Since 2012, I’ve regaled you with tons of content material (that is my 953rd submit!) together with errors I’ve made through the years as a foreigner in France. I’ve informed you about 45 issues I did improper as a beginner foreigner in France, expat errors that maintain us again, and embarrassing French errors to keep away from — and that’s only for starters.
However one thing hit me the opposite day. I don’t assume I’ve ever carried out a single submit on every thing I did RIGHT… and if I did write a submit like that, I don’t even bear in mind it so the possibilities are good that you simply don’t bear in mind both. 🙂
There really are a bunch of issues I’m pleased with myself for getting proper after I moved to France and that’s what I’m going to be sharing with you at present.
7 Issues I did RIGHT after I moved to France
Why the heck have I by no means, in 12 years, thought to put in writing a submit about every thing I’ve carried out proper?? Time to get deep. My very own psychoanalysis says it’s as a result of I’m uncomfortable with wanting like I’m some form of skilled.
It’s self indulgent sufficient to start out a weblog and assume individuals care about what I’ve to say, so standing up and saying, “Hey I did these things proper, I’m pleased with myself!” simply appeared like an excessive amount of. Regardless of being a assured, ready, confident particular person in actual life, right here it’s simply simpler to color myself as somebody who makes numerous errors!
Folks love taking issues the improper method on-line and assuming the worst so I suppose I wished to keep away from anybody considering I used to be too proud. It’s simpler to take your self down a number of notches earlier than another person can.
However not at present!
What I spotted is that whether or not I speak about my errors or triumphs, there’s somebody on the market who will discover my content material useful and that’s all I might ever need. I had some unusual bias the place by default I believed solely my errors might assist others, however that’s not the case.
If my content material speaks to you, I couldn’t be happier about that (and if it doesn’t, nicely, you received’t be right here lengthy). I wish to enable you as a result of I recognize everybody who has helped me through the years and shared a chunk of themselves and their story.
Anyway, explanations apart, I AM pleased with the challenges I’ve overcome and the steps I’ve taken to make a life for myself with Tom right here in France. So let me share a number of the issues I did RIGHT early on after I moved to France.
They not solely set me up for fulfillment and lessened my stress ranges however this stuff gave me a lift of confidence at a time after I was fairly uncertain of myself.
Let’s get into the wins that helped me really feel extra at residence in France sooner quite than later. In the event you’re planning to maneuver to France or are already right here, I hope these can encourage you, too, or a minimum of provide you with one thing to narrate to!
P.S. If that is your first time on my weblog (welcome!), I attempt to do a balanced job right here and don’t need you to get the improper concept. I’ve written a ton of posts with a really constructive slant too…. together with the issues I really like probably the most about my life in France, endearing French habits you possibly can’t assist however love, my favourite wine, and tons of extra.
7 issues I did RIGHT after I moved to France:
1. I began studying French earlier than I arrived
Only for enjoyable, I used to be taking lessons on the Alliance Française in Montclair, NJ, and determined to use to TAPIF. Just a few months later, I used to be accepted, so it solely made sense to proceed my French classes within the lead as much as the transfer and I’m SO glad I did.
Was I “good” at French after I first arrived? Nope, not by a protracted shot. I believed I had an honest intermediate stage, although, however that was solely on paper. I might barely perceive individuals once they’d communicate to me nose to nose as a result of every thing sounded jumbled and method too quick, a far cry away from the snug listening workout routines we did in school.
In all honesty, I ought to have focused on comprehension as soon as I knew I’d be transferring to France. I had the fundamentals down and will talk in order that was a win, even when the confidence didn’t come till a lot later.
However let me give credit score the place credit score is due. What I did proper was to start out studying French earlier than the transfer. I had a stable base and it was that a lot simpler to construct on as soon as the muse was already constructed. Do NOT wait till you progress to France to start out studying!
