An American in France

As tourists in France, Americans can drive with their American license, but its recommended to get an international license. New residents in France are required to obtain a French license after one year of stay. An American licenses from the following States can be directly exchanged for a French one: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, South Carolina or Virginia. All other Americans must apply to take a French licensing exam.

To get a French drivers license, Americans can enroll in an English speaking driving school in France where information on the driving tests are taught. The written test has forty multiple choice questions. A maximum of 30 seconds per question is allowed on the exam and at least 35 questions must correctly answered for a passing score.
The driving test lasts about twenty minutes where drivers will have to show competency in parallel parking, driving across intersections, driving on the highway, changing lanes, as well as a few other things.

Dotted road marks imply parking spaces. White spaces are generally allow free parking where those marked 'payant' are spaces where there is paid parking. Yellow markings mean that the space is reserved. Dotted yellow lines on the edge of pavements means that stops can be made, but for a short period such as picking up a friend (without the driver getting out of the car.) If a driver's car breaks down, it is required for them to place a warning triangle behind their car. Drivers are encouraged to carry a set of bulbs and reflectors to replace any that break during travel. Driving without proper lights and reflection can result in a fine. Cars should also have proper stickers showing country of registration. As in the US, if there is an accident drivers are required to help those involved in the accident. Carrying a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher will allow drivers to help someone out during an emergency so I suggest drivers carry these in their car.

In France, cars are driven on the right side of the road as in America. It is the law country-wide for seat belts to be worn.
The speed limit through towns is 50 kph, 80 kph for Paris area, 90kph for main roads, 110 kph for dual-carriage ways, and 130 kph for motorways. Also take note that the speed limit on roads is lowered by 20 kph on days where there is snow or rain. Only buses, taxis, or bicycles are allowed to travel in the bus lane.

In case of any accident or injury, you should dial 15 for an ambulance or 18 in case of fire. You can also call 17 (the police) to notify them of drunk driving or of road blockages.

Following these rules will not only ensure your safety and that of other drivers, but can prevent you from being ticketed in France, which can be a hefty fine.

A great book I recommend those who are going to be driving in France is The Essential Driving Guide for France. This book is very specific to France and offers a lot of information about road rules as well as road etiquette. For those who are not just going to be traveling in France, but going to be traveling throughout Europe, I suggest Driving in Europe 101 which talks a lot about the differences of driving in the US and Europe as well as information on insurance and information specific to driving laws in different European countries.

As most people are aware, Christmas is celebrated differently around the world. The people of France are known for celebrating Christmas more elaborately than Americans. No, I'm not talking about children getting more toys or more gifts given at work, I'm talking about the way Christmas is celebrated. The minute you take a step in France, you'll notice France is about their food. Christmas celebrations in France are no different.

Traditionally, if there is a Christmas tree it is decorated with candies, nuts, and small toys by Père Noel (Santa Claus) when he visits on Christmas Eve. French children will leave their shoes by the fireplace or by the door for Père Noel to fill with gifts.

French homes are commonly decorated by a crèche (nativity scene.) There are many beautiful handmade crèche figures sold every Christmas season in Marseille and Aix where large Christmas festivals are annually held. Although, some French homes have Christmas trees, they've never been highly popular and the focal point of Christmas in France has always been around the crèche.

Even now, in many Cathedral squares, the story of Christ's birth will be re-enacted by players or puppets.

The French are also known for their beautiful display windows in stores, showing Christmas treats that are for sale. Candied fruits, cookies, and cakes are widely available as well as delicious breads. My personal French Christmas favorite is salted butter caramels.

If you'd like to know more about the Christmas traditions in France, I recommend the book, "Christmas in France." It's more of a textbook than a book for reading, but that's what made it interesting for me. Whether you're a French teacher looking for a way to share Christmas with your students or a homemaker wanting to have a traditional French Christmas, this book is absolutely amazing.

While getting by in France without speaking French can prove quite difficult, this doesn't mean that you will be cut off from the English speaking world. The purpose of this post is to share where you can get your fix on the English language while you're staying in France.

The Connexion - If you've not heard of the Connexion, you're missing out. This is a newspaper where you can get French news in English. You can also read the happenings in France right on the Connexion website which is helpful if you're not at newspaper's reach.

If you're a TV buff, you can get the same television stations you get back home in the US (or UK.) CITYSAT, servicing the Paris area, is one such company that will come to you home and install satellite television. It's an easy way to get your favorite American shows playing on your French tv!

In the Nice area, if you stumble across the restaurant (more like a pub, really) called 'Woody's in Vieux Nice,' you're in massive luck! Enjoy a beer in an English speaking environment and watch some television... in English.

