7 Reasons People Regret Their Decision To Retire in France | Cons and Cost of Living.

[@the_expat]

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[@peterturnham5134]

I'm English, now retired and have lived in France for 30 years Before that I lived in Germany. I live 30km from Paris because I needed to be here for my work. It is more than 25% cheaper here than being close to London and very similar in cost to Dusseldorf. Now I've stopped working I will move to the countryside and that will reduce my costs another 25%. In France they speak another Language. Most countries in the world speak a different language from English. Whatever country you go to if you want to socialise you have to learn at least the basics of the language and culture. If you apply yourself that takes 2 weeks, you will be good in 12 months and fluent in 18 months. When the French see you are trying they will be friendly and sociable. I am fluent but immediately they catch my English accent the 39% that have learn't a bit of English will start speaking English to me for practice. I live in a village, people are very polite. When you pass someone in the road even when you don't know them you say "Bonjour Monsieur" or Bonjour Madame" or at minimum "Bonjour". When younger I was Tall Dark and Handsome, now I am tall Grey and Distinguished. If you add the English accent I guarantee French women are very sociable. They think you are James Bond. OK, if you look like Danny DeVito and talk Loud American in Restaurants you might find the French Rude.

[@the_expat]

"Whatever country you go to if you want to socialise you have to learn at least the basics of the language and culture." True!

[@bioliv1]

As a Norwegian I don't fear loneliness. Here it often passes months between each time I have a conversation with other people, sometimes even years. But I feel perfectly happy in my own company.

[@lioneldemun6033]

Same thing for me and I m a " 🐸 "

[@andileu]

Since when everybody on this planet should know english? If you live in another country you have to know the language of that country. It means respect.

[@francocanuck]

Well said ,make some effort get involve with peoples where you live ,you will notice the difference

[@pamelawing5747]

It has less to do with respect than being able to live your life easier and being able to communicate. The French are not all that "touchy feelie" as in the US and knowing the language is very helpful. Your skills only get better with communication. On the other hand, there are many expats who have lived in France for years and not be fluent in French and are perfectly happy. I have never been treated really badly in France and have had some great conversations with shop owners or staff. My French skills are not great and they spoke English, some better than others but we managed and people were very kind. I've had the "traditional French experience" with a few waiters in my trips there. Hilarious.

[@garyharvey98]

@@andileu If only everyone that came to the UK to live thought that....

[@joanofarcxxi]

I am Portuguese. When you French people come visit us, you better speak Portuguese. Since when should we speak English or French and be kind and friendly?

[@andileu]

@@joanofarcxxi First i am not a french. Second is one thing when people come just visiting a country and is another thing when smb. wants to live in that country, two big differences.

[@janroach1852]

U.S. Pensions and Social Security payments are NOT taxed in France.

[@micade2518]

That's wrong: I perceive a little foreign pension, which I declare, and it is taxed. I don't see any reason why it shouldn't.

[@hi_wifi_guy]

@@micade2518 It's only taxed in one country or the other, not both the US and France - there is an agreement between the two countries to avoid double taxation on retirement income.

[@micade2518]

@@hi_wifi_guy Thank you but I know that. But if, like me, you perceive an income in France AND a foreign revenue such as a pension, you'll pay tax on both, in France if that's where you reside, but not in the country where your foreign income comes from..

[@JPKnapp-ro6xm]

@@hi_wifi_guy You have to pay whichever country has the higher tax.

[@AkamaiOkole]

@@micade2518 No you are wrong. It is specific to the tax treaty between the US and French. Don't think your situation applies to every else in the world.

[@2clarityin30]

I'm sorry but I am an American citizen living in Europe and your tax information is incorrect. Please consult the tax charts & a tax advisor before making a move abroad.

[@pedepot]

Exactly. For one thing, you pay taxes in tiers, not all in one bracket.

[@messyhomestead7320]

Thanks for this note. I only started looking into France because retired friend said how much easier it ended up being than Italy, and I can't imagine she would have said that with 40% tax. This video got me very confused.

[@petervan7372]

does france tax you again after you already paying tax to irs?

[@erickarnell]

US and France have a bilateral tax treaty. No double taxation. Special provision for retirement income (social security, pension, IRA) that if taxed in US is not taxed at all in France.

[@carlobellinaso4974]

I am Italian and I know France quite well because I worked there for a few years. Let me tell you that many Americans think they can come to Europe and live by their rules while it is exactly the opposite: you are the ones who must respect and get used to our way of life and learn our languages. Secondly, I am surprised that you speak of a lack of security in France while in the United States every year over 30,000 people die from firearms and almost 400,000,000 weapons circulate in private hands. If something bad is happening in Europe it is that this type of American subculture is advancing and destroying ours.

[@franc9111]

Absolutely right - and I have lived in France for more than 50 years.

[@Jehauvv88]

I am French and I live in the US. I will not return to France as I had planned. Essentially because of savage immigration and the violence and insecurity that comes with it. It is much safer in the US, which is a very much larger country than France as you know. Most cities like Chicago or similar are riddled with crime, but there are so many small towns in the US where it is safe, where there are zero crime, zero rape, and 2 burglaries a year. I live in one of those.. Most death by firearms are due to pharma drugs and hard drugs. However, In France 2024, almost the entire country has been gangrened by violence, drugs, gangs, a rotten department of justice and a psychopath president. People live in fear, and cannot defend themselves. It is going to blow up in France. Of course, some people do not wan to see it.

[@carlobellinaso4974]

@@Jehauvv88 Je ne sais pas quoi dire ; Je vais souvent en France et je n'ai jamais eu ce sentiment d'insécurité, même si je dois dire qu'il y a certains quartiers des grandes villes qu'il vaut mieux ne pas visiter.

[@sylviebasyl2835]

​@@Jehauvv88 On vit dans la peur ? 🤔 🤣

[@osimeon00]

Bitch please. Illegal immigrants from Africa and the middle east are your biggest problems and importers of drugs, guns, & prostitution, not Americans. There aren't even enough Americans across Europe to make any sort of cultural impact, positive or negative. Italy's broke ass needs the EU at this point with your high unemployment, mafia ran government, and low skilled and uneducated workers. Take responsibillity and F off.

[@didierlacroix6488]

What ???? French people speak French in France ? how dare we ?!

[@apisyom1189]

If you are not happy in your own country, how can you be happy anywhere else?

[@dagmarvandoren9364]

Easy

[@marktyler2068]

The cost of living is pretty important for everyone. As you get older cost of living, food quality, and weather all become more important. If you are curious and educated, then living in a country where education, history and curiosity in general are not valued then you might be better off elsewhere. Likewise, if you have children and are living in a country like the US where the chances of being killed by a gun is 30 times higher than countries of comparable wealth, then you might want to move. Not just for safety, but to avoid a culture where the notion of freedom appears to include the right and power to take away others' freedom, including the freedom to continue living. That's how.

