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Episode 14: Listen to David Sargent’s experience moving to France over 15 years ago and learning the differences between the American vs French way of doing things. “It’s not about language, it’s about culture.”

by | Oct 20, 2021 | Podcast | 0 comments

Welcome to Episode #14 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host Allison Grant Lounes and today my guest is David Sargent. If that last name sounds familiar, it’s because David is married to Annie, the last guest I interviewed on our show. Today, David is going to tell us about his experience moving to France from the US over 15 years ago as the spouse of a French citizen, and his experiences adapting to living and working in France. 

We’re going to learn about:

  • How his job at a technology company was able to transfer David to France and what type of work contract was needed.
  • He registered his marriage in France, obtained a livret de famille, and whether or not he has applied for French nationality at this time.
  • The differences in attitudes between Americans and French people.
  • Challenges he faced in moving to France, including driving cars in France and experiencing a minor snow storm in Toulouse.
  • David’s favorite things about living in France, what he enjoys most about Toulouse, and the first restaurant he plans to visit once the French government allows for eateries to reopen.
  • His advice for anyone moving to France.

While listening to this conversation between Allison and David, you will hear several French words used. We have included a quick reference guide of what those French words mean so you can easily follow along to our conversation, and increase your French vocabulary as well!

You can also follow this link to hear Allison’s previous conversation with Karen Kriebl, who used the comparison of Americans as peaches, and the French as coconuts. http://www.yourfranceformation.com/2021/01/06/episode-4/ 

Quick Reference Guide:

  • coup de piston – (familial phrase) string pulling to help someone obtain a job
  • Livret de famille – family record book in France
  • Préfecture – administrative offices in France
  • CDI – contrat à durée indéterminée, a permanent working contract in France with no defined end date
  • Carte de résident – residence card, often referred to as a carte de séjour
  • Récépissé – a receipt; when used in reference to visas and residence cards in France, you often receive a récépissé as a receipt of filing your paperwork, but before you receive your carte de séjour
  • Passeport talent – a type of long-term visa or residence permit, which is renewable up to four years and allows a foreigner to live and work in France benchmarked by a salary of 37000 euros.
  • Carte bleue européenne – another type of passeport talent or long-term visa for highly skilled workers to live and work in France, but benchmarked with a higher salary grade at approximately 54000 euros.
  • Période d’essai – trial period or probation period
  • Justificatif de domicile – proof of address in France, typically this can be a utility bill
  • Rond-point – traffic circle where vehicles from the right have the priority
  • Carrefour giratoire – similar to a rond-point except vehicles coming from the left have the right of way
  • Sportif/sportive – adjective to describe something or someone as sporty or athletic. In David and Allison’s conversation, this applies to the style of car.
  • Restaurant l’Entrecôte – restaurant found in Toulouse, famous for steak and fries
  • Relais de l’Entrecôte – restaurant found in Paris, also famous for steak and fries
  • Steak frites – classic French meal with steak and fries
  • Vacherin – dessert made with meringue, often layered with ice cream or sorbet
  • Profiterole – choux pastry, similar to a cream puff, stuffed with cream or ice cream, topped with a chocolate sauce
  • Dossier – file of information, for example, when attending your carte de séjour appointment at the Préfecture, it is essential you bring your dossier with all necessary supporting documents

References used include: 

If you are considering moving to France like David, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: http://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. 

If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: http://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call 

 If you liked this episode, be sure to leave a positive review, and subscribe so you’ll get next week’s episode as well!

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