Category: Lifestyle

Dealing with Expat Blues

Posted on by Amaury

Once you have decided to become an expat, you may experience some mixed feelings. On the one hand, you’ll probably feel the thrill of adventure, be excited about a new country, and a different culture. You’re on a path to get out of your comfort zone, as we are so often encouraged by our culture to do. Sometimes, this also comes with Expat Blues.

On the other hand, you may have heard stories about expats having trouble settling in their adopted country. Of course, migrating to a new country can come with culture shock, it’s a new lifestyle, new food, new ways of living your daily life. Going to the doctor is not the same, you won’t find the same items in supermarkets, the language, weather, vibe of the country, everything can radically shift from what you’re used to. It’s like being born again.

We at Urban Index have had these same experiences in several countries, like Qatar, England and France. We are the first to acknowledge that these feelings are very valid. It can be so hard to find your place in your new world. You never know what to expect, what to do and how to react. Looking back, especially in Qatar, it was a true culture shock for Amaury.

What you can do to prevent Expat Blues

Before you leave

  • Get to know the culture (movies, books, politics, radio, newspaper) a little before moving. This can help get you excited about your destination as well as inspire to you dig deeper once you arrive.
  • Try to find your home, or narrow down where you’d like to live (Housing Archives). Knowing which neighbourhood you’ll relocate to helps reaching out to the right social groups or meetups.
  • Check with your company, if you’re being transferred, to see how they can help you. You can find out if there are other expat starters at the same time you can team up with to make the transition easier.
  • List the admin procedures you’ll need to deal with (link to the 30 days articles) and create a to-do list for yourself. Having a clear roadmap takes away from stress and scrambling to navigate the administration later.
  • Learn the language. Having even a little bit of knowledge will be much appreciated by the locals once you arrive.
  • Contact everyone you know in the city you’re heading to or people who know people, try and make friends and get in touch with new people in groups on social media (Making new Friends). Having a cold start is okay, you can manage, but already having a few points of contact ahead of time is even better!

Once you’re in the country

  • Get enough sleep. We can’t stress enough how helpful it is to be well rested with the energy it requires to get started in a new place.
  • Exercise. Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. 
  • Be careful not to drink too much alcohol outside of social situations. This is a common symptom for people with expat blues, preventing it from the outset is always a good idea.
  • Join groups to connect with other people. If you’re in doubt, head to a library, there are many events scheduled each week. 
  • Regularly touch base with your friends and family back home. You can share your adventures, your struggles, the new things you discovered and more!
  • Explore the town and learn to get to know the city you live in now. Each city comes with a rich history and interesting monuments, galleries, shows and events, learn more about its offering.
  • Minimise social media outside of using it to meet new people or get involved in social events. Social media can be toxic, especially if you are struggling and are bombarded with fake, idealistic pictures of happy, carefree people.
  • Remind yourself why you’re decided to move. Try and focus on the positive things that happen every day. Emma, an expat in Paris, celebrates each Wednesday by sharing all the nice things that happened to her that week on her instagram, including her mission to try 52 different types of cheeses in 52 weeks in 2022.
  • Cook the meals you like or adapt local recipes to your liking. Food can be a great way to get in touch with local culture or even learning about their history – take the croissant in France for example, which then may inspire you to research other famous expats.

Recognise the symptoms of Expat Blues

  • Lack of motivation and productivity
  • Poor sleeping schedule and exhaustion
  • Bad diet and an upset stomach
  • Mood swings and emotional outbursts
  • Sudden social anxiety and withdrawal
  • Changes in energy levels

Dealing with the symptoms

On your own

  • Ask for help! Let people around you that you’re struggling, many will offer their help. If you know what you need, don’t be afraid to share your needs with them.
  • Find other expats and ask them if they have experienced similar feelings, and how they dealt with them. Most expats will have had experiences with loneliness and will be empathetic to your situation.
  • Try to exercise. Doing a physically demanding activity can help not only distract you for a little while, but also make your body release endorphins, which will improve your mood overall. 
  • Be kind to yourself. 

Seeking the help of a professional

  • Doctolib has a plethora of mental health professionals, download the app and search by specialty & language spoken

Recycling

Posted on by Amaury

Waste Management in France

Who organises the waste collection?

