Moving abroad can be daunting and expats must become accustomed to the locals’ different habits and ways of life.
An expat, who had been in France for four years, shared their thoughts on living in the country.
While her time in France was mostly positive, the expat, named Helena, shared her main gripe about living abroad.
She explained she “really struggles” with “inconsistencies” in the opening hours of shops and restaurants.
She said she struggles with the ‘inconsistency’
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Helena said: “A random thing that I really hate about life in France is inconsistency.
“The French will close their stores, their restaurants – everything – and they won’t advertise it.”
The expat had found businesses would often not advertise the closure on social media or their websites.
Instead, Helena said she needs to walk to her local coffee shop to see if it is actually open rather than being able to check online.
While discussing opening hours, she warned restaurants are often only open between 12pm and 2pm, so anyone wanting lunch needs to go between those times.
“The thing that is even more difficult and tricky [about that] is that sometimes those restaurants will close an hour earlier and they won’t advertise it,” she said on YouTube channel Helena Woods.
Shops will start to close five to 10 minutes before advertised, she suggested, making it difficult to pick up anything last minute.
If thinking of moving abroad, an expat shared advice to help Britons settle in.
She said restaurants and shops will often close without warning
PA
He said there are pros and cons of moving abroad but some tips can make the process easier.
In order to get the best experience, the expat suggested making friends with the locals.
The expat said: “Don’t just look for English nationals or expats.
“Try and meet some locals as they really know what’s going on around the area you’re in.”
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
