Are you moving to France? Dreaming about it? Already have moved and wondering what the heck you've gotten yourself into?
At some point, I said yes to each of those questions. Being a reader, I sought out solace and advice in books. I didn't really know it then, but there are A LOT of books on being an expat, and more specifically, being an (anglo-saxon) expat in France. So many people have trod the path for us, and many of those have written memoirs or handy guides. Below are some that helped me along the way.
Readers that are living in France: Do you have any to add that particularly entertained you or helped you in some way? Please share in the comments!
1. Paris to the Moon, by Adam Gopnik
Even if you don't move to Paris or live abroad, Adam Gopnik's memoir of his time in Paris writing for the New Yorker is so entertaining. He captured for me both the magic of Paris and was open about some of the humiliations he suffered while trying to navigate life in a foreign land. My favorite episodes are trying to procure a Thanksgiving turkey, his adventures in medicine (including the birth of his child) and his essay on the profession of restaurant waitservice.
2. Almost French, by Sarah Turnbull
Like Sarah Turnbull, I too moved to France after falling in love with a frenchman. Her memoir of her first years in Paris is so down-to-earth chronicling her impressions, frustrations and discoveries as she tried to integrate into French life. This book above all spoke to me in a personal way as someone who had been there, done that.
3. A Year in Provence, by Peter Mayle
Of course I had to finally read it. I remember that as a student all the older people coming in to buy this book to fantasize. (I'm the Older now). From my high stool behind the counter reading one of the hard classics I looked down on those people, but what the heck - I was living in France after all. And you know what? The book is a witty account of living in a foreign land before the anglo-saxons arrived in droves. His book may seem obvious now but he's really the one who started a genre and I still learned somethings about the French along the way.
For those who work with French people and who just don't get it - these are for you. Both these business-school books are very expensive - you might be able to find them used or in a library. Or if you have a rich employer maybe you can expense the purchase :-)
4. French Management - Elitism in Action by Jean-Louis Barsoux and Peter Lawrence
The key to French Management is it's subtitle - I was already experiencing that it in a visceral way and could not understand why I wasn't being taken seriously. Reading this book helped me understand why and this understanding helped me figure out what to do (in my case - it was change jobs!). The book explains the education system, French cultural attitudes towards power, hierarchy, gender and money and how these characteristics inform french management behaviors.
5. Managing Across Cultures by Susan Schneider and Jean-Lous Barsoux
Managing Across Cultures was one of the most fascinating and encouraging books I read in getting ready to live and work in another country. While I had worked in very mixed environments in California and Boston it was the job of the foreigners to fit in. Now I was the foreigner and was trying to figure out my place. However, even though France was a mystery, living in Europe means living in a truly multi-cultural environment and people need to be able to easily adapt. This book helped me understand that, and helped me understand my own specifically American tendencies and how they may be perceived by other cultures.
A note to readers: All the books link to Amazon.com via a dedicated Mom In France link. If you buy one of these books by clicking on the link, THANK YOU, because you just helped pay my hosting fees for the year. Also - please be aware you don't pay anything extra by purchasing through the link - Amazon is sharing a *tiny* amount with me for the privilege of you buying from them.
Hi Sandy - Let me know if you have any questions, I'm glad to help! Just send me an email.
Posted by: Karin | October 21, 2011 at 06:54 PM
Oh Karin, that sounds so good! Peter Mayle I have read last year, I could start now with the French-Management - Literature, it would be helpful. We are dreaming of moving to france too. Until our dream will come true we are traveling to the south 3 or 4 times a year and I try to improve my french.
I should read the english books so I can learn both :), greetings, Sandy
Posted by: Sandy | October 21, 2011 at 05:05 PM