I know you are on the edge of your seats to learn more about the administrative organisation of waste management in France ????! We aim to please, so here are a couple of things to bear in mind : 

  • Every city organises waste management as it pleases. This means, that if you’re in Bordeaux, Paris or Marseille, a few things can change :
    • Bin colours
    • Timetable of collection
    • Waste contractors 
  • While waste management is handled by the cities directly, it is financed with tax money. But don’t worry, this cost is included in the local taxes you pay. It’s not an added tax.

How is waste collected?

Depending on the city you live in, the collection timetable will differ. There are a couple of things to also remember: 

  • If you live in a big city, you only have to think about putting the correct item into the correct bin. Then, the bin is put out on the street for collection by the contractors.
  • In smaller cities, it is your responsibility to get the bins out on the street. Don’t forget to check the timetables to avoid an overflowing bin, that’s smelly!

How do I recycle in France?

In every city, you get at least two bins, one for classic waste (⚫️) and one to recycle paper and plastic (????). Depending on where you live, you can have another bin for glass (⚪️) and one paper (????), separated from the bin for plastic.

Glass

If you don’t have a specific bin at home for glass (⚪️), you’ll find them in public areas for public use. It’s usually a big container (????????⚫️) or grey bin that looks like this in Paris.

Plastic

You usually dispose of plastic in your recycling bin (????) at home. In some cities, you’ll find waste containers in the street.

Cardboard & Paper & Metal

If you have a specific bin for these, kudos! Otherwise, you trash it in the same bin as plastic (????).

Classic waste

Every other waste is trashed in a classic bin (⚫️) (vegetable peels for example)

Bulky waste

Cities organise the collection of bulky waste such as broken furniture. You usually need to declare it on your city’s website. You’ll then get a number and a timetable for the waste to be made available on the street. This is called “encombrants” and you want to search online for “encombrants+your city”. There is a form to fill out, and you’ll be assigned a time window during which you can stash your bulky waste on the street. There is an assigned number, which you have to write on the bulky item, to confirm that you have officially registered it, so remember to have paper and a marker handy!

If I have a garden and trimmed some trees, can I burn the waste in my garden?

No, it is prohibited to burn green things (dry or wet plants) at home, either with a garden incinerator or in the open air.

And for other kinds of garbage?

I’ll refer you to this website. You just have to type what you’re interested to get rid of and it’ll tell you where and how to recycle it.

Practise recycling

Now that you are a recycling champion, click here to play the Recycling Game! Can you score full points?

Internet Subscriptions in France

Posted on by Juliette

When deciding between internet subscriptions in France you want to check what internet you are eligible for: ADSL or Fiber. Fiber is faster, but your building has to be equipped with a fiber connection. You also should consider what your budget looks like. You can find out with a quick address search if your building has fiber access by clicking here or here.

How to choose an internet subscription in France?

There are THOUSANDS of offers at any time on the market. So knowing what type of connection you have and what your budget is (checklist below), is very helpful. In France, signing up for internet can also come with a TV option. So deciding if you want TV access, or access to private, provider-owned channels such as OCS (Orange Cinéma Séries) in addition to possible streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, you get the idea) is also good to have in the back of your mind.

Here’s a quick checklist:

  • Do I have DSL or Fiber?
  • Do I want TV access?
  • What’s my budget?
  • Do I want the ability to cancel anytime?
  • Do I want a cheap offer now that will increase in a year?
  • Do I need a human representative to ask questions to down the line or can I survive in a chat with google translate?

I recommend to head to one of the comparison sites using the info you have collected above – there are several, I usually find mine by googling “meilleur internet Paris” or “internet Paris pas cher” and it’ll come up, top choices being lemon.fr, selector.info or lameilleurebox.com

Here are the internet subscription keywords to look out for:

  1. “Sans engagement” – meaning you can cancel at any time
  2. “Frais de location” rental fees, you want to avoid this, having “Incluse dans le prix de la box” is better
  3. “Prix fixe” – fixed price. A lot of offers increase after 12/24 months, look out for this!

Once you find your perfect provider, remember booking an appointment to install the box is mandatory and you need to be home. These appointments are given out at random so make sure you can be flexible (a lot of employers understand if you explain the situation).