[@HarryFenton6124]

Because my own country, the UK, is horribly overcrowded now. Whereas France is nearly empty away from the cities.

[@yahouallavoix4512]

so true!

[@bioliv1]

Because France stopped wind turbine terror and gathered around a new nuclear strategy!

[@gandigooglegandigoogle7202]

I live in France now since 2018, almost 6 years, and it is just fabulous ! No regret at all. it is true that the French are much less superficial than us in terms of socialization, they do not smile stupidly at anyone and at the slightest banality, but if you speak with them over the longer term they will give you their friendship and it is worth gold here in France, you can trust it !...be careful not to betray this trust.

[@lioneldemun6033]

What's " fabulous" here ? From a Frenchie, born here 69 years ago and who lived here his whole life ( alas ).....

[@gandigooglegandigoogle7202]

@@lioneldemun6033 .....what is fabulous? a lot of things....the food, the French, the landscapes, the health system, the way of living, the quality of life in general....but I must admit that there is a big problem with the current government and with the EU, with illegal immigration, Islamism etc... the French identity is in real danger, especially in the cities.

[@lioneldemun6033]

@@gandigooglegandigoogle7202 replace " fabulous" by " exotic". As an American, we are exotic to you. As America is exotic to us, and hence we find it fabulous....

[@Jehauvv88]

@@gandigooglegandigoogle7202 Yes, at least you have the honesty to enumerate the HUGE problems plaguing France now. Too many Americans in France are putting videos online that are just lies. Their viewers get a romantic and idyllic view of the country, while all the French people who can are trying to move abroad. I moved to the US a long time ago, I am French and I wanted to retire in my native country. Last time I went and toured Paris and several regions I was in shock. I spoke with old friends and some family and they all told me "do not come back" you will regret it. The islamist immigration and the violence that goes with, the rotten EU, all is killing the country and its culture. It's coming to the rural areas as well now.

[@erickarnell]

American pensions received by retirees in France, including Social Security, 401K and IRA plans, will be taxable in the United States under the France/United States double tax treaty. In France, your pension will not be taxed; however, you must still declare your US pension income on your annual French tax return.

[@p.ccarbec6261]

And yes you will get everything france has to offer, free healthcare, usage of all the infrastructure french people paid for

[@Francebound2024]

@@p.ccarbec6261 actually, retirees do pay social charges on the income they declare, they just won’t pay income tax. They also contribute to the economy with their spending and will also be subject to VAT.

[@christinabayma119]

I was just about to say the same thing. Better get the facts clear before posting a video on KZbin. I think he tax might be correct if you worked in France and then retired. But foreign retirement income is not subject to double taxation and will be taxed in the country of origin, especially if it’s from the US.

[@tommyflorida9204]

I never regretted to retire in France. I am fluent in French. People never thought that I was from North America. Their cuisine is the best in the world and varies according to the region.

[@testuser-u8m]

How about taxes ? I heard US Social Security income is not taxed in France ?

[@franciscouderq1100]

A bit too many French living there , tho 🤣

[@the_expat]

And how about the French people, what is your opinion about them?

[@micade2518]

@@the_expat It's up to the uninvited guest to adapt!

[@siobhanallen2102]

French cuisine is not the best in the world, it's hype. Indian food is better and in Europe, Italian food is the best.

[@jodiehebert8285]

I think you need to confirm the tax statements. As I understand it, American retirees only pay the US and nothing to France because of the tax treaty between the two countries. You do have to show you paid your home country. I never heard the tax being 40% unless the person is working or runs a business in France. Per quick Google search: Under Article 18 of the U.S./French Income Tax Treaty, distributions from U.S. retirement accounts made to a French resident are only taxable in the U.S. Notably, Roth IRAs are considered U.S. retirement accounts and specifically covered by the treaty, preserving their tax-free nature in France.

[@mariemyers6747]

thank you!

[@franciscouderq1100]

Yeah, some are truly no investigating things before making videos., a shame really.

[@sxgaston]

I was just coming here to say that. That's a biggie.

[@Francebound2024]

You are 100% correct! As a retiree from the US, you’ll pay $0 taxes on income like US pensions, SS, interest, dividends and other passive income.

[@annegormely6003]

France is the best place in all of Europe for Americans to retire because of the tax treaty. This video is not giving accurate information at all.

[@joanofarcxxi]

I'm Portuguese and I reside in the USA, which I absolutely adore. Americans are generally wonderful-lively, amiable, inquisitive, and easygoing. They're not pretentious; rather, they possess a remarkable blend of self-assurance and humility. Engaging with professionals like lawyers or doctors, you wouldn't realize their status because they're down-to-earth, just like anyone else. Despite the significant Portuguese population in France, living there isn't for me; I wouldn't fare well with the snobbish atmosphere.

[@fred-san]

vrai

[@messyhomestead7320]

I'm American and I haven't found any of the people you are talking about; it's why I have to look elsewhere. I'm so glad you found the one community remaining in America that does not have attachment disorder. Well done on that - that makes my heart happy.

[@kakikaka203]

Like a french I agree totally with you : french are pretentious, they always think there are the center of the world.

[@BobKnight-mm2ze]

@@messyhomestead7320 And yet somehow YOU exist. Do you consider the qualities @joanofarcxxi listed as good? That you yourself posses? Or do you consider yourself as awful as the rest of us Americans? So clearly of the 350 millions people in America, excluding babies and those too old to even communicate, there must be...at least a HUNDRED people that are ok right? Look, I'm leaving America, but I don't think EVERYBODY is awful-just the racists and the republicans hahah, same group. hahaha. Please; don't be so easy to denigrate the country and people who raised you. Join the military, great people in there. Or, leave. But you're going to learn some lessons out there in the world. I lived abroad before, I hope you have, or you're going to learn some HARD lessons. It's not all peaches and cream out there; why do you think EVERYBODY is in transition on the planet right now? You might even run into this, uh, "attachment disorder" you're accusing us ALL of having.

[@freefinance8369]

So, all these Portuguese in France, like to live in a snobbish atmosphere. I think you are mentally unbalanced!

[@astidkalis]

When we say 'pas mal' we actually mean 'good', or even 'very good'. I guess it sounds more modest, less bragging.

