I’m married to a 🇫🇷guy who came to the US for grad school & stayed. Fast forward to our retirement. We have spent loads of time in France w/family & friends in different regions, so if we move there soon, I already have a good idea of big cities there, as well as village life. I’ve told my husband that screens & a/c are must-haves. I don’t want to be eaten alive by mosquitoes which I am every single visit to my SIL on the Provençal coast which also gets blazing hot in the summer. I’m glad you’ve adjusted so well. It’s pretty remarkable since you didn’t speak much French at the beginning. You are doing a wonderful thing for your daughter.
You can get a reversible heat pump (pompe à chaleur réversible) that can heat your house in winter and use it as an AC system in summer. They have become really common in France these last years due to state subsidies that can help people to get a more economical heating system.
As a French I do not advise our American friends to come thinking they are living a crazy life. Even in Paris where everyday life is not like Emily in Paris. Come instead for a more stable family life, less consumerist, less stressful. Choose a place with fibre and good internet connection. But be as close to your new neighbours. Possibly try several regions before you settle. In France you can easily move from the city to the countryside, from the sea to the mountains to make you a review. Some regions are used to having foreigners settle in. From my point of view, coming from the USA you have, like the Parisians who leave Paris, a more important purchasing power than a French provincial. Don’t rush into anything.
Bonjour! Excellent advice. We learned during our time in Ukraine that accepting the nuanced lifestyle is healthier than constantly comparing the states with Europe.
did you know that the film with Tom Cruise (the last samurai) is based on the true story of the Frenchman Jules Brunet who fought alongside the last samurai 😉
Nice tips ! The windows screening part is fun. I'm so rarely annoyed by a bug or mosquitoes at night that I really don't see the utility, the hassle and the loss of free opening to put a screen. Maybe it is a bug degree of tolerance thing. 🤣🤣
It also depends where you live : places that are close to ponds, forest, cattle farming zones (lots of flies) or rivers can be really bothering. Anyway you can find windows and doors screenings in France in most home improvement shops or online.
You can find _moustiquaires_ (mosquito screens, rideaux/panneaux anti-moustiques) quite easily in France but you have to adjust them to fit your windows and doors. A quick seach on internet shows lots of results. About AC systems, the situation is a bit more complicated : most home improvement shops have portable AC devices but they're only usable for small rooms. However, if you need to get a new heating system you can choose a reversible heat pump (pompe à chaleur réversible) that can heat your home in winter and cool down in summer. And if you have a low income you can get a _subvention_ (state subsidy) to help buy this system that is supposed to be more economical than gas or fuel heating systems. Oh, I forgot : modern rolling shutters can also be used to still get some light while avoiding biggest bugs, but they aren't efficient against mosquitos.
Heat pump are more effective than « normal » electric heaters since you get 3 times the consumption in heat (3000W heat for 1000w electricity). Compared to fuel or gas, well it depends on market prices…
@@xouxoful The main problem with heat pumps, in the way they have been suddenly deployed in France these last years, is many companies that are supposed to have some expertise are sadly too often profit driven and don't always propose the proper solutions to homeowners needs (inadequate insulation, oversized or undersized systems...). It can result in a paradoxical rise of the energy bill isnted of its reduction. Hence my " supposed to be more economical than gas or fuel" in my initial comment. Not to mention the outrageous rise of electricity prices in France recently due to the European energy "open market."
We are here…been watching y’all for a while but just reiterating we are here en permanence from Austin : ) arrived in April and traveling until December to decide where we want to be our ‘forever home’. We will be in Bordeaux in late October… = )
You are absolutely right. All these points are also valid if you move from one European country to another; you'd still face the same challenges. I'm so glad you managed all the cultural changes and enjoy being there now. Thanks for all your messages and optimism.
The strangest thing is that there may come a day when you have built a life and deep friendships in your new home to where it becomes hard to go back to your first “real home.” Assuming you feel at home and welcome in your new home. Relationships in Europe and outside the USA in general take a lot longer to build, but they’re deeper relationships. Been there, done that on 3 continents. Awesome video. You’re doing a fantastic job not speaking the language. Je suis libanais et j’habite en Caroline du Nord. Bon courage. Bordeaux est magnifique,
Hello from Nantes, a little French history. Do you know that fairy tales (almost all of them): Cinderella Beauty and the Beast Sleeping Beauty Puss in Boots... were invented and written by the french Charles Perrault around the 1690s, he is the pioneer of fairy tales😉
Hum, often not so much invented as adapted in written form from oral traditions. And there was a vogue of written fairy tales when he wrote them but it was a (short-lived) vogue for adults.
@@philippenachtergal6077 ok, but don't worry I knew about it but I'm not going to read his biography either, but go ahead and dig a little deeper, you seem to know so much about it 😉
I made the opposite journey. I moved to the US forme France. I did not manage to adapte and finally got back to France. Hope you're enjoying our country and tell your american friends and family how france is great :))))
Thanks, we really enjoyed your insights and can relate to all of them including the insect screens! We moved to Europe 2 years ago from Australia. In our 60s it’s been a challenge but an incredible experience and we have no plans to return or regrets. We have a home in Italy and lease an apartment in France. We have no idea where we might settle permanently. We’ve always said we’re moving to Europe as we’re keeping all our options and minds open. These past two years we’ve visited and researched many places with many more to go. We’re looking forward to exploring your region early next year.