If you are installing Fiber internet, remember to have access to the basement, there often is a key involved, and without it the technician cannot finish the installation. You’ll have to book another appointment to finalise, and that can take another couple of weeks.

All this being said, word on the street is that Orange has the best internet, I myself use RED and they sometimes have a dropout, but nothing too dramatic, and anytime I walk by a FREE shop there is a long line of angry looking customers – just saying ????

Good to know:

If you ever move or change provider, you will need to return your internet router box, so make sure to hold on to the packaging and not damage it – not returning these items usually comes with a steep fee – make sure to read the fine print of your contract!

Telecommunications in France

Posted on by Juliette

Getting set up in terms of telecommunications is probably one of the first things you should take care of. I remember, on my second day in Toulouse, I marched all the way to an Orange shop by Esquirol and purchased a SIM card & internet box. Why Orange? Because I used them in London and was happy with their services. They also had an English-speaking hotline.

This article is a first approah about telecommuncations in France. For more info :

Do you need a landline for the internet in France?

Like in most countries, yes, you do. Your provider will give you a landline, but whether you choose to connect a phone is up to you. Most French people use mobile phones, landlines are only more popular with the older age demographic.

How much does the internet cost per month in France?

It depends which provider you choose and plans usually range from 15€ to 50€.

Check out our article on Internet Subscriptions, we cover everything you need to know.

How fast is the internet in France?

Pretty decent! Most places have fiber, you can check your (future) address here or here

Which mobile network is the best in France?

In France, there are multiple providers. You have likely already come across Orange, SFR, Bouygues and Free, but you’ve probably also seen advertising for other providers like RED and Sosh. We wrote an article on Mobile Phone Subscriptions in France, have a look!

What are the main French networks?

  • Orange is the main network with customer service advisors and physical locations → Sosh operates on the Orange network, but is online-based only and you manage everything from an online portal
  • SFR is the main network with customer service advisors and physical locations → RED operates on the SFR network, but is online-based only and you manage everything from an online portal
  • Bouygues is the main network with customer service advisors and physical locations → B&YOU operates on the Bouygues network, but is online-based only and you manage everything from an online portal

Traditional providers offer full contracts, usually including television and a personal customer service. The savvy user will probably want to go with a subsidiary as it’s much cheaper. The only downside is that you’ll need to chat with an advisor rather than to speak with one.

Mobile Phone Subscriptions In France

Posted on by Juliette

Choosing the mobile phone subscription

Here’s a quick checklist to help you choose the right mobile phone subscription plan in France:

  • Do you need a phone or just a SIM card?
  • How much data do you need?
  • Where will you be calling?
  • What’s your budget?

Depending on your criteria, you can feed those filters into any mobile contract provider. Once you see the results, you can make a comparison and go with what suits you best. There are hundreds of different offers available and they change regularly, so if you don’t like what you get (and you have a “sans engagement” plan) you can easily switch back and forth).

I recommend heading to one of the comparison sites using the info you have collected above. There are several to choose from, but I usually find mine by googling “meilleur forfait mobile” or “forfait mobil pas cher”. The top choices being touslesforfaits.fr,  lemon.fr, or selectra.info

Good to know:

In France, your mobile network can be different from your internet provider at home, so you don’t have to work with the same company if you don’t want to. Keep in mind that if you have a French bank account or plan to just pay as you go, there will be differences in the offers you can choose.

What to look for :

  1. “Sans engagement” – meaning you can cancel at any time
  2. “Prix fixe” – fixed price. A lot of offers increase after 12/24 months, look out for this!

The provider will usually send you a SIM card in the post and the contract begins on a date you decide – it’s quite easy. However, there may be an included cost for the SIM card (normally around 10€) so don’t forget to include that in your budget. If you take out your contract in person, they will give you the SIM at the store.

Good to know:

If you want to change your mobile phone provider while keeping your current number, you will need your RIO number (Relevé Identité Opérateur). You can find out yours by calling 3179 for free. It’s a 12-digit code including numbers and capital letters, so keep a pen handy! Sometimes they will send you an SMS at the same time, that’s A LOT easier. If you enter this number when signing up for a new contract (and if your original one is sans engagement), the new provider will automatically cancel the old contract for you.
Vive la France and its customer friendliness!

Learn french 101

Posted on by Amaury

In this article you’ll find some tips and reasons to learn french. Spoiler : it’s beautiful, useful and a nice way to integrate !