[@fred-san]

non, pas mal veut dire pas mal, mais on est dépité, exaspéré, blasé... et surtout énervé, envers ces parasites qui ont ruiné FR et une bonne partie du reste du monde, donc on regresse a tous les niveaux, et parfois volontairement pour ne pas faire comme allemands nazis en 40 (on redoute 3éme guerre mondiale, prevue dans plans gouvernements, denoncée dans les propheties, usa-urss sur sol france, a cause de daesh en cités et gouvernement "nationaliste)

[@SueIsRetiringToFrance]

I plan on moving to France next year, with a 14 days scouting trip upcoming in February. (That is by design: I know what France is like in the summer; I want to check out the winter temps in the places on my punch list). Most of the places I am considering are rural or third-tier cities or villages. And yes, I am learning French. I taught myself some in 2012 in advance of a two-week trip to follow the Tour de France, and it was a disaster. I did not take it seriously. At the start of the pandemic, I taught myself Portuguese - for a planned trip (that never happened because of the pandemic) as well as a possible retirement move there. But I've wanted to live in France since that 2012 trip. I thought Portuguese was hard, and it was. So I was expecting French - based on my first foray - to be harder. Surprise! This time around, it is so much easier.

[@the_expat]

"At the start of the pandemic, I taught myself Portuguese" Very impressive! Parabéns!

[@jillybe1873]

Check taxes, in particular inheritance

[@annegormely6003]

As pointed out by many here already your information on taxes and US retirees in France is totally false. As for crime if you are coming from the US you will be MUCH safer in France. With a murder rate of 1.35 per 100,000 people France has 400% fewer murders per 100,000 than the US, at 5.35 per 100000. All areas of crime, burglary, rape, are much higher in US. From example rape is 19% less than in the US. Don’t make videos on topics you know nothing about.

[@micade2518]

Bravo. I feel just the same. That guy doesn't know what he's talking about. But if that could reduce the number of "poor expat's" (in reality, immigrants)!

[@Jehauvv88]

You really don't know what you are speaking about. I am French living in the US and I am MUCH safer in the US than in France. France is now crippled by violence from foreign invasion and has become a cut-throat country. I have visited France every 3 years and last time I was horrified by what I saw. It's poor, dirty, unsafe and the French do nothing except complain.

[@islandbreeze2102]

Agree. The age of misinformation is upon us!

[@Jehauvv88]

Safer in Fronze? Ah ah ah.. Do you like Sharia Law?

[@raatroc]

AI generated videos should be banned from KZbin, it's such a waste of time ...

[@amywalker7515]

Isn't one of the reasons one would move to France their magnificent food? If you can't live without McDonald's, stay home.

[@ParisianThinker]

Actually, MacDonald's is where the French eat besides at their corporate lunch rooms.

[@micade2518]

@@ParisianThinker All 60+ million French? And, are they visitors?

[@timothyrday1390]

There are more McDonald's per capita in France than in the US.

[@munkiesyeah]

Actually, Macdos is THE most popular meal in France. Don't believe all the "French people are thin" nonsense you read and hear. A visit to rural France will unfortunately show you that obesity is a huge problem here too, thanks to their love of processed food.

[@PascalDupont-ft7hd]

​@@munkiesyeahfaux l'obésité en France et dérisoire comparé aux États-Unis.

[@PhilippeMartinez-lo2ze]

I am French and has lived overseas for more than 10 years. I believe i can speak English fluently enough. Having said that, i really find annoying to be sitting at a dinner table of 8 in France and be forced to speak English because only one or two of the guests are not speaking French. Because no matter being fluent, English is not my Mother tongue. And it will remain for ever not natural to speak in English.

[@BobKnight-mm2ze]

And yet you don't live in France. So let me turn the question around. Most of planet Earth speaks English, but most of France does not. So who is not participating with the world? The Netherlands is a small country, and Sweden has a relatively small population for the size of the country, but both of those European countries made their populations able to communicate with the rest of the world--if another war breaks out, to enjoy the media from the English speaking world, to do business. Whatever the reason, they made the choice. To get along. I'm learning French because the French made a choice to NOT participate with the world on that level. I plan to travel there. I might even stay. Depends; Europe is moving in an anti-immigrant direction. But in 2024, for THAT much of the population to not be comfortable with English out of DEFIANCE is a choice. It appears to be more of a rejection than cultural safe guarding. The Germans are no less German because many of them speak English.

[@PhilippeMartinez-lo2ze]

@@BobKnight-mm2ze If you want to leave in a world with a single language why not. But I strongly believe that this would result in much less diversity and a sharp decline of Mankind's genious. I really care if Dutch or German language would have disappeared in 2 or 3 generations. As an English speaker you cannot even understand what it means to speak several languages and how much it opens up your own understanding of others and how much you appreciate difference of thinking and cultural references. You are right I do not want to engage with a world with a single language and single way of thinking.

[@Jehauvv88]

@@PhilippeMartinez-lo2ze Bien dit!

[@Jehauvv88]

It is not about the language, it is about cultural codes. I am French, have been in the US for 37 years, I am writing books in English, my level of spoken and written English is excellent as well as my accent, but I am still at loss with many codes. Some because they are too foreign for me, or because they feel uncomfortable comparing with my French upbringing. I hate speaking loud, lack of proper introduction, mixing public and private, being blunt and indiscreet when meeting someone for the first time and for most Americans, especially in teh West, that is part of their cultural codes. French culture has different values than American culture.

[@robertaurens5665]

The irritating AI narrator needs to learn English

[@szk4023]

If you plan to move to any country, you need to learn the local language. Unfortunately, there's no substitute. Otherwise, you'll have trouble making friends regardless of the country. If you move to France to retire, chances are you are old, which means that you'll also be seeking to befriend retired French people. However, people tend to be pickier with their friends as they get older so it doesn't help! It's always easier to make friends when you're young. I don't think I'd ever consider moving to a new country JUST to retire. If I've lived in a given country, where I have roots, family and friends, might as well stay there till the end. However, I could definitely retire in a country that isn't mine if I've already done the work of building my life there. That's exactly my situtation. I'm an American working and living in France with my French wife and my kids who have dual citizenship. Whenever we retire, we'll most certainly stick around. If you really want to live abroad, I'd recommend to not wait until retirement. Everything will be easier if you do it before. As the saying goes: you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

[@bonbahoue]

Commentaire le plus sensé que j'ai lu. Ici le problème n'est pas la France et tout ce qu'on peut lui reprocher, c'est bien de changer radicalement de vie, et ce, quelle que soit la destination. Et aussi, je ne comprends pas comment on peut baser sa transition sur le fait que tel ou tel pays soit familier avec la langue anglaise. C'est une erreur majeure. Est-ce que si j'allais hypothétiquement m'installer au Texas, je serais outré que les locaux ne parlent pas français ? Est-ce que je leur reprocherais que tout soit compliqué à mes yeux ? Non car j'aurais choisi d'aller m'y installer.

