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Thursday, 21 June 2007 |
lived in Bordeaux for two
years in the 1990s before
moving back to the USA in
2001. Married with one son.
“The French still seem to
know how to enjoy life more
than Americans do.
There is a
rat race in France but it is much
less intense than in the States.
“Both my wife and I have
been disappointed with the
French job market. I have an IT
degree and we both thought
that when we moved in 2001, it
would be easy for me to find a
job. Instead, I had to change
professions and I now teach
English for my day job. I still
work with computers through
my main web site –
www.americansinfrance.net
plus others that I’ve developed.
“I find France great for
raising a child. The system
really seems to be set up to
make things as easy as possible
for working parents. From
subsidised child care to flexible
working hours it sure beats
America.
“I hope that the job market
improves but that France can
still keep its social programmes
intact, like the healthcare and
child care systems. But I’m not
sure if that’s compatible in
today’s world.
“I think living as an expat.
makes you open-minded or at
least more open to different
ideas and ways of thinking.
“Before setting up my
business I had a lot of
experience with French
bureaucracies so I knew what
to expect, and I did a lot of
research. I also took a one day
‘Info-Créateurs’ course at my
local Chamber of Commerce
and a French neighbor helped
me fill out the paperwork. I
don’t think I could have done it
without him.”
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