Love your channel!!!! I've been to France 5 times staying 4 to 8 weeks each time which has given me a greater sense of what to expect when I move there this year!!
about mosquito scrren tyou have also to consider. that it will block a significant amount of light, think of it as a dirty window. not something you want during winter. i would build something with mosquito net, velcro and glue so that you can get rid of it when you need to.
Hello, About mosquito issue, we didn't have to deal with it few years ago. And due to climate warming, we have a lot more mosquito invasions now, especially the species coming from abroad (moustique-tigre). That is why mosquito net was not part of our habits.
Si j'ai bien compris vous déménagez vers une ville un peu plus grande prochainement, ce serait intéressant de faire une vidéo un peu plus détaillé sur ce changement, ce qui vous a motivé et comment vous avez choisi votre nouvelle ville. J'espère que votre fille ne sera pas trop loin de ses amis =)
@@huquui8789 c'est ça, ils donnent surtout des conseils à ceux qui veulent franchir le pas et venir en france. Et cette famille est adorable, le bonheur qu'ils ont de s'être installés ici fait plaisir à voir :)
Great videos and congratulations on your positive attitude and adaptation capabilities. Being French myself but having lived in a dozen different countries, i know what it takes to adapt to foreign environments...and how hard it can be to adjust to the French (i have to re-learn the local cultural codes of conduct every time i come back!). But France (and even the grumpy French !)has so much to offer and enjoy such a high quality of life (often significantly undervalued by the French themselves). Welcome in France and thank you for contributing so positively, i hope you ll enjoy it (and your daughter to!)for many more years
Hi, Some 5 years before, we didn't have to deal with mosquito issue. Due to climate warming and species coming from abroad (moustique-tigre), it is now invasive. That is why mosquito screens were not part of our habits.
My definition of an expat is that it is somebody who has a house and an immigrant has a home. So it is a mindset. If you call yourself expat, you are more interested in the geographical location and less in the rest, like the people and the way of living. The first will make things a LOT harder on yourself. The second will make you more open minded to changes. Just having that mindset helps a lot.
Just a quick fyi for the cookies - one can create the equivalent of brown sugar by mixing white sugar with molasses. One tablespoon of molasses to each cup of sugar. In the states, brown sugar is made by adding molasses to refined white sugar. For lighter or darker sugar, reduce or increase its proportion according to taste.
Like your video❤ I've emigrated 4 times, different countries, its always a leap in the dark. Point 6 is valid, visiting somewhere is not the same as living there.
Another great video! When I visited Kazakhstan over twenty years ago, during their usual very hot summer, they had beautiful curtain sheers that covered the windows and the outside doorway. Seemed to work well as we had the windows open at night and slept bug free.
One of the blessings (and yes, there were some silver linings) of the pandemic years: I was able to move from the greater Houston, TX commute CF in August 2020 to the Texas hill country an hour west of Austin and work remote, which I did until my retirement six weeks ago. First time I ever lived truly rural (12 miles from my town of 6,607 souls). So combine rural with most shops not open on Sundays and very limited take out/virtually no delivery? I feel like I was in "emigrant in training" mode! That said, leaving HEB? IYKYK. This was a great video, thanks! And I love the idea of greeting the neighbors with American baked goodies or other specialties.
Great videos thank you. We are an Irish couple in our 50’s who have just seen the house we want to buy . Near Saintes . We are putting in offer tomor . Thanks for all the help . We will keep you posted.
If you can find molasses there, you can make brown sugar very easily. We haven't tried using grape molasses--a delicious condiment from Sicily and Southern Italy, but reportedly treasured in other parts of Europe-- (it might be called Vino Cotto, Vincotto, or 'must' or saba) but it is worth knowing about in its own right. It might work. I'll find out the proportions of white 'caster' sugar that you would use (just granulated sugar, and molasses). You probably just start with a couple of cups of sugar and start stirring in tablespoons of molasses at a time. --------Be inventive! You might come up with something even tastier, even if it doesn't yield 'American' cookies, perfectly. We like trying to make an authentic Dutch Apeltaart (in a springform pan) now and then, or a 'casata al forno', which tastes ever so much better with ricotta from/in Italy. Keith in Marshall, NC
If you are planning to stay longer than say 1 year/ semi-permanently you are an immigrant, not an expatriate! Also there are many solutions for mosquitos other than American screens. More traditional is bed lace curtains or window lace curtains. They are both cheap options more in line with France and look the part 🥂
once you're installed in the new life of a new country, may be it's less difficult to just move from countryside to a urban area, in the same country, like the locals do. I lived in an urban area, in Strasbourg, and had to move in the countryside of Normandy. The change was not easy, but every places has their pros and cons. Even for natives.
I had screen issues moving from CA to NY. Fitted screens aren't common but adjustable screens are. So you can get them at your local home warehouse store and put them in as you need them. They only work in sash windows so shutter windows are a challenge. I too was eaten alive in my first summer in Paris. Ugh. Then I understood why Parisians leave during August.