[@mariemyers6747]

I appreciate no-nonsense and forthcoming comments such as this. Thank you!

[@jackflanagle6079]

On the other hand moving to a different country when older can be good for the old gray matter. You HAVE to think on your feet! The overwhelming majority of older expats I've met are still pretty sharp. I left the US in my '60's, lived in several countries in Europe and elsewhere and still pretty much speak just English. I still make friends wherever I am. Have owned a house near Budapest for several years and do just fine. There is always someone around speaking English, especially those under 40. So don't be discouraged all you wanna-be escapees!

[@the_expat]

"If you plan to move to any country, you need to learn the local language." Agree 100%

[@micade2518]

@@bonbahoue Bravo, je plussoie. J'ai posté un commentaire exactement dans le même sens.

[@paullewis2413]

It’s just common sense that if you move to another country without being fluent in the language you’ll struggle to fit in to the local culture. If you are from the U.S. and always looking for fast food junk, though they exist everywhere, France is not for you.😂

[@pamelawing5747]

Sadly, there is more junk in France than I had ever thought possible. America does send it's "best". PIZZA HUT?? OMG They there is a chain of "restaurants" called Hippopotamus and they are truly awful. Lots of Americans in them but I did hear a lot of French being spoken. My friend was being a PITA about food so we ended up there. OY On my last trip, there was a Mickey Ds by our hotel and it was pretty full all the time. And contrary to popular belief, you CAN get a terrible baguette in France. Just sayin'

[@suheelhussain4975]

Junk food in USA is old news. Now we have high quality gourmet restaurants Some of them are even better than in france

[@PascalDupont-ft7hd]

​@@pamelawing5747pour info Hippopotamus est une chaine française et si vous voulez une bonne baguette aller à la boulangerie.

[@pamelawing5747]

@@PascalDupont-ft7hd Yes I know and that does NOT make it anymore awful. Just because it's French doesn't mean its good. By the way, the worst possible chain restaurants in the US are those represented in Europe. We did NOT send our best. HORRIBLE. Why would I got to a restaurant for a baguette? I have now idea how YOU got THAT idea, and by the way, NOT every boulangerie in Paris makes great bread....just saying'.

[@ireneuszfus8398]

"For some expats..." - NO, for some immigrants! Call yourself for what you are!

[@franciscouderq1100]

EXACTLY

[@sxgaston]

When I leave my country I'm an expat When someone comes to my country they are an immigrant. Why is that hard to understand? 😉

[@ireneuszfus8398]

No, you leave your own country as migrant and come to someone else's country and you're an immigrant there! "Expat" is a word coceived by white immigrants so they can feel better and above migrants from, let's say Africa, India and so on. It's as simple as that@@sxgaston

[@amywalker7515]

An expat could be temporary too. Maybe some people want to see what it's like to live in a certain country before deciding to stay forever.

[@micade2518]

@@amywalker7515 ... then, they'd first be visitors/tourists, and if they settled, they'd become immigrants.

[@cheriegrishin2086]

As an American living in France, I do not think you (Americans) can ask Brits what they don't like. Dispite speaking a common laungage, American and British cultures are SIGNIFICANTLY different. My advice is to learn French, and avoid moving to areas dominated by the English. You will be welcomed and you will be able to integrate and be happy.

[@lovethatbites]

We just do NOT socialize with people we have no reason to love, know or care for. Fake smiles are a big NO in France. Politeness is required in France and easily given, but do not ask us for more. We do not want to hear about your holidays, job, revenues, opinions, family and so on. Please, keep all of this for yourself, unless you're a proven friend.

[@messyhomestead7320]

The problem is that you cannot prove your value as a friend unless someone gives you the opportunity to do so.

[@sharoncrain6719]

Due to cultural differences, perhaps it is difficult for some individuals to recognize a genuine smile from someone other than a family member or close friend. In some countries, smiling is simply a way to connect with or acknowledge other humans' existence...somewhat like the French custom of saying "Bonjour" to strangers in public venues. Diversity across cultures is natural, and it is interesting and informative to explore and experience other practices and customs without judgment.

[@the_expat]

Interesting comment. Thanks!

[@derekarnold3665]

Actually France has more McDonalds than any other European country.

[@the_expat]

A very ironic fact :)

[@derekarnold3665]

@@the_expat Yes. Actually there are nearly 1500 outlets. I live near Antibes and the McDo there has queues everyday.

[@Jehauvv88]

France is terribly impoverished and the millions of immigrants love McDo

[@amywalker7515]

The crime thing is the same in just about every large city. In Rome, it is terrible. I was in Poland and one of the people in our group had her purse slashed with a razor and her wallet stolen. Why are people going to bars and staying out late and then going home alone? If you know that's where the problem is, why not avoid doing this or get a taxi? I've been all over the world and my worst nightmare was my landlord in Buenos Aires charging an arm and a leg for "cleaning and maintenance" while the place had roaches and other people's food still in the fridge. However, my other experiences in Argentina were wonderful. You are responsible yourself to be vigilant. In most instances, you can travel just about anywhere safely if you take certain precautions. I rarely go out late at night, and if I have to, I hire a taxi or Uber. Don't go down streets where it is dark or there are no people on it. Don't wear flashy clothes and lots of jewelry. Don't carry stuff people want to steal. Get a burner phone and use that at night. Dress as if you are middle class or even a little poor. Thieves love tourists so try not to look like or act like one.

[@cathbelle5096]

Well said ...😊

[@gildaung9963]

I live in France for decades french people are not bad but sometimes they don' t know how to feed back the positive energy you give them. Just as you said: " it' a nice day today " the answer will be "not bad". When you get used to it then is ok.

[@lioneldemun6033]

And there is something else : the French temper ( " furia Francese"). A lot of Frenchies are hypochondriacs and prone to tantrums ( or worse as we can see right now with the epidemic if violence in French society)....

[@zigglewigler]

Immigrants not prepared to learn the language! Who'd have imagined that might be a problem?

[@micade2518]

The brexiteers?