With all of the enjoyable methods to study French on-line, you possibly can match studying French into your day in no matter further time you’ve got. Take heed to podcasts and use apps, rent a non-public French instructor, take a bunch class like I did. Or for those who like watching TV and films, I extremely advocate Lingopie. They’re the Neflix of language studying, so make sure to join their free trial. Simply begin!
8 Causes why foreigners transfer to France and DON’T study French >>
2. I didn’t ship my belongings on a container ship
This is probably not the proper alternative for everybody however transferring to France with simply two suitcases and promoting every thing in my NYC condo forward of time was the proper transfer for me. I moved into Tom’s condo so we already had a sofa, mattress, and most of what we would have liked.
Going the two-suitcase route was method much less anxious (and cheaper) than having to coordinate a container stuffed with my U.S. belongings. I’ve heard horror tales about issues getting misplaced, arriving broken, arriving late, and with a bunch of surprising prices.
That was all stress I didn’t want so as to add to the state of affairs of being newly married and like a fish out of water so glad I went the straightforward route.
I take advantage of SendMyBag and so they’re nice (get 5€ off right here).
Listed here are issues NOT to pack while you transfer to France.
Notice: I moved to France twice. The primary was for that work contract instructing English and the second transfer was after Tom and I bought married. Each occasions, I got here with simply two suitcases.
An indication of fall. The place has this 12 months gone?
3. I made certain I had a function
You understand that saying, “Failing to plan is planning to fail?” Yeah, that’s me. Effectively, for vital issues in life anyway. I’m somebody who feels most comfy when I’ve a plan and the phantasm of management.
That goes for something in life. Feeling like I’m simply winging one thing or floating alongside mindlessly makes me really feel like I’ve no management.
On this context, it meant ensuring that after I awakened every morning, I had a function of some kind and one thing to do. That is going to look completely different for everybody and is likely to be a job, volunteer alternative, French classes, a standing dedication of some kind, and so on. Simply SOMETHING to verify I used to be productive and serving to others indirectly.
It’s really easy to reach someplace new and simply procrastinate however I didn’t need that to be me.
In my case, this function included three issues: getting Dagny which was deliberate nicely forward of time, and required me to go outdoors and stroll her a number of occasions per day (and are available into contact w/French individuals), working, and beginning this weblog a few months later.
For me, the worst factor would have been to only present up in France with no solution to earn a dwelling and nothing concrete to do all day. As soon as I knew I’d be transferring to France, I made certain I wouldn’t be isolating myself, which leads me to my subsequent level…
4. I put myself on the market socially
From meetup teams to becoming a member of my native health club to even going to a Mormon church (regardless of not being spiritual) after assembly American missionaries within the park, I’m pleased with myself for making social connections early on.
I additionally walked Dagny a number of occasions per day in our native park so I’d chitchat with different canine house owners each day. She was an excellent ice breaker and I miss her each day (Dagny handed away March 5, 2022, a number of months after my mother, and I’ll miss them each for so long as I stay. Go away, grief).
Even when I didn’t click on with the particular person each time, I bought numerous apply stumbling by way of shaky French and studying about my neighborhood and the individuals in it. Two of my French mates who I nonetheless discuss to at present had been individuals I met on the health club, so it pays to get outdoors of your consolation zone as quickly as you possibly can.
Is making mates straightforward? No, however you need to attempt!
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5. I began this weblog
Other than transferring to France, one in all my finest life selections was beginning Oui In France. I had no concept it could turn into one thing I’d love a lot and that I’d nonetheless be doing it in 2024!
It ties into what I mentioned above about having a function and placing myself out right here. At first, this web site began out as a private diary of types and a method for me to have a file of the early years.
It additionally a method for me to course of my ideas, cope with tradition shock and the challenges of transferring overseas, and to attach with others who might relate. Then I began my YT channel a number of years later.
I’ve really met a number of individuals I think about very shut mates by way of running a blog. Additionally, connecting with all of you thru my posts and movies energizes me. It makes me really feel like I’ve a function and that my content material issues.
