STUFF I WISH I’D KNOWN EARLIER.

There’s plenty of advice out there on moving to France…. visa, taxes, where to live, opening a bank account. But there’s not a lot of advice on fitting in, and maneuvering daily personal interactions with neighbors, contractors and business people. It shouldn’t be that difficult. After all, apart from the language, people are people, right?

Then you move here and the frustration begins…. why can’t I find a decent contractor? Why do salespeople ignore me? Where should I get my car repaired? Why won’t they call me back or answer my emails? Why can’t I get anything done here?

That’s when you realize there’s possibly more to the problem than just your language skills. Time for an explanation and fine-tuning your people skills. Your French people skills.

Let’s remember that as an American, you’re from a country with a capitalistic mindset. You have a problem, you call 24-hr customer service…