Our French Oasis is a blog about a British expat family who live in the Department of the Charente Maritime. Susan and her husband—along with their five children—have French-ified their lives by living a simple, yet richer lifestyle. In the following interview, Susan discusses the good life living in France.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your family and where you're originally from?
I was born in the UK and grew up on a beef, sheep and arable farm on the Isle of Wight, a small Island just off the south coast of England. It really was the perfect childhood, riding ponies and looking after various farm animals. Looking back, summer was always perfect. It's funny, I don't remember rain or grey days, just one long endless stream of sunshine and fun, just as childhood memories should be. I am now married and we have five children aged from 10 to 20. The children are all bilingual and educated full time here in France.
Why did you move to France? Which region do you live in?
I have always loved France and so has my husband, we both had spent many holidays here long before we even met each other. We both agreed that France offers a wonderful lifestyle and we both felt it would offer our children the sort of Swallows and Amazons childhood that we both remembered experiencing. We so wanted this for our children; we wanted for them to be able to feel fairly free to walk to the village bakery on their own, we wanted them to camp in the garden and to build childhood memories that they would share with their own children in decades to come, just as we are doing now. The lifestyle is perhaps just a little more laid back than in the U.K. Or USA, life is a little slower and less materialistic. We also have always eaten together as a family, and we love that the French system reinforces this both at home and in schools. We live in the Charente Maritime, just 15 minutes from the coast which was always the plan. We wanted to be within 20 minutes of the beach and within 10 minutes of a good sized town. We managed to achieve both! My husband and I run an internet-based business which means we can live pretty much anywhere.
How and why did you start your blog?
I started the blog at the request of several friends in the USA. They wanted to know about our lifestyle here and I thought rather than sending endless circular emails I would just write an online diary and add some photos for them to see. I never made it private, and I found after a couple of months, I had a few strangers following along and commenting. One thing led to another and I found I absolutely loved sharing our story and the interaction with all my readers; it has become like a community and I am really lucky to have so many fantastic followers.
Where do you see your blog in one year's time?
I would like the blog to be even bigger and better known. I am amazed at how quickly it has grown already but I would love nothing more than for it to be an enormous success; a go-to resource for anyone with a love of France or wanting to know more about living here.
Describe the region of France where you live with your family; how is the quality of life?
The Charente Maritime is a department in the South West of France bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The coastal area has it's own unique micro climate that sees it being the second sunniest part of France after Provence and the Languedoc in the South. The Charentais people are incredibly friendly and welcoming and we have found a truly fantastic way of life here.
How long do you plan on living in France?
Forever, I hope!
Was it complicated buying property in France?
No, it was quite straight forward. One just has to learn to be patient. Nothing can be hurried and the purchase of a property usually takes a minimum of three months. There is no way of really making this any quicker, things have to be done in a set way. Once one adheres to this and learns to go with the flow rather than fighting it, then it really is relatively easy!
What do you like best about living in France?
I can't give you just one thing; it is a whole list which together make up the reason I love living here. The climate, the people, the way of life, the joie de vivre so often talked about.
What was the most difficult part of moving to a new country?
Not knowing how anything worked!
What do you miss most about home?Family and friends.
What's the cost of living compared to home?
Some things are a little more expensive and some things are a little cheaper, on the whole I would say it probably evens out to be about the same.
What are the locals like; do you have French friends and are there other English residents near you?
The locals are quite reserved at first but once they get to know you they are incredibly friendly. We have been made to feel so welcome here. Our friends are all French, there are very few English in the area, there are a lot further inland, but it seems very few so close to the coast.
Did your children settle in easily to living in France and going to school in France? Are they fluent in French?
The children settled much more quickly and far easier than we imagined they would. They are all completely fluent in French and very French in some ways now. They easily flit back and forth between English and French and speak French without any hint of a foreign accent at all, and English with a totally British accent!
Can you tell us about the cost of living in France compared to England? What things are cheaper and what is more expensive?
Grocery shopping in general is a little more expensive in France than in England but of course wine and Champagne is much, much cheaper! Petrol and Diesel is cheaper in France than in the UK. Children's sporting programmes are heavily subsidised by the French and are much cheaper in France than their equivalent in England too.
Explain a typical day in Charente Maritime?
That would be quite impossible to do! It really depends on whether the children are in school or on holiday and the time of year. Some things, like the school run, homework, cooking dinner, housework, gardening etc., don't really change from country to country—there are still everyday chores and errands that have to be carried out. Suffice it to say, the lifestyle in general is just a little bit better here!
How often do you travel to other regions in France?
As often as we can during the school holidays. I think it is very important for the children to get to know their adopted country.
Tell us about your blogging schedule; do you have a set routine?
I do to an extent. I always publish a post on Thursdays and I try to publish a post on a Sunday three times a month. I don't sit down and write at any set time, rather ideas come to me and I think I must write about this. I then work things out in my head, what I want to say and how I want to say it and what photos I want. Once I have it all sorted mentally I will sit down and write.
Explain the architecture in your village; how old is the house that you live in? Do you have a garden?
Our village has houses and a church dating back to the 12th Century. Most of the houses are built of local Charentais stone, a beautiful mellow pale cream colour and all have red terracotta tiled roofs. Our own house is about 220 years old and was built around 1790, so not that old by village standards! We have about one and a half acres of garden which includes a large vegetable garden, a row of old well established grape vines, fig, cherry, plum, persimmon, walnut, hazel and peach trees and our 13 chickens who are totally free range.
And finally, what advice do you have for new expats moving to France?
Take time to learn the language, it is the single most important thing when you move here and take time to get to know the locals and your neighbours.
