h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am someone who has considered living in France so I asked for anything, anyone living in France could tell me, and obviously they are all very busy.

So I would love to see this thread being used a lot more.

Who lives in France and what can they tell us about the country?

That's asking a bit much, to give all the information we have on France. I'll start with the fact that it's sort of down and to the right...
I'm told by my French mum that the election second round result was never really in doubt, at least in France. She said that the first round is generally the time when people vote with their hearts, based on what's worrying them. In the second round, they then think of what the candidates will do for the country, and use their heads. All the election result really means is that the public has nudged the politicians that they are worried about this whole asylum seekers issue and would like something done about it.

Fair point Bob, but it is worth noting that it was a *big* shock to the system when it became clear that Le Pen had beaten Jospin in the first round!

Poor M. Jospin must feel very unhappy indeed, I think. He kept a very low profile from the moment the result became clear, even arranging to have his vote registered on his behalf rather than the usual public vote of one of the countries leading politicians.

Anyway, more on that if you like, but I don't spose it's quite what you're after in terms of 'living in France' type info.

What is behind this desire to come and live with the garlic-eaters? A Year in Provence? Nikita? La Haine? Or is it Balzac, Voltaire and Hugo? Want to become a 'miserable'?

I live in Strasbourg, which many brits seem to think is on the *other* side of the Rhine! Mind you, when you hear the local lingo round here, you could be mistaken for thinking you *were* in Deutschland!

If you want to move to France, a word of warning - if they win the World Cup they are going to become absolutely unbearable in any footy discussions! I was watching the match last night, praying for Zizou to break his leg!

Oops, gotta go!

A+
spiff

I'm obviously not asking for everything, anything would do.

Most people can say what its like to live in their country, and then start a conversation on that basis

but 'living in France' is kinda vague...

... red wine is cheaper!

spiff

I have deduced something about the french, they have nothing to say about their way of life, politics, education, social life, language, hobbies, what they do, the cuisine, days out, learning the language - was it difficult, shopping, television, music

maybe the french just don't do anything

gives up

What led you to that conclusion, then? I hope not my comments, coz that might mean you thought *I* was French - and that wouldn't do at all.

As for all those things you mention, I could have various things to say on most of those topics. But only from the perspective of an ex-pat - albeit one who has gone 'mostly native'.

But if you are complaining that reams of info on life in France have not been forthcoming, I can only repeat that your 'tell us all about it then' gambit leaves things rather open. What? Top hole!

Just picking politics, it's all happening at the mo in the Hexagon - most people heard about Le Pen's surprise success in the 1st round of the presidentials and subsequent resounding failure to top 20% in the 2nd. Chirac must have felt rather odd about being re-elected on an anti National Front ticket. He didn't have to lift a finger to beat J-M in the home straight. All the political left voted for the man many of them consider a corrupt machiavellian power broker and the worst kind of political careerist.

Now the campaign is under way for the legislative elections (more or less the equivalent to a UK general election - deputies are elected to the National Assembly, France's lower house and main legislative body) and the left are looking set for a period in opposition. For the past 5 years there has been what is known as a co-habitation in France. This means a right-wing president faced with a left-wing majority which forms a govt (the president appoints a prime minister, pm appoints ministers but the NA must agree to the resulting govt. ie Chirac *could* have appointed his *real* choice of pm, but the socialist majority would have refused to accept that appointment.

Er... seem to have got a bit carried away there... something to be getting on with on the politics front anyway.

A plus
speef

What led you to that conclusion, then? I hope not my comments, coz that might mean you thought *I* was French - and that wouldn't do at all.

As for all those things you mention, I could have various things to say on most of those topics. But only from the perspective of an ex-pat - albeit one who has gone 'mostly native'.

But if you are complaining that reams of info on life in France have not been forthcoming, I can only repeat that your 'tell us all about it then' gambit leaves things rather open. What? Top hole!

