! Montréal
Je t'en prie ! Cheers de loin !
Hey! Great video :) Can I ask what career that you have which has allowed you to live In France?
Hello thank you! I actually didn't originally move to France for work, I moved here for my studies and then fell in love with the French culture, found a job and created a life! I talk about how and why I moved to France in another video if that's something that might interest you! :) czcams.com/video/LEnF5B8xH2M/video.html
@@JordanPatrick Thank you, I'll check it out!!
love the FRENCH CRITIQUES 😂 so well explained... could be in all manuals to travel in France
hahah thanks man! It took awhile to not take those critiques too personally LOL
OMG, have only just started this video and your saying what I said the other day. The French seem to make an assumption that us foreigners know how things work over here. It's a tough learning curve non?
OMGGG I'm glad to hear you get my point of view ! It's so true and from the other side as well I unfortunately assumed that some things in the American cultural would be more present abroad as well, but with time came knowledge and integration ! ^^ :)
YouR ??????? You are or you're ? Why do Americans write so badly ?
Oh my goodness! Thank God the term "mutuelle" means something about the French social benefit system and not some other activity. If you said "I'm into mutuelle" in the US people may choke while they are drinking their super sized 64 oz 7 eleven big freeze soda! (And french people do not like to drink giant ice filled sodas at all!) Mutuelle aside, great and interesting video!
Thank you for your comments! This was a really interesting and fun video to film because I had so much to talk about! I might do a follow up video about things I wish I knew before moving to the French countryside after Paris !
I have traveled to France and I think they are reserved and slow to share personal details.
Strange story about the mutuelle as if you work in France your employer pays the mutuelle for you its automatic.And if you dont work then each time you went to the doctor dentist...they ask for you mutuelle card so i dont understand how it took you 4 years to realise you needed one.
27 yr American thinking of moving to France.
Awesome! Have you been doing research as to which city you want to live in?
@@JordanPatrick lyon
@@XxDINOxFROSTxX Lyon ? 🙂 Great idea ! Close to the Alps, close the mediterranean sea, and French capital of the gastronomy 😉
What should we do to study in France? I would be very happy if you make a video about it. and how can we improve our french? Greetings from Istanbul/Turkey 🌺😊
Hello! Those are great questions and I answer them in a couple other videos that I've already made so feel free to check them out, here are the links :)
How to Move to France: czcams.com/video/LEnF5B8xH2M/video.html
How I Became Fluent in French: czcams.com/video/ftd3tfjRYG8/video.html
@@JordanPatrick thanks ☺️
Hi you look french because of your red -darkbrown hair and blue / light eyes. And the french have nice sweaters like yours :)
Hey thanks for the compliments, that's nice of you ! When I first moved to France I'd say my style was very American and it was easy to guess my nationality because of my loose fitting clothes and bad haircut ^^
As an old American I liked the experiences you related to us. We intend to live near the Mediterranean area, Nice, Marseilles or Cannes. We are not poor but not rich either, comfortable in So Cal. Looking for more moderate weather near the sea but San Diego is super expensive, I learned how to drive with a stick shift car. So, I have an international driver's license. I will not be working but living off US Social Security and IRA money. What am I missing?
Hey, thanks for your comment! All the cities you've mentioned are fairly good options, especially for more enjoyable weather. Marseille would definitely be the cheapest of those three options, but I'd definitely recommend visiting first if you haven't already because that city is not for everyone, I've been there a couple times and really enjoyed it, but I've heard mixed reviews from people who have lived there. I think Nice would be the best of the three, because it's beautiful and clean and the weather is amazing year round, but the price will be more expensive (probably not as expensive as California though, so that's a good selling point!)
Dear Jaack, Jordan is right : Marseille is something "special" in France. But, actually, all south-east is. Nice, Cannes, all the French Riviera is really expensive. And as a French, I find these people a bit rude lol There is "another" south in France, less known, but really worth of it : the south-west. Cheaper, with nicer people. Lots of historical cities, châteaux, and breathtaking landscapes (I give you the different Département's names : Tarn, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Dordogne, Tarn-et-Garonne, Haute-Garonne, Gers and, of course : le Pays basque).
C'est vraiment bien hello I speak france and English
I also have dual citizenship with an Irish passport. Hope that makes the trip easier.
Hello thanks for your comments! Yes the Irish passport would definitely make your move to France a whole lot easier! You'd just have to file for a residency permit and with an Irish passport that should be fairly simple and easy!
@@JordanPatrick Is Montpelier an option for French residency based on my perv texts? Or is Nice the place for me?
Bet you prefer the holidays (vacation days) to the US.
Oh yesss 100% !!!!
I would love to move to France