I would like to explain why I always defend France and this because i sent a message to Jo Blick who never published it.
My life in France began in 1966 when I got married to a french soldier and I was asked to become french myself before getting married, which I did of course,and I have never regretted it.
I was determined to become a french lady, which took time but i did the best I could , now time is passing by and i realise that after 46 years in france my english roots are still with me.
Never have I complained about the french system, for me it works very well in all cases.
We are very lucky to have the advantages here and it would be a good thing to appreciate it.
As I read the messages on SFN the majority of the members realise their luck to be here.
I found it important to write this message because as I said my message was not published , probably because of the christmas rush.
Let me say that when i go back to england i also appreciate english life and i am quite sure i would be happy living in Britain.
When i was newly married i lived in Tahiti for three years,my son lives in Montreal Canada and one of my daughters in Texas, so i have travelled around quite often and know what happens elswhere in the world.
After this monologue, i wish you a very new year 2013 to all members and thank you for creating this wonderful site SURVIVE FRENCH NETWORK
Well, one thing might be in common. Being bemused by the rain - strange warm and wet weather this year! Enjoy rest of stay though and adding Wellies to your children's vocabulary!
Umm, I am writing this from the UK where my husband and I are spending Christmas with the family for the first time in 10 years. We're having a nice enough time but are really looking forward to going home, Christmas is very different here, just like the rest of our life. The kids are a bit bemused by all the rain in the UK as well!
It just goes to show that you can run but you can't hide. People that are unhappy will be unhappy anywhere and vise versa. It hasn't always been easy learning to live life in the slow lane here after growing up in the US. I've been developing my patience. Maybe I'll live longer!
Wishing you a enjoyable 2013 & and thanks for your encouraging description why living in France. We actually where choosing France as a "neutral" land and we think we did the right decision, - my wife English with Singaporean roots and me from the cold north in Germany. I would divide today the same...
Good on you Carol, I live in France of choice. I had and have no illusions, sometimes do not fit, other times fit too much, I miss things about where I spent many years in England, but most of it not. There is a remote chance that a) if Scotland becomes independent and b) my wife got a job there, we might go there for the challenge and something new. Not for the weather, that is for sure.
I have cousins in Canada and Australia whose lives have always struck me as always that much better than mine in some ways, but then my work has seen me in over 90 countries for at least two or three days and in several countries for considerably longer. I like France, for all its flaws, and if I spend the rest of my days her shall never regret it.
