Stories of how you were made to feel welcome in France

The run-up to the 2027 presidential election is creating a slightly tense atmosphere in France, especially for foreigners living in the country.

And the French are often unfairly accused of being unwelcoming, cold and even rude. We recently asked readers of The Local to tell us about any acts of kindness they received from locals to show that the welcome we get on on daily basis is a far cry from the xenophobic attitude of many extremist politicians and their core supporters.

Firstly a big thanks to everyone who shared their heartwarming stories with us. We received quite a few lovely testimonies, so we will be publishing them in several articles over the coming days and week.

The time when you really need a stranger might come to your aid is when you take a tumble. We have all had those embarrassing moments when we have fallen over and been grateful for a helping hand to get back on our feet. But for American Denman Maroney, living in France, the kindness he received from French bystanders after a serious accident went far beyond that.

“Last May, in the middle of a small village in Le Gard, I fell off my bike and broke my hip,” he said.

“When I screamed in pain, all the neighbours within earshot rushed out of their homes to help. One, a woman I know who used to live in my village, took my bike and helmet home with her.

“Another called an ambulance. Another wiped my face with a damp cloth. Another gave me water. Another put a pillow under my head. All encircled me to shield me from passing cars. All stayed by me for an hour until the ambulance came.

“People from my village, including some I don’t even know, hearing what had happened, offered to help. Several came to see me in the hospital and/or rehab place where I was treated. When I thanked them, all said, c’est normal (it’s normal). So it is in France!”

We all know French administration can be intimidating. Whether it is dealing with the préfecture, visiting the tax office or simply trying to get through to someone at La Poste, bureaucratic agencies in France does not always have the friendliest reputation. But Seb, an Englishman living in Montpellier, had a surprisingly pleasant experience at his local tax office.

“I had an image of tax office people being scary Rottweilers from my experiences in the UK,” he said.

“When I went to my local tax office here in Montpellier, a polite, softly spoken young man appeared and asked if I needed a glass of water because I was so nervous. He then patiently talked me through exactly what to write where, answered all my concerns with expert advice, and I left feeling more like I’d been to a healer than a civil servant! Maybe it’s good to remember that the French tax fonctionnaires seem to be trained to be helpful and find solutions that actually help the public.”

And sometimes, it is during the hardest moments of our lives that an act of kindness can mean the most. Liz, 57, who lives near Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris shared a moving story about the support she received from a French friend. 

“Our daughter passed away at the young age of 24. My French friend stood by our family as we faced the worst moments of our lives.

“She supported, fed and carried us as we tried to make sense of what had happened and as we numbly made the necessary plans for the funeral. Once everyone left and continued with their lives she has been there for us in so many different ways making sure we’re doing ok and ensuring we’re not alone.”

Neighbours can be hit or miss – sometimes they are incredibly kind and helpful, while other times they can be a real pain. But Sarah Jackson, from the UK and living in Paris, shared a nice story that shows the positive side of having a friendly French neighbour.

“We have the kindest neighbour who helped our kids navigate the complexities of Parcoursup (the official online platform used in France for students to pre-register and apply for the first year of higher education) and then the master’s applications and successfully steered them into top institutions.

“The system is so different here to the one we grew up with in the UK, but she was more than happy to reread their applications and offer advice. These are the moments that can make you feel really foreign in France. Nothing was too much trouble for her, she really wanted to help and was so happy to see our kids succeed.”

Thank you to everyone who has shared their stories with us. We have many more to come, and we will be publishing them in the weeks ahead, so keep an eye out for the next instalment. 

Feel free to share your own story of being made to feel welcome in the comments section below or in our open questionnaire.