what's required to live in france for one year

[Mr Coeur de Lion]

I applaud you APKAPLAN.

I think you have thrown a lot of people off track by the "one year" bit, but I do see where you're coming from.  One step at a time and all that!

If you had a European passport, I would be saying "give it a go", but unfortunately, its not that simple when you have a US passport.  Lots more work to be done there before you can book the tickets!

My daughter is 13yo and although she lives in Australia, she spends a fair bit of time in France.  Within 4 weeks, she was attending the local school with a french friend (for amusement purposes only), and I have no qualms that she could have continued at the school.  By the time she returned to Australia, after 6 weeks, her French was already better than mine. I'm sure you're 10yo would be fine.

And yes, life is much simpler here.  Wish I could help you more, but I have an English father, so could get a European passport.