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Overall though, the more relaxed atmosphere, the general disdain for authority, the food, the wine, the history, the scenery, the topless beaches, the art, what's not to like?
I'll give something not to like, the FRENCH!
Please explain. I didn't have that experience. Why do you not like the French?
One size does not fit all. I love living in France, and I think that it is currently the best place in the world for me to live I love never seeing a bill for health care and getting immediate treatment whenever I need it, I love my 35 hour work week, I love my 10 weeks of annual vacation (yes, most people have only 6-7 weeks), I am very happy with my cheap utilities and excellent food, the fantastic transportation system, and I think it's great that the retirement age is still 60. I like little things like receiving an 8€ luncheon voucher for every day I work and all of the vacation vouchers that I can spend like cash and yet pay only 70% of the value. I like the fact that my company refunds 400€ of the money that I spend on cultural or sporting events every year and also refunds 30% of everything I pay for books or CD's up to 1000€ of expenses. It's one of the reasons that when people ask me "how much do they pay you?" the question is impossible to answer. Same thing for taxes, since I can deduct 50% of anything I pay for housecleaning, computer repairs, tutoring for my children or any other "personal services" up to a ceiling of 15,000€. If I give anything to charity, 60% is also deducted from my income tax.
However, there are lots of little constraints and annoying details that would drive a lot of people crazy, and they would probably hate living in France. In any case, that survey is of the readers of an extremely Europhile and affluent travel publication, so as far as I'm concerned it has no validity whatsoever.
Once I stop working, strange, but I am considering moving to Thailand, Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia to spend the remainder of my life and yet none of those is a paradise by any calculation (then again, my French benefits will cover quite a bit of anything I need in those countries in terms of health services or whatever).
Of course the Lady mentioned in the Article is some corporate lawyer earning a fortune. If you are not in that position forget it. I can barely make due on 2100 euros a month and that is in the country up in the hills... I have to pay Social Security (medical) 101 euros a month and that is a 70/30 so I need a "mutuelle" to cover the rest. That is an extra 75 euros a month. And it still does not cover anything. A bad french doctor fixed my broken ankle wrong. Another surgeon said I have to get it rebroken. I meanwhile wear special soles that cost me 73 euros...no refund. That is why I am moving back to the US. Cannot save a dime hear. CNN also gives as examples people earning big bucks. I never listen to their drek...
It is a big country (By European standards), and very varied.
I love it, but it depends where.
Overall though, the more relaxed atmosphere, the general disdain for authority, the food, the wine, the history, the scenery, the topless beaches, the art, what's not to like?
Well all countries cant be HUGE such as Russia or USA. DUH!
Of course the Lady mentioned in the Article is some corporate lawyer earning a fortune. If you are not in that position forget it. I can barely make due on 2100 euros a month and that is in the country up in the hills... I have to pay Social Security (medical) 101 euros a month and that is a 70/30 so I need a "mutuelle" to cover the rest. That is an extra 75 euros a month. And it still does not cover anything. A bad french doctor fixed my broken ankle wrong. Another surgeon said I have to get it rebroken. I meanwhile wear special soles that cost me 73 euros...no refund. That is why I am moving back to the US. Cannot save a dime hear. CNN also gives as examples people earning big bucks. I never listen to their drek...
Well as an American and teen student what is your "euros" in American currency? what is a "drek" ugh europeans. i wish we had 1 official languange and not 300; and 1 currency...oh well.
Wait, how does stating one country has a good amount to an attack on Americans? Also, on what basis is this a "hoax"
Read the message of Badmommy (#14), it will shed some light on the question.
By the way, Badmommy is actually earning the average French salary.
In $, that makes 2.866 $ . Maybe some people should better think twice before moving to France, the motto "the grass is greener" doesn't always hold true.
But sure, France is a socialist country, so HuffPost readers, come, enjoy, celebrate!
Why don't you look it up on the Internet teen student. That is the problem with American teens they got to be spoon fed everything. I know I had one. And I am American by the way.
Wait, how does stating one country has a good amount to an attack on Americans? Also, on what basis is this a "hoax"
Read the message of Badmommy (#14), it will shed some light on the question.
By the way, Badmommy is actually earning the average French salary.
In $, that makes 2.866 $ . Maybe some people should better think twice before moving to France, the motto "the grass is greener" doesn't always hold true.
But sure, France is a socialist country, so HuffPost readers, come, enjoy, celebrate!
Too bad for badmommy, I guess I'm just happy that my friends in France are doing quite well despite having lived in the US for comparison. If we want to rely on people on this forum, then there's also kerouac2 who has the more reasonable response that personal circumstances actually exist and that it could be better or worse depending on those circumstances. And if "the grass is greener" doesn't always hold true, then aren't you saying that the grass is in fact greener on the other side? Are you misusing the phrase?
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