as a french man, don't like to say that but i'm surprise on how many americans want to move to france. its something to like france, typical stereotype but all the videos that i've watched you guys really wants to be a part of the culture with a big smile on your faces its so refreshing. im just glad to see ppl enjoying their new journey and also impressed by your courage, because it takes a lot to do what's yall doing. Props to you, amazing video and hope those videos can help other ppl to move in lol nothing else but love !!
C'est gentil, merci ! Je suis contente de savoir que les français regardent ma chaîne de temps en temps. Moi, j'adore la France et je suis fière d'être là. Oui, il y a des défis et des fois je suis découragée mais que temporairement. Allez let's goooo ! :-)
Oh thank you so much. You really made my day. And it's true, I just love France so much. Of course there are challenges, just like everywhere, but it's a wonderful place to live. Bon week-end and greetings from Paris!
Wow, your tips are so on point. I'm British and also recently French, with a home in France and, for forty years, a French wife. So much good advice and common sense in 16 minutes. Anyone contemplating moving to France should listen to what you have to say.
Bonjour et merci ! Your comment made my day. I love sharing this wonderful (and sometimes challenging) new adventure in France, and I hope to become French myself someday :-) Félicitations et...Bonnes fêtes !
Une américaine qui aime la France, sa langue et les français, ça fait plaisir 😁 Merci de nous dire ce que vous aimez particulièrement dans vos vidéos car nous français n'avons pas le recul nécessaire. Bonne vie en France ❤
Merci à vous ! Ça fait plaisir aussi de savoir que des français regardent mes vidéos un peu :-) Je vais faire bientôt une vidéo sur des choses que j'aime, parce qu'il y en a beaucoup !!
Am enjoying your videos immensely, glad I stumbled on it. Not planning to move to France but I studied in Vienna many years ago, subsequently married there, worked, etc., before moving back to the States. Brings back a lot of memories. Your presentations are informative and very enjoyable. Thank you.
Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and write--I feel everyone should have the chance to live in another country for at least awhile--it's such a fantastic experience. I never planned to be here right now, but I love it so much! :-)
So helpful, thank you! And I know it has helped so many others through what can be a really difficult time. It was so traumatic for me, I did a whole UA-cam series on it hahaha :-)
Hello Karen, I stumbled upon your video and very happy I did. Not planning to move to France but spend as much time as possible there, for now. However, the language, living, cultural tips, suggestions and/or reminders are a real gift, thank you!
Thank you! Merci beaucoup! You provide such valuable insight into what it actually takes to move to France and what it is like living there. Your genuine warmth and love of France really shows and is very inspiring for me. I am an American and have been learning French for over two years with audio books and Duolingo app and continue to research many aspects of French living, culture, real estate, visas, etc. I am obsessed and in love with everything I have learned about France so far. You provide so much great information on so many subjects. I really appreciate it! I have lived in Asia for 9 years and currently in Hawaii for the past 18 years. I love the challenge and excitement of setting up a new life in a foreign country. It is THE most valuable learning experience in my opinion.
Salut ! Thank you for this lovely message. I totally agree that moving to a new country is such an opportunity for growth-but it’s so impressive that you’ve done it multiple times. This will definitely make things easier for you if you do move to France, as will the fact that you’re already preparing with the language and culture. You’ll be very welcome here! Bonne continuation ❣️
@@karenbussen Merci! It's very important to me to learn the language of the country I live in. It not only makes life easier but it opens up a whole new world of meaningful interactions with the locals. It really helped to speak some Thai in Thailand when I could ask for the Thai price, not the foreign price! ;) Your videos are so helpful, encouraging and insightful. I feel like I miss France already but I have yet to go! It's literally on the opposite side of the world from Hawaii but AirFrance has non-stop fights from SFO, so that's not so bad! I copied this text to google translate to see if it is accurate in your opinion: Merci! C'est très important pour moi d'apprendre la langue du pays dans lequel je vis. Cela rend non seulement la vie plus facile, mais ouvre également un tout nouveau monde d'interactions significatives avec les habitants. Cela m'a vraiment aidé de parler un peu thaï en Thaïlande lorsque je pouvais demander le prix thaïlandais, pas le prix étranger ! ;) Vos vidéos sont très utiles, encourageantes et perspicaces. J'ai l'impression que la France me manque déjà mais je n'y suis pas encore allée ! C'est littéralement à l'opposé d'Hawaï mais AirFrance a des vols non-stop depuis SFO, donc ce n'est pas si mal !
