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French Culture
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 21/05/2008, 23:10
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Acoustic
Joined on 16/05/2008
North Dordogne
Posts 48
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Re: Integration, how did you do it?
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We seem to be integrating courtesy of a Dutch lady who lives in the village. She lives on her own and seems to get involved with everything, whatever goes on at the Mairie, local hunting group, demonstrations involving local environmental issues, exhibitions, etc. I'm talking of a really tiny village, no more than 100 inhabitants. But she seems to have managed to get us, plus the other English couple in the village, involved with just about everything going on, introduced us to everyone, made us take part in the very limited social life of the village, etc, etc. Her French is not perfect by any means but she appears to be fearless and knows just about everyone in the place, doing favours for all sorts of people and generally just being a pleasant neighbour to everyone. I'm sure we would remain "les anglais" under normal circumstances but we seem to have had very little choice here and are regularly included in whatever is happening now. We also seem to be reasonably well accepted. It appears the secret seems to be being prepared to join in, once you find out what is happening, ie put aside the English reserve.
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20/06/2008, 9:11
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chessfou
Joined on 15/11/2005
Aveyron
Posts 395
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Re: Integration, how did you do it?
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NormanH is, of course, right about remaining forever "les Anglais" even relative locals (10km away) who have married into the village are still regarded as a bit foreign. However, I don't think that's necessary for integration; I think that one has integrated when fully accepted and generally part of the place. My own tips for integration:
1. If possible be the only "Anglais" in the place;
2. Speak (at least) adequate French;
3. Rent rather than buy - this immediately makes you different from all the other Anglais and also means that you immediately get to know someone - landlord or agent or both (you can always buy later on);
4. Introduce yourself to the neighbours and I don't mean those to immediate left and right but all those within seeing distance - with luck, like us, you'll find yourself with a constant round of dinners and, especially in the summer, aperos;
5. Attend all village events;
6. Register to vote in local elections;
7. Vote in local elections;
8. Join the Comité des fêtes or, even better, get your wife to join the comité while you sit back and relax;
9. Join a few Associations, especially those involved with Patrimoine;
10. Go to your local market each week;
11. Search out the local French language classes (your mairie should know of some while you can find others via various organisations such as GRETA and, probably, ANPE), attend regularly and don't drop out;
12. If you can, do something for the place.
If you are in a town it will probably be more difficult, much as in the UK or any other country.
[PS. We've been here a bit over 2 years, feel part of the community, have been accepted and that, I think, means we have integrated.]
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20/06/2008, 11:37
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Just Katie
 
Joined on 11/03/2006
Posts 3,676
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Re: Integration, how did you do it?
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Anti English sentiment exists in France, as well as anti these and anti them. All these exist in every other county too. There will always be nob heads to judge people on their race, culture etc. But we all know that already dont we!
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20/06/2008, 13:17
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cooperlola
Joined on 05/05/2006
72 - Sarthe - home of les 24 heures du Mans
Posts 6,408
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Re: Integration, how did you do it?
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Ah, Katie, ain't that the truth!
The snag with deciding whether you want to "integrate" or not is the limit you put on your circle of friends. Last week I gave a party to celebrate 5 x *0th birthdays which are happening this year. The invitees were about 50/50 Brit/French. What was really striking to me was the fact that those Brits (about 10 of them) who never do anything but move within their own little Britain enclave, once they had greeted one another, had a pretty boring time compared to those who spoke French, or at the very least gave it a go and tried to chat to the locals (one of whom was our new mayor, whom I've known for a while as he and his wife are in our walking group). They see each other three or four times a week so it was obvious they had very little to talk about once the formalities were over. That would just bore me to death!
I have no quibbles with my British friends but with so few around here, it would do my head in if they were the only people I ever saw. But it appears to suit them so who am I to argue with their attitude? It's their life - but no way would I want it to be mine. On the other hand, why make friends with people just because they are French? It's equally possible to find dull French people as it is dull Brits, prejudiced Brits as prejudiced French people. Chosing your friends simply on the basis of the colour of their passports has always seemed a bit daft to me.
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France Forum » French Culture » French Culture » Integration, how did you do it?
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