Why learn french ?

Getting started

In French, proficiency is broken down into 6 levels. Let’s discover them through a very French activity : going to a terrasse.

  • A1 : I don’t know what a terrasse is.
  • A2 : I can order a beer and even a Suze (typical and weird French alcohol).
  • B1 : I can have a discussion at the beginning of the evening with the people around the table (still sober).
  • B2 : I can ask the waiter for more chairs and tables as more and more people join.
  • C1 : I can handle a discussion in French at the end of the evening (quite smashed).
  • C2 : I own the bar.
Terrasse

The 9 reasons for you to learn french

There are loads of reasons to learn french. We’ll only present you a couple of them, but we hope that it’ll make your mouth water !

1. Career

This is quite obvious but speaking French in France or in any French country is a great advantage to find a job. Evenmore, because french people are usually quite bad at speaking foreign languages, they will most of the time look up to you when you speak more than two or three languages.

However, not speaking french is not a deal-breaker to find employment. It just means that your prospects will be a bit narrower.

2. Everyday Discussions

Speaking French will be a great help in your everyday life. From getting your croissants at the boulangerie to filling the admin paper or getting groceries at the market, it’s of course a way to understand what is expected of you and to make yourself understood.

It’s also a great help because many french people have a very… flimsy ability to speak in english, I don’t even mention other languages…

3. Diplomacy

French used to be the language of diplomats and it was seen as a token of belonging to the elite to master it. It is now one of the official languages of the UN, the EU and some other international institutions.

So, by learning french, you would fit right in in the cosmopolitical society !

4. 7th most spoken language in the world

French is one of the most widespread languages in the world. It is spoken in Europe (France, Switzerland and Belgium), in Africa and Asia (in former French colonies in the north and west of Africa and south east of Asia) and in America (bonjour to our Quebec friends !).

Speaking french not only opens the gate to France but to many other countries around the world !

5. Legal requirements for citizenships

I hope you’ll love France, the same way we do. And if you love it so much, you don’t want to leave it, you may want to take up citizenship at some point. Just be aware that being proficient in French is a requirement to become a french national and thus vote in elections,…

An article on Urban Index helps you navigate the process of becoming french !

6. Culture

France can boast its internationally recognised culture. It’s such a luck to have in our midst, Renoir, Rodin, Proust, Bizet etc. Knowing French will make it easier for you to access these masterpieces in the original version.

7. Social

It’s a bit trite but speaking French to a French person is the best way to meet them, get in touch and develop a relationship. It’ll help you a lot to break the ice wether it is in a bar, a festival or any other social event.

8. Slang

French is a very rich and evolutive language. It integrates words from languages like arabic, twist them to create other words etc… Today, most French people will use slang words all along their conversations without paying attention. The word “meuf” reverse of “femme” to talk about a woman for exemple.

And let’s not forget that it’s also very fun to talk in slang !

9. Sport

Ok this one is a bit technical, but if you fence, you should learn the language as all the orders are given in French.

How to learn french ?

Where to learn french online ?

There are many ways to learn French, so in order to identify the right course, you can begin by  assessing your level in French here.

If you don’t understand what’s written, just click on the link “Session 2019” in the “A1 – Je découvre le Français” section. It also means that your french level will probably be A1.

You can also train for the TCF (test de connaissance du français) here which is the standard assessment test for French.

  • Rosetta Stone => Getting started by jumping in the deep end
  • Duolingo => A simple and fun way to learn through games without grammar
  • Hello talk => Interaction with actual French speakers
  • Babbel => A conversation-based app that helps you structure your understanding of the language
  • Brainscape => A method that adapts to your progress

You also have a couple of podcasts that are dedicated to learning French.

Where to learn french before coming to France ?

There are at least two institutions that you can visit in order to get a the basics of French or a refreshment before coming to the country.

Where to learn french in France ?

Courses

You can attend evening classes. You’ll be able to find certified centers to learn French on this website or this one . It’s been certified by the French authorities.

You’ll also find cheap courses (35€) in universities like La Sorbonne and then brag to your friends because you studied at La Sorbonne.

There is the option to take courses provided by Paris City Hall, but the process to register is a bit tricky.

There are also intensive lessons that you can find here.

