Real Life Stories A Brit Buys A House In France

Date Published:

18/06/2008

There have been a lot of stories in the news lately about a backlash by French people against British émigrés. But it is true? And how can you make sure your own move to France goes without a hitch?

'Anti-rosbif' protests; Frenchmen burning estate agency magazines; accusations that British people don't socialise with their native neighbours and do nothing but dodge taxes and moan about the shops closing at lunchtime. If you've opened the foreign property section of a newspaper lately, you've probably seen these stories and others under headlines like 'French backlash against British invasion'. It's scary stuff for people who are planning to move across the Channel, particularly as one of the greatest fears among people making such a move is that they won't make friends and be accepted into the local community.

But in truth, you have nothing to worry about, as long as you're willing to make an effort to integrate, says Maggi De Rozario, a British woman who moved to the Tarn et Garonne in 2002. She says: 'The backlash is a bit of a myth. Yes, there is a feeling that certain British people could make a bit more of an effort to integrate and certainly, some people do not make much effort to become part of French society which I feel could cause a problem in the future.'

'Also, in country districts people are automatically a little suspicious of strangers, plus if things go wrong it is always easy to blame the 'outsider' whether he is from England, Australia or simply the next department. And it’s important to remember that in rural parts of France, someone from the next village is considered a 'foreigner'! 'However, the French are naturally polite and hospitable and always make time for people who make the slightest effort. Personally, I am more embarrassed by the lack of integration of some English people than my neighbours are.'

It's up to you to make the first move, she advises. And the more proactive you are, the more friends you'll make. 'You have to put yourself out to join in,' says Maggi. 'Your French neighbours may not ask you for fear of seeming pushy, so make it clear that you'd like to belong and they'll welcome you with open arms.'

Maggi, whose full-time job is running a chambres d'hotes, Les Cerisiers in Languepie, with her husband, also works part-time on a voluntary basis in the local library and this has helped her meet people. 'Recently, the mayor has asked me to join the local committee for the future of tourism in the area, even though Mike and I are the only British people working in tourism here, so that was a great honour,' she says.

'Far from people being prejudiced against me, they have been delighted that I want to be part of the community and give me every help in integrating. 'I have made friends but I've noticed that friendships seem less important generally to French people than they are to the English. The French have a very family-orientated life structure and although people have friends they are less reliant on them and more reliant on their families, than the English are.

Maggi and Mike

'That said, I have found people to be very kind and warm. As an example, when my parents came to stay - they speak no French - the French lady who runs the library invited us all to dinner along with some of the other 'library ladies'. I was surprised, as at that stage I didn't know any of them very well.

When I expressed my gratitude, she explained that her son lives abroad and she worries whether he is accepted in his community, so she was very anxious that my parents should realise that I had been accepted because she did not want them worrying too much about me.'

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