expat | A French Collection

Preparing to Go to France

Preparing to Live in France for Three Months

Today I thought I'd share some thoughts on how I'm preparing to live in France for an extended time and especially as my family will be remaining in Australia mostly while I'm away. Thinking this might be helpful for you in case you also have plans to one day live for some time in another country, these are my personal preparation plans and what's been happening over at my house for the last week or so.

Just for context, our family have a second home in a tiny farming village deep in the Brittany countryside that we have been visiting on and off over the last 12 years. We are now entering the next stage of our life with independent grown children and starting to make plans to see if we can create a life in France for ourselves on a more permanent basis. As with all major life changes, we are being flexible and taking it one step at a time.

Fête des Voisins or Neighbours Day

Fête des Voisins or Neighbour’s Day - A French Tradition

How well do you know your neighbours? Maybe not as well as you would like? Possibly you leave early each morning and don't return till later in the dark? Then let's take a leaf out of the traditional celebration calendar of the French and celebrate Fête des Voisins. This annual festival is a great chance to spend time with your neighbours and get to really know the people that live around you.

Fête des Voisins, literally means neighbour’s day and is celebrated on the last Friday of May each year. The idea was created in France and is now observed around the world.

Our French Life and The French Resistance in Cotes d’ Armor

WWII and The French Resistance in Côtes d’Armor, Brittany

Our first trip to our new French village holiday house was only days after settlement of the property had been completed and we had planned a full and varied holiday of purchasing furniture, meeting our neighbours, sightseeing and generally enjoying being in our new French holiday home and fitting it out.

We decided to fly from Australia to Frankfurt, Germany and then make our way to the house in the region of Côtes d’Armor, Brittany sightseeing along the way.

Australians in France by Catherine Berry

Annette Charlton Interviewed For Series, Australians in France, by Catherine Berry

Catherine Berry, Australian author of ‘But You Are in France Madame’ has been writing an ‘Australians in France’ series where she interviews and shares the stories of Australians living in France.

Catherine is keen to share these stories because after publishing her book ‘But You Are in France Madame’ she is contacted frequently by people asking about the idea, or voicing their dreams of spending some time in France. As a result, she is sharing as many stories as she can to demonstrate that there is no ‘right’ way to do it and that it is possible, and along the way her interviewees give some practical hints on the steps to take.

Annette Charlton

Annette lives with her family between their homes in France and Australia. She’s been featured in International magazines including French Property News, on numerous blogs and travel websites and appeared on ABC National Radio. You can connect on Instagram or Facebook.

www.afrenchcollection.com

Moving To France – An Expat’s Guide

Moving To France and Working In France

Living and working in France may be an ideal for Americans or non-EU citizens who are seeking a change of pace, a unique culture that’s full of history, beautiful architecture, and so much more.

But moving to France isn’t easy. In this “Expat’s Guide”, we’ll discuss a few of the things that you’ll need to know about moving to France. Whether you’re American, or from any other country outside the EU, this guide is sure to help.

Annette Charlton

www.afrenchcollection.com

My Good Life In France: Book Review

Pursuing A French Rural Life

Janine Marsh’s book ‘My Good Life in France: In Pursuit of the Rural Dream’ is a true account of one woman finding her place as “a successful expat in France”.

Janine introduces us to her story in the early pages by setting out the three distinct categories that she feels expats fall into. There are “the Retirees, the Escapees and the Lifestyle Changees”. Of this last group many are just a little bit mad, often leaving a comfortable life at home surrounded by jobs, family and friends to start up new lives often with no jobs, no family and possibly only the hint of a new career. Janine puts herself firmly in this last group and openly admits that she may be a bit mad also.

Annette Charlton

www.afrenchcollection.com

The Funnier Side of French Life

Too Much Toilet Paper: The Funnier Side of French Life

Do you run out of toilet paper at your home? We do. That is, we do at home in Australia but not at home in France. In fact, in France we have way too much loo paper. Why this anomaly you are wondering?

Well, it all started nine years ago. Yep, that's right we have had too much loo paper for nine years in France. I'll fill in the details because this incredible excess stemmed from actually being highly organised people, not weird toilet paper collectors.

Maintaining A House In France From Afar

My French Country Home

Maintaining A House In France From Afar

Are you dreaming of owning your own slice of rural heaven in France? If so, have you wondered how you would maintain a French house from afar? And is the reality as good as you may have dreamt?

I say the reality is even better than the dream and buying our holiday home in France has been one of the most satisfying and rewarding things we’ve ever done. Don’t be deceived though into thinking that means it has always been easy, it has had its challenges, but it has been wonderful and I cannot imagine my life’s book without its ‘French Chapter’.

Annette Charlton