A Look Back at My First 12 Months in France as a Québécoise

It all started with falling madly in love with Belgium…

I was in Belgium from January to April 2022, and I certainly wasn’t expecting to experience so much in such a short time. I also wasn’t expecting to literally fall in love with a country. I’ve visited 11 Europe countries, but it was Belgium that made me feel so vibrant and alive. I found myself and I crossed paths with tons of people who will forever be in my heart.

Back in Quebec, I felt an emptiness, a distance between myself and those closest to me. I didn’t think it was possible to have changed so much in such a short time but I had. And I didn’t think I could be homesick for Belgium either but I was. It became obvious that I had to travel back to Europe. And when I’ve got something on my mind… well, let’s just say I’m stubborn. So I made an appointment at the visa centre without telling anyone. I simply told my mother: “I have to be in Montreal on June 28 because I have an appointment to apply for a visa to France.”

Then why the French Flanders as a Working Holiday visa destination?

“But why France and not Belgium? Simply because a Working Holiday visa to France was cheaper—no cost, versus €500 for Belgium. Besides, I could stay up to 24 months in France, while Belgium only offered me a 12-month stay.

So I decided to settle in Lille, the capital of the French Flanders. I had a long-term stay in mind.

Quarter 1, September, October, November — Back to my other life in a parallel universe

Job and apartment hunting

I like to say that I have another life in a parallel universe—there’s my life in Quebec and my life in Europe. It was as if I’d never left the old continent when I landed in Paris. It was as if I was a natural in my new environment in the blink of an eye, despite the four months I had just spent in Quebec. The hostel receptionist asked me where I was going—I was on my way to Brussels after a few days in the French capital. ‘Oh, so you’re going home?’ she said. I just stood there, nonplussed, for a few seconds. But then I told myself it was probably a sign—I was going home.

I shared a place with a kind and helpful woman from Lille for the first month. I was actively looking for a job in my field, communications. I had to find an employer willing to keep me after my two-year Working Holiday visa expiration. I went to many interviews and met a lot of interesting people. Ultimately, they all gave me the same feedback—great personality, not enough experience. It was very discouraging. How could I gain experience if nobody gave me a chance?

This series of rejections affected me mentally but I still had hope. I knew deep down that somewhere, someone was going to give me a chance.

On top of that, I was looking for a roommate. Eventually, I met a kind, empathic woman who had a lot of sympathy for my situation. She didn’t make me go through the regular rental application process, she just said: ‘I trust you.’ On October 10, 2022, I finally moved into my new home, my first home sweet home in almost one year.

Live on, love on

October was a month of adjustment in my new place. I was still going to many interviews. At the end of October, I went on a spontaneous road trip to Belgium with a complete stranger. We had no accommodation in Brussels, so it was just a total adventure in my beloved country. I don’t know if it was the initial euphoria of being with someone I didn’t know at all, but surprisingly, it didn’t take long for us to hit off. We even went as far as Namur for a Halloween party at my friend’s house.

November was a sweet month. I spent a lot of time in Dunkirk with this stranger, who quickly became someone important to me. Meanwhile, I couldn’t stop worrying about my never-ending job search. I had to step back and keep looking without obsessing about it and becoming frustrated. Despite the setbacks, I had to keep believing in myself, and in my dream. In these stressful times, this no-longer-a-stranger stranger was balm to my heart. I guess that’s why November was overall a sweet month. I also spent a weekend with my mother in Paris when she travelled to France on a business trip.

Quarter 2, December, January, February — Recharge my batteries in my adopted country

‘Am I going to be proud of myself for staying at home and doing nothing?’ I asked myself on a Friday morning in December. Probably not if I had to come back to Quebec because I couldn’t find a job. Since waiting around at home doesn’t make things happen, I bought a train ticket to Ghent on a whim. Money comes and goes but time always goes. I had this urge to escape, to run away. And right there, on the way to the station, I got a call for an interview. The following Tuesday, I signed up blindly for a new job as an administrative and communications assistant for a women’s ready-to-wear clothing company. I was a bit naïve. I didn’t pay much attention to the potential red flags. Everything looked great with my rose-coloured glasses but I soon realized that it was just an illusion…

Then came the Holiday season. I must admit that at first, it can be scary to think that you’ll spend this cheerful and festive time of the year alone. But lucky me, I was in great company. I’ll always be grateful to that stranger with whom I went to Belgium. Thanks to him, I had a wonderful Christmas weekend. I was able to discover classic French foods, among other things. For New Year’s Day, I met up with one of my best friends in the Belgian city of Namur. It’s probably one of the fondest memories I have here. All of us expats got together to ring in the New Year far from our families. Ultimately, I was dreading this time of the year but I had never had that many good people around me.

Back to the love of my life

My parents came to visit me in January. I showed them around my new home in this part of France. Unfortunately, my heart was broken this month—I lost someone who meant a lot to me and my life in France. On top of that, my job wasn’t exactly fulfilling so I had a few tough weeks. One of my flatmates left, yet another change. Fortunately, I’m the kind of person who always looks at the bright side of things. I followed my mum’s advice: ‘Put that in your bag of life experiences.’ And so I decided to recharge my batteries in the country that has made me so happy, the place I love unconditionally—Belgium.

