Why we're moving back to the US (from Paris) (middle-class, new home)

[pigeonhole]

For example, in Quebec they refuse to adopt English words to facilitate its modernization. Instead of email like in France, they say courrier electronique and for Stop signs they actually use the word Arret.

But there are many counter examples in Qubec : they say "chum" for friend, "char" (derived from "car") for car, etc. Overall they speak a better French I find in Qubec than in France, where people sometimes mix bad English with bad French, my favorite example being "ze looser a pris un vol low coast"= the loser has boarded a low cost flight")...

[cunparis]

Originally Posted by BCreass

No offense cunparis, but you're basically describing every "big city" on earth, Paris being no exception. Move to New York or London and you'll probably encounter most of the same problems, along with a few different problems.

(just my 2 cents' worth)

I agree with you. I am not a fan of big cities. I've visited New York several times but always on vacation. Places are different when you have to live there. So I can't compare Paris to other big cities.

[cunparis]

Originally Posted by jaytr

Cunparis,

If you're still checking responses to this post, then this reply won't be wasted.

Definitely not "wasted", I enjoyed your reply very much.

First, I haven't updated this thread in a long time. After a lot of discussion, my wife & I have decided to focus on New England. We're currently looking at areas in Connecticut. Somewhere around New Haven. It's far enough from New York to be away from the big city stress and unfriendliness, yet close enough that we could go to the big city now and then if we want to. What do you think about this area?

My wife likes Washington DC. I've only been once on vacation. A coworker of mine lived there for a year, he loved it. I had looked into Virginia. Traffic is a big concern and the homes are not cheap there. But if we don't have to go into the city often then it could be OK. The beaches would be nicer there than in Connecticut and it's closer to my family in Kentucky.

For your comments about Charlotte & Raleigh - that's exactly how we felt. We visited both. The Raleigh area was so spread out we missed the city. Charlotte seemed nicer and newer. Closer to what I'm used to having lived in Phoenix (and Raleigh closer to Kentucky). However it seemed Raleigh is a bit more democrat and with the universities maybe more intellectual. Just my idea, I can't prove that.

[cunparis]

Originally Posted by pigeonhole

You've underlined the REALITY.

This is exactly what my coworkers tell me (that the school system is too far to the left). It's a big concern.

I was thinking we could send our kids to the American school of Paris in St. Cloud. It's 100% American. But it's like $20k/year. My wife said rather than pay $40k/year (for 2) might as well live in the US.

[cunparis]

Originally Posted by Gottasay

Glad to hear "the other side" of Paris. So often, especially in the media, Paris is described as the end all, be all. Come home -- we need global minded people back home to help people here understand that we need to change our way of thinking (eg., USA needs to learn to compete globally)! Come home to clean streets where people actually clean up their dog's poop and where you can live in a large, beautiful home for 1/3 of the cost (in a state like NC), where your kids can enjoy extra-curricular activities AND excel academically. Where people greet you warmly with a smile most places (like NC -- some exceptions). Be prepared for culture shock -- Paris, who? Paris Hilton? There will be that. Don't expect NC to comform to your image of what you liked about Paris either -- just focus on why you left Paris and why you appreciate NC/USA. But also, bring your ideas to help make your home country a better place -- eg., Thomas Jefferson. I loved your points and think you ought to make a poster out of it!

You summed it up quite well. I still can't get over how people say "Hi" and ask how you are all the time in the US. Pretty amazing.

[cunparis]

Originally Posted by BlueWillowPlate

I do very much agree with this point in theory, but putting it into practice needs to be done diplomatically.

The credo "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" applies. When someone settles in a new community, folks don't necessarily want to hear about how things were done back in Paris or Denver or wherever.

Actually they do. People ask me about the US all the time. What's work like? What are your coworkers like? What's the difference between the House and Senate? What do I think of Obama? The questions go on and on. Most countries are globally aware and curious. Americans a bit less so, but that's why I want to go to a place where they can find France on a map and are interested in another point of view.

The American system is out of control. I think things are going to have to get a lot worse before people finally wake up to it. And hopefully someone will be there to get us out of this mess. I think looking around to see how other countries are doing things is a good first start.

For example healthcare. The average American pays a lot in healthcare for what's usually a low standard of care (long wait times, have to get referrals, have to see specific doctors, etc.).. If they knew what it's like to have a national healthcare system where you can see any doctor and have any test, they might be less willing to put up with the system in the US.

[cunparis]

Originally Posted by jja100

For example, in Quebec they refuse to adopt English words to facilitate its modernization. Instead of email like in France, they say courrier electronique and for Stop signs they actually use the word Arret.

I thought it was bad in France but "Arret"? That's funny.

Here everyone says email but the Academie Française (the group that controls the French language) decided that we need a French word. So it's "courriel". I read that they borrowed the word from Quebec.

It's funny cause I'm the only person I've heard say "courriel". I say it just to be funny. "Envoies-moi un courriel." "Courriel?" "oui, un courriel, merci". It's quite funny.

[jja100]

Originally Posted by pigeonhole

For example, in Quebec they refuse to adopt English words to facilitate its modernization. Instead of email like in France, they say courrier electronique and for Stop signs they actually use the word Arret.

But there are many counter examples in Qubec : they say "chum" for friend, "char" (derived from "car") for car, etc. Overall they speak a better French I find in Qubec than in France, where people sometimes mix bad English with bad French, my favorite example being "ze looser a pris un vol low coast"= the loser has boarded a low cost flight")...

When I took French in high school and college my professor said that people from Quebec do in fact speak better French than people in France. The reason for this he said was that the French was frozen in time and is more pure... it is 18th century French.

[Amazonas]

Originally Posted by jja100

When I took French in high school and college my professor said that people from Quebec do in fact speak better French than people in France. The reason for this he said was that the French was frozen in time and is more pure... it is 18th century French.

Interestingly enough, the same thing can be said about Spanish in Spain and the Spanich spoken in Peru and other South American countries.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by cunparis

For example healthcare. The average American pays a lot in healthcare for what's usually a low standard of care (long wait times, have to get referrals, have to see specific doctors, etc.).. If they knew what it's like to have a national healthcare system where you can see any doctor and have any test, they might be less willing to put up with the system in the US.

Based on that, you might want to look for a state that actually cares about its citizens...I think Massachusetts is one of the few.

I wouldn't generally recommend Massachusetts, (I prefer the West Coast)...but if you are considering Connecticut, it seems like Massachusetts is right next door, and probably has a bit more to offer its citizens.