An American in France: from New Jersey to the Loire Valley

Diane, who did not wish to give her surname, moved from New Jersey to near Angers, in Maine-et-Loire, in 2012, after marrying her French husband Tom.

“He grew up in the Loire Valley and I’ve come to love it here,” says Diane, who is an auto-entrepreneur in project management and runs the lifestyle blog Oui In France, covering French culture, language and travel. 

Her region is a “great location” she says, “not too far from the Atlantic coast beaches, easy to catch a TGV to Paris or other areas of France, [with] stunning landscapes along the Loire river and tonnes of locally produced cheeses and wine.”

One unexpected bonus of her local area was discovering her favourite wine, Muscadet.

But a challenge for snow-loving Diane is the Loire Valley’s mild and rainy winters. “It never really gets cold enough to wear a real winter coat in my area for more than a week or so. But we adapt.” 

The challenges of moving abroad

Another challenge, shared with many living abroad, is missing out on key events back home. “When you settle into your life and see big milestones from loved ones through a phone screen instead of in person, it can be hard.

“Things can be even harder when loved ones fall ill, and you can’t be there in the way you knew you would be if you were still local,” says Diane, whose mother died of cancer in 2021. “Grief is a beast no matter where you live.”

As well as helping Diane discover the beauty of France, running her blog for almost 15 years has given her a deeper insight into both the French and Americans.

“It’s taught me that people have more things in common than we might think and that we’re all just trying to live life and find happiness and peace, even if we go about it differently.” When it comes to integrating, “you get out what you put in”, says Diane. 

The importance of putting yourself out there 

“I think sometimes people expect the red carpet to be rolled out for them and that’s not the case. We have to put ourselves out there as newcomers.” 

She joined a gym when she arrived in France, took her dog Dagny to puppy school and made a point to walk in a busy park to meet people. 

“I even went to a Mormon church despite not being religious after some missionaries invited me to an event. I stepped out of my comfort zone because it’s the only way to integrate.”

Major differences between France and the US are France’s ‘work to live’ mentality, food culture, less focus on consumerism and affordable healthcare. 

“Healthcare is a human right afforded to all, not a perk of working for a good employer. You won’t go bankrupt here from medical debt.”

She has also noticed a difference in outlook. “I feel like people are more optimistic in the US, whereas in France people seem OK with settling for the status quo and seem less entrepreneurial and less likely to break out of their societal mould.”

What advice does Diane have for Americans thinking about moving to France?

“Start by learning the language. Start now! People seriously underestimate the amount of time and effort it takes to become fluent, or at least functional. The more you learn before you move, the better off you’ll be. 

“I’d also tell people that if it’s something they truly want to do and have taken all the necessary steps in terms of research and planning, to just go for it and make the move. Go after what you want in life because it’s too short not to. Don’t live with regret.”