My love affair with France began in a high school classroom in Missouri. To fulfill my foreign language requirement, I had to choose between French and Spanish. And being the middle child, Enneagram 3-wing-4 that I am, I insisted on diverging from my older siblings’ choice and registered for French. It was different and enticing. Little did I know that this one simple decision would change the course of my life.
Fast forward a decade: I’ve been living in France for several years. I’ve worked as an English teaching assistant, an au pair and in the student exchange program industry. My time abroad has made me fall even deeper in love with France.
With years of experience as an expat and countless adventures across France, I’ve compiled my best tips, tricks and stories into the France Field Guide. A resource to inspire and help you as you plan your trip.
From its snow-capped Alps to its crisp blue Mediterranean waves, this country boasts geographic diversity. Its majestic sand dunes and rolling vineyards simply take my breath away. As you wander its storybook-like châteaux or Christmas markets in Alsace, you step into another reality.
Even more, France is a land of icons. From the pen of Victor Hugo to Émile Zola; the cinematic genius of François Truffaut to Agnès Varda; the brushstrokes of Claude Monet to Paul Cézanne; this land is laden with art.
French designers such as Coco Chanel and Louis Vuitton have reshaped the way we view style and luxury. Even the tastefully decorated pastries at your average boulangerie are fit for a postcard.
Some days I throw my arms up in frustration at its excessive bureaucracy and slow pace of life. But despite my complicated visa process and frustration over cultural differences, France doesn’t cease to enchant me. Whether it’s your first or fiftieth time in France, my hope is that this France Field Guide makes you fall in love with this people, this culture, this language.
The majority of my time in France has been in sunny Provence. France Field Guide does include tips to Paris, but it’s chock full of the many colorful corners of France. Albi to Annecy; Aix-en-Provence to Arcachon; Bretagne to Champagne; Gorges du Verdon to Èze; Saint Tropez to Najac; France is so much more than its capital.
It’s no secret that many guides, books and shows have been created in hopes of capturing this country. Yet no written word, photo or digital rendition can fully represent this place. In order to truly experience the beauty of France, it’s up to you to explore with your eyes, hands and feet.
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What’s inside these 32 pages of the France Field Guide?
- Best tips and tricks for your first time to France
- What to see in France by season
- How to figure out public transportation in France
- How to decide if you should stick with train travel or rent a car
- French basics, such as ordering at a restaurant
- French slang to sound like a local
- Specialities by region in France
- France from A to Z
- A guide to the calanques in southern France
- My top 10 favorite places in France
- My story about becoming an expat during Covid
- A list of expat essentials
- How to keep in touch with loved ones as an expat
- An essay about the time I was invited to stay in my friend’s family castle
- My wild story about getting a visa in the year 2020
- My go-to remedies for culture shock
- A packing list with all my favorite travel essentials
Just as a field guide documents the flora and fauna of its environment, this magazine is designed to do the same. The pages of the France Field Guide are filled with notes, tips and tricks to understand the lay of the land. This guide germinated from years of weekend trips, expat perspective and daily life.
Bonuses:
- Cut-outs with weekend itineraries to Paris and Marseille
- List of best French movies and books set in France
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Pick your format
Some like it physical, some like it digital. France Field Guide is available in both physical and digital formats. You can read it on your tablet, you can read it in your bathtub. Pick your preference, pick your place.
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Inspiration + practical tips
Pinterest, blog articles and guide books are great, but sometimes you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for. France Field Guide not only will enchant with French destinations big and small but also practical advice on making your trip a reality.
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Bonuses
Stick around to the end of the magazine where you can cut out four different handy resources: a Paris weekend itinerary, a Marseille weekend itinerary, a list of helpful French phrases and a list of books and movies set in France.
Meet the Author
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Born and raised in the Midwest, Kristin discovered a profound interest in travel and different cultures in her high school French classes. After a school trip to Europe, she began to realize the world was much bigger than Missouri. Since then, Kristin has resettled in southern France where she has worked in teaching, au pairing and student exchange programs.