Thanks so much for this info, Karen. I'd love the name and contact info of your traducteur assermenté please! Also wondering if you happen to have an expert-comptable that you use and that might recommend. Merci beaucoup!
Good morning from Indonesia. Hello best friend. I really like your content. SUCH AN AWESOME LESSON. It's really impressive. Thank you for sharing a very good, interesting and inspiring video for all of us. Hopefully we can all be better, healthier, stronger, successful, happier and always under God's protection.
Hello Karen! We are an American couple, 71 & 72, planning to immigrate to France in 2024. Simply choosing a destination has been a real ordeal. We THINK now, that we will focus for the first year at least, on Normandy. Cooler, green, agricultural but close to history and the sea, of course. My frustration has been in finding a reputable relocation consultant to help us in finding our apartment for our visa application. In your experience, is it crucial to have such assistance, or can we just find a long term let ourselves (remotely, as we cannot visit before moving there) for a 1-year term and believe the lease will be suitable and we won't end up in a nightmare situation? How do people handle this? Thank you so much Karen!
Bonjour ! Take a look at the Facebook group called "Americans Living the Dream in France" -- there are a lot of folks who seem to be in similar circumstances and they're all very helpful and open to sharing their experiences. For me it was a bit different since I married a French citizen and he owned our homes, so I may not be the best person to advise you here. But I do think you'll be able to find an Airbnb or gite long-term for example (google the site for Gites de France) and I think for a one-year visa that should work. There is also the FB group Strictly Legal France where they can address any of the legal questions. I know it seems overwhelming, but take it one step at a time and you'll get there. As for a relocation expert, most of my resources are in Paris, so I think asking in the FB groups for those living in that area will likely be really helpful. Wishing you bonne continuation with your big move. France is wonderful!
As someone who studied, lived and worked in France ( I studied in Angers, France) I cannot tell you how very important it is to visit before making a huge commitment like moving to France, or any country foreign to your own. Normand is beautiful, a little too gray for my taste, but I did like the people there. There are Airbnb's that you could research but I know that the French gov't. is cracking down on them. You will definitely need to explore what kind of visas you qualify for before moving. France is my second home (I'm American) but let me tell you, you have to do lots of research on your own before hiring a relocation consultant. Forewarned is forearmed. You can do this but it will take lots of preparation on your part. Good luck!
Thank you for posting this question dear YT user and your reply dear Karen!!! I am in the same situation and cannot express how thankful I am to have found your channel and your guidance🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thank you, Karen, for your helpful video. Mostly appreciated 🙏 My husband and I are retiring at the beginning of 2025 and planning to move to France sometime in September, where we have some family and friends. We'll then start gathering the paperwork and apply for the VLS-TS. Any advice on which health insurance would be a great choice to purchase price wise and affordable?
Congrats on your upcoming move to France! For the insurance, I'd suggest visiting one of the online FB groups such as Americans Living the Dream in France and take a look there as they have lots of resources! Thank you for your comment and wishing you all the best in this great transition :-)
I would definitely be interested in your guide book/pdf with resources for your move to France. I was reading more about the Talent Visa and it says you can invest 30,000Euro into a business. My idea is to purchase property and hold yoga/artist retreats. In your experience, would that fall under a Talent Visa?
Hi! I wanted to give you a good resource that helped me a lot. It's a French woman who helps people relocate to France, but her website has all kinds of good info and I even booked her for a one-on-one video call to help me understand all my visa options before I moved. She is great. The website is expatinfrance.com (Expat in France) I hope you find it helpful! Best of luck with your move. France is awesome!
