Bonjour! Have a look at the AngloInfo France website and type in Pau in the search box. I haven’t heard, per se, of an expat specific groups in Pau, but this website covers all of France so probably your best bet to connect with other expats not via Facebook. You can also see if there's a MeetUp group in the area. Best of luck!
-Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
I'm not too sure about the answer, but I would check with the American Hospital in Paris. I think they could point you in the right direction. I know many of the nursing homes in France specialize in Alzheimers, but not sure about home care. Best of luck!
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
For France, the south regions of Provence and Occitanie have pretty great weather year-round. There are some rainy days, but overall, 300+ days of sunshine.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
For France, the process to bring dogs over is pretty straightforward and you can find rentals that will take you and your dogs. It's a dog... and cat.. loving culture. I've interviewed several expats who brought their dogs over, large and small. There are vets everywhere and you just need to see your vet in the US before moving to France so they can sign off the paperwork and validate the vaccinations. No quarantine period when you arrive.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
Healthcare is excellent around France and Montpellier has high-quality services and hospitals. You can expect to pay roughly $2300 a year into the French healthcare system which covers 70-100% of your expenses. Many people get top-up insurance for $80-100 a month which will take care of the rest. You can find the France healthcare information on the IL website if you'd like to get a better idea.
France is a very safe country as there's no right to bear arms, among other reasons... Montpellier is quite safe. Hope that's helpful!
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
Well, unfortunately I think it's a global problem. For France, you can pretty easily research the weather patterns around the country and also the main flood zones. Those would be my top concerns.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
Please see my reply on the first page - merci!
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
Well, I'm not an expert but I can tell you what I've observed by living here. There was definitely some "far right" traction a short time ago but, for me, it's calmed down considerably and lost a lot of steam. I think the French are quite fearful, as a whole, of any extreme right movement.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
For France, you can go on the public system, there are no age restrictions. Most everyone uses the public system, I've found not much difference from the private one. Top up / supplmental insurance starts at $80 a month and covers the 20-30% not included in your public healthcare rights.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
Yes, there are storage units in France you can use. A good idea would be to start researching moving companies or shipping providers to have an idea of the cost to move your items.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
You can get international health insurance to cover you while you're in France. That being said, anyone can make an appoint at the doctor here and it will cost you €25 - the fees for healthcare are very low compared to the US. You can also use any French medical services while you're here, if you need them.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
There are English friendly cities in France. One of them is Nice and Paris is good too. Of course you'll pick up a lot of the language when you live there.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
It always helps! You pick it up quite easily when you move to the country.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Thank you for your feedback!
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
I would check out Nice or Lyon in France. Most of the expats I know there don't have a car and take public transport... and also the train for visiting other parts of the country, and even other parts of Europe. Nice is especially interesting as it has an airport in the city.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
I would say that Nice is my top pick. It seems like a big city, but it's actually not by US standards. Every time I've visited, I've walked everywhere and not needed public transportation - although it's available. There's an airport in the city proper which is a huge plus. The next would be Avignon. Great train service and a good mix between urban with a small-town feel. There was an interview in IL magazine about a woman who moved there from Los Angeles and loves it. Also, check out Pau. It's a completely different feel than the other two as it's in the southwest and not near the sea. Very urban, green city surrounded by beautiful mountains.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
Every situation is different, but a lot of people prefer to sell most of their stuff before moving. The fees to ship, depending on the amount of things you'd like to bring, can be very costly - extra customs charges might also apply. I do know someone who moved all her belongings to France... it's a certain budget and a lot of paperwork, but can be done. I moved with just my clothes and a few momentos and restocked here. I could find everything I needed.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
You might have a look in the IL bookstore to see about scouting trip publications.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
For France, you can try the Morning Croissant website. Many short-term expats I know who come to France once a year use their services.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
Hello,
The real estate market in Nice is a bit tighter than other cities but not impossible to rent. If you rent in the historic center, you can expect a starting rent of $1600 for a 2-bedroom if not slightly more. The figures can go up quite a bit the closer you get to the seaside. Many look to go a bit further out of the center and take the tram or bus in to town. It's a wonderful city!
Tuula, IL France Correspondent