French immigrants living in uk, what did france lack?
Posted by ResponsibleBanana522@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 73 comments
What difference did you notice, and did you actually like it?
From an outsider's perspective, uk and france are same. They have similar military, gdp per capita, living standards, size, and everything.
What do you have to say on British people who moved to France? Do you think they made the wrong choice while you made the right choice?
Apprehensive_Sun1762@reddit
My french colleague told me that France is very hierarchical in workplaces. Very focussed on degrees for promotions etc. While in the UK, it is more about talent. She gets this question so many times haha
Plugged_in_Baby@reddit
UK promotions are not about degrees, sure, but they’re often not about talent either. In my experience usually the best arse licker who went to an expensive school gets it.
Apprehensive_Sun1762@reddit
It is relative. I bet there are arse lickers in France too, but they are not getting promoted coz they don't have the appropriate degree. Getting promoted is a mix of many things.
bishopsfinger@reddit
"In the UK it's about talent" ...so it's just a coincidence that all of our senior leadership knew each other at Oxford and Cambridge?
Apprehensive_Sun1762@reddit
Yes. But I bet a lot of them don't have degrees relevant to the field they are in. While this can be seen as bad, it can also be liberating for people who want to move careers or grow in a new domain without going through formal education again.
marsman@reddit
To be fair, generally speaking people who have Oxbridge degrees are pretty talented, and well educated. But you are right that networking is a thing too.
Bgtobgfu@reddit
I’ve worked in both countries and definitely agree with this.
Successful_Print2031@reddit
Or if you're a good fit
MirabellaJean962@reddit
The NHS is literally this! Rotting from the top down and rampant nepotism.
TopDonutPlainsGopher@reddit
Or if you're fit
Used-Comfortable2245@reddit
"Very focussed on degrees"
France's Got Degrees. Britain's Got Talent. 😉
KingGeedo91@reddit
Dropped a bomb, refused to elaborate, deletes his whole account
RepublicWarm2383@reddit
This is very true, when I lived in France my dad tried to promote someone at work but was blocked from doing so because the guy didn't have a degree. He ended up having to hire someone with a degree who wasn't as good at their job. From the dozens of French people I've worked with over the years it's 100% a preferable working culture to what they put up with in France. Bureaucracy is a French word you know!
FJRabbit@reddit
When I finished highschool in France, I knew I had to study human health but I never wanted to be a doctor. In France it's prestigious to study medicine, law, political science, and then the "grandes écoles" to study engineering or humanities – basically anything with an exam- and ranking-based competititve entry. If you choose to study something *lesser* like a standard course, say biology, it's basically seen as you did it by default because you couldn't pass medschool. In the UK you get to choose between degrees in biology, biomedical sciences, pharmacology, neuroscience etc., but in France it's "biology" and you only really specialise when you get to postgrad afaik. I felt forced into doing medicine. Also, whereas in the UK you select the opportunity based on institutional reputation, in France you get assigned to the one in the region you live in, and need an exemption to go elsewhere.
The horrors of the french medschool system would warrant an entire post, but in addition to 2.2k students fighting for 200 spots in year 2 and using dirty tactics to get ahead (everything from sabotage to bribery), the insane pressure we were under, everything was so archaic. I was in 1000-person lecture halls built 200 years ago and seemingly last cleaned around then too, being broadcast a recording of a lecturer in a different lecture hall, using dictaphones to record lectures and taking pictures of the blackboard or video of a blackboard using a digital camera, and having to spend way too much money going to the copy shop weekly to buy printouts of lecture slides.
I started planning my exit during the first year. In the UK I would have liberties such as choosing which institution I wanted to go to, and choosing the subject I was going to spend the next 3 years studying. I got emotional during my first lecture in the UK because I could see and hear the lecturer, was sitting in a lecture hall that actually had cushioned seats and not planks of wood angled slightly below horizontal because of decades of use, and the students actually wanted to learn rather than jumping on desks, throwing paper airplanes, and screaming.
I know the UK higher education system leaves a lot to be desired, but it was 100% a far superior environment for me than France.
No_Election_1123@reddit
Being female and working in a French law firm, I saw three promotions go to men who were less qualified than me.
So I took a job in a UK law firm and got a promotion on my first attempt and since then have had a couple of other promotions. Those I've lost out to were to people I could see were better suited than me and nothing to do with me sex
Bgtobgfu@reddit
The amount of mediocre French men I saw get unfairly promoted when I worked in France was insane.
FatBloke4@reddit
I know some French folk who moved to the UK to start small businesses. They said the bureaucracy and other barriers to startups were too great in France.
tykeoldboy@reddit
Good moaning. The French come to the UK for the humour
jimicus@reddit
They didn't need to. 'Allo 'Allo was dubbed into French and shown by Canal+.