By February, I had been working for two months for a grim company in a toxic environment. I quickly realized that I’d been sold a bill of goods, a dream if you will. Despite everything, I told myself I was on the right track—I had a job, and I was able to pay my bills. That said, I could see the company wasn’t doing well and that I had to get out of it as soon as possible. I managed to draw a clear line between my personal and professional life so I was making the most of my free time and I kept my joie de vivre. My new flatmate was also a breath of fresh air.

Quarter 3, March, April, May — When everything falls apart to make way for something better

By March, I was feeling increasingly anxious. I was constantly looking for a new work opportunity. Fortunately, my coworkers and I were talking online and we were supporting each other. Otherwise, I made the most of my weekends in Belgium with ‘the roommates,’ my nickname for them. My mother came to Namur later that month for work. It was her first time in Belgium. I was so looking forward to her finally meeting my friends (who are a bit like relatives here) and discovering Brussels, the love of my life.

By April, I could tell I was sinking with the boat. As it happened, the company I was working for went into compulsory liquidation at the end of the month. Just like that, my dream was over. I thought I’d have to give it up. I’d never cried so much. I called myself stupid for taking this job. I hated myself for not quitting sooner. I thought I sabotaged my own dream.

What followed was a real nightmare. According to the court-appointed agent, I had lost healthcare coverage and my salary wasn’t going to get paid. I lost two months’ wages, paid vacations, bonuses… It’s only money, of course, but I needed to stay in France. I was already dreading the whole job hunt period ahead and I knew I wouldn’t have any income for a while. I kept telling myself I always end up being fine no matter what. It’s when everything falls apart that something better is waiting, and this experience proved me right.

Is this the end?

So, I thought May would be the end of everything. But suddenly, I received good news. I sent a spontaneous application back in December to write about the Working Holiday adventure in France. Lo and behold, six months later, I received a ‘We are now interested in your application’ message. I started a new freelance job as a web editor in mid-May. Eventually, the stars aligned and everything started to make sense again. I found a solution with the legal representative, with the help of the Ministry of the Interior. I thought it was the end when it was only the beginning. I turned 24 and I celebrated my birthday with the most important people in my life here, in my favourite country.

Quarter 4, June, July, August — When everything makes sense

I think June was one of my best months. I was literally living in two countries. I spent entire weeks in Belgium. One weekend, I had a little reunion with friends in Brussels—these are the friends with whom I had experienced so much in such a short time and with whom I share something precious in this magical city, a sincere friendship. Because Brussels is for me the city of love, I was bound to meet someone with whom I’d share good times.

I also shared some great moments with a new expatriate in Lille. I never initiate contact with other Canadians or Quebecers here. However, I felt I had to be there for her, to take her under my wing if you like. She eventually moved to another city but there will always be a bond between us because expats understand each other.

July was a Quebec-flavoured month. When you expatriate, you can expect certain people to come and visit you. Surprisingly, it’s the people you least expect to see who make the trip. A long-time friend of mine, whom I saw very infrequently, came to visit me with her boyfriend. It was a short and quick weekend, but a good one. July 21 is a day that will stay with me forever. A significant day, because it was the Belgian national holiday, but also because I was in Brussels with my two best friends from Quebec. We arrived at St-Michel-et-Gudule Cathedral and, as luck would have it, the royal family was there. I’m a bit of a groupie and I was able to shake their hands. Just goes to show, Brussels never stops offering me new experiences.

This year’s final chapter

August marks the last month of my first year in France. These 12 months went by extremely quickly. I remember thinking that two years was plenty of time. In fact, it’s not. Time just flies by. I also thought it was going to be easy because I had previous travel experience. Life is full of surprises. I’ve met people who have become an important part of my life while others were only there for a brief moment to teach me something. August has only just begun, and I already know that it’s full of wonderful surprises, including a weekend in Budapest.

My insights after a year in France

Do I miss Quebec? Not at all. It may sound selfish, but it was obvious that I had to be in Europe. Although I often had the feeling that nothing was going the right way, that I should give up, that I was getting nowhere, in the end, I’m okay and I’m glad I believed in myself and had faith in myself. Without going into too much detail, writing all this reminds me I’ve been through a lot. I had no idea it would take so long to get a job or that I would experience both heartbreak and compulsory liquidation.

Today, with hindsight, I’m grateful to have experienced all of this, and I wouldn’t change a thing in my life, even if it’s not perfect. There were far more positives than negatives, memories I’ll cherish for a long time to come. I have no regrets at all about applying for a Working Holiday visa on a whim. What I’ve come to conclude is that I’ve never been happier to live so close to my favourite city, to have great friends and to finally have a job I love. Above all, I’m living the life I’ve always wanted.

To be continued in the coming year…