If you go away a remark or e mail me and let me know my content material helped you indirectly, it’s an instantaneous temper booster. It erases any anxious components of my day. So, thanks for being part of this group. You do extra for me than you recognize and I hope I can repay the favor by way of my content material.
6. I made certain I had a spot to stay forward of time
As I mentioned, I don’t like flying by the seat of my pants. The primary time I got here to France, I lived in an Italian girl’s yard in a transformed shed. The ceilings had been too low for me to face up straight and it was tiny, but it surely labored for the time I used to be there and the worth was proper. Having a spot to stay squared away earlier than my airplane touched down was a weight off my shoulders.
I do know it’s not all the time doable to have a spot to stay, or a minimum of keep, earlier than transferring however I’d advocate making an attempt your finest to get one thing arrange for your self forward of time. Perhaps it’s simply an condo rental for a number of weeks. Simply end up one thing so that you aren’t jetlagged, misplaced, and with no plan.
How’d I get right here? Extra on my backstory >>
7. I ready myself mentally & researched
I’m stuffed with sayings at present. You understand that one, “Put together for the worst however hope for the very best?” Yeah, that was me. It wasn’t a matter of if I’d battle and face challenges — that was a given. It was coaching myself to be prepared for every thing that might be coming my method. Now sure, that’s practically unimaginable however I did the very best I might.
I ready for the worst… I anticipated to really feel harassed, unhappy, uncertain, and every thing else that comes with being newly married and transferring internationally. I attempted to play out what these emotions would really feel like and seem like and the way they’d have an effect on me…. and most significantly, provide you with some instruments forward of time on the best way to overcome them.
A part of getting ready myself was researching what to anticipate. I seemed for blogs and discussion board posts and social media pages from individuals who had been instructing assistants. I seemed for information from different People overseas.
I sought out not solely nice experiences however I intentionally seemed for individuals having a tough time, these transferring residence, and people speaking concerning the struggles too. I examine individuals’s experiences, good and unhealthy, who had been college students all the best way as much as retired age individuals. I wished to know every thing there was to know.
I didn’t do that to speak myself out of my transfer. It was simply the other. I wished to be extra ready for what may lie forward and go into this new life expertise with my eyes broad open. It’s one thing I stress on Oui In France and infrequently discuss concerning the typically harsh actuality of life overseas.
Pleasure can get the very best of you and also you’ll find yourself overlooking a bunch of actually vital issues about life in France that you simply’ll want you took time to grasp forward of time.
Do your self a favor and get actual about what a transfer overseas really entails. Put within the time and do the analysis. Learn the uncomfortable tales. Hunt down voices which might be the other of yours. You’ll solely be stronger for it.
***
Anyway, the issues I bought proper helped offset every thing I bought improper. There’s one thing actually satisfying about getting a number of issues proper so I’m glad I wrote this.
These moments of success have contributed to creating my life in France really feel much less overseas and extra like residence and have given me confidence in my journey. For anybody planning to maneuver to France, I hope studying my wins helped you indirectly!
And if not, I’ll be again with extra errors quickly, I’m certain. Simply kidding. Kinda. Hahahahha.
P.S. In the event you get pleasure from my content material, would you thoughts sharing the hyperlink on social media (a FB group you’re in, pin it on Pinterest by way of the pin beneath, share by yourself FB web page, in a tweet, IG story, and so on.) or emailing the hyperlink to a buddy? It actually does assist. Father Google hasn’t been variety to numerous bloggers over the previous 12 months and it’s actually disheartening when solely a handful of individuals learn your content material. It will imply lots to me for those who helped unfold Oui In France to the plenty. I spend a ton of money and time on Oui In France and LOVE running a blog, so merci encore for your help.
P.P.S. In the event you’re visiting France quickly and wish to be ready, I’ve an eGuide I believe you’ll love! It’s titled “75 Newbie France Suggestions for a Standout Journey.”
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