‘We came to France for a 12-month sabbatical and decided to stay’

What started as a year-long adventure has turned into a new life in France for one American family. 

Raina and Jason Willick, from Texas, dreamed of being able to explore Europe in more depth than the usual rushed American tourist. 

So they decided to take a 12-month sabbatical with their daughter, Juliana, and settled on France.

“France was really attractive, for culture and language. We'd been here before, only briefly, but had a really good impression,” said Jason. 

The trio were excited, with the thought of moving for a year “a lot less intimidating” than committing to be there forever, Raina said. 

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Homeschooling

They moved in 2022, renting a house in Sainte Foy La Grande, near Bordeaux. 

However, an unexpected change of plan became a “pivotal” reason why they decided to stay.

A new French law made it almost impossible to homeschool Juliana, so they had to enrol her in the local school.

“It was the best thing that could have happened. It immediately connected us to the local French community,” said Raina. “We got a sense of what real life would be like if we stayed, rather than feeling like we were on a long vacation.” 

They cemented their decision by buying a house in Eymet (Dordogne) in March 2024.

One of the most memorable occasions for Raina since moving to France has been hosting a traditional American Thanksgiving. 

“It felt very full-circle, sharing it here in France with French friends, the two cultures existing together.”

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And the lows?

“Any time I’ve felt like an idiot trying to open a door,” said Raina. “That is symbolic of all the times I’ve just felt stupid. Small things. If you are having a bad day, you can think: ’Why did I decide to move across an ocean and make everything harder’?” 

The family spoke no French ahead of their move, so immediately started learning.

“The first French phone call we successfully got through, we were high-fiving each other and dancing around the kitchen,” said Jason. “You’ve got to take those small victories where you can because it can be hard.”

“I think it’s one of the most gratifying things I’ve done as an adult though, because your world is getting better with everything you learn,” said Raina. “Your interactions are getting easier, so it’s a little like you’re in a video game and you’re unlocking more levels.” 

It was “exhausting” for daughter Juliana to be dropped into the French school system, where she spent half her time in French-as-a-foreign-language classes and half in the normal classroom. 

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Local accent

“There was definitely a point, around halfway through the year, where she started to know enough… and from there it’s just got progressively better,” said Raina. 

A recent highlight came when a group of children from a nearby village did not realise she was American, so local was her French accent. 

The structured French school system, with more lecturing and note-taking, suits Juliana’s personality. There is more focus on humanities compared to maths and science in America. And good handwriting is expected.

The entire approach to life is different in France, said Raina.

“There is time for work and then there is completely guilt-free time to rest and relax with your friends and family, enjoy a stroll on a Sunday or visit a museum. I feel like in America those are things we only did on vacation.”

Raina felt a sense of culture shock during her last visit to the US. “I was almost overwhelmed: there was this constant busyness and everyone was in a rush.” 

Another thing the couple have noticed is that if you go to a friend’s house in America, you worry about overstaying your welcome, whereas the opposite is true in France.

“Here, you worry about not staying long enough. To be rude is to not stay for a coffee.”

The couple have their own YouTube channel, Baguette Bound, where they discuss how moving has affected their views of the US. 

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France is very different

“It definitely makes you think about things like how we schedule our week, why we are so busy, how we access healthcare, how the food system is in the US – those are things that feel very different in France,” said Jason.

“The US is like capitalism on steroids. It feels like someone is always trying to upsell you something. I often feel like people are just trying to help me with my problem (in France), not sell me something else,” said Raina.

What tips would they give to Americans considering a move to France?

“Come here with an open mind. Americans are famous for their openness and optimism and positivity, and I think bringing a dose of that is really helpful,” said Raina. 

“Give yourself time with the language,” added Jason. “You’re not going to absorb it just walking around. Start with the French you know and keep building. I was surprised at how accepting, forgiving, and encouraging people were when there were language problems.”