There are quite a number of public forums on the internet these days aimed at the interests of British expats living in France, and also those who are considering making a move to France. These forums are frequented by mostly British people (of course ) who exchange information, advice and opinions about many topics related to life in France. In general these forums offer invaluable assistance to those who live in France and to those who are considering a move with input from those people who actually live in the country itself.

I have been a visitor to some of these sites, one in particular, and what really stands out to me is that there seems to be two seperate camps of British expats living in France. One; those who live in France and love it. The second; those who have moved to France, found it wanting in many ways and have decided to pack up and move back to the UK.

Now, you have to face fact that all countries have their pro’s and cons. Everyone accepts this as nowhere is perfect and not everywhere suits everyone. But when it comes to France, it seems many Brit’s view her with rose-tinted glasses…until they get there. I blame that solely on those ‘move to France and life will be bliss’ shows so prevalent on UK television these days. And the countless books penned by expats who gush about the wine, the food, the ‘cute locals’, the bread and the sunsets. Basically they are just standing on Peter Mayles shoulders. None of these books have a touch of originality about them, and whats more, none of them really show just how over-rated France can be.

Getting back to these forums: it amazes me just how divided the two ‘camps’ are. To me, anyone who moves lock stock and barrel to a new country and makes a go of things with all the best intentions for both them and their family deserves a pat on the back from me. They get an even bigger pat on the back if they decide, and admit, that things did not work out and decide to return ‘home.

This is where I have trouble understanding the way many British expats’ minds work. On these forums, those who ‘live in France and love it’ tend to look down on those who ‘want to go home’. It’s almost as if it is against some unwritten expat law to not love France. Those who post critiques of France are quickly shot down. Those who announce their intention to leave are denounced as being unrealistic and ungrateful. They ‘didn’t do enough research’…’it is their fault their new lives did not work out’.

It seems that personal choice does not come into it if you are British and move to France. You MUST love it. France is beyond reproach in their eyes.  If you do not then it is your fault, not France’s.

If there is one race of people that number ‘loftier than thou’ and ‘pretentiousness’ among their characteristics it has to be the British, and certain British expats living in France at that.  Where else do you get such attitudes and who do they think they are kidding?