Moving to France comes with plenty of expectations—the fact that we’ll be learning French, seeing stunning architecture everywhere, visiting some of the world’s best museums, eating great food, and, of course, the joie de vivre. There are lots of surprises along the way too, though. Some weren’t so great, some were just neutral, and others blew me away in the best way possible and it’s that last one we’re focusing on today. Some of these discoveries were small, others completely life-changing, but all of them have made my experience here even more special.
So, what are the unexpected positive surprises about life in France? Let’s get into it!
1. French food culture is on another level
Okay, I knew France was famous for its food, but I completely underestimated just how deeply ingrained food culture is here. It’s not just about eating—it’s an art, a passion, a way of life, or even thought of as a religion by some.
Even in small, non-touristy towns, I’ve been blown away by how many restaurants serve inventive, perfectly prepared homemade dishes with fresh, local ingredients. And the people working there? They’re not just employees—they’re artists, craftsmen, and storytellers, taking genuine pride in every plate they serve.
Restaurant jobs aren’t just jobs in France. They’re vocations for a lot of people. Servers here are NOT just working for tips – remember tipping 20% when you go out to eat in France isn’t a thing. Seeing this level of dedication and love for food has completely changed the way I appreciate what’s on my plate.
The bets part is that even casual neighborhood restaurants serve dishes that would rival fine dining elsewhere. My favorite types of restaurants are the ones that make simple food done really well, like perfectly cooked fresh fish and lightly sautéed vegetables that are in-season and locally farmed.
Of course, there’s great food in the US too. This isn’t a knock of my home country, but it is a celebration of what France gets right and French food culture is at the top of my list. FYI, this is my favorite French mealtime habit.
I love and miss her every single day. I don’t think that’ll ever go away. Grief sucks.
2. Veterinary care
This is something that really touched my heart and I’ve raved about vet care in France before. Our sweet dog, Dagny, who was like a child to us, passed away in March 2022, and throughout her life, she had some health issues that required regular vet visits and specialized care.
And let me tell you—the level of care, kindness, and dedication we experienced from the vets here throughout her life was beyond anything I could have expected. From our regular vet to emergency specialists, everyone was gentle, caring, and truly put the well-being of our dog first. Sure, you can find good vets everywhere in the world but the fact that our experience across the board in France with vets was extremely positive her entire life was something that made all the difference to me, especially in high-stress moments an especially at the very end.
A lot of vet practices are corporate owned in the US and I’ve felt that it’s more about making money than providing care sometimes, but in France I was pleasantly surprised with how everything was handled throughout Dagny’s life.
I was also surprised by how affordable vet care is compared to the U.S. For example, Dagny’s medication was around 50 euros a month—which would have been several hundred dollars in the U.S. Her MRIs were around 550 euros each, whereas in the U.S., it would have been thousands just for one scan.
Losing Dagny was incredibly difficult (especially right after my mom), but knowing she was in such good hands every step of the way meant the world to us and I will always remember how wonderful the vets were here in France for as long as I live. I still stop into her vet’s office to say hi sometimes when I’m in the area. The staff was a regular part of our lives for a decade.
Tom snapped this beauty on a June evening just as the sun was setting. It’s one of his best, right?
3. France’s insanely beautiful landscapes
I’d seen pictures of France before moving here, of course. But let me tell you—seeing the places in person is a whole different story. Les Gorges du Verdon? Absolutely breathtaking. The Calanques near Marseille? Unreal. The Brittany Coast, Le Mont-Saint-Michel, the lavender fields in Provence and even quaint little villages… I could go on forever.
What’s truly amazing is just how diverse France is. You have mountains, beaches, vineyards, dramatic cliffs—it’s all packed into one country. Every time I visit a new region, I feel like I’ve stepped into a whole new world. Being able to see France with my own eyes is something I’ll never take for granted.
This is Montdomaine in Amboise. Check them out here.
4. Wine straight from the source
As you know, I live in the Loire Valley, and let me tell you—one of the coolest things that surprised me is that you can buy fantastic wine directly from the producers in person, which is something I couldn’t do back in New York City!
