@Tanya I asked a question and got this answer. So getting Italian citizenship isn’t necessarily as hard as some might think. By asking for papers you aren’t asking to be made a citizen, you are asking to have your citizenship recognised, a different thing entirely (I already have dual citizenship but I’m going through this process currently, though not with Italy).
Sì, se i tuoi genitori sono cittadini italiani, tu sei automaticamente cittadino italiano per diritto di sangue (ius sanguinis), indipendentemente da dove sei nato. Devi però far trascrivere il tuo atto di nascita presso il consolato italiano competente o il Comune italiano di riferimento per “registrar” formalmente la tua cittadinanza, soprattutto se sei nato all’estero, tramite una pratica di stato civile.
Edited to add, I’m taking “my parents are Italian” as they are ‘proper’ Italians with Italian papers, not ancestral Italians with another citizenship.
My parents were unrecognized Italian citizens (they never knew it before they died) and still I was later recognized (they were American citizens born in the US, but also direct descendants of non-naturalized Italians) . So, it doesn’t really matter, though it may make things a bit easier, especially if they are alive.
Have you looked at the weather in the east of France .
It experiences all the storms coming across the Atlantic.
When we moved to Southern Burgundy in 2009 our weather came from the east, but it has changed dramatically. Now our weather comes from the west, but we are protected from the worst of the Atlantic storms by the Massif Central.
Very hot weather is more pronounced in the west.
Also look for the availability of medical care in your selected area. We have access to the world class hospitals in Lyon, which is saving my life,
Coming from UK these are just important as house prices.
Thanks for your help Vero, I had started the process some time ago, but there were too many documents to provide, going back several generations. I don’t even have my parent’s death certificates (one of the demands) let alone their birth certificates. And this wasn’t a problem till B… Brexit and even then I thought we were safe, having been resident en France for 20years.
So unless Lib Dems get in and rejoin EU (fat chance!) am not sure if I can be bished to pursue it or pay an agency ridiculous amounts of money just to turn round and say that the conditions have changed (which they have).
On verra!
Language. My french isn’t strong at present. A1 at best. I’d be targeting working well through B1 late next year when we plan do move and will double down on immersion once there. I just don’t have the time to go faster at this point due to work.
Thoughts appreciated from others .. conscious it’s not just ordering bread but dealing with utilities, tradespeoples/artisans , medical, government and attempting to make friends.
@Jane_Williamson Hi. I’ve looked at weather over all France and UK as probably our second most important consideration on where we move.
I’ve also looked through climate projections for the next 25 years . That’s what’s narrowed me down to small pickers around northern Charente maritime , inland Vendée as main focus with , NW Charente, SW Vienne, and southern Deux Sevres as backup. All inland at least 30km, and looking at sheltered areas. The Atlantic will also provide some moderation of heat and old (compared to other areas)
Happy to consider elsewhere of people have strong experience
As well as listening to French podcasts/reading French news media, I rehearse key future conversations with (for example) government officials using the (free, unlimited) French oral conversation facilities on AI bots (there is a thread on this on SF).
We were very influenced by the figures, based on peer reviewed IPCC models that the Mediterranean climate that is currently reducing agricultural viability in Spain, and potentially in S France going forward, is advancing north at a rate of 15km a year. Also v struck by a lecture given here in Normandy by the Office National des Forêts explaining that under one of their projections, there would be no emblematic beech trees left in either N France or S England in 25 years, due to climate change (beech need moisture). We think we’re fortunate, long term, to be near the Channel, in rainy Normandy (though this is less through considered planning, and more having fallen for this part of forested Normandy!).
Depends what sort of climate you want, I noted last week when some of the places west of us, mentioned above, had heavy snow, while we in N. Dordogne, had merely a light dusting that I at first took for heavy frost. Suits me.
Don’t bother wasting time with (eg) Duolingo, as it teaches you basic vocabulary and not how to have a conversation. Vocabulary you can learn elsewhere.
Do things that are more enjoyable such as watching films with subtitles as your ear will pick up the cadence of the language and odd bits of vocabulary. That will help you eventually speak with more natural fluidity
A lot is available, but depends on your tastes. For example Spiral (engrenages) is a now oldish police series available on DVD. You learn the huge difference of the French justice system compared to elsewhere and a wide range of swear words.