I love this video. Thank you so much. We want to bring our car instead of buying a car in France. We expect to live someplace rather rural, so we'll need a car. What are your thoughts on this? Did you buy a car in France?
Hmmm, I don't know the process, although I've seen this discussed online. Check out Americans Living the Dream in France or Strictly Legal France groups on Facebook. They always have great advice! As for us, my husband is French and he already lived in Paris and had a car (his work provides it). Wishing you bon courage for your move !!!
Bonjour ! Yes, take a look on Facebook for groups like this: Americans Living the Dream in France, Strictly Legal France, Strictly Fiscal France, etc. There is so much out there, including women's groups and groups for individual cities all over France. Wishing you all the best for your move and bienvenue en France !
Thanks SO much for your GREAT ADVICE!!! My Parisian Fiance wants me to move THERE, so these tips come in VERY HANDY for me NOW!!!! It's a bit SCARY, but I feel that we will be HAPPY TOGETHER, so I'm willing to DO WHAT IT TAKES!!!! BEST WISHES!!!!
Bonjour ! Thanks for taking the time to write. I have several profs but I found mon prof de prononciation (pronunciation teacher) on IG @prononciation_avec_christophe. He is a great teacher if you want to work on the rhythm and music of French :-) Bonne continuation
as a french man, don't like to say that but i'm surprise on how many americans want to move to france. its something to like france, typical stereotype but all the videos that i've watched you guys really wants to be a part of the culture with a big smile on your faces its so refreshing. im just glad to see ppl enjoying their new journey and also impressed by your courage, because it takes a lot to do what's yall doing. Props to you, amazing video and hope those videos can help other ppl to move in lol nothing else but love !!
C'est gentil, merci ! Je suis contente de savoir que les français regardent ma chaîne de temps en temps. Moi, j'adore la France et je suis fière d'être là. Oui, il y a des défis et des fois je suis découragée mais que temporairement. Allez let's goooo ! :-)
Love love love your videos! And your soft voice is so easy to listen to AND your love for France exudes from your soul ❤
Oh thank you so much. You really made my day. And it's true, I just love France so much. Of course there are challenges, just like everywhere, but it's a wonderful place to live. Bon week-end and greetings from Paris!
Wow, your tips are so on point. I'm British and also recently French, with a home in France and, for forty years, a French wife. So much good advice and common sense in 16 minutes. Anyone contemplating moving to France should listen to what you have to say.
Bonjour et merci ! Your comment made my day. I love sharing this wonderful (and sometimes challenging) new adventure in France, and I hope to become French myself someday :-) Félicitations et...Bonnes fêtes !
Une américaine qui aime la France, sa langue et les français, ça fait plaisir 😁 Merci de nous dire ce que vous aimez particulièrement dans vos vidéos car nous français n'avons pas le recul nécessaire. Bonne vie en France ❤
Merci à vous ! Ça fait plaisir aussi de savoir que des français regardent mes vidéos un peu :-) Je vais faire bientôt une vidéo sur des choses que j'aime, parce qu'il y en a beaucoup !!
Wow you look amazing for 55!!
Am enjoying your videos immensely, glad I stumbled on it. Not planning to move to France but I studied in Vienna many years ago, subsequently married there, worked, etc., before moving back to the States. Brings back a lot of memories. Your presentations are informative and very enjoyable. Thank you.
Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and write--I feel everyone should have the chance to live in another country for at least awhile--it's such a fantastic experience. I never planned to be here right now, but I love it so much! :-)
Thanks so much for mentioning the Driving Facebook group! Glad it was helpful for you!
So helpful, thank you! And I know it has helped so many others through what can be a really difficult time. It was so traumatic for me, I did a whole UA-cam series on it hahaha :-)
Hello Karen,
I stumbled upon your video and very happy I did. Not planning to move to France but spend as much time as possible there, for now. However, the language, living, cultural tips, suggestions and/or reminders are a real gift, thank you!
