What's it like to live in a world-famous resort area like Nice in France? Anna, an American, tells us. She's been living in Nice since the start of the 21st century, working as a writer and translator. The place has its highs, it has its lows. Anna accepts Nice for everything it is and now calls it home.	Anna Stevenson

April 02 2007

-Where were you born?
Springfield, Oregon, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?
Nice, France

-Are you living alone or with your family?
Living alone, with my cat

-How long have you been living in France?
I've lived in Nice since 2000 and also studied in Lyon for a year, for my French degree. In all I've spent eight years in France.

-What is your age?
30

-When did you come up with the idea of living in France?
I came up with the idea when I was twelve! I studied French throughout middle and high school, then earned my Bachelor's Degree in French language and literature. My university offered exchange programs in France, so I took the opportunity to spend a year in Lyon. I've stayed in France because I love the country and have carved out an enjoyable career for myself here, though I did also spend two years living in Helsinki, Finland.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
It was stressful to bring together all the documentation and wait for the answer more than anything else. I've been very lucky; all the people who have handled my visas and residence permits have been kind and helpful, and I've never had a problem.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
No, because I went through a university program that was very well-organized. Once I started working, I was on French national health care.

-How do you make your living in France? Do you have any type of income generated?
I started work as an English and French teacher, then moved into translations, which I've done since 1999. I was a freelancer for six years in France, and did on-site work for one IT consulting company in particular that worked out well for everyone involved. Eventually they offered me a position as a senior technical writer (in English) and translator. I've just started doing project management with them.

I mainly used personal connections and websites to find translation work. My personal website has been one of my biggest assets. As for my current position with the IT company, it was a series of complicated coincidences – I wasn't looking for it, but my experience and motivation helped.

It is very difficult to find an office job, for a wide array of reasons – I wouldn't recommend anyone come here without having first found a position. Being a freelancer in France requires a lot more administrative paperwork than in the US, but otherwise it's not much different (you find clients yourself, etc.).

-Do you speak French and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I speak French fluently. You can get by without it, but life is much easier when you speak the language. I think it's very important since it shows respect for the country you're in. On the business side, my fluency in the language and customs is one of the main reasons that I get work with French companies. It's only natural – you get along better with people when you make an effort to understand them and communicate well. Language and culture are fundamental to that.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
France is my home. Of course I miss my family, but it's rare to live near family nowadays – most people can relate, whether they're two hundred miles away or twenty thousand.

Recreationally, I did a lot of cycling in Oregon, and continue to do so here in France. There are a lot of trails good for mountain biking around here. The French Riviera is also a great place to go hiking, swimming and scuba diving, which I also enjoy.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
I plan to visit Spain (never been there and it's nearby), Italy, Germany and Norway some time in the future.

I've never had firm business plans, they always seem to take care of themselves and develop in a way that makes me happy. I just continue to work on what I love, do my best, and remain open to unexpected opportunities.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
I'd like to buy a place here, but the housing market would have to crash in a big way before I would be able to afford that (unless I get lucky). I don't even look at housing prices any more, it's so depressing here – the average prices have gone up 50% in the last three years (yes, three – statistic taken from a recent Nice Matin newspaper article).

I rent a 32 square meter (350 square foot) apartment with a small balcony in the Nice city center, and have great landlords who ask a reasonable (not typical) rent for it, just over 500 euros a month – that includes electricity and water.

-What is the cost of living in France?
I spend anywhere between 50 and 100 euros a week on groceries (just for myself), but I go out of my way to buy organic foods and eco-safe products, which are more expensive. I only eat in restaurants once or twice a month (15-30 euros per meal). Clothing, home decoration and such are pretty much like any other big city. I don't have a car, and only spend 40 euros a month on public transportation, which includes my 30-euro-a-month bus pass for work!

Internet is fast and cheap: I pay 30 euros/month for 15Mbps download/1 Mbps upload ADSL, which includes free phone calls throughout France and to many other countries (including the US, hurray). I have a minimal mobile phone subscription that costs 7 euros a month, with ten free minutes to call others, after which I pay about 20 cents a minute (I never use all my free minutes though).

I don't even think about medical costs anymore because it's so reasonable with French national health care (sécurité sociale). I still get light-headed with disbelief when I get prescriptions filled and it costs nothing. (Seriously. Nothing. As in zero.) The only thing I really pay for is my gynecologist, who's truly excellent and so costs more than the usual: 30 euros out-of-pocket (after the national health care refund) per yearly consultation. Mammograms are 7 (seven) euros out-of-pocket.

-What do you think about the French people?
I could write a book with my replies. It depends on tons of different factors, just like in any country. In general, I'm treated no differently than any other local, even when people know I'm a foreigner. If anything, the French people I've met have been more curious and talkative when they learn that I'm American.

The problems have come when I return to the States, with random Americans who insult me when they find out I live in France (it happens regularly, even in the Pacific Northwest). But I've never once been insulted for my nationality in France. I've dealt with uninformed stereotypes, always posed as questions asking if it's "really that way," even from the most ignorant, but never insults.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in France?
Again, I could write a book. My favorite positives are the natural beauty throughout the country, the food, the wines, the culture and history, the wide variety of unique local products, and the health care. The main negatives that come to mind are the haughty, superficial attitude of many people living on the French Riviera (not just French people!) and French bureaucracy.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in France?
Yes, loads. My main tip is to speak the language and learn about the culture – it helps immensely.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about France?
I write my own blog, where I often discuss many of the questions I've answered! It's at chroniques d'une fraise, and lists other blogs I enjoy reading.