This year we are looking for a house in Provence for the holidays. Do you have any recommendations for villages? Any information will be greatly appreciated. Kurt asked.
Aix en Provence, Avignon, Lourmarin, Apt where you can stay at La Madone, or Uzes, Barjac, or Arles, Cotignac…..
Is it essential to speak French to get along ok? Posted by: sandra blanks
A smile goes a long way. If you are here on vacation a smile and a few words will do….thank you (Merci) How much (Combien) and You sure look pretty (Vous etes belle) can go a long way. If you are in France to live…language is essential…especially with a good pair of lips that can pucker up and blow out.
What is it that we dream so fondly of living abroad? Is it really that different than here in the states? Posted by: jody
Maybe dreaming is what keeps us warm at night?
Yes it is different, both are good and both have room for improvement. France has history and it gives structure…where America shows the possibility in its newness.
Is it really cold in January? Posted by: Nel
You are asking a native Californian is it cold in France in the heart of winter? Yes, I am always a bit cold even in the summer.
Is there anything about France that you dislike? What was your biggest adjustment other than not speaking the language. Posted by: Elaine L.
Oh gee must I say it? When I first moved to France there was a hundred things I didn't like… but now I have grown accustom to most of those things and they don't bother me. With that said the hardest things to adjust to where: 1) Spending what seems like hours to say goodbye to everyone when one is ready to leave. 2) The taxes. 3) The lack of good Mexican food. 4) The school system in regards to the late bloomer and creativity expression. 5) That the word NON said in French seemed so dead end, where in the USA it seems a challenge to go beyond it. 6) The American attitude, "Where there is a will there is a way." I missed that the most. 7) Parking.
My biggest adjustment was… 1) Missing my family and connecting to my new family. 2) That the French seemed more self contained, more reserved, calmer… my personality seemed like a little puppy barking in left field. 3) (And) that I wasn't as independent as I thought I was.
What is the word for "pub"? Posted by: Christine
I think Cafe would be the place best to describe PUB, though Bar is the word.
I bet there is juicy village gossip, no? hee hee…Posted by: Amy
There is a Peyton Place or Desperate Housewives in every town mine included.
What is chic there now? How are they wearing their hair? Jewelry? Posted by: Chelsea G.
Flow-y blouses, prints, wallpaper, mixing old with the new, hair seems to be shaggy and going longer in front and shorter in back, Chunky jewelry, dyed hair even when you aren't grey, cool glasses, More to come when my daughter sends photos….
Also, who keeps your quaint little town clean? Posted by: Hasmin
A whole team of street keepers, garbage collectors, and the maintenance crew in lime green.
What is the weather there like? Posted by: Denise
Chilly crisp fall weather. Sunny with a few puffy clouds.
Living in France? How do YOU pronounce croissant? I have always left out the R. In Australia they leave it in, sounds odd to me:) Posted by: herhimnbryn
Without the R.
When did it feel like you belonged? After 18 years in your little town, do you still feel 'other' and keenly aware of your American-ness, or has that faded? Do you ever hear your beautiful kids speak French flawlessly and marvel at the fact that they are your children? Posted by: Fanfan
About ten years. I felt I belonged when a man (who then became a good friend of mine) asked me how to cook celery at the grocery store. I was flattered to think he thought I was a Bonne Femme (a French woman who knew her cuisine.)
My children alway amaze me, that is what love does to a mother.
Is it hard for Americans to find work in France? Posted by: Charles
Without a Carte de Sejour or a French working visa it would be legally very hard to find a job.
Could you tell us more about the water?
Where does it come from and do you fill pitchers with the water and bring it home for drinking? Posted by: Miz
People do collect it from the fountains in plastic jugs to take home. I don't. Most people buy their water or have water filters in their homes (we have a water filter.) The water is safe, even from the tap without a filter. The water in the fountains come from the natural springs under ground and the household water comes from reservoirs.
Are there any art galleries near you? Or maybe you have a favorite one?Posted by: Kayla
In Marseille, Aix, Arles and Avignon there are many. Sadly though I do not have a favorite… I love the brocante.
Have you ever seen the Tour De France? Posted by: Martha
Yes. Several times.
