Do you remember your first trip to France? I sure do and it definitely wasn’t love at first sight, but I’m sure there was something during that trip that planted the first seed of obsession for you. Maybe it was when you had a bite of something delicious, or saw a beautiful piece of artwork, or had a feeling that you couldn’t get enough of. It starts small and before you know it, you’re all in. And now here you are, a fully committed Francophile. Let’s get into my 23 signs you might be a liiiiiitttttllllleee obsessed with France. You know there’s no turning back. It’s OK. I feel you. If any of the following feel uncomfortably accurate, bienvenue. We’re all friends here.
1. You have strong opinions about the “best” region of France.
OK, this is wholly subjective and some part of you knows that but you don’t care. You have your preference and will defend it passionately if asked (and even if you’re not asked). Provence? Brittany? The Loire Valley? They’re all great but one place is your favorite. You’ve done your research and may even have a spreadsheet. This is not a casual topic for you.
2. You’ve started saying bonjour, oh là là, and other French words in your home country and you don’t even care.
You’re not doing it to be funny or to show off but sprinkling some French into your conversations here and there is a natural response to things. It started off small and now it’s just part of who you are. Your friends have noticed and don’t fully understand but they’ve accepted it. Yup, you’ve become THAT person. P.S. Here’s how to use oh la la.
Top French Travel phrases with audio you need for your trip >>
3. You compare every baguette you now eat at home to THE baguette.
And nothing compares! You know the one. You bought it warm from a boulangerie in Paris, carried it under your arm like a local, devoured a hunk off the top — le quignon — before you even got back to your hotel, and sadly nothing has come even remotely close since. Every baguette at home is fine. It’s edible. But edible just isn’t good enough!
4. You time your produce consumption around what’s in season.
Market culture has rubbed off on you and it’s for the best. Living a more sustainable life is important and le marché gives you life. Right now is the best time of the year because it’s strawberry season and cherries aren’t far behind! P.S. The best strawberries of my life are the ones I’ve eaten in France.
5. Sundays feel incomplete without a proper slow Sunday stroll.
The idea of rushing around on a Sunday morning now feels foreign to you. It’s all about slowing down and taking time to enjoy your surroundings. Go for that Sunday digestive walk just to be present with nature and the people around you. When in Rome and all…
6. Lunch is the most important meal of the day.
And you mean it. It’s all about a proper sit-down lunch at the table…. not at your desk while multitasking. Check out my favorite mealtime habit in France and why it matters.
7. You own at least one striped Breton shirt.
Guilty. And if you didn’t go the shirt route, maybe you have a sweater or jacket. Possibly several. They’re classics. But let’s be honest, it started because you fell in love with France and you’ve been loyal ever since. If you’re not familiar with them, Breton mariner shirts are fabulous so read this.
8. You follow French news even though it doesn’t directly affect your life.
You just like to know what’s happening in France. The politics, the strikes, the cultural debates, all of it.
9. The word flâner made you feel genuinely seen.
Gosh, do I love this one. The moment you learned there’s an entire French word for wandering slowly with no destination and no agenda — just for the fun — something clicked. France gets how life should be lived.
10. You’ve planned a trip to France around a specific food or interest.
I don’t just mean a regular trip where you plan to do regular touristy things. You booked a trip to a specific place for a specific reason. Because you saw a restaurant that apparently has the best galette in Brittany. Or for a particular sale at your favorite store. Or because you wanted to be there for the new Beaujolais release. Totally reasonable travel planning, you tell yourself.
11. You find yourself defending the French to people who have never been to France and/or don’t know any French people.
You take it personally and say, “They’re not rude, it’s just a different culture. You have to understand the context.” You’ve become an unofficial all-things-France ambassador and you take the role very seriously. Most stereotypes are wrong.
12. You’ve caught yourself calculating how much things cost in euros even when you’re not in France.
You say it’s just for fun. But at some point, your brain decided euros were the more natural unit of currency and it hasn’t fully reversed that decision. And you also find U.S. sales tax the most annoying thing ever. The price you see is what you should pay!
