Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

EXPATS

Expats who come to France see jump in quality of life

A global survey of expats has concluded what many foreigners in France probably already knew: "their quality of life has improved". We want to know how exactly.

Published: 21 September 2016 11:28 CEST
Expats who come to France see jump in quality of life
Sunset over the Baie de la Somme. Photo: Ylliab Photo/Flickr

While the overall ranking of the latest HSBC Expat Explorer report does not make great reading for France – it’s placed down in 21st out of 45 countries (although a jump of eight places from last year's 29th) there are plenty of positives to take for those foreigners living in France.

“The benefits of France’s lifestyle, culture and cuisine are all recognized by expats,” reads the report.

“Nearly three in five (57 percent) of those living in France say the experience of a life abroad is the most important thing to them – a higher proportion than in any other country except Spain and Portugal.

“This desire to experience what France has to offer is rewarded as nearly two thirds (63 percent) state their quality of life has improved since moving.”

France was ranked 4th out of 45 for quality of life, well ahead of the US in 26th position and the UK in 30th.

So what is it about the quality of life in France that makes the expat experience in general so positive? Only you can tell us.

Is it the cuisine? The weather? The longer lunches and later dinners? The open autoroutes? The cheap wine? The hordes of terraced cafes and brasseries?

One stand-out aspect appears to be the greater work-life balance experienced by expats.

Indeed despite its overall ranking of 21st France was ranked fifth overall for work-life balance. That compares well with Britain, which was ranked 31st for work/life balance and the United States which was even lower at 39th.

“Overall nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of expats in the country say work/life balance is better. With more time to spend outside of work, 68 percent of those in France are immersing themselves in the local culture and 77 percent are enjoying the local cuisine.”

France also ranked well in terms of health, being placed 3rd overall – a testament to how well the health service is appreciated by expats.

In the overall survey Singapore was ranked the best country for expats, ahead of New Zealand and Canada. The UK was ranked 22nd overall and the US 30th.

What else the survey tell us about expats in France:

Economic outlook makes the country less attractive for expats – only 28 percent have confidence in the French economy and only 17 percent of expats say the country is good for their career progression.

Expats are integrating well – Only 12 percent of expats in France say they are failing to integrate with the local people and culture. Just over a third (36%) spend more time with other expats, rather than local friends – lower than the global average of 42%.

France is attractive for families – Parents are keen to immerse their children into French society and 61% send their offspring to a local state school – nearly twice as many as the global average of 31%. Over half of expat parents (53%) report that organising education and childcare is easy.

Let us know in the comments section below what aspect of your quality of life has improved since you came to France?

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

EXPATS

Expat stories: How I made my closest Danish friend

Many foreigners living in Denmark struggle to make friends with born-and-bred Danes. We spoke to five who have successfully made the connection.

Published: 16 September 2020 13:36 CEST
Updated: 30 May 2023 16:26 CEST
Expat stories: How I made my closest Danish friend
Fernando Secca (right) and her Danish friend Marie Peschardt (left). Photo: Private

Fernanda Secca from Brazil and her Danish friend Marie Peschardt 

When 32-year-old Fernanda moved to Copenhagen at the start of 2017, one of the first things she did was find a place to do pole-dancing, which had been her hobby back in São Paulo. Marie Peschardt, 29, was her teacher, and before long they soon realised they got on well.

“Coming to class a few times a week made us create a bond that was eventually taken to a personal relationship,” she remembers. “We now do everything together. We hang out several times a week. We go travelling together, we have dinner, we go to bars, we go dancing.” 

When The Local interviewed them in 2020, the two still trained together at the dance studio. 

Fernando Secca (right) and her Danish friend Marie Peschardt (left). Photo: Private 

“I think the friendship was possible because we were both open to meeting new people and building connections,” Fernanda says, adding that she doesn’t think Danes are particularly difficult to become friends with.

“There is no secret. Danes are not aliens. I think finding something in common that you can bond around or relate to helps in the beginning, because people are more likely to respond to that than a random request or small talk.” 

“Also taking a chance, inviting a person you feel could be interesting for a coffee or a drink, can be something spontaneous or quick. Some Danes might even appreciate being spontaneous because no one here really is.” 
 