Getting a French woman pregnant worked wonders for me… It certainly focused my mind! It’s quite an expensive approach though
Seriously though, it’s so much easier once you’re here. Just hearing the news on TV and radio in French, watching Netflix in French with English subtitles, reading the newspaper each day, etc…
You may also find that there is a language association in your nearest town.
The French Arte channel has a huge range of excellent series and documentaries, most with the option of subtitles in various languages. I watch in French with french subtitles, which as I can now read quickly, helps with my listening.
Incidentally, if anyone else is interested, Arte have just started a rerun of the entire Twin Peaks series, which I might make an exception to and watch in English .
“Language. My french isn’t strong at present. A1 at best. I’d be targeting working well through B1 late next year when we plan do move and will double down on immersion once there. I just don’t have the time to go faster at this point due to work.
Thoughts appreciated from others .. conscious it’s not just ordering bread but dealing with utilities, tradespeoples/artisans , medical, government and attempting to make friends.”
Buy a grammar book something like eg French for numpties, French in 3 months and also get another one called 201 French verbs. Do the grammar methodically and work through the exercises, learn the verbs and see which function similarly. Do this every single day for 15 or 20 minutes. Keep the verb book in the loo and read it then. Learn thematically arranged vocab and get someone to test you. Learn phrases and get someone to test you. Watch films with the subtitles on in French and read the newspaper.
Do not be under any illusion you’ll ‘just pick it up’ because that’s not how language acquisition works for adults. If you do as I say you will be quite good at French by Christmas. Keep at it and don’t allow yourself to be discouraged. Practise like mad, talk to the dog (uncritical, appreciative audience who won’t embarrass you).
Edited to add this may sound a bit austere but my job is getting people to succeed in exams and this works for them as it has worked for me learning other languages.
If you’re going to be speaking English at home (we do) then IMO it isn’t immersion. The people I’ve met who have done the best are either British kids who’ve attended French schools or a Brit who came here to teach sailing speaking hardly any French and worked with an all-French team day in, day out. He made amazing progress.
Unfortunately for me, I have passed that peak of comprehension and use and am going fast back down the other side. I am much less fluent than I was over 20 years ago when I needed to understand and respond in order to do my job properly, or even at all.
I can only assume that it is age related failing brain power as, to a lesser degree, I am struggling with my English vocabulary as well.
Hi there. Lots of comments already so I will be brief:
as many people have said, limit your # of bank accounts when you move here. However the other trap is that some UK banks will not let you keep an account open when you come to France, and you are unlikely to be able to open a new one So do some checking around. For example Lloyds does allow you to keep accounts open but not change them - so you may want to downgrade to the basic level of account that still lets you keep a credit card.
remember what is tax free in the Uk is not necessarily the same in France so check out any ISAs, and if you are planning to sell your house do it before the move to avoid any complexity with French tax.
@vero thanka. Not austere at all. Very sensible . I’ve got a couple of grammar books, getting my head around the basics and expecting to start doing drilling a few minutes each day
Moving to France is exciting but also as the other contributors have written- it’s a very different style of administration compared to the UK. Paperwork is important and keeping files is crucial.
Banks
If you maintain a UK address then you can retain your UK bank accounts. Otherwise you be politely
“ debanked” . This is compliance with Bozo Johnson’s Brexit Treaty.!!
Suggest you open a digital bank account , eg Wise. This gives you both a sterling and euro account .
House
Check that the dwelling has adequate power supply. Fitting 3 phase as we did is an interesting experience.
Gardens tend to be larger , and of course a ride on mower becomes a necessity.
Medical services
We have a local GP surgery and pharmacy despite living in an area of small communes.
And every year we have blood tests ( results emailed same day ) and then meet the GP , who reads and discusses each and every test result.
I think the banks thing isn’t that clearcut. Someone mentioned over the weekend that Lloyds Bank will let you have an overseas address and that’s certainly what has happened with me; I still have my accounts with them. I think someone also said that Nationwide are OK with it too.
