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Why I want to live in France

Have a mentioned that I want to live in France? 

My dream has been Germany up until now. I fell in love with the country and the wonderful people when I went there three years ago. The cobblestone streets, the bikes and cafes, their love of Christmas that borders on obsession. 

Ahh, it's everything I ever wanted. Perfection. 

But..there is something very appealing about France to me right now. It's not the fact that most of favourite authors come from there. Nor that I'm in love with wine, bread and cheese (though I am). Neither is it the beautiful language, the fascinating history or the amazing architecture. 

It's that they don't take anything lying down. 

Politicians don't just blindly run the country, ignoring what is good for the people. Ignoring what the people want. If the government makes a decision that people don't like, you hear about it. 

Boy do you hear about it. 

While I'm not saying I support riots (as I have never been in one so I have no idea what one is really like), at least they're standing up for what they believe in. 

I have become so disillusioned with Australia. And the government. Our supposed left-wing government. People here aren't satisfied with the majority of the choices being made. But we'll be damned if we do anything about it.

Our retirement age got lifted to 67, the people went 'that sucks'. Recently our 'progressive left-wing' Prime Minister decided not to pull troops for Afghanistan. Again the people went 'that sucks'. Then we all went back to shopping, eating etc. and forgot all about it. 

The government here can do anything. They can manufacture a story about refugees on a boat throwing their children overboard, admit to lying about it right after an election won solely because of the racism the story encouraged (Don't let anyone tell you Australia isn't racist. It's disgustingly so.)

..and no one does anything. 

The government blocked gay marriage in all States, though the State I live in are strongly for equal rights for everyone. No one says anything, no one does anything. We may have a peaceful little protest against these things, but without any real conviction. Without any real hope for change.

I want to live where the people fight for what they believe in. Where the government faces the consequences for their actions. Where they are accountable to the people. ALL of the people, not just a select few. 

And that's why I want to move to France. 
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Comments

Jess said…
I think France would be amazing but the one country I would love to live in would be Denmark :)
October 24, 2010 at 7:24 PM
a work in progress said…
i totally agree with you about France. i was talking to my father about it on the phone just an hour ago - the way ALL the people there are involved in the strikes and protests.
they see the wider implications of the proposals before them; they look at the longer-term, not just the *right now*; they do not vote for someone and then sit back and let them decide the future. they are ACTIVE participants in the creation of their country.
That's not to say i always agree with what goes on there (take the burqa laws for example...) but they are certainly involved - unlike the political apathy so prevalent here in Australia (and in my home country - England).
My parents have lived in France for almost 8 yrs now, I love love love to visit and dearly wish to live there myself at some point. i think it is the place in the world where i have felt most *at home*. :)
October 24, 2010 at 9:37 PM
Brandi said…
I'm with you. Things are equally bad here in the US. When things happen, I sometimes feel like the first question people ask themselves is, how can I make money from this? Obviously that's not everyone, but it's a bit depressing when you can't trust many politicians (California is in particular is awful). Paris, here we come?
October 25, 2010 at 12:30 AM
Sara Louise said…
It is great that people here let the government know when they don't like something, but it sucks having to deal with the ramifications. My husband and I were supposed to spend the weekend at his mother's house and we couldn't go because it's a six hour drive and most of the gas stations are out of gas. That also meant the only thing we got to do this weekend was drive to the grocery story because we absolutely had to go. The bonus was that there was zero traffic and the store was practically empty because everyone is saving their gasoline for when they absolutely need it. I'm housebound during the week until everything gets sorted out (this is week three!). It's no fun.
October 25, 2010 at 5:01 PM
Gracie said…
Paris would be pretty amazing! Even Germany would be really lovely. I don't mind Australia. I know there are many many problems but it's soo much better off than a lot of other countries. I feel so blessed to live here.
October 25, 2010 at 9:49 PM
k said…
you should move then!
i like how in switzerland the people definitely rule - every little thing is put to a vote of the people and everyone takes it so seriously. no need for riots, this seriously has to be one of the most efficient countries i've ever lived in. (ok...out of the total 2:))
October 25, 2010 at 10:55 PM
becky said…
It pleases me that when speculating on another country in which to live, you are one of the few other people I meet who not only consider its aesthetic beauty (and my, France IS beautiful) but that you are also someone who considers, perhaps more importantly, its deeper politics. Whilst I am understanding of why Sarkozy is defending his decision AND why people are rioting, I do agree; they are a commendable country for standing up for their rights. And so they should. In England people do tend to speak out but it is rarely listened to. Massive protests preceded the Iraq war - and really, they were massive - but it wasn't properly acknowledged. Next week or so there is to be a protest about university tuition fees and this IS something the government are at least listening to. I guess every country has its political victories and its political failings but I can think of few better reasons for emigrating than for its politics.
October 26, 2010 at 2:37 AM
Joyti said…
Your posts reminds me about reading about the protests of 1968 in Paris...how the students brought the city to a standstill.
I really, really love the thought of France - the culture! the history! - but the stories of the stereotyping of Arabs - first hand stories of prejudice - frighten me also.
October 26, 2010 at 5:57 AM
Alison Gibson said…
I love thinking about different countries that I want to live in. Vietnam and Spain are at the top at the moment, though London and New York are pretty high up there as well.

Everyone jokes about how France has strikes over anything, and while I think you're right that it is an important way to show solidarity and conscientiousness, sometimes I also think it would be best reserved for the super important problems. I mean, raising the retirement age to 67 is pretty necessary with an aging population, and seems on a whole different level to something like banning the niqab.

Loving the blog btw :)
October 28, 2010 at 9:58 AM
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