For Free : if you are self-motivated, you can find an enormous amount of language learning resources to help you master French for free. You can read on to find out more about that. Meanwhile, local associations and charities such as Croix Rouge (French Red Cross), La Cimade, and Secours Catholique often offer free or low-cost French lessons for newly arrived immigrants. However, just bear in mind that these classes are usually not as intensive as they are in language institutes and teachers are not necessarily as experienced. If you’re in Paris, the Secours Populaire also lists relevant associations and institutes in the city.

Conversation groups

Tests and certification

There are four main French-language certifications:

  • DILF (Diplôme initial de langue française): an A1.1 evaluation for beginners that is only available in France
  • DELF (Diplôme d’études en langue française): up to B2 level, which is the level you need to access higher education courses in France
  • DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française): up to C2 level, the most extensive test of your oral, writing, and reading comprehension skills
  • TCF (Test de connaissance du français): tests your current knowledge of French and the certification is only valid for two years. You might need to sit a specific TCF test for a residence permit (CRF test) or French citizenship (ANF test).

Each level of exam costs roughly between €100 and €150, and more than 1,200 test centers around the world (including over 200 in France) issue these certificates, which people need for university applications, employment opportunities, and immigration statuses. Most universities and many language institutes in France also issue these certifications. Whether you are in France or abroad, you can find an exam center near you with this handy interactive map.

Grocery shopping in France

Posted on by Amaury

This article will explain a bit more about the ins and outs of grocery shopping in France. Don’t worry, no secrets will be revealed or magic tips shared, but you can learn a bit more about the way you buy stuff in France.

How to shop for groceries in France?

Do you live in a major city or not? 

Your shopping habits will vary if you live in a major French city, or in a suburban/rural area. In all major cities in France, you’ll find supermarkets within the city limits. There are small shops where you can find all most products, fewer than in huge supermarkets, but don’t worry, it’s enough for everyday life. You’ll find them everywhere across urban areas. There usually are around 3 or 4 in your neighbourhood. To give an example, within a 500m radius of my home, there are 2 Carrefour, 1 Intermarché, and 2 Franprix and 2 Monoprix.

Inside cities, these shops usually open from 9 or 10 am until 9 or 10 pm, and they are open on Sundays.

Hypermarché

On the contrary, in the suburbs or rural areas, the “Centre Commercial” will be your go-to place. It’s a mall organised around a hypermarket. A hypermarket is a very, very large grocery store that also sells other essentials, like Walmart in the US.

These shops have less broad opening hours and most of the time are closed on Sundays and sometimes during lunch hours. Make sure you pick the right time or day to get your shopping done.

The brands of these grocery shops are basically the same wherever you live. You’ll find the usual suspects: Carrefour, Monoprix, Intermarché, Leclerc, Franprix, Casino, Lidl, etc.

In big cities, you may have more choices regarding the grocery shops as you’ll have ethnic options (Asian food, African food, etc) or organic shops (Naturalia, Bio C Bon, etc.).

French people shop outside of supermarkets for specific items

French people are what you may call “gourmet” and if their budget allows it, they will get their cheese, bread, meat, and alcohol in dedicated shops. This is often the case in larger cities where a lot of shops are in a small area. It also happens elsewhere if it’s possible to directly source products from the producer.

Here are the names of the shops : 

Bakery = Boulangerie

Butcher = Boucherie

Cheese shop = Fromagerie

The liquor shop that you’ll find most often in France is Nicolas. It’s not an off-license, so you’ll only be able to get alcohol during normal opening hours. They have very decent products that range from medium to higher/top quality.

What time should I go grocery shopping?

You may hear that French people shop daily and that the supermarket down in the street is their fridge. That may be true in big cities where you’ll see long lines at the cashier with people merely buying a couple of leeks, a bottle of wine, and some ham.

However, everywhere else, you plan your shopping ahead because the opening hours are not that flexible!

How do I go to the market?

If you’re a fan of markets and know the producer closely, a lot of options are available to you. In most cities in France, there is a weekly or bi-weekly market. You’ll find all the info if you follow this link.

For people living in Paris, the info will be this way.

Tip: if you like fresh produce, you can register with an AMAP (association de maintien de l’agriculture paysanne = Association to maintain agricultural production).

