We just celebrated our first “Franceversary”!  This year has flown by and we’ve had so many amazing experiences.  Of course, there have been many ups and downs….many “I hate France!!” days and “France is awesome!” days.  Sometimes I have moments where I still can’t believe we live here, and other times it feels so normal, like we belong here.

I am so thankful we have a great group of expats here that we have met throughout the year.  They are from many different countries too, not just the US.  They offer support, friendship and a look into other cultures and traditions.

Here are some refections so far on life in France:

Things I Like:

  • The amount of vacation days! Ryan has 42 days this year.  This offers people enough time to de-stress, spend quality time with their family and travel
  • A more relaxed lifestyle- 2 hour lunches, very few people rushing around to get from one place to another, sitting down and enjoying a meal or coffee rather than while walking or driving or working at your desk
  • Pharmacies- each one has a slightly different selection, they have high quality and a wide variety of products, they offer homeopathic solutions and pharmacists are well trained on all of the products (not just the medicine)
  • The FOOD!! Not just the type of food but the quality
  • People are active- walking is the main method of transportation when it’s a viable option, biking is common even for those in their 70s and 80s (more so here than in the US), hiking and other outdoor activities are very popular
  • Public transportation – It is much more accessible here and offers an inexpensive and reliable way to get anywhere around town. There is also a great level of respect in terms of allowing the elderly or women to sit, even on a packed tram.
  • We rarely drive.  Our 6 year old car has only 25,000 miles.  It’s a fun change for us to walk and/or take the tram to most places.
  • Public parks – the quality and amount of the parks here.  There is one park nearby that is high up on a hill overlooking the city with amazing views, and it has 7 different playgrounds throughout the park.
  • Accessibility to European travel destinations
  • The “dress code”- Not only are most people here fashionable, people just dress nicer in general.  They have an appreciation for looking put-together and presentable.  I see women of all ages walking around town wearing heels or nice looking shoes with dresses/nice pair of pants, a nice jacket and classic purse….some of the older women dress nicer than I ever have!  No sweatpants or pajamas here!  I can’t imagine the horror if the French saw the “people of Walmart”
  • Healthcare- We pay very little for doctor appointments and prescriptions, and even less after our reimbursements.  We are also prescribed and reimbursed for things such as vitamins, lotions (typical body lotion that people may choose to buy without a prescription) and midwife services, more so than in the US.
  • Childcare – There are numerous methods of childcare available in France. They range from nannys, US-like daycare to in-home childcare. Cost, after paying almost 60% of the salary of the nanny on top of hourly cost, is comparable to the US.  The government even offers a reimbursement that most people are eligible for.

Things I Don’t Like:

  • Healthcare- although I like most aspects of the healthcare here,  I don’t like that it can be hard to get an appointment with the doctor (sometimes because the office literally consists of one doctor and his secretary, so if the secretary is not there and the doctor is busy there is nobody to answer the phone).  For Makenna’s eye doctor appointments, I have to go to the pharmacy to get the drops to dilate her eyes and then I have to put the drops in her eyes before we head out to the appointment….this can be tough with a toddler!  I also have to go to the pharmacy to get Makenna’s vaccines before her appointments; the doctor doesn’t have the vaccines in her office.
  • Dog poop.  On the sidewalk.  Everywhere.
  • Cell service quality – good luck outside the city
  • Smoking – It’s probably healthier to not go running around town due to secondhand smoke.
  • Being so far from family

Favorite Food and Drinks:

  • Baguettes.  Need I say more?  My favorite is a baguette aux céréals, which is made with a mix of different seeds.
  • Wine, wine and more wine – Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Châteauneuf du Pape, Rosé, Champagne
  • Canned duck “confit de canard”
  • Croissants, pain au chocolat, tarts….basically anything at a patisserie
  • Macarons
  • Crêpes
  • Truffade- a traditional dish in this region (Auvergne) of thinly sliced potatoes mixed with melted cheese mmmmm
  • Café- if you want to order a “regular” coffee somewhere, good luck.  it’s all espresso here!
  • Kir- white wine and blackcurrant liqueur
  • Fromage blanc (yogurt)
  • Fresh orange juice machine
  • Salmon tartare
  • Dark chocolate mousse
  • Cheese- Cantal, Gruyère, Saint Nectaire, Chèvre
  • Lentils