With its millennial history and staggeringly rich culture, France beckons people from around the globe – and for good reason. But behind the allure of historic chateaux and cobbled streets, expats grapple with a common challenge: homesickness.

Facing the challenges of adapting to France while also longing for the familiarity of home can be an emotionally complex experience. It’s common to feel lonely, anxious, disconnected – and just plain lost.

Thankfully, there are some practical strategies that can help expats navigate this emotional journey successfully. 

Get Your Social Network Sorted

Building a robust social network is the high road to getting over homesickness. Psychological research consistently underscores the importance of social connections for mental well-being.

Joining expat groups or local clubs related to your interests can help you meet like-minded individuals who share similar experiences and challenges. Enrolling in language classes or participating in cultural events can provide natural opportunities to connect with both locals and fellow expats.

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Events where you meet the same people time after time tend to foster more social connection than hitting different bars with a different crowd every night. Building a diverse social network can also give you insights into the local culture and customs, further enriching your experience as an expat.

Create Your Own Bit of Home

Creating familiarity in your new environment is a time-honoured way of mitigating homesickness. This might involve personalising your living space with items from home, such as photographs of your family or mementos.

This can provide a psychological anchor, offering a sense of security and stability in an unfamiliar setting. These familiar reminders can act as emotional touchpoints, evoking positive memories and a feeling of connectedness to your roots.

All this can make it easier to adapt to your new life in France while maintaining a sense of continuity with your past.

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Become a Little Bit French 

Cultural integration and adaptation are closely tied to overall well-being and life satisfaction among expats.

This suggests significant psychological benefit in immersing yourself in the local customs, traditions and way of life. Look for cultural activities such as festivals, exhibitions, workshops and other local events you can participate in, which can help foster a deeper connection with your surroundings.

Learning French is particularly valuable – and not only for practical reasons. Speaking the language also opens doors to understanding the culture on a deeper level and helps you get beyond the superficial ‘bonjours’ and really talk to locals.

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Of course, sampling local cuisine and culinary traditions can be a particularly enjoyable way of engaging with French culture. And if you start feeling a little bit more French along the way, your sense of home might also start to shift, and with it your sense of comfort. 

Stay in Touch – But Not Too Much

Sustaining regular communication with loved ones back in your home country is crucial for coping with homesickness. While regular chats with friends and family can help bridge the emotional gap between your old and new life, it’s crucial to strike a balance here.

Staying connected with home is essential, but it can sometimes exacerbate homesickness by preventing you from fully engaging with your new environment. Part of successful cultural adaptation is finding that healthy equilibrium that helps you feel connected without hindering your ability to immerse yourself in your new life in France.

Allow Yourself to be Homesick

It’s important to recognise that homesickness is a common, and usually temporary, emotional response to relocation.

It can be liberating to recognise that negative emotions are a natural part of the adjustment process – as you realise you don’t have to struggle against them. By setting realistic expectations for your adaptation process and allowing yourself the space to experience homesickness without judgement, you can develop resilience in the face of challenges.

And, over time, the difficult emotions tend to subside as you become more comfortable and integrated into your new life. 

Moving to a new country involves significant challenges, but also amazing possibilities for personal growth. With a little bit of effort in the right direction, you can craft a new life that is in tune with the essence of the beautiful country of France.

And for those who find that anxiety, depression or feeling lost are getting in the way of adaptation and connection, therapy with a qualified psychologist can also offer invaluable support.

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Once you succeed in adapting to France, with its culinary delights, artistic treasures and captivating landscapes, the country becomes more than just a destination – but a profound journey of discovery.

Francis Merson is the director of the Paris Psychology Centre, which is staffed by psychologists from Australia, the US and the UK offering therapy in English.