Salut ! Thank you for being here and for your sweet comments. You made my day. Bisous from your fellow Francophile xoxo
Thank you! Merci beaucoup! You provide such valuable insight into what it actually takes to move to France and what it is like living there. Your genuine warmth and love of France really shows and is very inspiring for me. I am an American and have been learning French for over two years with audio books and Duolingo app and continue to research many aspects of French living, culture, real estate, visas, etc. I am obsessed and in love with everything I have learned about France so far. You provide so much great information on so many subjects. I really appreciate it! I have lived in Asia for 9 years and currently in Hawaii for the past 18 years. I love the challenge and excitement of setting up a new life in a foreign country. It is THE most valuable learning experience in my opinion.
Salut ! Thank you for this lovely message. I totally agree that moving to a new country is such an opportunity for growth-but it’s so impressive that you’ve done it multiple times. This will definitely make things easier for you if you do move to France, as will the fact that you’re already preparing with the language and culture. You’ll be very welcome here! Bonne continuation ❣️
@@karenbussen Merci! It's very important to me to learn the language of the country I live in. It not only makes life easier but it opens up a whole new world of meaningful interactions with the locals. It really helped to speak some Thai in Thailand when I could ask for the Thai price, not the foreign price! ;) Your videos are so helpful, encouraging and insightful. I feel like I miss France already but I have yet to go! It's literally on the opposite side of the world from Hawaii but AirFrance has non-stop fights from SFO, so that's not so bad! I copied this text to google translate to see if it is accurate in your opinion: Merci! C'est très important pour moi d'apprendre la langue du pays dans lequel je vis. Cela rend non seulement la vie plus facile, mais ouvre également un tout nouveau monde d'interactions significatives avec les habitants. Cela m'a vraiment aidé de parler un peu thaï en Thaïlande lorsque je pouvais demander le prix thaïlandais, pas le prix étranger ! ;) Vos vidéos sont très utiles, encourageantes et perspicaces. J'ai l'impression que la France me manque déjà mais je n'y suis pas encore allée ! C'est littéralement à l'opposé d'Hawaï mais AirFrance a des vols non-stop depuis SFO, donc ce n'est pas si mal !
If you plan to live in France for a longer time...
1) learn French!
2) learn more French!!
tout à fait ! :-)
Merci beaucoup Karen, votre information est vraiment utile !
Merci à vous d'être là :-)
Thanks so much for this info, Karen. I'd love the name and contact info of your traducteur assermenté please! Also wondering if you happen to have an expert-comptable that you use and that might recommend. Merci beaucoup!
Of course--will send it to you directly!
Hi Karen, would you please send me the info also. Thanks@@karenbussen
I would like both contacts, as well, please.
Good morning from Indonesia. Hello best friend. I really like your content. SUCH AN AWESOME LESSON. It's really impressive. Thank you for sharing a very good, interesting and inspiring video for all of us. Hopefully we can all be better, healthier, stronger, successful, happier and always under God's protection.
Merci and Amen ! Sending greetings from Paris to you :-)
Hello Karen! We are an American couple, 71 & 72, planning to immigrate to France in 2024. Simply choosing a destination has been a real ordeal. We THINK now, that we will focus for the first year at least, on Normandy. Cooler, green, agricultural but close to history and the sea, of course. My frustration has been in finding a reputable relocation consultant to help us in finding our apartment for our visa application. In your experience, is it crucial to have such assistance, or can we just find a long term let ourselves (remotely, as we cannot visit before moving there) for a 1-year term and believe the lease will be suitable and we won't end up in a nightmare situation? How do people handle this? Thank you so much Karen!
Bonjour ! Take a look at the Facebook group called "Americans Living the Dream in France" -- there are a lot of folks who seem to be in similar circumstances and they're all very helpful and open to sharing their experiences. For me it was a bit different since I married a French citizen and he owned our homes, so I may not be the best person to advise you here. But I do think you'll be able to find an Airbnb or gite long-term for example (google the site for Gites de France) and I think for a one-year visa that should work. There is also the FB group Strictly Legal France where they can address any of the legal questions. I know it seems overwhelming, but take it one step at a time and you'll get there. As for a relocation expert, most of my resources are in Paris, so I think asking in the FB groups for those living in that area will likely be really helpful. Wishing you bonne continuation with your big move. France is wonderful!