On the other hand, it is important for those from more free-wheeling countries to understand that Danes like to plan ahead, she adds. 
 
“Appreciate that they have their schedules and bookings weeks in advance and you might need to fit into that type of style as well if you want to build a connection.” 
Marcele Rask and her Danish friends Jasmine and Carina
 
Marcele Rask, 36, a manager at Danske Bank specialising in financial crime and sanctions, met her Danish friends Jasmine and Carina at her previous job because they all worked in the same department. She said the three of them shared a similar appetite for adventure. 
 
“One thing that connected us three a lot is the fact that we are all very curious and like to try new things. So we programme ‘adventure days’  where we go somewhere new, or that we like or something and spend some hours there or even the day,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be fancy, or crazy or anything, but something nice to know.” 
 
She said they tend to do this about once or twice a month, either two of them, or all three together.
 
“Just after Denmark started to open from the lockdown, we went to a Gavnø slot for their tulip festival, and afterwards we went to eat MacDonald’s by the harbour.” 
 
She says that both Jasmine and Carina are quite internationally-minded, which she feels made them more open to making friends with a foreigner. 
 
“Jasmin lived some years abroad and was an expat herself. Carina has worked on international companies and is used to the expats’ life, having herself another great expat friend,” she says. 
 
She said they now spoke a mixture of English and Danish together, but were speaking Danish more and more as her command of the language improved. She said she felt her own openness had helped her make Danish friends. 
 
“I think one thing that it is very important to be as an expat is open — open for anything and everything — and not just to sit around bitching about the country, the language, the food, and everything else.” 
 
 
Ashley Norval and her Danish friend Mia Garner 
 
Ashley, 31, met Mia, 28 almost as soon as she arrived in Copenhagen in 2019 from Australia and the two were paired together for a group session during her university course. They have hung out together ever since. 
 
“I hear from her two or three times a week usually, and we do all kinds of stuff together,” she says. “We’ve travelled together, we catch up for dinner, we go to the movies, or just go to each other’s place. Sometimes we go walking or running, sometimes we just go and get an ice cream and sit in the park.” 
 
Ashley Norval (right) and Mia Garner at the Gisselfeld Klosters Forest Tower south of Copenhagen. Photo: Private
 
Ashley believes that many foreigners think, often mistakenly, that the Danish reluctance to impose themselves on others means they are not open to making new friends. 
 
“I think Danish people genuinely don’t want to encroach on your personal space and territory and I’m convinced that once you kind of invite them to something and show them that it’s fine, and that you do want to see them outside of your professional space or whatever, then it’s fine.”
 
She said that foreigners in Denmark needed to realise that they might have to make the move, and suggest going to see a film or get a meal. 
 
“If you make the effort to get to know any part of Danish culture, that is always well received with Danish people,” she adds, although she concedes that Danes might view Australians more favourably than people from many other countries. 

 
Camila Witt and her Danish friend Emilie Møllenbach
 
Camila, 36, met Emilie over the coffee machine when they were both working for a Danish payments company, but bonded over their academic interests. “Emilie and I had a I have a very strong academic background, so we just started to talk about different theories: physics, science and this kind of thing. And we connected over that and I think that the relationship grew from that.” 
 
They go for walks together, make chocolate together, go for dinner, or a cup of tea at a café. 
 
“Nothing really fancy, to be fair, just being each in each other’s companies and I think that both her and I share this perspective that we like we were there for each other and not to be on our phones.” 
 
Camila believes a lot of foreigners wrongly think that when Danes say they’re busy or booked up, that that means they aren’t open to a friendship. 
 
“Danes require more planning. I think that something we need to understand if we come from countries where you’re used to spontaneously say ‘let’ go out tonight, let’s go out after work and just have a beer’. 
 
“It’s really important to you know, proactively invite them and not take them saying, ‘I don’t have time this week’ as them shutting you off because in all honesty, many times they are booked. So it’s about finding that slot of time. It can happen in three weeks, but it will happen you know.”
 
 
 
SHOW COMMENTS