tetley

i am not rich,but would definately book up with an english speaking beautician for regular eyebrow waxing, the odd facial.....just as  i did in uk...but my french isn't up to going into a salon here...so am having to do it myself...saving the pennies...but , oh..how i would love to be pampered!!! if you can call waxing pampering...

great thankyou...will try some of them out!!

in my personal opinion the book you read was not written by someone living in the real world...you know the one where you don't have nannies to look after your kids 24/7...your friends aren't wine connoisseurs(sorry about the spelling)...you have to take a bath in your swimming pool!  this book had my husband spitting feathers!! we don't seem to come from the same class of people as her family...and have a different outlook on life.  We came here to live and work...are trying very hard to be prepared for all eventualities, make a real effort to learn the language and to use it.  So far, in our 9 months of life in france we have been welcomed by our neighbours, administration has been challenging but fun..for both sides! and work is starting to drift in.......so far so good...you just have to make the effort

thanks all, yes we do already have our carte vitale...and i am not sure if the mutuelle are aware that we all exist on my husbands carte vitale..will have to check that...thankyou so much, have put everything in the post...phew....it has been paperwork galore today!!

hi there, we arrived in france last year as a family of four all on my husbands e106.....we had a couple of visits to the doctor, and i am just going through all our paperwork and have found we didn't send off for the reimboursement.....my husband has since subscribed to a mutuelle for artisans..but apart from that we haven't yet applied for extra top up insurance.  my question is...where do i send these feuille de soins? do they go to cpam?,also, is there a limit to how long you have to claim?  they areabout 7 months old!  sorry, having a 'moment' i think!

hi there, we are fairly new arrivals and live in north dordogne...we have two children, but the eldest of these is 9, so sorry no experience of schooling a teenager.  i would echo the sentiments of the previous responses...you've got the opportunity, take it, it will be hard, keep positive,visit the local schools..get a feel of them,there's always a solution to a problem! my two have found school life here to be very different to what they knew....(although it reminds me of my school days) ..wish you all the best  

hi, we bought all our media stuff over from uk...telly didn't work here, so bought a new french one...the dvd and video player both work through our new tv......so bring it all if you have the room.

pretentious local types?

I'm not sure that not questioning teachers is correct....we went to a parents evening not long after my children started in September.  There had been an incident that my daughter had told me about...a boy had been pulled off his chair by the teacher and he had got hurt.  The parents all had a shouting match with the teacher because they wanted to know what had happened (her portrayal of events was slightly different to what I had been told..but who knows, I wasn't there!) the parents all ranted and raved about the kids having a tropical foods week as well!! lots of flaying arms..and then we got to the introduction of the class starting english lessons..well!!! my husband and I tried our best to keep up but were totally lost.  The parents seemed to have alot of say.  We seem to be riding this year out, watching all developments and dealing with things as they come up.  I would say we have an open mind? From working in primary schools in uk I know what should be expected of my children(re;behaviour in class), and it helps with structuring their homework and I know how important the simple things are ie;reading,encouragement etc. The things my children tell me take me back to my school days..I am in my mid thirties..and I loved school..they love school...actually I don't think I would say love..they enjoy going to school.  I think so far, we have all gained positively from the children being in a french school....

yes I agree, the french aren't/don't seem to be shy in lashing out at the children.  I have noticed while socialising with a french family, they quickly slap for something I wouldn't even bat an eyelid at.  And don't look embarrassed for doing it either..short and sharp it seems to be.  I give my two very clear guidelines of the sort of behaviour we expect before we arrive at functions etc..and genereally the 'look' will calm them down if they are getting carried away.  I do know that in my childrens school it is fully accepted to receive a kick up the bum....have your ear pulled or hair...and be shouted at with no regard for personal space.  That is only what I have been told by my children.  Now, they have not been on the receiving end of any of this yet...but it has taught them to keep their heads down, watch, and learn!! they have become quite confident and are happy there.  They are learning a different language, culture, way of life, different experiences all round for them and I think that is a positive thing for them.  I wonder how it will all change when they start college? if my eldest stays in his year group he will move in sep 2007!!! the thought horrifies me, but so also, would the move to secondary school if we had stayed in UK.  I wonder also, how I might have felt if my children had been disciplined in any of the ways I have already mentioned in their first 6 months of school here in France?I was dreading my daughter coming home saying she'd had to spend the morning with her mouth scotched!!

this is a very interesting topic.  I was the one who posted about the scellotaping of mouths..it happened for the first 2 weeks of term  in what I can only assume was a 'you are in my classroom, and while you are you abide by my rules!' thing...she has now settled down and shouts if she wants to.....I had my doubts at the beginning, but she has become very approachable and asked my advice about a few things, and suggested at end of Feb that my daughter be moved down to CE1...which I am happy about as I was surprised that she had been put in her proper age group from day 1.  She is coping much better now, and is coming along great.  My son on the other hand, in CM1, is taught by the directrice...which I thought at the beginning was ok, but it seems she has little time to spend with my son, so he spends alot of time on his own with a worksheet.  But he is doing ok. I worked as an LSA in  2 primary schools before I left the UK, and had alot of respect for the teaching staff there.  I have been watching with interest what happens at the school my children are at.  It seems that the teachers DO have alot of commitment to the pupils..they cover all the breaks, go on outings, and have said they are always willing to see parents at the end of the day.  But, my interpretation of the previous threads is that the teachers don't seem to have any training on how to deal with children who may need just a little bit more help/support/care than the average child..and I feel I have to agree.

hi Suze, thanks again..I have sent you a pm.

thanks for the response suze...can I ask, do you speak fluent french? not sure how I would get on as I am not fluent, and all this tuing and vousing throws me!!  although, I am trying very hard..believe me!!  Also. what is the ratio of children you can look after? sorry, probably all on the website (have found it......will work through it later when it's quiet!)  thanks

hi there, new here so be gentle with me!! i used to be a registered childminder in uk and had no intentions of working here in france for a few years.....but...i was wondering how it all works here with regard to childminding?  do the carers go on courses, are they checked in anyway by authorities at their homes or by the police?  i am in no way fluent in french so don't know how a family would feel about me caring for their child.....(even though it would benefit the child as it would be kind of bilingual by the time he/she gets to school!)....i am just kind of thinking out loud here, but comments,advice is very welcome.