More and more British expatriates are following their hearts to second homes and other properties in France, partly because of the beauty and culture of the land, and partly for the lifestyle.
Many people find it surprising, considering how close England and France are, how many little details are subtly different. Windows open inside, not outside, square pillows are more common than rectangular ones, and New Years cards instead of Christmas cards are sent. Flowers are not allowed in hospitals, and driving is done on the wrong side of the road.
There’s also the fact that French currency is written in a different manner. Instead of a decimal point, a comma is used, so €34.50 becomes €34,50. This can be quite important to remember when writing checks or filling in tax forms, and when browsing property prices or contracts. While buying property, there are several businesses, run by English expatriates designed to help English buyers through the process, especially if you have difficulty with the language, and, if you’re feeling nervous, this may be an option worth exploring.
Learning French should be something that you look into if you buy property there. Just learning the basics, such as bonjour (hello, pronounced like “bon-zhoo”), sil vous plait (please, pronounced “sih-voo-play”), and merci (thank you, pronounced like the English “mercy”), will show that you’re trying. One phrase in particular may be very helpful; je nais parlez pas très bien francais. Pronounced “zhey-nay parr-lay paz trey beeyen fron-say”, it translates to “I don’t speak very good French”. There are many basic language courses available, and even a small tourist’s phrase book will get you started.
Moving somewhere new can be difficult, especially if you don’t know the language, so it’s important to make the effort to fit into your local community. Take the time to embrace the French culture; the wonderful food and the easy pace of everyday life may be just what you were looking for when you thought of buying property abroad. Although the French may not always be as forthcoming as some of their European neighbours at first, a little effort and politeness will go a long way. Fortunately, France is very near to England, so frequent visits to family and friends, or moving between homes is very easy.