Just picking politics, it's all happening at the mo in the Hexagon - most people heard about Le Pen's surprise success in the 1st round of the presidentials and subsequent resounding failure to top 20% in the 2nd. Chirac must have felt rather odd about being re-elected on an anti National Front ticket. He didn't have to lift a finger to beat J-M in the home straight. All the political left voted for the man many of them consider a corrupt machiavellian power broker and the worst kind of political careerist.

Now the campaign is under way for the legislative elections (more or less the equivalent to a UK general election - deputies are elected to the National Assembly, France's lower house and main legislative body) and the left are looking set for a period in opposition. For the past 5 years there has been what is known as a co-habitation in France. This means a right-wing president faced with a left-wing majority which forms a govt (the president appoints a prime minister, pm appoints ministers but the NA must agree to the resulting govt. ie Chirac *could* have appointed his *real* choice of pm, but the socialist majority would have refused to accept that appointment.

Er... seem to have got a bit carried away there... something to be getting on with on the politics front anyway.

A plus
speef

bookmarking

See Post 5 in this thread: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F63567?thread=100429&skip=0&show=20 French is allowed - so those moderated posts in French should be turning up again soon.

'soon'? I admire your optimism!

A +
speef

er, btw, hi TC!

(kinda forgot that bit!

I have been learning French on and off for years.
I did my GCSE then tried to learn more on my own but keep losing momentum.

I love France and Paris is my Fav city.
I plan to try and work there for a few months.
I have to wait at least 6 months to get things sorted but I will get there.
I have wanted to work in France since I left sixth form but I haven't been in the possition to do anything about it until now.

Never used the Eurostar as I have allways flown to Paris and every year our family holiday was to france camping so we went by car.

I would attempt something in French but I am supposed to be working so this is just a quick hello.

Bye for now
Luv
Haz

Thank you Spaceman for the info!

I reackon the French went very quiet cause they didn't want anymore rosbif moving over!

You have to watch your step with rosbif in Alsace... They eat a dish called Rossbif, and it ain't beef! It's horsemeat!

I was saying to a French pal just today that to the English it is even more shocking to eat horse than frogs and snails!

seeya
spiff

To get this back on track - What is it like living in France?

I know I'd rather live there than Germany. But I'm not sure if I'd rather live there than England

TC, do you not like your adopted country? Is the famous German lack of sense of humour getting to you?

Well, I always hate generalising, so I can't really answer that.

There are nice people everywhere and not so nice people everywhere, and good and bad things about life anywhere. It's just a case of me feeling more at home in England. Not that I don't feel at home here, but I grew up there and I still think of it as "home" although I have spent 26 years of my life here in Germany as opposed to 22 in England.

Wherever you are, it's up to you to make friends and learn about the local customs and learn to like them or tolerate them and to adapt to them.

Usually you're so busy working on that that there isn't time to go round "liking" or "disliking" a country/region as a whole.

There are some things about the French which are quite exasperating, but there are lots of things about the English which are even more exasperating (have you ever worked with any? From abroad?)

And the Germans do not lack a sense of humour. Things have improved over the last 20 years. There are some really good stand-up comedians and some comedy shows make the ones imported from UK and USA look weak. In fact, the peak has been reached here, too, and there is some rubbish out there.

It's not all slapstick and schadenfreude by a long chalk any more - there's some well-honed punning and quipping going on, too.

Hi TC,

Yeah, generalisations are *all* stupid!

I like your comment on the fact that you are so busy getting your head round life abroad that you don't actually go in much for comparisons - French friends are always asking me to 'confirm' that 'the English are X...' or 'the French are much more Y...'. I usually back out of those kind of calls!

I also take the 'German = no sense of humour' myth as just that. I had a great time in Berlin and found many Germans more than capable of laughing at themselves and others - me included, of course!

I too still know that the UK is 'home', and in fact I don't really feel that i have out-and-out *adopted* a new country - as they say in Monopoly, I'm 'Just Visiting'!

*please note that I in no way wish to imply that France is like a prison!*

Anyway, I gotta 'get out free' card - with my photo in it!

seeya
speef