It’s not just about getting good wine (which, let’s be real, is already a win). It’s the experience of actually meeting the people who make it, seeing where the grapes grow, walking through the vineyards, and seeing the production facility. The wine tastes that much better when you know exactly where it came from.
Shoutout to my favorite white wine, Muscadet, which is made from the melon de Bourgogne grape and produced not far from where I live. Let’s not forget all the Loire Valley sparkling options like crémant, and also Savennières, which isn’t too far either, right on the banks of the Loire. I’m spoiled by the options, what can I say.
Before moving to France, I didn’t realize that a lot of the wine you see in U.S. wine stores is mass produced white labeled wines. You have a company putting out bulk wines with different labels but the actual wine brands are very far removed from the actual wine-making process. It’s been really eye opening to learn about wine production first hand and to have the opportunity to buy wine directly from the people who make it. Here are my tips for winery visits in France, in case that’s of interest.
Another perk is that local wines here in Anjou are super affordable. I’m talking amazing bottles for around 10 euros, sometimes even less! It just makes the whole experience of enjoying a glass of wine so much more special when you know exactly where it came from and the people behind it.
I don’t think I can ever go back to just picking a random bottle off the supermarket shelf now. When I’m in the U.S., I rarely get wine when I’m out to eat because I’m so spoiled by France’s selection and amazing prices.
Photo credit: Shutterstock.com / melissamn
5. French people are actually NOT rude
We all know the stereotype—French people are rude. SO RUDE! Well… surprise! That’s actually not been my experience at all. Before I moved to France, people warned me that the French are all arrogant snobs who hate Americans. It’s funny though in retrospect that everyone telling me this had very little experience with French people beyond a vacation or two
Have I met any rude snobs? Sure, you can find rude people anywhere, but overall I haven’t found the French to live up to those rude stereotypes and that was such a relief.
Yes, the culture is different, and people might not be as openly chatty with strangers as in some other places. Also, if you don’t say bonjour and extend common courtesy, you’ll figure it out after one or two missteps. But once I got past that first layer and learned the ins and outs of the culture, I was surprised to find out the French are like any other group.
Overall, people have been incredibly helpful and kind. I’ve never been treated poorly because I’m American. In fact, French people love telling me about their U.S. vacations and asking questions about American things. The French might hate our country’s politics, but when face to face, I feel they judge you on individual merit and that’s been a relief.
Whether it’s people in my neighborhood, my local pharmacist, a supermarket cashier, I’ve felt welcome here and have made genuine connections with people over the years. So if you’re on the fence about visiting France because of the “rude French” stereotype, just go for it and book your trip. Just be respectful and I know you’ll be pleasantly surprised like I was.
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So there you have it—5 unexpected positive surprises about my life in France! Let me point out, as I often do in the name of balance, France is far from perfect (no place is!), but everything I talked about helped me to integrate and fall in love with living here.
Also, I know that some of the things I mention exist in the U.S. and elsewhere. I’m certainly not saying they’re things that are exclusive to France. What I am saying is that in my personal experience, they happened to all be things I wasn’t expecting and was pleasantly surprised by them, that’s all. 😉
So now over to you, tell me in the comments, have you ever been to France, or do you live here now? What positive surprises have stood out to you the most?
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Dear Diane,
I lost my little Pom-Poo, (Jilly), this last January 6th, due to renal failure and old age (14). My eyes still water up whenever I think of her or see any reminders of her… I know how your heart must ache remembering any little thing about your little Dagny. I’m thankful that I had adopted a little ‘Yorkie-mix’ rescue from Texas by way of Montana three months prior to Jilly’s passing. Little Miss Poppy is the only thing that kept me sane after I lost my Jilly.
You are so correct about the French not being rude. My wife, niece, and I were there a few years ago. I had to spend a few days in a hospital. I have never been treated with such dignity and respect. Once we we were back on the street, everyone was polite. We just needed to follow the “hello rule.” Rude people can be found in every country. The French are not rude. I love this blog.