[@PeonyBlossom3]

My husband and I both speak French fluently. His great grandparents only spoke French though out their lives even though they all moved to America near the same time and became friends because of their French heritage. Eventually they learned a little broken English since their other kind and friendly neighbors who spoke English and French helped interpret for them. They had large French and English speaking Catholic families and eventually their kids who attended American schools helped to translate most things for them as they got older. All of his grandparents and parents spoke English and French fluently. And like I said we both speak French fluently also. Even though my Family is English and Scandinavian. We thought about retiring in France….but have nearly decided not to after watching this video! Why in the world should we ever bother moving to France if the French people are so rude to non French citizens? And furthermore they have become so cliquish that we couldn’t even begin to make a single friend there giving us no reason to even bother trying to have a happy retirement there? We have vacationed in France for a total of 23 months and had a lovely time each trip. Were there occasionally rude people? Yes. But you can always find rude people in every country. We didn’t spend all of our time in France in one trip. We chose to break up our time visiting many different regions and really enjoyed ourselves. However, we were not expecting to make friends as it was just vacation time and enjoy our family’s company enough not to expect to make long term friends. But if we are living there, giving away a huge amount of money to a country of people who even though we live there and speak French fluently still intentionally make it impossible to make friends… we can’t see a reason why we should even want to buy a little home and bother retiring there??!! And as for learning French why should people bother learning French if French people won’t bother barely speaking to them?! I’m thinking maybe another country might be more welcoming than the actual country that my husband’s entire family came from. Sad we have had such a wonderful time sharing France with our children. So grateful we all got to see Notre Dame’s beautiful old roof before it burned down so recently. We are planning to bring our children and their spouses to attend Christmas Mass at ND all together before there will be too many little ones to easily travel with. Sadly we had entered to stay a few weeks longer than the rest of our family to look around at places to possibly rent while looking at the property market after the new year. As of now maybe not… I imagine we will be talking to a few other people who have purchased vacation properties there already to get a better understanding of what they found rather then this one off putting horrible video. Maybe I’m just too tired tonight… maybe as my late mother used to say, “things will look better in the morning.”

[@cathbelle5096]

Hi Peony...Please don't take a life changing decision based on One you tube post ..!... Your experience is the real thing , a KZbin gathering of random comments isn't. You certainly know that pple give you back what you give them . Give a smile ,you"ll receive a smile , give a bark , you"ll receive a bark .. Whish you the best ...😊

[@BobKnight-mm2ze]

Yeah, do your thing. This is just a channel on youtube, NOT your real life. If you're experiences were positive so far, don't fall for online fear. They do these videos for all kinds of reasons, not always to be "helpful." But if a move is something your family is considering, please speak to actual professionals about the taxes, relocation costs, and safety, etc., Talk to people who are on the ground and can match what you see with your own eyes. And having the language already puts your MILES ahead! But do pick some regions and visit them to "test the waters" first. So I hope you weigh your options, look at your budget and then make the right choice for yourselves. Staying put can work too.

[@rosefleurbloom5568]

👋🏽😀Bonjour!Thank you dearly for this information packed video! Definitely right down to the key points. I’m studying the French language now. It will be a few years before my visit but I’m preparing well in advance. I want to embrace the French culture with warmth and open arms. The best way for me to break the ice is speaking the language. I believe you should have genuine interest so you are able to enjoy everything France has to offer. I find it odd to retire in a country where I could not hold a conversation to get to know people within their own culture. It’s like a marriage without communication. Loneliness and isolation is inevitable. Ultimately the marriage will fail. Learning a little now will pay off big later on. It’s a win-win situation and it truly shows that you care.

[@PascalDupont-ft7hd]

J'étudie la langue😮 d'accord si je vous demande une note sur 1/10 combien🤔🤔

[@lollygee172]

Your tax information is not accurate for retirees. Retirement income isn’t taxed. (Social security, 401k, etc.) Investment income is.

[@yannip2083]

Inaccurate info! There is no tax on the U.S. pension per Article 18 of the Tax Treaty between France and the U.S.

[@ParisianThinker]

They tax you on savings.

[@DebraMcVey]

@@ParisianThinker You mean in France?

[@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw]

There is crime in big French cities. That's truly earth shattering news. Because crime doesn't happen in any big city anywhere outside of France, does it ?

[@Jehauvv88]

There is crime in every big cities governed by leftists, be it in France, US, Germany, Belgium of Italy.

[@Christophe-pl5xu]

Crime is everywhere in France now even in small towns and it is mainly because of African migrants.

[@negofol5278]

The first thing before moving to France is maybe understanding the language : "c'était vraiment pas mal" tranlates in fact as "it was fabulous". The difference in living cost is mainly the difference in cost of housing. I am not sure that you can buy a house in Malibu for the same price as a house in the middle of nowhere... Groceries, fuel, Internet connection are nearly the same everywhere in France....

[@dagmarvandoren9364]

Ja Sprache lernen. Liebe Frankreich. Das land der franken🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@musiccreation1198]

US social security is NOT taxed in France. Italy, on the other hand, taxes the $h!t out of US social security

[@amywalker7515]

There are parts of every big city that need to be avoided. Find out where they are and don't go to them. I was dirt poor when I lived in France in 1975, but felt like a princess back then because I could wander all over Paris for free. College was FREE so I went to the Sorbonne where I qualified for these dining hall ticket booklets, where I could have a complete meal, for very little money. There were things to do like museums and free concerts in churches to go to, and once every now and then I actually got to eat out. I never felt in danger back then but I tended not to go out at night. Maybe thing are different now.

[@Jehauvv88]

Things are so different now that you would not recognize the country, neither Paris. In worse unfortunately.

[@KhunAdam]

Glad you mentioned how cheap Périgueux was. Lovely town! Friendly locals. Nimes is cheap and on the TGV lines. Very hot in summer though.

[@genevalawrence801]

I laughed out loud at the remark about the Parisians being d***s if you speak French poorly. While nobody was mean to me about it, I did once have someone in Paris stop me on a busy sidewalk to interrupt a conversation I was having with someone else in order to correct my grammar. I am the kind of person who found that amusing rather than offensive, and I thanked my would-be volunteer language tutor politely and walked out of earshot before giggling.

[@the_expat]

"someone in Paris stop me on a busy sidewalk to interrupt a conversation I was having with someone else in order to correct my grammar." Hahahaha brilliant.

[@alux3552]

As someone who lived in both France and Luxembourg, I was shocked when you mentioned living in France is even more expensive than living in Luxembourg! Really??

[@micade2518]

No.

[@CJ-Photo]

You are wrong about tax rates in Portugal - check your facts. Also, the rate in Italy and Greece have geographic or time limits. And if you're from the US, you don't pay tax on retirement income to France at all.

[@sylvielacouture7753]

There are a lot of preconceptions and clichés in this video. I advise you to watch the KZbin channels "faire pas les frenchies" and "baguette bound" to form a real opinion.

[@Jehauvv88]

Those channels are very mediocre and not representing the REAL life in France

[@ericbd9297]

Speaking as a French, I'm often more opened to socialize with foreigners than with locals as I know I will hear a different story and also as I like foreigners to feel welcome in my home country. I don't know if it is universal but there is a kind of foreigner attraction...

