{"id":453,"date":"2025-10-17T14:46:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T14:46:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chezmoialsace.com\/?p=453"},"modified":"2025-10-17T14:50:34","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T14:50:34","slug":"25-mistakes-i-made-as-a-newcomer-in-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chezmoialsace.com\/fr\/25-mistakes-i-made-as-a-newcomer-in-france\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Mistakes I Made as a Newcomer in France"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/chezmoialsace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/471829868_10160831569460208_3322930951217528760_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-454 lazyload\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/chezmoialsace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/471829868_10160831569460208_3322930951217528760_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chezmoialsace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/471829868_10160831569460208_3322930951217528760_n.jpg 960w, https:\/\/chezmoialsace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/471829868_10160831569460208_3322930951217528760_n-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/chezmoialsace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/471829868_10160831569460208_3322930951217528760_n-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/chezmoialsace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/471829868_10160831569460208_3322930951217528760_n-16x12.jpg 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I packed up my life in the US and moved to France \u2014 dog, suitcases, and optimism in tow \u2014 I thought I was prepared. I\u2019d studied French for nine years, visited before, and had read every \u201cwhat to know before you move\u201d article out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I really believed I\u2019d hit the ground running.<br>Spoiler: I did not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some lessons I learned the hard way. Others, I wish someone had told me upfront. So here\u2019s my honest list of 25 things I did wrong when I first moved to France \u2014 so you can (hopefully) avoid doing the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. I overestimated my French.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ticss-904dead4 wp-block-paragraph\">Nine years of classroom French doesn\u2019t prepare you for a real conversation with a delivery driver speaking heavily accented French at full speed. Or stop you from becoming paralyzingly tongue-tied while the guy at the phone store stares at you with a mixture of contempt pity as you struggle to explain that you need a phone plan. It takes time \u2014 and a lot of repetition \u2014 to get comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. I underestimated how formal daily life is.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBonjour\u201d isn\u2019t optional here. Whether you\u2019re buying bread or mailing a package, greetings matter. Skip it and you\u2019ll get a chilly interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. I didn\u2019t respect lunch hours.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shops and offices close between 12 and 2, sometimes longer. I learned this while standing outside the <em>mairie<\/em> with a stack of paperwork and no one in sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. I arrived without enough copies of my documents.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">France loves paperwork. You need copies of everything \u2014 even things you didn\u2019t think needed copies and sometimes copies of those copies (no joke). Make friends with your printer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. I expected administration to move quickly.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It doesn\u2019t. There\u2019s no \u201cexpedite\u201d button. Bring patience (and snacks).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. I assumed my efficiency would translate.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It didn\u2019t. The French approach is slower, but deliberate. Things get done, most of the time \u2014 just not on your timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. I thought everyone would appreciate my French accent.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They didn\u2019t. Some people switched to English the moment they heard it. But that made the day that I got asked if I was Belgian all the sweeter when that day finally came. Don\u2019t take it personally \u2014 just keep practicing. It&#8217;s a hard language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. I smiled too much.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In California, smiling is default. In France, it\u2019s reserved for genuine warmth, not just passing politeness. Or, an open invitation. I realized that explained the looks of genuine concern I received (read: is she crazy?) as I flashed my smile while walking down the sidewalk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. I didn\u2019t realize how long it takes to open a bank account.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s not a one-stop errand. It\u2019s a process \u2014 meetings, paperwork, and sometimes waiting months for approval. They don&#8217;t much like to open accounts for Americans, but it is possible. Persistence is key!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. I tried to understand the healthcare system on my own.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I was so excited about finally having decent healthcare. But I decided to just &#8220;figure it out&#8221; on my own. Bad idea. <em>CPAM<\/em>, <em>mutuelle<\/em>, <em>num\u00e9ro de s\u00e9curit\u00e9 sociale<\/em>, TIERS PAYANT \u2014 it\u2019s a maze. Find someone to walk you through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11. I forgot that official documents need to be translated.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll need certified translations of things like birth certificates. It\u2019s expensive, and it adds up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">12. I didn\u2019t learn metric right away.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How much is 200 grams of cheese? Still not sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">13. I misunderstood \u201ccustomer service.\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">French customer service isn\u2019t about being accommodating \u2014 it\u2019s about being in the right mood. Once you accept that, interactions make more sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">14. I ignored mandatory insurance.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In France, even renters need <em>assurance habitation<\/em>. Handle it early \u2014 it\u2019s not optional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">15. I didn\u2019t always have cash.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some shops, caf\u00e9s, and markets still don\u2019t take cards, especially in smaller towns. Keep a bit of cash on hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">16. I didn\u2019t realize how different each region is.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">France isn\u2019t one-size-fits-all. Alsace, where I live, has its own pace, traditions, and even architecture. Learn the local rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">17. I underestimated how hard housing would be.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Renting here means proof of income, guarantors, insurance, and a lot of paperwork. Start preparing before you even start looking. Many landlords are wary of foreigners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">18. I mixed up <em>tu<\/em> and <em>vous<\/em>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It seems small, but it\u2019s cultural gold. Use <em>vous<\/em> until someone invites <em>tu<\/em>. This is serious business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">19. I didn\u2019t realize how early appointments fill up.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dentists, doctors, even hairdressers \u2014 plan ahead or you\u2019ll wait weeks or even months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">20. I underestimated the loneliness and culture shock.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No one talks about how disorienting it can feel at first \u2014 even if you \u201clove France.\u201d Everyday things feel unfamiliar, and the cultural differences run deeper than you expect. It can be exhausting and overwhelming some days. You can no longer rely on your &#8220;autopilot&#8221; mode. Making real connections takes time. Give yourself grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">21. I tried to do everything alone.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Big mistake. Locals, neighbors, and even your pharmacist can help you navigate daily life. You just have to ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">22. I wasn\u2019t prepared for grocery logistics.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bag your own groceries, weigh your produce, and move fast \u2014 checkout lines here are an Olympic sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">23. I didn\u2019t read between the lines.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">French communication is polite but indirect. Listen for tone and phrasing \u2014 it often says more than the words themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">24. I assumed Uber existed everywhere.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It doesn\u2019t. In many smaller towns, taxis need to be reserved in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">25. I resisted slowing down.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everything here moves at a slower pace \u2014 meals, service, life. Once you stop fighting it, it\u2019s actually pretty nice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">26. (Bonus) I thought I\u2019d feel \u201csettled\u201d quickly.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Integration isn\u2019t about time; it\u2019s about consistency. One day you realize you\u2019re no longer translating in your head and that your baker knows your name. That\u2019s when it starts to click.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moving here taught me patience, humility, and a whole new kind of independence. It\u2019s also what inspired me to start <strong>Chez Moi Alsace<\/strong> \u2014 to help others relocate without the same confusion and stress I went through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re planning a move to France (or already here and overwhelmed), I can help you navigate everything from paperwork to housing to bringing your pets safely home \u2014 because I\u2019ve been there, and I know what it\u2019s like to start from zero in a new country.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When I packed up my life in the US and moved to France \u2014 dog, suitcases, and optimism in tow \u2014 I thought I was prepared. I\u2019d studied French for nine years, visited before, and had read every \u201cwhat to know before you move\u201d article out there. I really believed I\u2019d hit the ground running.Spoiler:&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/chezmoialsace.com\/fr\/25-mistakes-i-made-as-a-newcomer-in-france\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Lire la suite &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">25 Mistakes I Made as a Newcomer in France<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.4 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When I packed up my life in the US and moved to France \u2014 dog, suitcases, and optimism in tow \u2014 I thought I was prepared. 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