My husband and I love watching your channel. Good information and you are both great to listen to. We live in North Carolina but I am originally from Poland and have dual citizenship. Lately we have been thinking of moving to Europe or at least living there for a year or so. France is out top destination. Poland would be ok too but we are spoiled by NC blue skies and weather and Poland is cold. So thinking of south of France. One of our motivating factors is the political mess here in the US. However, lately we have been hearing some disturbing news that French government might end up being far right as well. This worries us. So I was wondering how do you guys feel about this situation. Given that far right governments generally dislike emigration. Do you think life would be harder for you and others coming from different countries if La Pen's government got power? Thank you for your contents and an answer (when you have the time) :) Kinga
Please do not worry about Mme Le Pen and her party. They try to protect french values and civilisation. I dont who will be PM but certainly not the right party. And for you américains fingers crossed that will not be the left. They re going to take your savings to reimburse our national debt. Its what Sandrine rousseau said😅
There is one important thing to mention. If you choose to leave your country make sure you learn the language of the country. If English is so important to you stay in the US. If the US is the only country that has everything right stay in the US. IF life style is only right in the US stay in the US. And again if English is the only language that is worth speaking stay in the US.
Une moustiquaire...c'est un élément souple , transparent.Vous l'ajustez à la mesure de vos fenêtres , ensuite vous appliquez les attaches.Le vent circule, fraîcheur et ventilation.Après 2 ans , changez la toile...voilà ;) ....A mosquito net...it's a flexible, transparent element. You adjust it to the size of your windows, then you apply the clips. The wind circulates, freshness and ventilation. After 2 years, change the canvas...that's it ;) 😉
I live rurally in switzerland and I can relate to the lack of takeaway delivery😂 we actually have sushi or french brioches delivered (the two random local places) but you need to order 2-4 days in advance😅 I do it for birthdays sometimes
Oh, yes!! We have a couple places you can order take away from.but it's the same, I need to decide a week in advance I won't want to cook that night and what I'll be hungry for. 🤷♀️ Small price to pay. 😉
There’s a reason people have anti-moustique devices here (those you plug in with liquid inside. Plus avoid keeping the light on when opening the window : this attracts ton of insects!
HI, why don't you try to find "vergeoise" or "cassonade" to make your cookies ? it's the same product with a different name and It's brown sugar. Used to make spéculoos or to cook "carbonade flamande".
Thank you! Cassonade has a slightly different taste and moisture content, it doesnt work quite as well. Or maybe i should say it bakes just a little different and i end up with a little different cookies. But we will look for vergeoise and try it in our baking. Thank you!
Cassonade has less moisture and a slightly different taste/flavor than brown sugar. I've seen many claims that they are identical, but I can see them both in front of me and they are just a bit different. In some recipes this smalk difference does affect the final consistency and taste. Thanks for watching.
Bonjour Raina and Jason! Another fantastic video full of really great guidance. OMG re the screens! It’s really a challenge. Do you guys use nets for the time being if it’s too hot to keep the windows shut? Thanks again for doing these! I’m your girl if you need baking supplies btw!
We ordered screens from a local company and hoping they arrive before summer is over. Otherwise, yep, I'm just going to have to get a couple of mesquito nets for the beds. Because that's the worst...waking up covered in bites! 🙁
Si vous n’ouvrez pas les fenêtres, vous ne pouvez pas entendre les bruits du jardin et les oiseaux. Vous êtes toujours enfermé ou si vous voulez entendre quelque chose il faut que vous sortiez votre maison c’est pas logique.
I live in south of france and misquitos are a pain, screens are an easy solution, found them on amazon france for prety cheap and works like a charm. specialy for doors with a magnetic closing system.
hello, happy independence day. for the n°2 of your video i found a site and its RUclips channel which could interest. as my message was deleted 4 times i do not give an address "french connections hcb". before you i was following a retired canadian couple who had bought a small house in the south-west, they were introducing me to a part of my country that i don't know, i'm originally from the Vosges and Haut-Rhin. they waited a long time for their long term visa and still hadn't received it when their youtube channel was deleted, regards Glenn.
do you know guedelon? No? Since 1997 an archeology team decided to build a 13th century castle with only tools and equipment from the period, that is to say like in the Middle Ages. It is located in the forest de Tregni about 2 hours from Paris and is open to visitors (300,000 visitors per year) If you have the opportunity I advise you to go take a look. It is a unique project in the world, it is a real dive into the Middle Ages 😉♥️
@@BaguetteBound And do you know Puy du fou? No? You have Disney Land in the United States but we have Puy du Fou, voted the best amusement park in the world for quite a few years. It is an immense park which traces the history of France from Roman Gaul to Napoleon, the shows are grandiose. Another place to visit if you haven't already. It is located in Vendée. I'm sorry to bother you so much but it's for a good cause 😉And for guedelon there is a Channel youtube
Learning the language and engaging in the community is the #1 priority. French people appreciate foreigners who make an effort to adapt; everything becomes easier afterward. Huge don't : jokes about the annoying stereotype of the French surrendering at war.
The cookies is a genius idea. I don’t know why but French people can’t make good cookies. My upstairs neighbors are from Ecuador and offered me real American cookies they had made, they were delicious!
