I thought it was amazing how this older American couple living in France could have experienced almost exactly the same problems in Taiwan. These problems have been documented and complained about in excruciating detail on this site for more than two decades.
Now is this because Taiwan is like France?
Or is it just that new residents have the same problems everywhere?
Or is the problem their age? I hate to think that since I am not as young as I used to be either. But maybe it really is more challenging to adapt to new ways after you have become set it old comfortable ways for too long.
I see their biggest mistakes as:
Not learning the language and making excuses about it.
Thinking they can just do anything easily like import car or cat.
Judging from the article, Iâd say this. Imagine being in their situationâno need to work, no money problems, no responsibilities like children or aging parentsâand they still canât make a go of it. I think theyâre probably better suited as tourists than residents.
Just got back from Madrid. Could see myself living there. Good, affordable restaurants, clean streets, reasonable prices at bars. Not sure of other expenses and I wonât really ever move there, but I can see the appeal. Would definitely need to learn Spanish.
I found this quote funny. Europeans like to knock on American food because of stereotypes, but you do really have it made in the US when it comes to access to good quality food.
âPeople go, âOh my god, the French food is so fabulous,ââ she says. âYeah, if you want to eat brie, pâtĂŠ, pastries and French bread all day long,â she says. âBut who eats like that?â
Sheâd eagerly looked forward to cooking meals in France beforehand, but Joanna says that she had trouble finding quality produce to cook.
âYou go to the supermarket, and the produce is terrible,â she says. âYou pick up a piece of celery and it falls over. Itâs so limp. So old and so horrible. Who would eat this?â
And complains ââI honestly donât think we could have put in any more effort to acclimatize to the French way of life,â adds Joanna.â
And âLocals have been friendly and welcoming, but Joanna hasnât managed to âstrike up friendshipsâ the way she would have hoped to, conceding that the language and cultural barrier have made things more tricky.â.
Also she is from the Bay Area where the quality and availability of a very wide range of produce is truly excellent.
Iâm still surprised by this. Are there other places to buy good produce in Nimes/Toulouse like traditional markets or perhaps dedicated speciality vendors? Direct from farmers? Perhaps the language barrier made this an issue?
Apart from urban food deserts, most of suburban America has access to good quality produce. Some would even argue that Taiwanâs rat and roach infested vegetable markets are better. I find that laughable.
Itâs a very big leap at that age or even any age. The distance , the language, the healthcare aspects. The food thing seems silly, there are excellent supermarkets and street markets all over France
Their supermarkets are actually get superior to Taiwanâs.
This couple would do better with an older expat community around them, such as in the Canaries or the Algarve I reckon.
I actually think they are an interesting and brave couple to give it a go and they are right to call it a day when itâs not working.
That they tried to import their American car was pretty bizarre. Moving pets into the EU is also a challenge and very expensive.
The lack of a centralized system for healthcare and schooling in parts of Europe is very frustrating . If they had kids it would have been 3x more difficult actually. If they had to find jobs it would have been 5x more difficult initially. But the jobs and having kids would have been their way into society, but they are too old for that.
I donât think Taiwan and France are very comparable , Taiwan would be harder in terms of climate , food and language but much easier in terms of bureaucracy and centralized healthcare , the socializing thing may be the biggest commonality.
I was just in Guadalajara, Mexico for dental work. The weather is in the mid-60s every month except December and January. Thereâs a community of North American retirees at the Lake Chapala area there who love it. Age isnât an issue if youâre willing to adapt.
Neither the highs nor the lows are in the mid 60s every month except Dec and Jan, so what are you referring to? That it passes through the 60s every month? Thatâs probably accurate.