Do the French freeze or refrigerate their bread to preserve it? Or is it just like a baguette a day and throw out whatever you don't use? And do they make a fuss about carbs like they do here in America?! Posted by: Uber
Yes, though most who live near a bakery and bakeries are everywhere buy it daily. Few throw it out as they eat it. The French for the most part have healthier eating habits.
How difficult is it to live there is one is self-employed? What do you have to do initially? Loads of paperwork? Posted by: Wish I were there
Hard. A ton of paperwork, heavy taxes and like any self employed person a great deal of motivation and determination.
What is like being American living there full-time? Have you grown more French and less American? Posted by: Debbie
I don't see myself as a foreigner. Though with that said it is different to live in a country when you know you are not going back to your country of birth to live. I do not feel more French or Less American. I have taken the best of both places and created my own special place called home. Or one could say I know how to survive.
With that said I am more defensive about France, I try to promote it and see the good it has to offer… especially because in the beginning I wasn't as positive about it.
I know when I visited England they had small refrigerators which made the frequent trips to get food a necessity, is that the same in France? Posted by: Ariane
When we lived in a studio in Paris we had a refrigerator as small as an ice chest. In Chelsea's apartment she has a small refrigerator. As our home got bigger so did our refrigerator. Most food is still packaged in small quantities.
How far is your village by train from Paris? Posted by: Alina
Seven hours by car, three hours by the TGV train, or over an hour by plane.
Do you live in a house to yourself or shared? Do you live upstairs or down or both? Posted by: stljoie
We live in a house that shares walls with other houses. The walls are stone walls that are six feet thick. Our house is on three floors (a natural stair-master workout).
Do the bakery smells waft up towards your home? Posted by: m
Depends which way the wind blows. Though I do smell my neighbors' cooking, which makes my mouth water just thinking about it…. Often I want to go to their homes and eat!
I don't know if that is true, though I am going to check that idea out. If it is not true maybe I'll start making something up about it. Let's see there are cranberry shutters, pale green shutters, lavender shutters, and several variation of blue shutters to name a few… though pastel shutters rule in my neck of the woods.
What method of learning (French) would you suggest? Posted by: Cindy
The best way to learn French is to fall in love. My niece was in love with Michael Jackson, by the time she was 12 she spoke English by listening to his songs.
Are there any bookstores or antiquarians in your village? Posted by: Anna Bluebell
No. Though I save money because of it.
What does your dreamy neighborhood look like at Christmas? Do your neighbors in France go all out with holiday lights like we do here? And do neighbors visit each other often, and ask for that occasional "cup of sugar"? =) Posted by: Beachy
No, the French do not "go all out" like they do in the States at Christmas. But the shops downtown do and it is beautiful.
Yes, neighbors visit each other, and do borrow the occasional sugar. But they are also very respectful of privacy. Rarely would they stop by at unannounced or at the hour of mealtime.
How large is it (population)? Do most of the people who live there work there also, or do they commute to Marseilles or other places? Posted by: Star
My town has 5000. Most commute. Our children use to commute to Marseille to go to Lycee (high school) it took them over an hour (we live twenty five minutes away without traffic).
Is this small village one of those places where everyone knows everyone? I guess I'm asking about the contrast between small town France and small town America, where you grew up.
Yes, for the most part. Small towns can be like fishbowls? In my hometown (in California) everyone knows everyone and everything about your private life… especially if you were born and raised in the area. It is the same in France.
Is it difficult to live in a place where space seems to be at a premium and where there is no grass or gardens surrounding the homes? Posted by: Suzanne
We live in the country, like most small towns in France the center is tight and compact and the wide open spaces are a stone throw away. It is not like living in a city where it takes a car to find natural, wide open spaces.
Nevertheless, living in Europe one senses space differently and values the sense of freedom it offers.
I want to know, does all of your town look like that – filled with lovely old homes and little fountains, or is there a modern section, or even a housing development of boring tract houses? Posted by: Mary
The town's center is hundreds of years old. Though outside the center there is a new section, and a housing development happening as I type.
If you could pick just ONE- only ONE brocante- which is your favorite- the one your wouldn't miss?
Vanves in Paris.
Villeneuve in Avignon.
Do you have any questions or thoughts about France for me??
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