When you move to another country, you expect change. No matter how prepared you are it is always in the daily foibles of life that end up teaching us the most. Adjusting to expat life in France has been a mix of practical lessons, cultural surprises and personal growth all the while learning a new language.
No matter how large or small a change you make in your own lives it takes time to adjust, time to process. However, the heart of it is the same, the message lies in the doing, not in being perfect. Regret, on the other hand, tends to stem from not trying at all. So if there is a class you want to join, start a new hobby or simply dare to try something you’ve long put off, give it a try.
So here are five things I’ve had to adjust to and to adopt in daily life here in France.
1. Life Without a Car
Back in the U.S. I took for granted the luxury of hopping in the car and running to the store in five minutes flat. Forgot milk? No problem, I’d be back before the coffee cooled.
Here not so much, most people walk, bike or take public transportation. There are incredible positives to this lifestyle, I’ve gotten to know the city on a much deeper level by walking its streets, discovering hidden shortcuts, finding little parks I never would have noticed otherwise. It forces me to stay present, to actually see the place I live.
Of course there is the flip side. I need to buy groceries rain or shine. I now check the weather forecast before I decide if it’s going to be a shopping day. Which I am sure will wear off, as people who live here do not get affected by the rain at all. It’s business as usual.
Getting around via walking or biking is a mindset that started at a very young age here. I will enclose a picture of the preschool bike rack. So many students bike alongside their parents coming to school. In addition, the local mall has an entrance for a bike garage. I will enclose that picture as well.
2. Shopping Almost Every Day – Expat Life in France
France typically does not do big grocery runs. Food here spoils faster due to fewer preservatives, which means shopping is more frequent. Honestly, the reward is worth it. A daily fresh baguette (possibly still warm) for one euro is truly magical. An interesting fact, typically people do not eat while walking in the street, however, there is one exception, eating the end of the baguette is considered perfectly o.k.
Without a car I also learned the practical art of carrying only what I can manage. Enter my latest indulgence, a waterproof “chariot” shopping cart complete with the state of the art rotating stair climbing wheels. It’s very practical, but also a bit on the loud side but I found it quite effective on crowded sidewalks.
3. Learning the Language
Being here means immersion, whether I’m ready for it or not. Reading menus, deciphering street signs, knowing how much to pay for a public bathroom, or asking for directions forces me to stretch my French far beyond the comfort zone.
Some days my brain is not ready, I call it, “walkabout moments”. I’ll stumble on the simplest word or suddenly forget how to conjugate anything. But then comes a small victory: a successful conversation with a storekeeper. On those days I remember that trying matters more than getting it perfect.
4. Adjusting to French Rhythms
France runs on a different schedule. The general focus on life here is very much balancing work with personal life and it shows. The preschool I am working at has every Wednesday off. All schools have sessions for 6 weeks and 2 weeks off all year round. Lunch is a two hour affair, most offices will close down from 12:00 – 2:00. Sundays? Nearly everything is shut down except for the grocery store which closes at 1:00. Walking through town on a Sunday feels completely different from the bustle of the weekdays.
The streets are quieter, traffic thins out, and the parks come alive instead, families are having picnics, friends are visiting on benches, the parks and playgrounds are full. There’s an easy, unhurried atmosphere that feels both calm and connected.
5. Rethinking Space and Possessions – Expat Life in France
French apartments are smaller and more compact. Both closet space and dryers are scarce. Walking through the neighborhoods one can see that hanging laundry to dry on a balcony is the norm.
At first, I missed the abundance of space I had back in the U.S. But now, I find a kind of freedom in living with less. There’s less to clean, less to clutter, and a focus more on experiences than things.
In Closing
Living here is teaching me that adaptation isn’t just about adjusting to what’s around you, it’s just as much as discovering parts of yourself in the process. It’s about walking in the rain when I’d rather be driving, learning a new language when my brain wants to take a quick nap, and embracing the rituals that force you to slow down.
Whether you are moving abroad, learning something new, or stepping into an experience you’re not sure you’ll succeed at, remember this, it’s not about perfection, it’s not about regret. It’s about trying. Because the meaning we find in trying is far greater than wondering if you could have done it.
Thanks for being here,
-Soraya
Expat Life In France – Weekly Markets