[No, seriously. It was. Heaven only knows how Officer Crabtree's dialogue worked over there.]
FatBloke4@reddit
I used to live in Germany and later worked from home, with a base in France - my colleagues were from around Europe: French, German, Spanish, Italian, etc. They were quite familiar with "Allo Allo", "Fawlty Towers", etc. I have seen "The Germans" episode on German TV twice, in English, with subtitles. "Ali G" was very popular in France. They love this stuff.
AdPale1469@reddit
what? does it exist somewhere
holytriplem@reddit
Honestly, stereotypes aside, I didn't find French humour that different.
Box_of_rodents@reddit
I agree with what you say. I worked for a US company for a long period that had UK and French subsidiaries. I used to travel to the Paris office once a month for about four days each month and once I got to know some of the French guys (I made an effort to communicate in French with them) they were pretty funny guys.
Also, there was a show on Netflix called ‘A very secret service’ that was in French but subtitled and was bloody hilarious.
Craft_on_draft@reddit
France lacks decent grub, can’t get a steak veal over there
knight-under-stars@reddit
This.
Their bread, cheese, wine and fresh produce are all crap too.
cochlearist@reddit
The cheese and wine might not be to your taste, but last time I was in France the fruit and vegetables section of their supermarkets were like fucking heaven compared to anything you could find in this country and there isn't any question about it.
knight-under-stars@reddit
I'm taking the piss, all of those things in France are in another league compared to the shite we get here.
EglaFin@reddit
Bruv our cheese is grate don’t even start
AndyTheSane@reddit
Yes, but could you find any corned beef?
StarShipYear@reddit
That's because France imports most of their fruit and veg from the UK. And like the above comment said, their cheese is terrible. Last time I was in Paris I finally bought some cheese that was decent quality and tasted amazing, and when I looked at the label it said "Made in England".
knight-under-stars@reddit
I was taking the piss in my previous comment, French produce is in another league compared to the shite we have here.
I was in France at the end of August eating peaches the size of freaking grapefruits. Eating tomatoes like apples because they were bursting with flavour.
And unlike here I was buying this stuff from bog standard supermarkets, you would need to pay through the nose for produce like that in the UK. Plus they very clearly label where their produce comes from down to the region of France so your claim "most of their fruit and veg from the UK" is tripe.
StarShipYear@reddit
Thanks for your comment but I need to stick with the facts. People flee worn torn countries to France then after being there a while decide to risk their lives to come to the UK. Why? The food, amongst other reasons.
NYCRealist@reddit
You are truly insane.
knight-under-stars@reddit
Oh fucking hell you're one of them. Gross.
Annual_History_796@reddit
I like how you’ve posted the same “I was taking the piss” explanation twice and then thoroughly missed it when someone did it back to you.
dom_eden@reddit
I think it was a joke.
StarShipYear@reddit
First comment was the exact same as mine: there's no Greggs. That's why most French people move here. In France, the only breakfast and lunch items they have are coffee, croissants, and cigarettes. But we have pretty much everything you can think of: Steak Bakes, Chicken Bakes, Bean Bakes, Christmas Bakes. The list goes on.
Minky_Dave_the_Giant@reddit
No lie, my 13 year old French nephew fucking loved Greggs when he came to visit recently. He was bemoaning it doesn't exist over there.
Numerous_Green4962@reddit
Greggs is the ultimate patisserie.
Ok_Chipmunk_7066@reddit
Cant get meat and potato pasties in Greggs anymore. Political correctness gone mad.
holytriplem@reddit
Somebody told me that English food was kind of like French food but with more gravy. BUT IT'S THE GRAVY WHAT MAKES IT.
Craft_on_draft@reddit
It’s like French food with more gravy, less butter and no snails
holytriplem@reddit
French food is just cultural appropriation.
In Lille they literally claim Welsh Rarebit as a local delicacy.
South_Leek_5730@reddit
A person of high culture I see.
Craft_on_draft@reddit
Steak Bake > Snails
South_Leek_5730@reddit
As someone that has tried both I can only agree.
DonSergio7@reddit
Someone's never tried a snailbake apparently...
Avacado7145@reddit
France has better lifestyle, Britain is better for work opportunities. More flexible less restrictive.
ProtonHyrax99@reddit
Not French, but have spent a lot of time there.
