Feeling rather smug today after being accosted by a very old lady in Lidl earlier asking me if I knew where the Camembert was hiding. We then broke into quite long chat about cheese and she said I had a lovely accent, not quite french but very understandable and where was I from. When I said England, she said oh my granddaughter lives over there and I got the full history of her english studies here etc. She then said to me it was nice to have an english person speaking only french instead of those who she has heard shouting about and being rude because no one understands them. We might not know it but I think in many cases, the french locals are just too polite to say a lot unlike some who forget where they are. This little old lady actually looked like she had escaped from an Ephad place as she had those knee high pop sox on that were round her ankles but as I was driving out she was loading her goods into a brand new top of the range BMW saloon - just shows you must never judge anyone by their looks or appearance here!
What a bunch of smug, self-righteous posts. Try looking in a mirror sometimes, before you post a holier than thou comment.
apologies if I/we’ve somehow rattled your cage… 
How do you react to Brits who don’t bother to tackle the language/integrate
(I’mnot talking about those with genuine problems)
I’m a gentle soul with the patience of a speckled hen… but even so…
As long as I/we’ve remembered to lock it and throw a towel over. 
slight thread drift…
Try having a baby, when the staff and docs keep shushing you and saying… it’s not due yet… another month to go… you’re only in for observation… aaargh.
thankfully, a school-friend (possibly matron) walked by my bed and spoke with me… she twigged the situation and … all systems go, go, go
phew..
I cannot imagine going through all that without being able to communicate and eventually make myself (loudly) understood 
Please remember we try to be polite on SF.
We’re allowed to think it but not say it. 
I just ignore them. Having spent a year at university in the French speaking part of Switzerland, I am reasonably fluent in French, albeit due to increasing deafness, I really need to see folks faces to understand what they are saying. A very heavy Provençal accent like my cleaning lady has, also does not help. However I am a bit more understanding of elderly folk who enjoy the French lifestyle but as they were not taught French as a child (my mother was a languages teacher), find learning a new language in their sixties very difficult. Increasingly with the young French, I find they want to practice their English on me. Most French folk are quite understanding if at least people have a try speaking French.
I agree that it is necessary to tackle the language, or at least try but sometimes no matter how hard I try it just doesn’t sink in.
For me I manage to converse enough to get what I need/want and as with each new experience I do my best. Language is as much speaking it as it is to know the etiquette of every say life.
Integration is something completely different. Some like to attend/ join clubs and socialise but why should it be considered the think to do.
Many Brits living in Britain keep themselves to themselves and live happy lives so no point in changing just because you happen to live in another country.
I think it’s a suggestion rather than “obligatoire” - people have often posted on here how joining clubs etc not only helps them learn the language but also makes them feel part of the community - and that can be important, even if you are not a naturally sociable type, in cases of emergency or when one partner dies.
But yes of course there are folk in every country who manage quite well pretty much ignoring the rest of the world! 
Yep… I can see that…
However, in a small rural community… everyone’s help seems to be needed at some time or another…
and it is noticed and remarked on… when some Brits are always absent (not attending local fund raisers/functions etc) and never seeming to support or care about the commune in which they live.
Me explaining that they’re shy, like to keep themselves to themselves… don’t speak the language etc etc… falls on deaf ears.
"We don’t need to have deep, meaningful conversations, we just need their support and helping hands from time to time…
I’m sure those on here wanting Brits to integrate mean well, but I’m with those who question this point of view.
I lived in Brazil and never “integrated” with my neighbours. I lived in Battersea and never “integrated” with my neighbours - and we were in the same building. I lived in Stockwell, Leatherhead, East Grinstead and never had anything to do with the communities around me. I certainly did not bake cakes for the local fete, nor act in the local dramatic society, nor join the bridge club and I would have been appalled if anyone had suggested it. I gardened.
I find other people in person exhausting.
When we first moved to France we felt we had to get to know other people and it is with extreme relief that bar two couples - one English, one French - the rest have fallen by the wayside.
As we age I’m watching our French declining - but I’m also watching our English declining.
We are content as we are and grateful quite frankly to be left in peace.
And not about joining clubs! OH would never join a club - he didn’t in UK so isn’t going to here. But he is extremely well integrated - and his fluent French is the main reason.
That is precisely my problem too, particularly understanding rather than speaking, and even with my very good hearing aids in.
If I ever have a doubt that my French is worse than 20 years ago I just think back to my days working here. All my info for reloading and delivering etc came by phone in the cab. I had absolutely no problem at all and only once got something wrong but that was acknowledged to be not my fault because I had not been given a clear address.
Today, understanding on the telephone is the worst of all and I encourage everybody to text me instead.
As I see things not being chummy within communes, clubs or with nieghbours isn’t ignoring the rest of the world it’s simply a life choice to enjoy how you want to live.
In my opinion using local artisans is the best way to support a commune.
and, of course, buying local produce… 
I’m sure most of us support our communes one way or another…
and, no it’s not necessary to join a club 
Nice to know that I’m not the only unsociable old sod on SF!
I was under the impression that all the yelling blue murder was an international noise comprehensible to all. 
Me too. Apart from the speed of delivery, the thing that people do on the phone is introduce more than one issue at a time. I.E. The main issue, followed by consequences A & B and then what needs to be done in the case of …
I try to get the caller to stop and tell me The Main Issue. Then, when I’ve got that, Part 2 and so on.
I’ve just realised that the message I get when I call the voicemail number includes a suggestion that I record a personal outgoing message. I forgot to do that, having recently changed phone co.
The last one I had, I record the voice repetition of the translation of my message into FR. Like David Spardo, it included the request to send me an SMS.
I just roll my eyes a lot at these sorts of threads and move on, as to me it just reminds me of all those people in the UK who complain about people who move to the UK and don’t integrate well, stay amongst their own people, speak their own language etc…the people who complain about that are usually… well… what’s the polite way to call someone a racist?
The motivations in this conversation may well be entirely different than the oaf that yells at the Bangladeshi woman in the high st that she “should speak English in England or F&£k off back to where you came from”, I can absolutely understand the benefits of integrating of course, but this whole discourse is just a little too much for me and as long as people aren’t harming me or others I mind my own business.