Our First Year in France 🇫🇷 The Real Highs and Lows of Moving Abroad

Moving to France was one of the biggest decisions we’ve ever made. 🇫🇷 In this video, I’m sharing the real story of our first year living in the South of France - not just the beautiful moments, but the difficult ones too. What it actually feels like to relocate as a family with young children. What surprised us. What challenged us. And what made us certain we made the right decision. From navigating the French job market and learning the language as an adult, to building friendships from scratch and adjusting to village life - this first year stretched us in ways we didn’t expect. At the same time, we’ve watched our children grow up surrounded by three languages, adapt to French school life, and thrive in a slower, more outdoor rhythm. If you're thinking about moving to France, relocating to the South of France, or starting over in another country with children, I hope this honest reflection gives you a realistic and balanced perspective on expat life in France. Living in France isn’t a fairy tale, but it has been a meaningful and beautiful adventure for our family. If you’ve moved abroad too, I’d love to know: what were your biggest highs and lows? 🤍 Thank you so much for being here. 📍 MOVING TO FRANCE? If you're seriously considering relocating to France, I created a practical relocation guide based on our experience moving from London to a village in the South of France. It explains the real costs of everyday life, renting vs buying property, healthcare, administration, and what daily life here actually involves. 👉 The Honest Relocation Guide https://simplelifefrance.gumroad.com/... 🛠️ Helpful tools: Opening a European bank account before moving: Wise (multi-currency account I personally use) 👉 https://wise.com/invite/dic/gabriella... Disclosure: Some links above may be referral links, which means I may receive a small reward if you sign up. This comes at no extra cost to you. ⏱ Chapters 00:00 A Fresh Start in France THE LOWS: 01:00 The Reality of Finding Work 02:09 Learning French as an Adult 02:59 Feeling Invisible & Building Friendships 04:18 Living Far From Family 04:49 Winter in an Old French House 05:26 The Childcare Challenge THE HIGS: 06:13 A Surprisingly Positive School Experience 06:45 Watching Our Children Thrive 07:36 The Gift of Nature 08:47 A Slower Family Rhythm 09:46 The Beauty of Everyday Life 10:42 Starting Something New 11:07 Would We Do It Again? 🌿 Helpful Resources 📖 French learning (something I’ve been listening to lately and found really helpful): Learn French with Paul Noble (Audiobook) 🇬🇧 Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/4t4bvby 🇫🇷 Amazon France: https://amzn.to/4acHZsC 🇺🇸 Amazon US: https://amzn.to/4bSulMv 🛌 Electric blankets that helped us stay warm this winter: 🇫🇷 Amazon France: https://amzn.to/45CEyJd 🇬🇧 Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/4696xjK 🇺🇸 Amazon US (similar model): https://amzn.to/3M14G9O (These are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting my channel. 🤍) 🤍 Support the Channel Thank you so much for being here. You can also support the channel with Super Thanks - it genuinely helps more than you know. 💚✨ #LivingInFrance #MovingToFrance #ExpatLife #SouthOfFrance #LifeAbroad #RelocatingToFrance #FrenchVillageLife #FamilyLifeInFrance #CostOfLivingFrance #LearningFrench