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France to Live? Pros and Cons?

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My mum is thinking about moving to France in the next few years, she is 50 years old and a health care assistant.

What are the Pros and Cons of living in France?

Also, would she have problems getting a job? I have heard that their aren't any care homes in France as the families look after their elderly.

Travel Tips

I went to French School my whole life, went on to university and masters in France and am going to keep living here for a few months after my graduation this summer.

-PROS-
- Fascinating history, food and environment. Whether you go to a big city or a small town, you will find history in every corner.

-Quality of life in smaller cities such as Grenoble, Lyon, Lille, Toulouse, etc.... Laws have a established the 35h regime implying that you can legally work only 35 hours a week (big bonus for extra hours). This leaves enough time in your hands to indulge in hobbies.

- Great train system, cheap flights imply that it is fairly easy to travel and get to know the rest of France and neighbouring European countries. Same goes within cities, the transport system is fast and effective.

- If your into fresh produce, there are markets everywhere. Seriously, the food here is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. (Mind you, there are not that many gyms here, but the gorgeous parcs are good to job and burn off the french bread and cheese and pastries and.... ).

-CONS-
- Yes, the French can be difficult. Not because they are frogs or because they French. They can be difficult in the sense that they have a very dense social code. However, efforts to speak french and habit will slowly make living with them easier with time.

-Housing is nearly impossible in Paris. This is why it is a LOT easier to go anywhere else in the country.

- Getting jobs is also increadibly tough here. The market is very rigid. As for care homes, that sector might be somewhat easier in the sense that it isn't over exploted (if i am not mistaken a lot of the nurses helping are coming from abroad). Though many elderly people choose to live alone or their famillie take care of them, it obviously isn't always possible. This is a page specialising in retirement homes where you might find information on care homes (and thus work in them): http://www.lesmaisonsderetraite.fr/...

- Strikes are France's national sport. I once read that the average in Paris alone is 400 strikes per year. That's more than days in the year! So yes, it does affect transports/commuting and all other services.

All in all, as expats in France, we tend to complain quite a bit... but let's face it, life here is pretty sweet. Source(s): 5 living in Poitiers and Paris studying Political sciences and travelling around the country.
Other Travel Tips

Pros: Lots of nice surroundings
Cons: You eat frogs. Yuck!
Pros----you get away from this government

Cons----France is full of french people
Pros = the arts and architecture
Cons = the french
Pros: Lots of good food
Con: Good food in France is made up of Amphibians and invertebrates
ok, I am not from France, but I am from Europe and I have been to France many times...

Pros:
*climate (only south of France though)
*food (cheese!!)
*beaches,lakes, mountains
*opportunity to travel to other countries in Europe

Cons:
*expensive if living in Paris
*hard to find a job in any profession that requires a degree, this goes for any foreign country and any profession, (I麓ve been there), she might find a job in a shop or smt...however she麓s older and I think it麓ll VERY hard without conections...maybe she could live with an eldery lady and take care of her...no papers needed...BTW of course there are eldery homes in France!!