@LU-jo2jz it the are made correctly ans with the right ingredients it's the texture that really sets it apart. It should be fairly flat, crispy edges with a softer center. Heven, especially warm. But most "American" cookies I see in France aren't made this way at all, they are more like thick little firm cakes.
sorry for being a little abrupt but I saw that almost everyone had their own little heart and I didn't even though I was one of the first. It made me feel a little pang in the heart and you know the French are sensitive too 😉. I'm taking the liberty of writing to you because I watch all your videos. I like people who love and respect my country, it's so rare these days 😭😭😭, especially Americans so I'm really sorry to you have offended but at the same time I treat you like real French people. In France the greatest quality is that we are frank, if I like it I tell you and if I don't like it I tell you too, we hate people who lie or who pretend and that's why I apologize to you because you do neither. And yes the French know how to recognize their mistakes😉♥️
Merci pour cette note. Je pense qu'être direct et honnête est une grande qualité française. Nous ne nous rendions pas compte de l'importance d'un cœur ! Nous le savons maintenant. Merci d'avoir regardé. 🙂
We considered that in the beginning, but have come love France so much and Juliana has adjusted well to the French school system. We feel lucky France is so well situated we've already been able to visit more countries in the surrounding area than we ever dreamed was possible living in the States, and I'm ok with not living there. We can't give up French cheese now! 😂
Bonjour, I want Jason sweater! I want To go home(France) .. in October but banking is a big challenge even though I get very good retirements . How did you cross that road, FACTA makes it so difficult . Any advice how to open a bank account, I speak and read and write French. I liked Juliana cheese saga, sweet kid. She will so appreciate this great experience later in grown up years.😅
Ask around in expat groups when you get here. Often certain bank branches are willing to take Americans if you know which one. Where we are we've had good luck with Credit Agricole. Bon chance!
@@BaguetteBound thanks so much I will definitely check credit Agricole.., where did Jason get his sweater? I am a sweater freak,, only have 11 of them.. if in the states maybe I can find it. Love your show . I see you are all book up til September 3 rd. WOW guys doing great.
If the far Right is in power (for the first time since the Vichy government), I imagine things could get dicey for foreigners living there. Gonna get interesting pretty fast, IMO.
you who now live in France, you cannot become French if you do not know the history of France, at least a minimum, that is why I suggest to you and especially to your daughter to discover the video (clovis king of Franks) is the founder of France's thecajun cutthroat channel which brings together a lot of the history of France and its heroes, these are videos to read, and it's in English of course 😉 with music period of 10 min on average. Now that you are in France you are obliged to know its history and you realize that it is the greatest story that has influenced the Western world 😉
Well, if my information doesn't interest you, it doesn't matter, I'm giving you the opportunity to get to know France a little more but you don't get it👍, it's weird, I'm never allowed to have my little one heart 😭😭, are you sorting? In the future I will refrain from sending you I love Americans, they come to settle in France but without being interested in its history, even though it is its history that made France (it is as if you adopted a child without worrying about their past). But hey, as I said, I won't bother you with my comments anymore, except for not having any recognition. Ahlalala, respect is being lost these days 😴😴😴
Hello, your comments on French history are read and appreciated. We are both reading books on French history now and it certainly does help one have a deeper understanding of culture in France. There is a lot to know, I think even if we live here the rest of our lives we will certainly not come close to knowing all the things! Thanks for watching and bon diamanche.
There are quite a few companies in France who have pretty cool screen retrofits for standard French windows. Yes some expense, but you need to do more research.
I’m married to a 🇫🇷guy who came to the US for grad school & stayed. Fast forward to our retirement. We have spent loads of time in France w/family & friends in different regions, so if we move there soon, I already have a good idea of big cities there, as well as village life. I’ve told my husband that screens & a/c are must-haves. I don’t want to be eaten alive by mosquitoes which I am every single visit to my SIL on the Provençal coast which also gets blazing hot in the summer. I’m glad you’ve adjusted so well. It’s pretty remarkable since you didn’t speak much French at the beginning. You are doing a wonderful thing for your daughter.
You can get a reversible heat pump (pompe à chaleur réversible) that can heat your house in winter and use it as an AC system in summer. They have become really common in France these last years due to state subsidies that can help people to get a more economical heating system.
As a French I do not advise our American friends to come thinking they are living a crazy life. Even in Paris where everyday life is not like Emily in Paris. Come instead for a more stable family life, less consumerist, less stressful. Choose a place with fibre and good internet connection. But be as close to your new neighbours. Possibly try several regions before you settle. In France you can easily move from the city to the countryside, from the sea to the mountains to make you a review. Some regions are used to having foreigners settle in. From my point of view, coming from the USA you have, like the Parisians who leave Paris, a more important purchasing power than a French provincial. Don’t rush into anything.
You are asolutly right when you say going in holidays in a country is very different from living as a local.
Bonjour! Excellent advice. We learned during our time in Ukraine that accepting the nuanced lifestyle is healthier than constantly comparing the states with Europe.
abd on top of that every country is differant inside europe culturarly speaking
Don’t forget about sucre vergoise brun for all your American cookie recipes!,,
did you know that the film with Tom Cruise (the last samurai) is based on the true story of the Frenchman Jules Brunet who fought alongside the last samurai 😉
You both have a great attitude : it's a pleasure to have new residents of this kind in France !
Merci! 😊
@@BaguetteBound Tout a fait d'accord .. !
Nice tips !
The windows screening part is fun.
I'm so rarely annoyed by a bug or mosquitoes at night that I really don't see the utility, the hassle and the loss of free opening to put a screen.