Thank you Karen for your thoughtful and very fast reply! We will apply your suggestions!
As someone who studied, lived and worked in France ( I studied in Angers, France) I cannot tell you how very important it is to visit before making a huge commitment like moving to France, or any country foreign to your own. Normand is beautiful, a little too gray for my taste, but I did like the people there. There are Airbnb's that you could research but I know that the French gov't. is cracking down on them. You will definitely need to explore what kind of visas you qualify for before moving. France is my second home (I'm American) but let me tell you, you have to do lots of research on your own before hiring a relocation consultant. Forewarned is forearmed. You can do this but it will take lots of preparation on your part. Good luck!
Thank you for posting this question dear YT user and your reply dear Karen!!! I am in the same situation and cannot express how thankful I am to have found your channel and your guidance🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Merci 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Avec plaisir, merci pour votre commentaire :-)
Thank you, Karen, for your helpful video. Mostly appreciated 🙏
My husband and I are retiring at the beginning of 2025 and planning to move to France sometime in September, where we have some family and friends. We'll then start gathering the paperwork and apply for the VLS-TS.
Any advice on which health insurance would be a great choice to purchase price wise and affordable?
Congrats on your upcoming move to France! For the insurance, I'd suggest visiting one of the online FB groups such as Americans Living the Dream in France and take a look there as they have lots of resources! Thank you for your comment and wishing you all the best in this great transition :-)
I would definitely be interested in your guide book/pdf with resources for your move to France. I was reading more about the Talent Visa and it says you can invest 30,000Euro into a business. My idea is to purchase property and hold yoga/artist retreats. In your experience, would that fall under a Talent Visa?
Hi! I wanted to give you a good resource that helped me a lot. It's a French woman who helps people relocate to France, but her website has all kinds of good info and I even booked her for a one-on-one video call to help me understand all my visa options before I moved. She is great. The website is
expatinfrance.com (Expat in France)
I hope you find it helpful! Best of luck with your move. France is awesome!
What a valuable resource! I just took the visa quiz and purchased the visa kit. Cannot thank you enough!
@@karenbussen What a valuable resource! I just took the visa quiz and purchased the visa kit. Cannot thank you enough!
I love this video. Thank you so much. We want to bring our car instead of buying a car in France. We expect to live someplace rather rural, so we'll need a car. What are your thoughts on this? Did you buy a car in France?
Hmmm, I don't know the process, although I've seen this discussed online. Check out Americans Living the Dream in France or Strictly Legal France groups on Facebook. They always have great advice! As for us, my husband is French and he already lived in Paris and had a car (his work provides it). Wishing you bon courage for your move !!!
Okay. Thank you.
oh my god!!! You look likes 30s something!! What's your secret? loved your videos!!
Haha what a lovely and unexpected comment. Thank you. I think it's happiness, olive oil and Nivea soft :-)
@@karenbussen haha I agree - you are so radiantly happy :) :) I am so happy for you!!
Any online groups that you can recommend? I’m moving there by the end of the year😅
Bonjour ! Yes, take a look on Facebook for groups like this: Americans Living the Dream in France, Strictly Legal France, Strictly Fiscal France, etc. There is so much out there, including women's groups and groups for individual cities all over France. Wishing you all the best for your move and bienvenue en France !
Thanks SO much for your GREAT ADVICE!!!
My Parisian Fiance wants me to move THERE, so these tips come in VERY HANDY for me NOW!!!!
It's a bit SCARY, but I feel that we will be HAPPY TOGETHER, so I'm willing to DO WHAT IT TAKES!!!!
BEST WISHES!!!!
I'm so happy you found it helpful. Congrats on finding love and best of luck with your move! Greetings from Paris!
What IG account did you find your French professor ? Thanks
Bonjour ! Thanks for taking the time to write. I have several profs but I found mon prof de prononciation (pronunciation teacher) on IG @prononciation_avec_christophe. He is a great teacher if you want to work on the rhythm and music of French :-) Bonne continuation