Life in a Tiny French Village: What Went Wrong?

The Move

• From City to Village: A couple moved from a big city to a tiny village near the husband's family.
• Expectations: They thought it would be peaceful and relaxing.

The Challenges

Transportation

• No Public Transport: Unlike the city, they needed a car to get around.
• Biking and Walking: The hills were too steep for biking, and walking took too long.
• Driving Issues: The wife couldn't drive the car and found it too expensive to get a license.

The House

• Big and Beautiful: The house was large and lovely.
• Maintenance: It required a lot of work, including taking care of the garden, barn, and horse stables.
• Missed Simplicity: The wife missed the simplicity of apartment living.

Food

• No Delivery Services: Unlike the city, there were no delivery services in the village.
• Limited Ingredients: The selection of ingredients was limited, making simple things like sesame oil hard to find.

Social Life

• Making Friends: The village was small, and most people were older.
• Language Barrier: The wife's French wasn't good enough for deep conversations.
• Isolation: She felt isolated and struggled to connect with the locals.

The Good

• Countryside Beauty: They loved the beauty of the countryside.
• Growing Food: They grew their own food and picked wild berries.
• Improved French: They improved their French over time.

The Decision

• Moving to Lyon: After two years, the challenges outweighed the benefits, and they moved to Lyon.
• Balance: Lyon was a bigger city but still close to nature and family.