Expat Experiences in France

When considering a move to a new city, there is nothing more useful than hearing real life stories and experiences from other expats who have lived there. We'd love to hear about your expat experiences. Please contact us if you live or have lived in France and would like to share your story.

 

Sholu Pande and her husband bought their French house in a beautiful village in south-west France in 2004 and are running a bed and breakfast as well as painting holidays, gourmet breaks and day trips into the stunning Pyrenees and rolling hills of the Gers, the Tuscany of France. Read about her expat life in France in this interesting interview.

Cynthia Caughey Annet fell in love with a Frenchman in 2005 who she met during a train ride in Provence. After 2.5 years of a long distance relationship between Los Angeles and Chambery, she sold her house and business, and mvoed to Chambéry in the heart of the Savoy region of France. Read about her expat life in France here.

Wendy Johnson is an English 42 year old mother living with her French husband in a small village near Montpellier. She has lived in France for 11 years now, spending her time helping people move to France and settle in. Read about her expat life in France her.

Kimberlee Mancha describes herself as a somewhat contrary, 40-something woman who decided to leave corporate life in the USA behind and reinvent her life in France. She runs a small business, The Bohemians, a petite boutique in Brantôme with gifts, clothes, and décor items for home. Read about her expat life in France here.

Dedene Nelson-Court lives in central France between Orléans and Gien near the Loire River and Sully-sur-Loire. She grew up in Oregon and moved all over the U.S. before finally settling in France in France in 1989. Dedene says she came for work, and stayed for love. Read about her expat experiences in France here.

Julie Mautner was a founding editor of Food Arts Magazine in New York and was its executive editor for ten years. She is now a freelance food, wine and travel writer who lives most of the year in Provence, France. Read about her experience of being an expat in France.

Mark Greenside was originally from New York, moved to California, and then dragged by his girlfriend to a tiny Celtic village in Brittany at the westernmost edge of France, in Finistère, where he wrote his book 'I'll Never Be French (No matter what I do)'. Read about his experience of being an expat in France.

Andromeda Huff is a young American expat with hopes of enjoying the good life in France with her Frenchman for many years to come. She worked as an English teacher for two years but is currently studying to get a masters degree in the cultural field, so she can eventually work in the very competitive world of French museums. Get her take on expat life in France here.

Gillian Green (aka Olga Swan) is a writer originally from England but moved to South West France with her husband five years ago upon retirement. They now spend their days in the fresh country air of the French country side. Read about her expat life in France.

Heather Markel is a culture transition specialist who spent a sweet year in Paris working for a French telecommunications office.  Though now back to her native New York, she reminisces about expat life in France.