Maybe it is a bug degree of tolerance thing. 🤣🤣
It also depends where you live : places that are close to ponds, forest, cattle farming zones (lots of flies) or rivers can be really bothering. Anyway you can find windows and doors screenings in France in most home improvement shops or online.
You can find _moustiquaires_ (mosquito screens, rideaux/panneaux anti-moustiques) quite easily in France but you have to adjust them to fit your windows and doors. A quick seach on internet shows lots of results.
About AC systems, the situation is a bit more complicated : most home improvement shops have portable AC devices but they're only usable for small rooms. However, if you need to get a new heating system you can choose a reversible heat pump (pompe à chaleur réversible) that can heat your home in winter and cool down in summer. And if you have a low income you can get a _subvention_ (state subsidy) to help buy this system that is supposed to be more economical than gas or fuel heating systems.
Oh, I forgot : modern rolling shutters can also be used to still get some light while avoiding biggest bugs, but they aren't efficient against mosquitos.
Heat pump are more effective than « normal » electric heaters since you get 3 times the consumption in heat (3000W heat for 1000w electricity). Compared to fuel or gas, well it depends on market prices…
@@xouxoful The main problem with heat pumps, in the way they have been suddenly deployed in France these last years, is many companies that are supposed to have some expertise are sadly too often profit driven and don't always propose the proper solutions to homeowners needs (inadequate insulation, oversized or undersized systems...). It can result in a paradoxical rise of the energy bill isnted of its reduction.
Hence my " supposed to be more economical than gas or fuel" in my initial comment. Not to mention the outrageous rise of electricity prices in France recently due to the European energy "open market."
@@chucku00 Heat-pumps are also often relatively loud and run at night. Be aware of hype because subsidies.
We are here…been watching y’all for a while but just reiterating we are here en permanence from Austin : ) arrived in April and traveling until December to decide where we want to be our ‘forever home’. We will be in Bordeaux in late October… = )
❤🎉Great content as usual. I agree with not needing to recreate your old life, that's part of the fun, new environment and new challenges!
You are absolutely right. All these points are also valid if you move from one European country to another; you'd still face the same challenges. I'm so glad you managed all the cultural changes and enjoy being there now. Thanks for all your messages and optimism.
Great video, no sugar coated, the real thing , life happens!
The strangest thing is that there may come a day when you have built a life and deep friendships in your new home to where it becomes hard to go back to your first “real home.” Assuming you feel at home and welcome in your new home. Relationships in Europe and outside the USA in general take a lot longer to build, but they’re deeper relationships. Been there, done that on 3 continents. Awesome video. You’re doing a fantastic job not speaking the language. Je suis libanais et j’habite en Caroline du Nord. Bon courage. Bordeaux est magnifique,
Hello from Nantes, a little French history. Do you know that fairy tales (almost all of them): Cinderella Beauty and the Beast Sleeping Beauty Puss in Boots... were invented and written by the french Charles Perrault around the 1690s, he is the pioneer of fairy tales😉
Hum, often not so much invented as adapted in written form from oral traditions.
And there was a vogue of written fairy tales when he wrote them but it was a (short-lived) vogue for adults.
@@philippenachtergal6077 ok, but don't worry I knew about it but I'm not going to read his biography either, but go ahead and dig a little deeper, you seem to know so much about it 😉
The Beauty and the Beast was written by Mme Leprince de Beaumont if I remember well.
@@heliedecastanet1882 Actually it was Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve in 1740
@@LittrowTaurus True. But I was just referring to the form in which the tale is best known today.
I made the opposite journey. I moved to the US forme France. I did not manage to adapte and finally got back to France. Hope you're enjoying our country and tell your american friends and family how france is great :))))
C'est le rapport qu'ils ont au travail ou autre chose qui t'as posé problème ?
Thanks, we really enjoyed your insights and can relate to all of them including the insect screens! We moved to Europe 2 years ago from Australia. In our 60s it’s been a challenge but an incredible experience and we have no plans to return or regrets. We have a home in Italy and lease an apartment in France. We have no idea where we might settle permanently. We’ve always said we’re moving to Europe as we’re keeping all our options and minds open. These past two years we’ve visited and researched many places with many more to go. We’re looking forward to exploring your region early next year.
Come to the south west Basque coast, these are the surfing spots in Europe and you are at 30 Minute Spanish 😊
Enjoy your videos. Your story about the place setting made me cry. 😊
Love your channel!!!!
I've been to France 5 times staying 4 to 8 weeks each time which has given me a greater sense of what to expect when I move there this year!!
about mosquito scrren tyou have also to consider. that it will block a significant amount of light, think of it as a dirty window. not something you want during winter. i would build something with mosquito net, velcro and glue so that you can get rid of it when you need to.
Most mosquito screens on sale in France can be rolled up or down.
Thank you for your positive energy that both of you are sharing with us so generously! Bonne chance in your journey!
Merci pour votre commentaire et pour avoir regardé notre chaîne !
Hello,
About mosquito issue, we didn't have to deal with it few years ago. And due to climate warming, we have a lot more mosquito invasions now, especially the species coming from abroad (moustique-tigre).
That is why mosquito net was not part of our habits.
Si j'ai bien compris vous déménagez vers une ville un peu plus grande prochainement, ce serait intéressant de faire une vidéo un peu plus détaillé sur ce changement, ce qui vous a motivé et comment vous avez choisi votre nouvelle ville.
