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Month: October 2020

VLS-TS France

How to Apply for a Visa de Long Séjour- Valant Titre de Séjour vie privée et familiale (VLS-TS) as an American Spouse of a French Citizen While Living in the UK

Posted on October 19, 2020August 3, 2023 by Rose Joly

What Is a VLS-TS? The VLS-TS or Visa de Long Séjour – Valant Titre de Séjour is a special long-stay visa for those visiting France for over 90 days who fulfill specific criteria (such as being students, interns, spouses, etc.). The visa also acts as a temporary residence permit, meaning that applicants do not need…

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countryside church, loire valley

An Atypical Weekend in the Valley of the Loire

Posted on October 19, 2020June 19, 2025 by Rose Joly

This is a trip I took with my husband who decided to book us a romantic and relaxing weekend getaway. I was visiting him briefly from the UK in June of 2019 and I thought it would be apropos to share this experience here, even though it took place some time ago. I kept nagging…

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Getting Married in France (Twice!)

Posted on October 19, 2020June 19, 2025 by Rose Joly

If you have read the about page you are aware that I have gotten married in France twice (to the same person). The reason for this being is that marriage can only be officiated legally in France by the government since the country is laic, meaning there is a firm separation of church and state….

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Clairvaux prison with retaining bars and door

The Shockingly Dark History of the Abbey of Clairvaux

Posted on October 18, 2020August 23, 2021 by Rose Joly

Last night as I watched The Green Mile with my husband, I was reminded of a particularly moving visit we had taken to the Abbey of Clairvaux in July. What could a 12th century abbey and The Green Mile have in common? You’re about to find out. Expectation VS Reality To be honest, I had…

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Images of French cliches such as the Eiffel Tower, croissants, and cheese

When Someone Says “France:” The Most Popular Stereotypes About France Debunked

Posted on October 18, 2020June 16, 2025 by Rose Joly

Today I wanted to discuss some things that are not necessarily untruths about France, but are characteristic tropes of French culture and France itself. The stereotypes or cliches I have collected and discussed below were retrieved by posing the question “what comes to mind when you hear the word ‘France’?” on several social media platforms….

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Woman and man embracing with architectural backdrop

How to Get Married in France to a French National as a U.S. Citizen

Posted on October 18, 2020July 28, 2023 by Rose Joly

Getting Married in France is Difficult But don’t turn away just yet, I am here to help! Marriage can only be officiated legally in France by the government since the country is laic, meaning there is a firm separation of church and state. Therefore, in order to have a more “traditional” wedding (with a religious…

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Salut! I’m Rose.
I’m an American married to a Frenchman living in the countryside of France. I’m here to fill you in on life here, from administrative paperwork to weird customs to underrated places to visit.

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I recently renewed my 10-Year U.S. passport in Fra I recently renewed my 10-Year U.S. passport in France & this was possibly the easiest administrative thing I have done in my six years living here. Not only was it simple, it was actually much faster than I expected. Even with a small photo issue, I had my passport back in a little over a month. The application is done via the U.S....

https://frenchcountrysideguide.com/u-s-passport-renewal/
The pond after the snowfall. Untouched. #winter # The pond after the snowfall. Untouched.

#winter #snow #travelblog #expatblog #frenchvillagelife #Francetravel #frenchvillage #france #countryside #frenchcountryside #frenchcountrysideguide #lifeinfrance #americaninfrance #cultureblogger #expatinfrance #frenchcountryliving #expatlife #frenchblog #americanexpat #blog #pond #snowyweather
Well, I did not hear any noises of hunters coming Well, I did not hear any noises of hunters coming from the woods after this snowfall. 

#winter #snow #travelblog #expatblog #frenchvillagelife #Francetravel #frenchvillage #france #countryside #frenchcountryside #frenchcountrysideguide #lifeinfrance #americaninfrance #cultureblogger #expatinfrance #frenchcountryliving #expatlife #frenchblog #americanexpat #blog #woods #snowywoods
"...don't forget what happened to the man who sudd "...don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted... he lived happily ever after." - Willy Wonka

Our new house has what we call a "mare" (a small pond) on the property. I did tell my husband I wanted a mare when discussing our future home purchase, knowing full well that they are hard to come by and would likely accompany a property out of our price range. 

For some reason, the end of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory comes to mind. Somehow I feel this applies here. Purchasing a home feels like an absolute state of reverie sometimes.

#winter #snow #travelblog #expatblog #frenchvillagelife #Francetravel #frenchvillage #france #countryside #frenchcountryside #frenchcountrysideguide #lifeinfrance #americaninfrance #expatinfrance #cultureblogger #expatlife #frenchcountryliving #frenchblog #americanexpat
Didn't even realise we had this lone rose bush on Didn't even realise we had this lone rose bush on our property... 

 #snow #winter #travelblog #expatblog #frenchvillagelife #frenchvillage #france #countryside #frenchcountryside #frenchcountrysideguide #lifeinfrance #americaninfrance #liveinfrance #cultureblogger #expatinfrance #frenchcountryliving #expatlife #frenchblog #americanexpat #blog #rosebush #roses #redroses #nature #naturephotography
Afternoon walk with my #cat in the #frenchcountrys Afternoon walk with my #cat in the #frenchcountryside. The sun was so agreeable and warm today!

#frenchcountrysideguide #frenchcountrysideliving #france #countryside #expatsinfrance #americaninfrance
Our neighbor's gate is so quaint. I love the pop o Our neighbor's gate is so quaint. I love the pop of blue against the white of the newly-fallen snow. 

 #winter #snow #travelblog #expatblog #frenchvillagelife #frenchvillage #france #countryside #frenchcountryside #frenchcountrysideguide #lifeinfrance #americaninfrance #cultureblogger #expatinfrance #liveinfrance #travelinfrance #frenchcountryliving #expatlife #frenchblog #americanexpat #blog
It's the little things. 😍 I realised we had thi It's the little things. 😍 I realised we had this charming stone wall on our property. Hidden by some bushes and a bunch of other greenery, I was so excited to stumble upon it. I love old stone walls, particularly their texture and the little mosses that develop in their crevasses. 
Our home dates to 1900 and was likely a barn or storage space on the property (we have a second building which we believe was a pig sty). I wonder when this wall was constructed, perhaps as a barrier to keep the animals on this side when it was still a farm? I hope to research a bit about my new home's history and hope to share it with you. (I am such an excited new homeowner!)
Either way, with a little bit of snow and the pop of green, it was a perfect photo to share with you all.

 #winter #snow #expatblog #frenchvillagelife #travelblog #frenchvillage #Frencharchitecture #france #countryside #frenchcountryside #frenchhistory #frenchcountrysideguide #lifeinfrance #americaninfrance #liveinfrance #cultureblogger #expatinfrance #frenchcountryliving #expatlife #historicalplace #frenchblog #history #americanexpat #blog #architecture
I am so obsessed with the little pond across the s I am so obsessed with the little pond across the street from our new home. 😍

#snow #winter #travelblog #expatblog #frenchvillagelife #Francetravel #frenchvillage #france #countryside #frenchcountryside #frenchcountrysideguide #lifeinfrance #americaninfrance #expatinfrance #frenchcountryliving #expatlife
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