When you start thinking and dreaming in French
Most people who move to France need to improve their language skills — at least a little bit — so for many, thinking and dreaming in French come with the relief that they are becoming fluent.
And after turning that corner, they realised they're in France long-term.
When you're invited for an apéro by French friends
As everyone knows apéro is a big deal in France, so being invited to share it with the locals is a significant step towards making your home here.
The moment Marco St James' local bar let him stay for a lock-in before and served caviar on 'toast' as an apéro was when he was knew he was in France for the long haul.
When you don't notice people are speaking to you in French
For many, a sign they have cracked the language is often the moment the know they are comfortable in France.
Jackie Clarke put it like this: “The day I thought 'did that French person just speak to me in English' and then realised no they were speaking to me in French and I wasn't having to translate every single thing.”
The village of Moncontour in the Côtes d'Armor, Brittany. Photo: Muffin/Flickr
Even if you struggle with directions, you know you're at home in France when you don't need a map to get around.