If you're going to be in France for a long duration, it's also handy to know that there are several English language libraries in France. One of these Anglo-friendly libraries is the American Library in Paris. You can find out more about this library here.

For those of you who aren't yet in France, I hope I'm not scaring you. There are many people in France who speak English, but it's more polite for you to speak French. This is just a guide to 'get away' from the French speaking world and speak English like 'back in the old country.'

By popular demand from the younger crowds, I've decided to post some more French music that I like. The first song is À Contre Courant" by Alizée (my favorite French singer.) I loved this song right away and listen to it quite often.



As a fan of electronic music and pop, I fell in love with this techno pop type song called "Aller Plus Loin" by Kidtonik. The song is by a teen/pre-teen group so if it sounds a little young for you, I don't blame you.



Another song that is for the younger crowd is "Drôle de Creepie" by LISA. The girl who sings this song has a really thick French accent so if you catch yourself singing to it, you might be helping your accent a bit.

I've recently seen a barrage of questions from various readers asking about moving to France. Some people want to test the waters and are wondering whether moving to France can actually happen for them and some are ready to jump in. Wherever you are at in the journey, I must say that it's worth it. However, France isn't the land of milk and honey. While, I enjoy life in France more fully than I did while living in America, not everyone will. There are sacrifices you'll have to make to get some of the good things. It just depends on what you need to keep and what you're willing to give up.

For those of you looking to retire to France, you probably have tons of questions regarding taxes, pensions, the economy, etc. Rightfully so! However, the best way I can direct you is with the book "Retiring in France: A Survival Handbook (Retiring in...)". Take particular attention to the chapters that talk about affordability (in unit three) and the more fun chapters (in unit four) that talk about where to live.

For those of you who want to move to France and are on the "dreaming about it side" of things, I suggest reading the book "Culture Shock! France". The book is fairly difficult to find, but it's worth it. I didn't have this exact version, but upon first moving to France, I clung onto this thing for dear life. It offers a lot of advice and is a fun book to read. This book sums up what life is like in France, so that you're not shocked when you get here. It also paints a realistic picture of France so that you can get an idea of whether or not France is really for you.

Many Americans at retirement age, find themselves in a new home somewhere around the world. France is becoming increasingly popular for those who wish to retire abroad. You may have many questions as to your retirement is handled in France.

First off, if you've a pension plan from the US, you probably have a lot of questions regarding that, I mean you definitely don't want to be double taxed. You can take your US pension plan to France free of tax and then pay French income tax on it. There is a US form you'll fill out after you move to France which will basically tell the US government that you're paying French tax on your income instead of American tax. Under French law, pensions are taxed very similarly to regular working income.

You're also probably wondering about your access to the French health care system since you've not grown up in France and never really paid a any tax here (besides any sales tax.) Well, lucky you, you're covered. There are many expats who also find themselves with insurance as well. Insurance doesn't increase the amount of care you receive, it just handy if you'd like some of the hospital luxuries like a single room.

Another big thing that might prey on your mind is where to live. I would recommend to stay away from Paris unless you've got beaucoup d'argent (lots of money.) There are some great smaller cities and also the countryside to find a place to live. I, personally, would love to be in the countryside with access to a larger city.

I found a book that can help you get a better idea of how pensions, taxes, and location works for those retiring in France. It'll probably help you better than I can since I'm not yet near retirement age. "Retiring in France: A Survival Handbook (Retiring in...)"

If you've not yet opened a bank account in France, you're probably wondering why (I mean, you found this article, am I right?) This article is designed to hopefully take away some of the mystery that is French banking.

The first thing that you should probably know is how to open a bank account, who can open one, and what you need to do so. I've written this guide to clear up any questions that you may have about banking in France.

Who Can Open a French Bank Account:
Anyone who has been resident (or is going to be) a resident of France for more than three months.

You will need a proof of residence in France which will usually include your carte de sejour. You will also need proper identification. You will also need proof that you are living at the address you say that you're living at. This will be something like a utility bill or something else with your French address on it. You will also need your proof of status, which is a student card if you're studying in France or a document showing your earnings if you're here for work.

Upon opening a checking account, you will usually be given a carte bleue, which is something like a debit card and is useable at many establishments in France.

When writing checks, make sure there is sufficient funds to cover the amount. This seems like common sense, but have you never bounced a check? Bouncing a check in France is illegal. If you get caught bouncing a check you could lose your check writing ability for up to five years. Furthermore, writing checks that are post-dated or open-dated is also illegal.