J'espère que votre fille ne sera pas trop loin de ses amis =)
Quand est-ce qu'ils disent ça ?
Là ils disent surtout qu'ils ont déjà déménagé.
@@huquui8789 c'est ça, ils donnent surtout des conseils à ceux qui veulent franchir le pas et venir en france. Et cette famille est adorable, le bonheur qu'ils ont de s'être installés ici fait plaisir à voir :)
Great videos and congratulations on your positive attitude and adaptation capabilities. Being French myself but having lived in a dozen different countries, i know what it takes to adapt to foreign environments...and how hard it can be to adjust to the French (i have to re-learn the local cultural codes of conduct every time i come back!). But France (and even the grumpy French !)has so much to offer and enjoy such a high quality of life (often significantly undervalued by the French themselves). Welcome in France and thank you for contributing so positively, i hope you ll enjoy it (and your daughter to!)for many more years
This is just what I needed to hear today. Thank you!
Hi,
Some 5 years before, we didn't have to deal with mosquito issue. Due to climate warming and species coming from abroad (moustique-tigre), it is now invasive.
That is why mosquito screens were not part of our habits.
My definition of an expat is that it is somebody who has a house and an immigrant has a home.
So it is a mindset. If you call yourself expat, you are more interested in the geographical location and less in the rest, like the people and the way of living. The first will make things a LOT harder on yourself. The second will make you more open minded to changes. Just having that mindset helps a lot.
Screen + electric shutters are a good combo for renovation.
Just a quick fyi for the cookies - one can create the equivalent of brown sugar by mixing white sugar with molasses. One tablespoon of molasses to each cup of sugar. In the states, brown sugar is made by adding molasses to refined white sugar. For lighter or darker sugar, reduce or increase its proportion according to taste.
Anywhere you move to, within the US or abroad, there is the "2 years rule". It takes that long to make friends. Just hang in there.
Wow great information
Thank you so much for this amazing information 🙏. I literally found this video as I'm about to move abroad later this month.
Yet another thoughtful down to earth video. Thanks!
Like your video❤ I've emigrated 4 times, different countries, its always a leap in the dark. Point 6 is valid, visiting somewhere is not the same as living there.
Another great video! When I visited Kazakhstan over twenty years ago, during their usual very hot summer, they had beautiful curtain sheers that covered the windows and the outside doorway. Seemed to work well as we had the windows open at night and slept bug free.
Please share your cookie recipe in a future video ! BTW I guess sucre vergeoise blond or brun is your brown sugar.
One of the blessings (and yes, there were some silver linings) of the pandemic years: I was able to move from the greater Houston, TX commute CF in August 2020 to the Texas hill country an hour west of Austin and work remote, which I did until my retirement six weeks ago. First time I ever lived truly rural (12 miles from my town of 6,607 souls). So combine rural with most shops not open on Sundays and very limited take out/virtually no delivery? I feel like I was in "emigrant in training" mode! That said, leaving HEB? IYKYK.
This was a great video, thanks! And I love the idea of greeting the neighbors with American baked goodies or other specialties.
Great videos thank you. We are an Irish couple in our 50’s who have just seen the house we want to buy . Near Saintes . We are putting in offer tomor . Thanks for all the help . We will keep you posted.
Good luck!! Thanks for watching! 🙂
If you can find molasses there, you can make brown sugar very easily. We haven't tried using grape molasses--a delicious condiment from Sicily and Southern Italy, but reportedly treasured in other parts of Europe-- (it might be called Vino Cotto, Vincotto, or 'must' or saba) but it is worth knowing about in its own right. It might work. I'll find out the proportions of white 'caster' sugar that you would use (just granulated sugar, and molasses). You probably just start with a couple of cups of sugar and start stirring in tablespoons of molasses at a time. --------Be inventive! You might come up with something even tastier, even if it doesn't yield 'American' cookies, perfectly. We like trying to make an authentic Dutch Apeltaart (in a springform pan) now and then, or a 'casata al forno', which tastes ever so much better with ricotta from/in Italy. Keith in Marshall, NC
They have a roller blind mosquito screen system in france to be able to open and close schutters
If you are planning to stay longer than say 1 year/ semi-permanently you are an immigrant, not an expatriate! Also there are many solutions for mosquitos other than American screens. More traditional is bed lace curtains or window lace curtains. They are both cheap options more in line with France and look the part 🥂
once you're installed in the new life of a new country, may be it's less difficult to just move from countryside to a urban area, in the same country, like the locals do. I lived in an urban area, in Strasbourg, and had to move in the countryside of Normandy. The change was not easy, but every places has their pros and cons. Even for natives.
I had screen issues moving from CA to NY. Fitted screens aren't common but adjustable screens are. So you can get them at your local home warehouse store and put them in as you need them. They only work in sash windows so shutter windows are a challenge.
I too was eaten alive in my first summer in Paris. Ugh. Then I understood why Parisians leave during August.
