Interview with Wendy J - a British expat living in France
Wendy Johnson is an English 42 year old mother living with her French husband near Montpellier. She has been living in France for 11 years and loves to help people move to France and settle in. Read her quality blog at www.moving-to-montpellier.comRead more about the country in the Expat Arrivals expat guide to France or read more expat experiences in France
About you
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: Leicester UK
Q: Where are you living now?
A: Lunel, Herault – small town N of Montpellier
Q: How long you have you lived here?
A: in France 11 yrs – In this area since 2002
Q: Did you move with a spouse/ children?
A: Originally moved here with an English husband – we split up and I'm now married to a French chap
Q: Why did you move; what do you do?
A: My English husband was a writer so he could work from anywhere.
About France
Q: What do you enjoy most about living in France, how’s the quality of life?
A: Good. We can have fun as a family without actually spending money – there is less emphasise on material things here than the UK I think. And of course, because the weather is better.
Q: Any negatives? What do you miss most about home?
A: Nobody calls you back. The paperwork drives me insane. When you ask someone in officialdome a question, you'll get different answers from each person you ask. I miss UK supermarkets and larger clothing shops. I find children's clothes and toys expensive and not a huge range of sizes of women's clothes and not much choice.
Q: Is the France safe?
A: yes
About living in France
Q: Which are the best places/suburbs to live in the city as an expat?
A: I think in the countryside between Nimes and Montpellier is the best area.
Q: How do you rate the standard of accommodation?
A: It's what you make of it. It's likely if you are in the cheaper brackets you'll have to do some work on a place. Spend more money and you'll get a stunner.
Q: What’s the cost of living compared to home? What is cheap or expensive in particular?
A: See above
Q: What are the locals like; do you mix mainly with other expats?
A: I mix with both French and ex-pats.
Q: Was it easy meeting people and making friends?
A: I find it very easy – particularly as I run an expats association www.britsnimes.com and I have 2 kids under 5
About working in France
Q: Did you have a problem getting a work visa/permit?
A: I don't need one as I'm EU
Q: What’s the economic climate like in France, is there plenty of work?
A: No
Q: How does the work culture differ from home?
A: Offices are very political. People will only do the job they are allocated to do and no more.
Q: Did a relocation company help you with your move?
A: No – that's why I made my own www.moving-to-montpellier.com
Family and children
Q: Did your spouse or partner have problems adjusting to their new home?
A: Husband is French
Q: Did your children settle in easily?
A: They were born here
Q: What are the schools like, any particular suggestions?
A: All schools are pretty much the same – it depends on the individual teacher you get – they learn the same thing the same week in all schools all over France.
Q: How would you rate the healthcare in France?
A: Absolutely excellent
And finally…
Q: Is there any other advice you like to offer new expat arrivals?
A: Before you do anything... get a recommendation and go somewhere with a name to ask for....
~ interviewed January 2010
Are you an expat living in France? We'd love to hear your story. Open the questionnaire here, copy into an email and send it back to info@expatarrivals.com