[@markgold5408]

You are completely wrong about certain aspects of the French tax system. There is no income tax on many forms of retirement income. Also, Portugal no longer has the regime where you pay 10% on retirement income. It is now taxed as regular income. (up to 48%)

[@BStrapper]

in France A single person earning 50k euros will pay 8593 euros in income tax... Not 30 pct As explained but 15 pct!!!!! french People never move to Paris or another big city to retire. It would not make sense for foreigners to move to a large french city to retire

[@lioneldemun6033]

Exactly. I for one literally FLED Paris on the very day of my retirement in 2018, never to come back EVER ! And mind you, I was BORN in Paris!

[@mrpeel3239]

I like that your opinions generalize yet are fully supported with facts!

[@the_expat]

Well, I am glad, I guess :) Thanks!

[@micade2518]

Really??? :o(

[@micade2518]

@@the_expat Except that your "facts" are just hearsay!!! Everything is wrong in your statements!

[@stephancolantonio5350]

I wanted to share a personal reflection regarding population movements between the United Kingdom and France, particularly in the context of Brexit. Interestingly, many Britons supported Brexit to fight immigration and regain sovereignty. However, today we are seeing an increasing number of British citizens coming to settle in France. The problem is that most of them don't seem to be making much of an effort to fully integrate. The language barrier is a glaring example: they do not master French and do not always seem to try to learn it, as if France could be perceived as an extension of Britain. I wonder if you have observed this phenomenon or if initiatives are planned to encourage linguistic and cultural integration. This could undoubtedly facilitate cohabitation and strengthen mutual respect between communities. Thank you for reading, and I remain open to your thoughts on this subject.

[@guypainter]

Learning the local language well beyond tourist phrasebook level in ANY country is essential if you intend to settle there permanently. Not only is it disrespectful to expect your host culture to speak your language, if you don't immerse yourself in the subtleties and idioms of the native speech you will not understand local banter and humour because such things do not translate literally and you just end up inadvertently offending each other.

[@richardshiggins704]

Living in France for 35 years as a doctor . Can't wait to leave the place . Enough of living with these pompous pseudo sophisticates ! Do not retire here !

[@clives344]

Married here my Wife is French and met in England. Cannot stand living in France but living in the UK is even worse after being away for so long. France is a lovely country but find it hard to integrate as many French loath the English.

[@BobKnight-mm2ze]

​@@clives344 Wow, and also @richardshiggins704 wow again. Ughh, exactly what I didn't want to hear, but thankful I did. Well I'm going anyway and I'll see what happens, but I appreciate the warnings. And maybe I'll NOT ship all my possessions in that first year, after hearing both your opinions.

[@garyharvey98]

Retired there but after 16 years I was cured of my love of S&M and left.

[@Vladimir-o8z]

What made you leave, home sick?

[@kakikaka203]

I understand...

[@DavidWatson-g1c]

I find your video rather nonsensical and very inaccurate. Your tax example is wrong. As an American female I have lived in Paris 30 years. It's true the French are not lovey dovey but I don't want everone I meet to be my friend. They are more formal than Americans, they just don't go into small talk which is just fine. I feel a lot happier here in Paris than I ever did in the US.

[@jillybe1873]

I've returned after 14 years in france. It was better when i was working, but you're never really welcome. I speak french like a native, but felt isolated. There are many unacceptable attitudes.

[@vmoses1979]

What are the unacceptable attitudes?

[@franciscouderq1100]

Care to specifying?

[@yannip2083]

@@vmoses1979 Please share your experience as we are learning.

[@the_expat]

". There are many unacceptable attitudes." Interesting. Could you give us one example?

[@amywalker7515]

I lived there in 1975, which I know is a long time ago. What hit me was the insistence you speak perfect French (and I had studied it for years), and dress a la mode (in the current French style). I got strange looks wherever I went. One day I got myself dressed up as strangely as I could with an outrageous hairdo, heels and makeup and went sashaying down the street. I got "Bonjour" from everyone. So superficial. Anyway, I think they are less fashion conscious now. I had a boyfriend back then who was obsessed with the US, so HE was always looking for McDonald's and other American-like places to eat while I was the one who wanted to eat French. I have had French people approach me in public to discuss what kind of camera I had, my son's resemblance to a family member and warnings to be careful for a hazard coming up in the street ahead. Today I think young people are more accepting than the older ones ar.

[@kakikaka203]

I am french and I agree with the fact it is difficult to socialize : more you travel and more you can notice that. I noticed also a difference between seventies and now : my feeling is second degree humor disappears.

[@jack.charlesc4750]

Very true about parisians most french dislike parisians france became expensive because all foreigners made the real estate exploded everyone wants to be on the riviera where i live 😢😢😢😢

[@Pthommie]

The French keep their childhood friends throughout their lives but do not look to the workplace to make new ones. Their attitude is that those friendships go south when they leave their employment, so why bother? A problem arises when they leave their homes to work in Paris & they maintain that belief. Loneliness causes some French to spiral into deep depression; a dirty secret of Paris is the relatively large number of lonely people hanging themselves in their cramped little apartments.

[@the_expat]

That explains A LOT! I never imagined suicide was an issue in any place in France.

[@Pthommie]

@@the_expat I had lived in France several years before I learned about this. I found French people who lived with non-French partners were the most forthcoming & I learned a lot from them.

[@amywalker7515]

What a sorry custom when some of my best friends and even my husband were met at work.

[@micade2518]

BS!

[@micade2518]

@@the_expat Because it isn't true!

[@thierrysanchez3161]

Il y a tellement d'erreurs ... C'est une vidéo de propagande ...

[@tims-cc8hm]

As a Brit who has lived in France and Spain, most of what was said was so obvious and really not worth mentioning

[@merovlinden]

Hmmm... Most of these are common to anyone moving to a foreign country with a different language as an adult: it's hard to make friends and it's hard to learn a language. I'm French and I've been living in the US for 30 years (arrived in my 30's) and even being married to a local, I have very few american friends. Yes, folks are more friendly on the surface but cracking the social circles is very hard and social and cultural conventions are different.

[@bioliv1]

The most important about France is all the historic architecture! This is the key aspect for quality of life. We plan to move to France from Norway to live out our lives as beauty cultists. We had our nature, but our governments decided to sell out our country as a balance battery for Germany.

[@lioneldemun6033]

In Italy there is even more historical architecture but after a while for me at least it gets old you have the impression to live in an artificial theater decoration made for tourists .