The UK has far far better vegetarian and vegan options.
naynaeve@reddit
My son has AFRID. Its a condition related to autism where the person eats very specific food. Luckily my son eats the McDonald veggie burger. So whenever we are somewhere we know that he will have that at least. when we go outside of the UK we cannot make him understand that there isn’t such thing as McDonald veggie burger there. Luckily if we get some kind people, they will make us a cheeseburger without the meat patty. That seems to work for him.
chat5251@reddit
The UK has more ultra processed food is why; the fact we have so many products here is actually slowly killing us.
ProtonHyrax99@reddit
It’s also just cultural. France has a habit of sneaking meat and animal products into damn near everything on a restaurant menu. You can be vegan / veggie without ever eating imitation meat, or anything more processed than a lentil.
holytriplem@reddit
I was a British person who moved to France:
Arabianmadcunt@reddit
Its probably cheaper to get an easyjet or ryanair than the train to a neighbouring country
Annual_History_796@reddit
That’s nice and all but nobody asked that question.
Trash_Panda_Leaves@reddit
I enjoyed reading it tho
suiluhthrown78@reddit
Jobs, theres literally not enough jobs in France.
Browbeaten9922@reddit
From known various French people here I agree it's about work culture and qualifications. Of course going to Oxbridge here helps in most careers and some places seem to select based on that alone. But France is apparently much worse with their heirarchy of Grand Ecoles etc. Apparently the wrong accent from the wrong region is also a major issues - again something we have in the UK but apparently not to the same extent.
Organic-Violinist223@reddit
“France and Uk are similar” is simply not true! Can go skiing in France, can enjoy 35 degree heat in the south for 3 months of a year! Marseille and Liverpool are two port cities, but are very incomparable! I used to live in Marseille and now live in Liverpool area! French diet and lifestyle is completely different and arguably much better!
DrDaxon@reddit
Can go snowboarding indoors in Milton Keynes and then go to a spoons for a microwaved curry and a pint of flat Carling, then you can get sunburnt in Skegness. - literally the same thing.
chat5251@reddit
Don't forget Greggs
Routine_Ad1823@reddit
But the question is - why did you choose Liverpool then?
Organic-Violinist223@reddit
Ahhh good one! Moved back to the uk for work, first, then family!
Minky_Dave_the_Giant@reddit
I'm British but married to a French person and lived in France for three years so I hope I'm ok to answer.
We originally moved over to be closer to my wife's family and because property prices are cheaper in her part of France (the South-West). Unfortunately it didn't work out due to how rigid French culture is. My wife, who has a Master's degree, loads of experience in high level roles and speaks three languages couldn't get a job! I found this absolutely mental. For just about anything in France you need your bit of paper: either a degree or other certificate in your field. If you've got work experience but no specific qualification they just don't want to know.
This rigidity extends throughout much of French culture, and it's something I constantly struggled with. There's a lot of "we do it this way because we've always done it this way". Look at French attitudes towards, and low uptake of, vegetarianism for example. A vegan would blow their mind. British people are a lot more open minded and willing to try new things, I found.
We couldn't get a mortgage despite me being a high earner because I'd kept my UK job but remotely, so I didn't fit into the usual box so lenders didn't want to know. This extended even to landlords, so we struggled to find somewhere to rent, even. A French person offering to pay a full year's rent up front and landlords were "Um... No."
The big benefit for us as a family with young children was the low cost childcare and schooling. We pay more here in the UK for one hour of after-school club then we did for a full day of Centre Aéré, for example.
On a personal level I missed a lot of little things from UK culture. Things like orderly queuing, putting the divider down for the person after you in the supermarket, indicating at roundabouts (the French are terrible drivers), good beer, pubs, being able to eat lunch at a restaurant outside of the window of midday-13:15, aged steak, decent sausages, things actually being open, villages with signs of life.
Now that I'm back I do miss the quality of produce in French supermarkets, the Autoroutes (though not the cost of the bloody things) and easy access to the rest of the Continent.
Jack-Rabbit-002@reddit
Manners!
croquelois@reddit
I don't know about UK vs France, but for London vs Paris:
- London has more interesting job opportunities.
- It attract talent from all over the world. (the english is a big advantage to attract people)
- Better transport. (Paris was quite good also)
- More park everywhere
I still think that London is only the second best city in the world, behind Paris. But I may be biased.
holytriplem@reddit
That's true in the centre of Paris, but out in the Western suburbs there's plenty of green space
Rough-Sprinkles2343@reddit
Benefits, English language and ease of working illegally.
DTH2001@reddit
French people generally speak French, have the right to work in France and have access to the Fringe benefit system. So none of that is really relevant
Existing-Pepper-7406@reddit
a free house 😂
Anywhere_everywhere7@reddit
Proper British food like Chinese and chippies
Sorryyoudisagree@reddit
Cash in hand jobs and the English Language.
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