Living French: 7th edition

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What’s the truth behind all these myths – and could French life work for you? If you plan to buy property and live in France, either permanently or part-time, it pays to be flexible about embracing the culture and keep an open mind and heart. So find out more about the many different aspects of living in France. Family life Since we are obsessed with all things French lifestyle, there are many French lifestyle tips that we’ve slowly adopted or are trying to adopt. France is one of our favorite countries to travel to and a large part of that is because we absolutely love French lifestyle habits. Our recent three week road trip around France opened our eyes to the French mentality of how to live well.

The French cherish their history and culture. They’re also fiercely proud of their language and any effort to speak it will be appreciated. Manners and etiquette are highly valued and it’s important to follow French codes of conduct in social and business circles. My French Living Blog is a lifestyle blog for francophiles, bon viveurs and anyone who appreciates the good things in life! French Living Blog French Living’s customers have always provided the clues for making this business successful. They wanted more seats. They wanted to hover, browse and sip coffee, chat with Stef, plan holidays, dinner menus…any excuse to stay a little longer in this delicious French haven. And in so doing, paying attention to my home environment, I began to pay attention to how I spend my days. Was I exhausted and unfilled at the end or exhausted and feeling productive? Did I have time in my day to spend it with those I loved, converse with those who engaged in creative, uplifting and thought-provoking conversation or care for myself in such a way that respected my overall health? And depending upon my answer, I would tweak, eliminate, maximize or designate more or less time to those activities that improved the quality of living.The apéritif, also called an “apéro” for short in France, is not just about the food and drink (though those are certainly important) but it’s about taking a moment to reset and appreciate life. It isn’t traditional to have this with every meal but more when sharing with friends and family —either at home or at a restaurant. And if you want to know more about this typical French custom, I’ve written a guide to hosting the perfect French apéritif. From the optimum time for apéro to préparing the table, to the types of drinks and foods to serve, you’ll learn everything you need to know to create the perfect French apéritif at home. 12. Take Long Lunch Breaks The way I’ve always perceived joie de vivre and how the French practice this concept is in the way they savor the simple pleasures in life. For instance, it’s very common to find the French sitting at the park in those classic green, Parisian park chairs as soon as the sun peeks out from behind the clouds. They’ll soak up every inkling of sunshine by simply sitting in the chairs and excelling at the art of doing nothing. There are many excellent public healthcare facilities across France and waiting lists are short. Government funding and salary contributions cover up to 70% of medical costs – most expats take out insurance to cover the difference. The government provides free treatment for people who are seriously or terminally ill. Private hospitals and clinics tend to specialise to a greater degree than public hospitals. The French government is active in negotiating reasonable fees in the private sector.

France differs to the UK in many ways, and the business workplace is no exception to this general rule.

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Outsiders may initially be regarded with suspicion but that can soften as their contribution becomes evident – such benefits as restoring a ruined architectural gem or supporting local services like shops and schools. Working life Embracing cultural activities like this is a wonderful way of getting more involved in the community and raising your awareness about the arts. It can give your soul more depth, more passion, and an artistic flair that can make you quite French! 9. Take it slow and steady