My husband and I love watching your channel. Good information and you are both great to listen to. We live in North Carolina but I am originally from Poland and have dual citizenship. Lately we have been thinking of moving to Europe or at least living there for a year or so. France is out top destination. Poland would be ok too but we are spoiled by NC blue skies and weather and Poland is cold. So thinking of south of France. One of our motivating factors is the political mess here in the US. However, lately we have been hearing some disturbing news that French government might end up being far right as well. This worries us. So I was wondering how do you guys feel about this situation. Given that far right governments generally dislike emigration. Do you think life would be harder for you and others coming from different countries if La Pen's government got power? Thank you for your contents and an answer (when you have the time) :) Kinga
Do not worry about ,French voters are smart--
Please do not worry about Mme Le Pen and her party. They try to protect french values and civilisation.
I dont who will be PM but certainly not the right party. And for you américains fingers crossed that will not be the left. They re going to take your savings to reimburse our national debt. Its what Sandrine rousseau said😅
Merci pour la vidéo
What a wonderful video. I am not looking to live abroad, but found your attitude to be relevant here in the US.
There is one important thing to mention. If you choose to leave your country make sure you learn the language of the country. If English is so important to you stay in the US. If the US is the only country that has everything right stay in the US. IF life style is only right in the US stay in the US. And again if English is the only language that is worth speaking stay in the US.
American brown sugar is just granulated sugar plus molasses (about 16g/cup). If you’ve got molasses in France, you’ve got brown sugar.
Une moustiquaire...c'est un élément souple , transparent.Vous l'ajustez à la mesure de vos fenêtres , ensuite vous appliquez les attaches.Le vent circule, fraîcheur et ventilation.Après 2 ans , changez la toile...voilà ;) ....A mosquito net...it's a flexible, transparent element. You adjust it to the size of your windows, then you apply the clips. The wind circulates, freshness and ventilation. After 2 years, change the canvas...that's it ;)
😉
I live rurally in switzerland and I can relate to the lack of takeaway delivery😂 we actually have sushi or french brioches delivered (the two random local places) but you need to order 2-4 days in advance😅 I do it for birthdays sometimes
Oh, yes!! We have a couple places you can order take away from.but it's the same, I need to decide a week in advance I won't want to cook that night and what I'll be hungry for. 🤷♀️ Small price to pay. 😉
There’s a reason people have anti-moustique devices here (those you plug in with liquid inside.
Plus avoid keeping the light on when opening the window : this attracts ton of insects!
Great Video!
HI, why don't you try to find "vergeoise" or "cassonade" to make your cookies ? it's the same product with a different name and It's brown sugar. Used to make spéculoos or to cook "carbonade flamande".
Thank you! Cassonade has a slightly different taste and moisture content, it doesnt work quite as well. Or maybe i should say it bakes just a little different and i end up with a little different cookies.
But we will look for vergeoise and try it in our baking. Thank you!
for your information in france we have brown sugar its just called cassonade
Cassonade has less moisture and a slightly different taste/flavor than brown sugar. I've seen many claims that they are identical, but I can see them both in front of me and they are just a bit different. In some recipes this smalk difference does affect the final consistency and taste. Thanks for watching.
Bonjour Raina and Jason! Another fantastic video full of really great guidance. OMG re the screens! It’s really a challenge. Do you guys use nets for the time being if it’s too hot to keep the windows shut? Thanks again for doing these! I’m your girl if you need baking supplies btw!
We ordered screens from a local company and hoping they arrive before summer is over. Otherwise, yep, I'm just going to have to get a couple of mesquito nets for the beds. Because that's the worst...waking up covered in bites! 🙁
@@BaguetteBound waking up covered in bites is the worst for sure. Happy sleeping with the windows open once those screens arrive!
Think about the environment !
Si vous n’ouvrez pas les fenêtres, vous ne pouvez pas entendre les bruits du jardin et les oiseaux. Vous êtes toujours enfermé ou si vous voulez entendre quelque chose il faut que vous sortiez votre maison c’est pas logique.
Hello, i'm a French windows and screens sellers, living in Dordogne. If you want advice for you're new home, you're welcome :)
Why would you have to pay double tax on your rental property in the US?
I live in south of france and misquitos are a pain, screens are an easy solution, found them on amazon france for prety cheap and works like a charm. specialy for doors with a magnetic closing system.
hello, happy independence day.
for the n°2 of your video i found a site and its RUclips channel which could interest. as my message was deleted 4 times i do not give an address "french connections hcb".
before you i was following a retired canadian couple who had bought a small house in the south-west, they were introducing me to a part of my country that i don't know, i'm originally from the Vosges and Haut-Rhin. they waited a long time for their long term visa and still hadn't received it when their youtube channel was deleted, regards Glenn.
do you know guedelon? No? Since 1997 an archeology team decided to build a 13th century castle with only tools and equipment from the period, that is to say like in the Middle Ages. It is located in the forest de Tregni about 2 hours from Paris and is open to visitors (300,000 visitors per year) If you have the opportunity I advise you to go take a look. It is a unique project in the world, it is a real dive into the Middle Ages 😉♥️
Huh, interesting. We did not know about that.
@@BaguetteBound And do you know Puy du fou? No? You have Disney Land in the United States but we have Puy du Fou, voted the best amusement park in the world for quite a few years. It is an immense park which traces the history of France from Roman Gaul to Napoleon, the shows are grandiose. Another place to visit if you haven't already. It is located in Vendée. I'm sorry to bother you so much but it's for a good cause 😉And for guedelon there is a Channel youtube
1) we are moving out of the United States.
