Moving Abroad: The Challenges No One Talks About

Feeling dumb, uncomfortable, unproductive, disagreeing with your partner...prepare for things no one tells you will be part of the whole amazing enchilada of moving abroad.

About Us:
We are an American family of 3 who moved to France for an extended stay adventure in 2022.
We wanted to experience Europe as more than rushed tourists on a 10-day vacation. To dive into the culture, learn a new language, experience daily life, and truly know what it was like to work and live somewhere other than the US.

In France, we set up a business, enrolled in a middle school, found housing, and even got our cat a European passport!

While in the US preparing to leave, the information we found about staying in France for longer than a short vacation was directed at college students, young & single digital nomads, or retirees. Where was the useful information for families like us?

With a year under our belts in France, we created Baguette Bound to pass on what we have learned. We hope to make it easier and inspire other families who are interested in experiencing a long stay in France with their families. Stay tuned for more information on French culture, local travel ideas, and the logistics of moving across the world.

PLEASE NOTE: While we love hearing from viewers, we do not give personalized advice on moving to France by email.

#movetofrance #france #americansinfrance #expatlife #expatinfrance #baguettebound #frenchcountryside #frenchcountry #frenchlife #frenchlifestyle #livinginfrance #movingabroad #francevlog

[wendytech]

This is one of your best videos, and it "translates" (no pun intended) to anyone who is trying to start a new life anywhere--city to country, elementary school to middle school, etc.! It's great to be aware of the challenges and, as you say, to celebrate the small victories.

[keev]

Starting my sixth year in France as a middle-aged Midwest person who wanted to make a life transition. So many embarrassing errors at first where I did indeed feel like a complete idiot. But I learned to forgive myself, laugh about it, and that putting myself out there was ultimately much better in the long run. For me the first two years were the worst, while I sorted the main bureaucratic things and didn't know many people. But things got better quickly after that. Five years later, things are going great. I've developed close friendships, am no longer terrified by the thought of a phone call, and feel like I can get by in almost any situation. I did put a *lot* of time on nights and weekends into improving my level of French, which is now C1 level and that was very important. I know there will be more challenges ahead now and then but I have the self-confidence and humility to deal with them, which I probably couldn't say before I began this adventure. Thanks for all your insights.

[LesFrenchiesTravel]

OMG...you guys nailed it. Colleen had to deal with with all of that, and I'm French native. Maybe we should create a group called "I moved to France and survived it!!"😅

[christianjambou]

Hi guys.
I m a Frenchman who lived in California for 15 years (with no English to start with), I eventually met my Irish wife. We then moved to France to go to Ireland 7 years later. One thing I don't see mentioned often is that you are a different person when you speak another language. Keep up the good work. You make me wanna go back to France now.

[philipwittamore]

Personally I found myself suddenly with a job in Paris and a new French girlfriend. It was sink or swim! 48 years later I'm glad to say I learned to float 😆

[lohphat]

When my company posted me to Paris from San Francisco in 1996 they paid for an international relocation company to handle my move. Not only did they handle the move and storage, they offered cultural training sessions to set expectations of daily life of an expat, how the banking system and other components of life work and they helped coordinating with all the basics like utilities since I didn’t know a word of French yet.

My grandfather passed away 2 weeks before I moved and grieving the first few months alone 5000 miles from family hit really hard and made my transition into French life that much harder.

It took me 6 months or so to gain enough French via Berlitz courses (worthless) and the PBS series French in Action on VHS and courseware text (fantastic!). Upon arrival to Paris I was near fluent in German from school study. Oops. Wrong choice of language in HS at age 15…

But yes, if you are counseled before you depart on what to expect, it makes it SOOOO much easier and gives you opportunities to laugh things off when you do make faux pas.

It’s life.

Roll with the punches.

[paulkoza]

The thing I like about your videos is that you tell it like it is. Thanks.

[enriquesanchez]

PLEASE, PLEASE - Tell us how you FINALLY got in that DOOR! I was holding my breath until the END!

[first-dooblette]

hello from Nantes😉, If that can reassure you I may be French and 43 years old, the problem of the door is always a challenge for me too but I put things into perspective and I tell myself that my ancestors had slightly more serious problems (war, plague...), and then I have a smile. Our problems today are so futile that now I take them as a joke. Stay in France, you will overcome all this😉🇫🇷

[psour]

As a French guy I had to move to Seattle USA for years. At start I felt completely lost and I was doing everything wrong. I even asked in a restaurant the price of a free coffee. I felt I was an idiot and thought everyone was looking at me the bad way. But after some time, I managed to get used with people and habits, their way of life, and my own mistakes. When I came back to France, I felt lost again because I was now used to leave like an American guy. 🤣

[sweetdays]

Your sincere and down the earth approach when sharing things is greatly appreciated and truly helpful. Thank you!

[maisondaoki]

The door part had me laughing . My first time taking a train in Paris, the train left because apparently I had to open the door myself. And, didn’t know that😂😂

[petebartlett]

We move in 2 months, excited and scared, but looking forward to the adventure

[lollygee]

In less than 2 weeks I will be in France for 6 weeks for my first time with my eye on retirement in 2 years. As an American i really appreciate your videos and all the comments from your French audience as well. While I took a lot of French classes in high school and university, I never had the opportunity to use it, but I’ve been working with Babble and other online courses to at least have a basis for my trip. I now think as soon as I am back, I will enroll in formal classes again so that I have some more written and conversational french in my toolkit. Don’t know why that hadn’t occurred to me before….

[wildflower]

So true!! We moved to Brittany from the US a year ago. It is definitely a humbling experience. Although we have traveled extensively, it is an entirely different thing to move overseas. That sense of feeling very inept and childlike is tough, especially when faced with the grim faced cashiers or medical receptionists! The best remedy is a sense of humor and the ability to remind yourself of how many "wins" you've had.

[sallyjohansson]

Your video made me warm all over. I completely identify. We lived many years in France and in the beginning, each bureaucratic challenge was a frustration but when you finally get through it, honestly, you walk ten feet taller…till the next time! Haha! We actually started a company in France and eventually employed marvelous French workers. Everyone was helpful to a fault. After some years we sold the company and retired…in the USA. Still miss France very much and often imagine moving back. Visits to France are highlights of our lives now. I can only encourage you to stay put and build your home, one challenge at a time. You’re a team!

[ariannewdnotbe]

Great advice, as always.
When we were in Paris in May, we went to a dinner party where French was the only language at the table. I always do my best to join in, but after a couple of hours I felt overwhelmed & discouraged. It took me a couple of days to get over. I find it helpful to remind myself that I’ve come quite far & to remember to laugh.

[elonmusk]

As a french viewer, I use your videos to improve my english. Moreover, that's really fun to have your feelings about french culture. Good video 👍

[dashbolts]

Those challenges are hard but overcoming those challenges are also so fullfilling and so helpful to make you grow as a person (and as a family as you said), that it makes it absolutely worth it !

[estherstohler]

I too have made small mistakes among French friends.
Some saw it as an affront, "malheureusement"!

Here too, the Alsacians are friendly, very nice and helpful.

Not to forget, France was once an empire with an upscale culture.
This pride in their nation still shines through today in their good behavior, manners and upscale food culture. As well as: the Opera, concerts, museums or even churches, etc.

They even protect their language with pride as something precious.
In the earlier days, French was the diplomatic language for a few centuries.

Quote:
The "Académie Française" in Paris, the so-called "Loi Toubon" (a law to protect the French language in France), has a normative influence on the French language.

2. Learning their language is not an easy thing.
Even for me, my native language is Swiss German.
But it's worth it. French is so very charming / "trés charmant"!