How does it work: every week you get a selection of products (vegetables etc.) based on seasonality, meaning you don’t choose them. So you may get leeks and potatoes one week and the next time, chard and sorrel. Here is the official website to register.

How does it work for off-licenses? 

We have all been in this position, 2 am, the party is going nicely, but the drink level is getting low and you need to reload. Shops are closed and bars too, so where are you going to go?

To an off-license!

These shops are open until quite late and offer a nice variety of soft drinks, booze, crisps, biscuits, etc. The catch is that the prices are quite high. In conclusion, these shops should remain your last resort. We don’t recommend shopping there for your everyday needs.

You’ll notice the off-licenses usually have the word “épicerie” in their name.

Épicerie

Getting your groceries delivered

For some people, grocery shopping is just too tiresome or they may not have time to go to the shop. If this is the case, there are a couple of options available.

Be advised, this is not your classic food delivery app like Deliveroo, this is a grocery delivery solution. If you were hoping to get a warm meal through these apps, you will be disappointed.

The first solution is to get in touch with the actual stores. Monoprix, Carrefour, Intermarché, all of them offer a delivery option either on their websites or once you’re in the store. The option could be to go in the store, fill your cart and get it delivered or to order everything online.

The second solution is offered by a series of apps that, if you ask me, compete for the weirdest names. The service usually is either a delivery within 10 minutes based on availability. These apps work in Paris, but they may not be fully operational in other cities.

Here are the main ones : 

Apps against food waste

I don’t know how much is thrown away every year in supermarkets but it’s way too much. To fight against this waste, a couple of apps make it possible to collect the food that is about to be discarded. They will list the participating shops and you can get a brief overview of what you can expect to receive. When you make a purchase, they instruct where and when you can collect your products. 

Be advised that you don’t choose the food you’ll get.

Here are the apps 

Tips

  • In any shop, you can scan the barcode of the products with the YUKA app. It’ll give the nutritional information and overall quality of the item (including environmental info).
  • If there is a store you go to regularly, ask for a loyalty card (“carte de fidélité”). You’ll save money the more you buy in the same shop.
  • Don’t go to an off-license if you don’t need to, prices are usually higher.

Dating Apps

Posted on by Juliette

It can be hard to meet people so dating apps have arguably had some of their best years most recently!

Disclaimer: for specific tastes and niches this may not be the article for you (Google is your friend). Ultimately, the best dating app for you will depend on your own preferences and what you are looking for in a relationship.

Good to know: Using an app that is popular in your city/country of origin may work, if you are looking for someone with the same origin as you. I hear, for example, that many Americans in Paris meet on Hinge or Coffee Meets Bagel, or a religion-specific app that others of the same denomination will know about (not listed here).

What are the best and most popular dating apps in France?

  • Tinder – allows users to swipe left or right on potential matches. It has a wide range of users, but is generally known for its younger demographic.
  • Bumble – allows users to swipe left or right on potential matches. It is women-owned and only allows women to initiate the conversation with a match.
  • Happn – matches users based on their location. It allows users to see profiles of people they’ve crossed paths with in real life. It is popular among younger users, but also has an older demographic.
  • Meetic – well-established in France, focuses on long-term relationships. It has a more mature user base and is generally considered a more serious dating app.
  • Badoo – popular around the world. It allows users to find people nearby and has a wide range of users.
  • Once – sends users one match per day, based on their preferences. It is popular among users who are looking for more serious relationships.
  • AdopteUnMec – allows women to “adopt” men by placing them in their shopping cart. It is popular among younger women and has a reputation for being a more playful dating app.

How do you get a date in France?

Some apps differentiate, with Bumble for example, only women can initiate the conversation and also offers a Friends and Networking-Only option, rather than romantic matches.

With Happn, your potential matches are based on them frequenting at the same locations as you.

And Tinder is more known for quick matches rather than long-term relationships.

Where do singles meet?

Location

Meeting a new person at a café in town is always a good idea. It is recommended to meet in a populated place. Maybe do not meet directly where you live, in case you want to keep some anonymity later on. You can have a drink and then proceed if you feel comfortable!

Safety

In terms of safety, all of these dating apps have measures in place to protect users, such as verifying profiles and allowing users to report suspicious activity. However, it’s important for you to take your own precautions and be smart when meeting someone in person.