Screens will come along
Learning the language and engaging in the community is the #1 priority. French people appreciate foreigners who make an effort to adapt; everything becomes easier afterward. Huge don't : jokes about the annoying stereotype of the French surrendering at war.
American cookies are so sweet , not for Europeans
You have to be ready to face neighbors that are not friendly.
This even happens between the French.
The cookies is a genius idea. I don’t know why but French people can’t make good cookies. My upstairs neighbors are from Ecuador and offered me real American cookies they had made, they were delicious!
Are you from France?
@@LU-jo2jz Yes.
@@moxanation73 and you think American cookies are tastier? That is interesting 🤨
@LU-jo2jz it the are made correctly ans with the right ingredients it's the texture that really sets it apart. It should be fairly flat, crispy edges with a softer center. Heven, especially warm. But most "American" cookies I see in France aren't made this way at all, they are more like thick little firm cakes.
@@BaguetteBound oh, you want good American cookies in France? lol
Hi how long do you think you will stay in france? do you both work in france?
sorry for being a little abrupt but I saw that almost everyone had their own little heart and I didn't even though I was one of the first. It made me feel a little pang in the heart and you know the French are sensitive too 😉. I'm taking the liberty of writing to you because I watch all your videos. I like people who love and respect my country, it's so rare these days 😭😭😭, especially Americans so I'm really sorry to you have offended but at the same time I treat you like real French people. In France the greatest quality is that we are frank, if I like it I tell you and if I don't like it I tell you too, we hate people who lie or who pretend and that's why I apologize to you because you do neither. And yes the French know how to recognize their mistakes😉♥️
Merci pour cette note. Je pense qu'être direct et honnête est une grande qualité française. Nous ne nous rendions pas compte de l'importance d'un cœur ! Nous le savons maintenant. Merci d'avoir regardé. 🙂
@@BaguetteBound It’s not for nothing that before calling ourselves French around the year 500 we were called Franks😉
@@BaguetteBound the Heart,it's the life♥️😉
Are you planning to live in another European Union country or only in France? It would give you several experiences in europe.
We considered that in the beginning, but have come love France so much and Juliana has adjusted well to the French school system.
We feel lucky France is so well situated we've already been able to visit more countries in the surrounding area than we ever dreamed was possible living in the States, and I'm ok with not living there. We can't give up French cheese now! 😂
@@BaguetteBound Merci de respecter autant notre fromage !😉🥰😋
Bonjour, I want Jason sweater! I want To go home(France) .. in October but banking is a big challenge even though I get very good retirements . How did you cross that road, FACTA makes it so difficult . Any advice how to open a bank account, I speak and read and write French. I liked Juliana cheese saga, sweet kid. She will so appreciate this great experience later in grown up years.😅
Ask around in expat groups when you get here. Often certain bank branches are willing to take Americans if you know which one. Where we are we've had good luck with Credit Agricole.
Bon chance!
@@BaguetteBound thanks so much I will definitely check credit Agricole.., where did Jason get his sweater? I am a sweater freak,, only have 11 of them.. if in the states maybe I can find it. Love your show . I see you are all book up til September 3 rd. WOW guys doing great.
Did you guys really mean to say "living as immigrants abroad?🤔
Next topic : could election result change future of foreign people ?
If the far Right is in power (for the first time since the Vichy government), I imagine things could get dicey for foreigners living there. Gonna get interesting pretty fast, IMO.
We talked about this in our weekly newsletter this week (sign up on our website 😉). That's where we address more in-the-moment topics.
you who now live in France, you cannot become French if you do not know the history of France, at least a minimum, that is why I suggest to you and especially to your daughter to discover the video (clovis king of Franks) is the founder of France's thecajun cutthroat channel which brings together a lot of the history of France and its heroes, these are videos to read, and it's in English of course 😉 with music period of 10 min on average. Now that you are in France you are obliged to know its history and you realize that it is the greatest story that has influenced the Western world 😉
Given the results of the recent election, you’d be wise to keep your passports close by.
Once I leave these United States I am leaving for good. This country is finished.
Well, if my information doesn't interest you, it doesn't matter, I'm giving you the opportunity to get to know France a little more but you don't get it👍, it's weird, I'm never allowed to have my little one heart 😭😭, are you sorting? In the future I will refrain from sending you I love Americans, they come to settle in France but without being interested in its history, even though it is its history that made France (it is as if you adopted a child without worrying about their past). But hey, as I said, I won't bother you with my comments anymore, except for not having any recognition. Ahlalala, respect is being lost these days 😴😴😴
Hello, your comments on French history are read and appreciated. We are both reading books on French history now and it certainly does help one have a deeper understanding of culture in France. There is a lot to know, I think even if we live here the rest of our lives we will certainly not come close to knowing all the things! Thanks for watching and bon diamanche.
In their defense, the BB family has noted numerous times in their videos their interest and ongoing education on the history of France. Calm down.
@@BaguetteBound DIMANCHE
There are quite a few companies in France who have pretty cool screen retrofits for standard French windows. Yes some expense, but you need to do more research.
There is a local French business here that does it, we are ordering some from them. I hope they arrive before the end of summer!
buy a mosquito's net in any main stores
How do you handle your retirement planning ($$$ and investing) and estate planning?
Take $$$ out of 401k (pre-retirement) NO NO No