[@bioliv1]

@@lioneldemun6033 I LOVE Disneyland too, so no problem 🙂

[@taffy402]

I lived in France for many years. The taxation system is very cockeyed as you pay income tax on the previous year In other words you pay no tax for the first year but the next year you pay tax on the first year. They send you a form to fill in but I would get a tax expert to help you . There is no PAYE as in the UK. I loved living in France

[@ileanamuntean7338]

What a lot of horse sht. I have been living in France for 23 years and never regretted it. And yes, I spoke, wrote very good French even before coming to live here.

[@marcvanpoucke5560]

I got curious: You're probably not a native English-speaking person. The way you pronounce 'foreigner' (several times) is peculiar. I saw your video on Italy and it was much less critical of the Italians though you will have the same problems: if one doesn't learn the native language, you will be confronted with lots of daily issues.

[@DebraMcVey]

The way the 'narrator' pronounces "ed" at the end of a word leads me to believe that it is actually AI.

[@marcvanpoucke5560]

@@DebraMcVey For AI the voice is not really the most beautiful. He also pronounces some rare French words in the text with a reasonable French accent. AI cannot always jump from one language to another. Oh mistery!

[@fp2374]

In every country big cities are expensier than the countryside! Vive la différence!! I am retire in France and do not pay those amounts lol!!!

[@the_expat]

That is true!

[@JohnResalb]

I agree with your OTHER respondants - how can anyone successfully socialise in a language which is not the local language. In the case of the French - imagine a French person retiring in the USA and wanting just to speak French - how do you think he/she would get on??? Very simple logic.!! In fact, anyone with an ounce of intelligence should easily be able to make that reverse comparison for themselves.!!

[@the_expat]

That is exactly why we recommend everyone to learn the local language ;)

[@piroska5552]

If you want to retire in France,than also be French . French people are allways in bad mood,because they have to work ,whilst they would rather go for a picknic in their marvellous and sunny countryside. But work is not your problem anymore.

[@kakikaka203]

It is better to choose a country like Portugal : portuguese are friendly and not pretentious like french.

[@the_expat]

Portugal

[@kakikaka203]

@@the_expat Why ?

[@KhunAdam]

Thanks for the video which is very helpful and accurate. Yes, learn French! Glad you point out the expensive aspects, taxes, and cheaper regions. I live near Nimes, and you are right it is cheap. But it might be less attractive than other cities. My property tax is high but for me manageable. Luckily, I have not had any violent experiences, but verbally abused by my local postmistress who didn't like the fact my French was poor. Burglaries occur in my village occasionally, so we have grills on our doors and windows.

[@4U2C-xq9wt]

Wouldn't be nice to actually have stats that are real and not cherry picking nonsense to fit your need to bash a country?

[@elizabethhamilton1166]

This is a valuable and interesting video! Thank you. I have one small pronunciation correction. The word "foreigner" has the accent on the first syllable and is pronounced like this, "FOR-renner."

[@the_expat]

Thank you very much for the correction :)

[@rjh2772]

France has an agreement with the US to not tax retirement pensions and Social Security

[@SueIsRetiringToFrance]

Muito obrigado!

[@govinda102000]

I have been to Brussels Belgium a few times I enjoy the French culture and people without the expense or snobbery of France.

[@amywalker7515]

I found they cold and aloof.

[@michellemason222]

You should check your info. The tax rates are lower than you stated. Not sure about the rest, but doing homework b4 posting should be done.

[@callcentertiger]

You need to slow down your speech delivery, the accent is indeciprable and if you want to target this video to a global audience,you to urgently work on your pitch, staccato and intonation, otherwise it a total waste of time.

[@Hermencv]

It all sounds like some horrid AI-voice, which on it's own makes the entire channel a waste of time!

[@martinasandoval5326]

​@Hermencv wondering why and AI video would have a very strong non English accent.

[@mariaescosura3972]

Oh, guess what? If you want to buy a flat in France you'll have to pay for it and in Euros!!!

[@jeanmi4640]

The guy forgot in his video : We ,French people, eat Americans every day for breakfast ! Yummy 😋 French humour here ! 😅

[@the_expat]

😅

[@amywalker7515]

Just a cup of coffee and a croissant every single day. At least we have a variety of things we eat for breakfast.

[@micade2518]

With all the fat and the diabete?

[@jeanmi4640]

@@micade2518We use to eat « foie gras » !!! 😁

[@micade2518]

@@jeanmi4640 Sure but the geese and the ducks are fed excellent quality corn, not hamburgers!

[@cadmium7690]

I question whether a visiting American actually wanted to find a McDonalds. I mean perhaps it was a young person scared of the language but for anyone in the know ... Also Parisians are quite known to be rude to other Parisians.

[@yohanannatanson4199]

Learn the language is an interesting piece of advice. But tell me one country where it is not a decisive factor of integration. As for taxes, a fair comparison should take services (education, healthcare...) into account.

[@jean-loupdesbordes4833]

Salut mon gars, oui, c'est vrai tout n'est pas facile en France pour un expat bien se sentir ici ça se "mérite" (je n'ai pas trouvé d'autres terme) je crois qu'il faut comprendre que ce qui ne te satisfera pas ici ne te satisfera pas ailleurs, personnellement j'ai fait l'effort d'apprendre l'anglais pour me balader voir m'installer dans un pays anglophone (ça fait aussi partie de ma culture personnelle) et si j'avais eu envie de m'installer en Suède j'aurais appris le suédois c'est le minimum pour décrypter et comprendre les codes sociaux. Et malgré tout si il te faut trouver un pays où tu n'auras pas à subir la "barrière" de langue comme la Jamaïque ou la Nouvelle Zélande tu risques aussi d'être déçu par l'accueil. Allez retourne te faire aimer à la maison.

[@kakikaka203]

Toujours ce ton de donneur de leçon ?

[@jean-loupdesbordes4833]

@@kakikaka203Non mais il y a des cas ou la diplomatie ne peut pas grand chose.

[@jmbig]

Je pense que pour les anglo-saxons ... Vu la barrière de la langue ... Les pays européens les plus favorables, sont l'Angleterre et l'écosse, l'Irlande, la belgique, le luxembourg, les pays bas, l'Allemagne, et les pays du nord, comme la Suède, la norvège, etc .... Quant à la criminalité, elle va augmenter partout du fait de l'immigration venant des pays africains et nord africain ... 🤔🤔

[@amywalker7515]

Germany seemed very accepting when I lived there for 3 years, but it is culturally different from France. Both cultures can be rigid. I loved Scandinavia, but the taxation and cost of living can be prohibitive if you still have to pay taxes in the US too.

[@micade2518]

On n'a pas attendu l'arrivée des immigrés Africains et Nord-Africains pour qu'il y ait de la criminalité en France. Les Français se débrouillent très bien sans eux !

