A couple of weeks ago, I moved out of the house I'd been renting the last seven years in Brittany. Moving out of a rental in France, it turns out, is a bit more work than moving out of a rental in the U.S. I spoke of some of the bureaucratic challenges in my earlier...
In France, there are two types of property tax, taxe foncière, which is paid by the property owner, and taxe d'habitation, paid by the resident as of January 1 of that year. View from my front door After seven years, I am moving out of my rental in Brittany. I still...
Paris is known for many things but unfortunately among them is the ridiculous quantity of un-scooped dog poop on the sidewalks. "Seriously, am I worth €35?" So what is the city doing about this? Well, not much. But they have launched a new campaign to spread the word...
One day soon after my arrival in Paris, a co-worker starting talking to me about "my banker". I remember thinking he was pretty full of himself. Sure, I had a checking account with Citibank in New York, but I didn't consider the representative who set up the account...
Last Saturday I went to my local post office in the Marais. I had a peculiar predicament and I was hoping they could solve my problem. Since I left my law firm job, I no longer have access to free envelopes and (sometimes free) mail service. Having neither envelopes...
I am finally back in Brittany, after a few long months away. And what do you know, they sent a parade to welcome me back! I took these photos right out of my living room window: Perhaps the parade was not just for me. It was our town's local festival: Baden en fête,...
Last week, I described the trials and tribulations of passing the written exam for a French driver's license. But that was only Part 1. Next came the actual driving test.... Once I had my results from the written exam, I went straight to the auto école to sign up for...
If you have been residing in France for more than 1 year, you are required to get a French driver's license. There are two ways of doing this. The first and easiest option is to trade your current driver's license in for a French one - but this route is only available...
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, MY FRIENDS! And speaking of things to be grateful for... This September, after a very nerve-wracking meeting at the Préfecture (police headquarters), I was told that I would be granted a resident card – a visa to stay and work in France, renewable...
