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07/05/2009, 13:18 Panda Joined on 20/02/2009 Posts 196 Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? Hi I am moving back to the UK after 6 years in France, it's a recent decision that has come about due to the increasing issues with my sons education.  So have we failed?  When I look at what I've done here over the last 6 years I feel I made a good go of it; I have continued to work as a contractor under the micro bic regime so income was not a huge issue but has always been a concern. My son is fluent in french - language was not a problem I speak close to fluent french now - language is not an issue for me either I have made investments in France and own 5 properties, all rented, again not an issue. So what's gone wrong?  The problem is education, I feel that it is just not up to the required standard here to enable my son to reach his potential, when I look at his work in comparison to my nieces and nephews work in a UK school it just lacks so much in terms of allowing him to be creative, to challenging his understadning of things, helping him form opinions.  the list goes on.  If I could have afforded to send him to international school I would have and perhaps stayed, as it is I will return and hopefully get him into a good school, private if I can secure my old job back!! I was once a fluffy rose tinted poster on here and I stand corrected, I don't regret coming here and will return to retire, I still think France is a great place for those who have no need to earn an income and want a quiet simple life.  Bizarre that I thought coming would bring my son a better education, not sure where that opinion came from now. Panda    Report

07/05/2009, 13:35 sweet 17 Joined on 05/08/2006 charente maritime Posts 5,780 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? Panda What an energetic and clever person you are.  And only you can decide about your son's education, what's best for him, etc because you know him better than anyone else. To be bilingual, in my opinion, is worth a great deal and he will always have that.  He's young enough to catch up on all the other stuff that you feel he has lacked so far. I couldn't help replying and sending you my best wishes for your and your son's future, Panda. You, in your turn, have given me very good advice from time to time and I want to say thank you also. Good Luck!      Report

07/05/2009, 14:24 Panda Joined on 20/02/2009 Posts 196 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? Thanks Sweet, althoughI would never class myself as clever, I failed miserably with my own education, perhaps why I want more for my own son and I certainly don't feel energetic today, I'm hoping it's the thin montain air that has me gasping for breath on the dog walk today!  I will check up on this forum from time to time to see how you are all getting on.  Good luvck to you too, hope you find the right house to move on to.    Report

07/05/2009, 14:52 andyh4 Joined on 15/06/2005 Cologne and Ardèche Posts 1,230 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? How on earth can you even think to call that failure?  Experience yes, but certainly not failure.  You and your son would seem to have benefitted enormously through the experience and now you have the courage to see that there might be better oportunities and look further and see if you can expand still further on the experience.   Good luck to you both. Andy    Report

07/05/2009, 14:55 Pickles Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 586 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? Changing your mind in the light of experience is not failure. With regards to standards in education, you can only report what you see and experience - and that is what matters because you don't experience an "average": yours may only be one point in a distribution, but it is the only one that matters. Your child only gets one go at it, so there is no "failure" in doing what you think is best. The time in France has not been wasted, quite the opposite judging from your own account. I wish you the best of luck with your move. Regards Pickles    Report

07/05/2009, 15:20 woolybanana Joined on 27/08/2007 Vendée Posts 3,316 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? emailed you Panda    Report

07/05/2009, 15:32 Will Joined on 22/09/2004 Sussex & 50 (Mortainais) Posts 5,693 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? Definitely not failure - nowhere is perfect in all respects, and trying to find the nearest to perfection is all part of a fulfilled life. Best of luck with your future attempts to find the ideal place for you. It sounds as if you may already have found it, but it's just not ideal for your life as it stands now.   Will intentionally blank signature http://www.vienormande.com    Report

07/05/2009, 16:22 Frederick Joined on 27/05/2008 South Vendee / Dorset Posts 569 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed?   The best thing any of us can do in life is give our children the best possible start....Education is the most important one and I think you are doing the right thing ...Good luck     Report

07/05/2009, 17:02 Callie Joined on 19/04/2008 Near Saumur (49) Posts 534 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? No, Panda, you have certainly not failed by deciding to return to the UK. Living in a foreign country with a different language and culture is an extremely valuable experience. Don't think of negative things, think of the positive things you and your son have done and learnt. I would tend to agree with your comments with regard to the difference in education here. Much of it seems to be done by rote with little chance of freedom of expression. This seems to follow on to French universities, which do not seem to have the opportunities, societies and general FUN that the British ones have. Bearing in mind, of course, that everyone in France has the right to go to university - but there is huge drop out rate after the first year of those who are simply not up to it. No doubt I will be jumped on for that heresy, but it's what I have observed over the years living here. We have heard comments from several of our friends' children saying that school isn't nearly as much fun here, and that the French children don't seem to have a laugh in the same way. Culture difference ? Best of luck Panda. It's your choice, and a positive step !    Report

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