Ever wonder what the United States of America looks like through the eyes of a French person?
My French husband, Jonathan, has visited the United States multiple times at this point. He’s no longer shocked by what he sees. However, there are a number of things that initially stood out to him regarding American culture and norms. Here are some things that my French husband found surprising when he first encountered them in the USA.
Now that I’ve been blogging for over three years, I’ve noticed some recurrent assumptions that are made about the profession. Here are a few things to know about what it’s like being a blogger!
As expats living in France, we are far more susceptible to potential phishing scams, all the more so when we are desperate to finally have that elusive carte vitale we’ve heard so much about! Watch out for these common carte vitale scams and read the answers to these FAQs carefully so that you can determine the legitimacy of texts, emails, and phone calls you may receive from the French health insurance program (Assurance Maladie).
Since I am no longer a US resident, I no longer hold an American driver’s license. This made me wonder… what will I do when I return to the United States to visit family and friends and I need to drive a car? Can I drive and/or rent a car in the USA with my French driver’s license? The short answer… yes! For all the details and requirements, including how to request an International Driver’s Permit to accompany your French license, read on!
Living abroad is an incredible opportunity and I feel very fortunate to have been able to make it my reality. There are certain aspects of life abroad that you can only truly understand if you’ve lived abroad yourself. If you’ve ever moved away from your home country to experience a life abroad, you will certainly be able to identify with many of the realizations and truths on this list.
You just got married in France and you want to start using your spouse’s last name in your daily life and on all your paperwork. Good news—The name change process is simple! Read on to find out how you can indicate your surname preference after marriage in France.
Driving by car is a great way to explore France, travel on your own schedule, and see areas of the country that are harder to access by public transportation. As an American, you’ll find that driving in France is not all that different from driving in the United States. Let’s look at some of the key differences and important road signs so that you know what to expect when driving in France.
Three years ago, I moved to France to join my Frenchman. Around the same time, I started this blog to document the ups, the downs, and the French bureaucracy as an American in France. No matter when you joined me on this journey, thanks for being here now! Let’s celebrate some of the highlights from my third year of living in France.
La rentrée ! Back to school time in France! Let’s take a look at some typical school supplies that students in France need for the classroom.
If you told me 5 years ago that I would own all of these household items, I wouldn’t have believed you because I certainly didn’t have a need for them. After moving to France, some of these items I bought and others I now own due to a merging of households with my French husband. Typical in many French homes, here are a list of common things that, as an American, I never owned before moving to France.