France has been a popular holiday destination for British people for many years – it’s close to the UK, was the first country you went to on a school trip or a booze run, offers a huge diversity of holiday experiences and just seems oh-so familiar.

But choosing to move to France to live, is not the same as being there on holiday. And if you choose to live there permanently one of the first things to think about is whether you’re going to live life as an expat or make the effort to integrate into French society – perhaps even one day apply for French citizenship, although you don’t have to!

Expat life is one where you make minimal effort to learn the language, you take your British car with you, buy a 2-pin adapter for your hairdryer, get regular emergency supplies of Yorkshire tea, Marmite, English mustard and horseradish sent from friends, and you go ‘home’ when you need to see the doctor or a dentist. If you can find a local café that does a full-English, so much the better. You seek out English enclaves to live in and avoid anything French as much as possible.

For many Brits that’s a perfectly legitimate way to live, and that kind of lifestyle is perfectly achievable in France. Although to be fair, the French are becoming more international judging by the expanding supermarket shelf space for English produce.

The alternative choice is to embrace the culture of your new home. That doesn’t mean diving in the deep end on your first day. But it does mean taking deliberate and progressive steps to immerse yourself into France’s culture and daily life.

Take the FBN quiz and we will tell you how immersed into the French way of life you are

• Learn and use the French language daily – a few words will go a long way. Think about the situations you might find yourself in and prepare for them, with some easy phrases.

• Adopt the French mealtime rhythm of the day – a continental breakfast, hot meal at lunchtime and light bite in the evening.

• Learn about French café culture and try it for yourself.

• Go fresh – to local markets and bakeries. We get so used to going to the supermarket once a week, but it’s different in France; people shop more regularly for fresh produce and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the weekly market.

• Be polite. Politeness is a social glue in France, and skipping greetings is considered rude. The toughest bit is knowing how many kisses to exchange each morning, even with complete strangers!

• Get involved locally – there are thousands of local associations across France, with a whole host of different activities from sports clubs, language, games, health & fitness, spiritual, and comité des fêtes, which organise local activities. Find out from your Marie (Town Hall) what’s going on in your area.

• Watch French TV – you’ll catch the broad meaning of news articles, and French quiz shows are a great way to pick up the language. If you’re watching a movie in English, have the French subtitles on.

• Appreciate French regional pride. French people love their history, culture, art, architecture and their physical environment. It means a lot if you express your appreciation for it too.

• Get a French mobile number and email address – it’s the most obvious sign that you’re embracing French life.

• Adapt, don’t compare – that’s the essence of living in France. Things are done differently from the UK, and they work in their own way. So if you have to wait an hour past your appointed time at the doctor’s surgery and need to guess who the person immediately ahead of you is, just soak it up – ‘it’s the way things are done around here.’ It won’t kill you to be patient and courteous.

Based upon the number of activities you answer yes to will indicate how immersed into the French way of life you are

0 – 2 “Touriste Agréable” (Pleasant Tourist)

You appreciate France but are mainly observing. The journey of immersion is just beginning!

3 – 5 “Explorateur Engagé” (Engaged Explorer)

You’ve started to adopt key French habits, especially around language and food. You are actively exploring the culture.

6 – 8 “Vie Française Adoptée” (French Life Adopted)

You’ve integrated many social and practical elements of French life. You are past the initial hurdles and living with a French rhythm.

9 – 10 “Quasi-Citoyen” (Near-Citizen)

You are fully embracing the French way of life, from adapting to local norms to deep community and cultural involvement.

Félicitations!