77 Little differences about life in France >>
13. You’re moved by a beautiful French door or a set of intricate shutters.
After visiting France, you find it easier to see the beauty in everyday life. You’ve thought seriously about what it would take to have shutters like that on your own home and you’ve priced them out. They ended up being a bit over budget, damn, but you haven’t fully given up.
14. You’ve added a little French fashion sense to your wardrobe and know it was for the best.
Fewer things, better quality, and a newfound confidence wearing pieces you actually love. You don’t feel the need to chase trends and good tailoring is a must.
Visiting France soon? Here’s a no-BS guide on what to wear in France.
Photo credit: Depositphotos/konstantin32
15. Sitting at a café alone feels like a luxury, not something to be sad about.
Actually it feels like one of life’s greatest pleasures and you don’t feel awkward at all sitting at a small table alone with a tiny espresso. You’ve made it part of your routine to watch the world going by because it is an activity in and of itself. France taught you to be comfortable in your own company in the most beautiful way.
16. You get irrationally excited when you spot a French product at your local grocery store.
Dijon mustard. French butter. A wine from the Loire Valley. It goes straight in the basket without hesitation. Francophiles out there get it. There’s sentimental value there, a small piece of France, available to you right now, reminding you of a place you love.
I’ve actually been surprised by all the French stuff I found at a Florida Costco last time I was back visiting family. If you’re curious about French grocery stores, here are my top differences between French and American ones. And if you need some French grocery items at home in the U.S. my top store for that is French Wink. You will not be disappointed.
17. You’ve started greeting shopkeepers in your home country every time you walk into their store.
Why? Well, in France, walking into a shop without saying bonjour is considered impolite. While it’s not the most polite thing in the U.S. to forgo a hello when you walk into a place, it never hurts. So now you say hello to every shopkeeper everywhere you go and honestly you love it. Sometimes a bonjour even slips out. (See #2)
Credit: www.shutterstock.com/Milles Studio
18. You’ve tried to recreate a specific French meal at home an embarrassing number of times.
You know, a fancy dessert, a specific soup or that braise that your host made effortlessly. You’ve tried it four times and aren’t quite there yet, but you will not stop until it’s right.
19. You have a complicated and tender relationship with the French language.
It has humbled you. It has made you feel like a genius when you successfully ordered something complicated and like a complete beginner when someone responded too fast to follow. You love it anyway.
20. You’ve started measuring quality of life differently.
You realized that the French live differently. Our quality of life shouldn’t be measured by productivity or square footage or how busy your calendar is. It’s about enjoying life and this is what the French taught me about that. Maybe it’s about how much time you have to focus on things that matter. Or whether you ate well. If you laughed with someone and if the day felt like it actually belonged to you. France revamped my standards and I am grateful every single day.
21. You know what apéro time is and you protect it.
That sacred early evening hour gives you life. You settle in with a drink, something small to eat, good company, zero rushing… all of that is now a non-negotiable part of a good day. Anyone who tries to schedule something over your apéro hour is going to find out you’re not to be messed with. Here are my favorite apero snacks.
I took this pic on our trip to Corsica
22. You feel a pang deep in your gut every time you see a photo of somewhere in France you haven’t been to yet.
It’s not jealousy but more like longing or a gentle reminder that France is still there in the background waiting for you to come back. It keeps your wanderlust alive in the best possible way. You’re counting down the days until your next trip.
23. Deep down, some part of you genuinely believes France is where you’re meant to be.
Maybe you’re already there (and here are my honest, unromantic reasons I belong in France). Maybe it’s still a dream you’re working toward. Maybe it’s a place you return to as often as life allows. Whatever your situation, France means something to you.
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How’d you like my list? Do you have any to add? Obsessed is a strong word but honestly, there are far worse things to be obsessed with. Keep on doing you! 🙂
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