[@freefinance8369]

Anti-France propaganda video. Mind-blowing, it looks like George W Bush ordered this video during the Iraq war.😁 The Americans and British I knew live very well in France, especially in the villages and the hinterland, and they will never leave their paradise. Socializing with the French is very easy. The children will grow up in the best possible conditions. What tax are you talking about?

[@pamelawing5747]

What a load. Do your research and see if you are even able to live where you want to live. Some countries are easier than others to migrate to. Every country on the planet has issues. You certainly will be missing out a lot on life and connections if your choses not to learn the language of the country you choose to live in. IF you want to be come a citizen, some countries REQUIRE that you have a working knowledge of their language. There are many posters on here that are living abroad and giving very good information about the good, the bad, the easy the difficulty, the pros and cons of moving and living abroad. Be very careful before committing to that move because it's very complex, very expensive, and coming back is also very expensive. IF you are a "normal" person and not truly wealthy, it could break you.

[@jodiehebert8285]

I wonder what is the Expat’s (author) native country?

[@jeanettenaumiec7784]

That certainly isn’t a French accent.

[@amywalker7515]

Some eastern European country?

[@micade2518]

@@amywalker7515 It sounds like it.

[@marcelbarbulescu5363]

@@micade2518 I do not think so.I am Eastern European.The strangest thing is how he pronounces ‘foreigner’.

[@marie-laure.]

So you are comparing tax rates to health care plots income taxes.... And it makes perfect sense...

[@altaischurale7324]

Let them return home.....

[@veronicadurkin5167]

Who is this guy? He can't even pronounce French or English words correctly

[@jmguiche9234]

lol… everywhere you go and live, if you are a foreigner, you have to learn the language and adopt or at least respect the local culture if you want to be accepted. It is not a French specificity ! Listening to this video make me understand hat English and US people do not think so ! Really ?

[@BobKnight-mm2ze]

I don't know if the language part is true in 2024. The respect aspect I can agree with. But I could make a very, very long list of people who never learned the language both in the US and tons of other places and they are not given bad treatment. I've lived all over the US and abroad and met people living "unmolested" for their lack of language. So many. And the year I spent living in Tokyo, I RARELY met another foreign person who had put in the years I did learning that language. And they were there decades, teaching English. And these days the FLOOD of Europeans and Americans in the Philippines and Thailand have ZERO Tagalog or Thai. Oh, and the Russians and Ukrainians are there too, and I can tell you, they're not speaking Thai. They ARE opening businesses with Russian signs! Or the mountain of Brits in Spain, Cyprus, Portugal. I mean, on and on. Who on earth is learning Dutch with their enormously high English rate? Or Danish? I mean it's just not a real thing. Name somebody who learns Hindi if they go over there to teach English? They all know English (not all, but a LOT). But France? Different story, they're not bending bro. Their position is learn it or leave. Or worse, you learned it, but I still don't like you. Been at it 3 years, harder than Japanese. So, I hear you. It sounds cool to say "learn the language." And I wont call it pandering....but...in an era of Google translate, and REAL LIFE, It's just not a thing---in most cases.

[@jackflanagle6079]

I now know what happened to Father Guido Sarducci! (Or else this is his illegitimate son). Whatever, love this guy's for real non-AI voice!

[@the_expat]

😂

[@jeanettenaumiec7784]

😂

[@defendfreedom1390]

The forbidden truth about why many people regret moving to France is that France systematically acquires features of an African country.

[@andrewrobinson2565]

In the US you count "interaction with supermarket staff" as socialising 😮? 😂🎉🤣🤣🤣 35 years all year round in Languedoc here (from UK). We're 63. No regrets...rien de rien 🇨🇵🇪🇺. 👍

[@camiller4916]

Omg, I hate chatting with supermarket checkers. Leave me alone already!

[@andrewrobinson2565]

@@camiller4916 🤣+1.

[@francisgaredwards]

hey, c'mon on back to nj,,, you're not incarcerated, are you?

[@jean-yvesferry4669]

@1:41 Vacation experience comment: "C'était vraiment pas mal" is a French euphemism meaning: "it was quite good actually! Your literal translation (not really bad) shows your lack of cultural & French language knowledge. Therefore, that was a bad example to use as a comparison. Just letting you know.

[@philipsudron]

Pronunciation throughout this video is weird. Extra syllables randomly added to words.

[@nathalieforest8497]

AI

[@jurgenkading3375]

Why should the French speak English?

[@clives344]

Agree why should they when they never leave their country

[@dagmarvandoren9364]

Liebe Frankreich.....

[@cc-di6ou]

How many american in the us are able to speak french ? More less than french able to speak english...We are nor yet an american colony....

[@jeanleguillou-j8c]

As a Frenchman i definitively moved out of France in 2008...For Panama.... First reason, France is a socialist country and secondly islamists / muslims / illegal immigrants represent more than 20% of the population which is insane and a definitive no go back for me.....And the movement is continuous ( 500,000 per year, the size of a town like Rennes).....Thanks to the European commission our new UESSR....Hope this will help....

[@the_expat]

Wow... that is shocking.

[@blotski]

I apologise in advance for being critical but sadly you must accept this as part of publishing on social media. Also I am a linguist and fully understand the difficulties of speaking in a foreign language so I speak with the sympathy of someone used to making mistakes. In short, your English is not good enough to be narrating a video on KZbin. You have two main problems. One is mispronunciation of vowels, which are hard in English I know but there are too many occasions when you have clearly just guessed. The second it stress. You frequently stress the wrong syllable in a word or the wrong word within a sentence, which is oddly off-putting in English. Eg in the phrase 'that people are talking about' we would normally stress the word TALKING. You stressed ABOUT. It sounds very odd. You combine the two mistakes with your doubly incorrect pronunciation of 'foreigner' in which you use the wrong vowel sound and stress the wrong syllable. Both of these things are due to lack of careful preparation and checking. You should have checked. This is where my sympathy for you runs out. I would never narrate a video in a foreign language without meticulous preparation. I would never guess. However, as your videos are very interesting I urge you to keep making them but to ask somebody else to do the recordings. The actual quality of English is very good but again get a native speaker to check your script beforehand to avoid mistakes like 'he was married to a French'. (A French what?) Good luck with your future work.

[@superpoodlehead]

🤔 This entire video uses a typical, narrow-minded traveler. This is a mindset thing common in every country, not just France. If ANY traveler thinks where they are traveling to should be like their home country, they should never travel. It’s deceptive to assume all travelers are like this and results in a lot of useless content. Again, these types of travelers are everywhere in the world and cannot appreciate and embrace other cultures. Any culture! Stay home!

[@the_expat]

But we do recommend foreigners to learn French if moving to French...