snaphappyalex

Right, I can understand if people are going to want to shoot me down in flames here, But here goes.
I'm Alexander Wilson, 19 years old, And what can I say. Britain has failed me ever so much.
My family have abandoned me (A few years back), My friends have abandoned me.
I've recently lost my job and where I live in britain is an overpopulated town where unemployment rates are through the roof. The rest of britain is following suit.
But enough of the Sob story as I could be here for days , I'm basically looking at restarting life in France
My original plan is to (And I know this sounds a little... unorthodox) Save up a little money, sort my passport out, gather enough money to last me a short while, and try it out over there.

But i have a few questions to ask.

Seeing as I will be leaving with no accomodation set up, Are there any form of Hostels or cheap accomodation? I'm not after a 5 star hotel and I've had to rough it in the streets before, so I'll accept anything =)

Secondly, What would I need to look for work over there? A friend of mine mentioned that there are a lot of "Off the books" labouring jobs over there I could use to get me started, But what would I need to work legitimately?

lastly, The only posession I have thats worth something to me is a 1988 moped I have been working on for several months. It's uk registered, But will not pass an MOT in its current state, Therefore, I cannot tax the vehicle. It's only the forks that are seized (Front suspension) other than that, it's right as rain. My license is a UK provisional, But it is to my understanding that you do not need a license in france for a 50cc moped. is that correct?

An answer to any of these would be excellent =) Thanks in advance for your help! Forgive me if I sound misguided.

dennerlymum

I am sorry to hear your life in the uk is so hard!
However life in France can be very challenging too: for instance do you speak french? If not life here is hard! There are millions of french people looking for work too, so not much work around. If you work on the black, how are you going to access healthcare? If you are no loner a uk resident you will not be entitled to use your E111, and if you are working oin the blcak you will not be contributing to the french system, so will not be entitled to any healthcare here either; this could prove expensive if you have an accident for example.
For a 50cc bike, I think you are correct, but I dont know the details; I am sure someone will be along who can.
I am sorry if this seems negative, but the grass is not always greener ont he other side; although with careful planning it might be!

snaphappyalex

Thanks for the advice there, I'm not expecting it to be easy, But it's a fresh start.
I dont mind learning french at all, I pick up other languages fairly easily (Thats what my old german teacher said)
See, This may be a deluded image, But I see france as a much more... Relaxed society. Not easy, But certainly more... how can I put it...
Well, Words cant really explain how I picture france in my mind, But I imagine the average citizen to be far more polite than the average britain nowadays. also, I also picture it as easier for someone like me to be taken on in a trade, i have qualifications, But in britain, You have to be extremely specific about your qualifications and also really well studied (I know a LOT but I just dont have it in paper, thus a large shortfall).
I just feel that it will also open me up to the world and help me appreciate what life is really about...
I cant really explain what's driving me, it's strange
All I do know, is it HAS to be better with a fresh start... I've got nothing to lose realistically.

snaphappyalex

Not only that, But I've always had a strange desire to explore my french roots

Ka Ora!

Welcome to the Forum SH-Alex, An interesting case how anyone at 19 can say England has failed them surprises me. I will start with the bike and your lack of Full License. To ride a 50cc now and I may stand to be corrected but you now take a CBT also in France before you are let loose on the roads. I dont know what you French ability is like but that CBT is going to be a bit harder if you don't speak French. The scooter although it wouldnt have a two yearly mot like the yearly one in the UK will be inspected for roadworthyness by Drire and with siezed forks it would fail also. All scooters here are being shifted to the licensing and number plate system as well.

There is off the books work like anywhere here its called black work, Doesn't typically pay well and its certainly not going to help your medical coverage. You would get two years from an e106 but you still need to have a top up insurance. To cover over the odds medical treatment.

Remember that the under 30 age group covers the highest percentage of unemployed people here. Shop managers here have very sought after diplomas and degrees unlike the UK which see the retail industry as pretty much unskilled, A bigger difference here is families are more prone to looking after their Kids if the don't find work and get married etc etc.

If your determined it could work, But I would look to saving quite a bit in the UK first.

Again Welcome to the Forum.. If you get any Problems speak to myself or one of the Other Forum Leaders Who will be happy to help.

snaphappyalex

The retail industry around here requires "Previous experience" of which i have none, But cant get any... I've attempted voluntary work... but that never goes anywhere... I just feel like whoever I speak to in britain, I get looked down upon due to my age and that fact that "I know nothing".
When i try to resolve money issues, everyone passes the book around and i know it's the same everywhere else, i just need a fresh start in life. It's not britain as a COUNTRY that's failed me... it's the minority. social life here for a teenager is backwards, just as it is everywhere else nowadays but i feel that this could be a big opportunity now that I have no major ties left here. I cant really justify my case, it's practically suicidal and i realise that.
But do you ever stop and get that gut feeling that it's right? Cause I'm sure getting that now, had it for weeks.

Ka Ora!

Always better to try and fail than never try, But one thing I know outright is that had I started in France at 19 after growing up in England I wouldn't be here now because England gave me some opportunities and helped me in ways that cant be had here.

Roger O

Hi snaphappyalex,
I'm 72 - and I did just what you're planning when I was 19 - except that it was Germany in 1959/60 - no Europe support, no common currency and schoolboy German - with 4 O-levels. I got a "job" selling encyclopaedias to the US forces in Germany (on the "black" and paid purely by results) and had a ball for nearly two years! I didn't find my real vocation till I was 33 because airline mainframe computers didn't exist in Europe till about then!! (I eventually became (self-taught through curiosity and application of logic!) an airline system functional analyst (specialising in inter-system notification processes) in Switzerland for 23 years, then the same in France for 9 years till I retired.

At 19 the world can be your oyster - if YOU MAKE IT SO!!
You'll also need some lucky breaks - which you can grab!! Just learn to recognise them.

On thursday I met, and had a 3 hour lunch with in Perpignan, an old friend (same age as I) whom I hadn't seen since 1961 - we got in touch because he recognised my avatar face on a forum - the same photo you see on the left of this post - coupled with my name Roger. He was like me selling books in Germany - but his main interest was music. He now lives on Lanzarote (Canary Islands) and edits a local magazine for expats.

At that time, back in 61, by chance - he happened to get with some German record distributors (one was Polydor) and he got into promoting Brit startups - of which, one happened to be Eric Clapton!

You never know what live will serve, but you can learn to turn many of those servings into positive experiences!

I say - go for your dream!
All the best,
Roger

PS Try the Côte d'Azur in summer - they're always looking (in Nice, Antibes-Juan-les-Pins, Golf Juan and Cannes) for summer season deckhands and helpers on the big private boats and as long as you can present youreself well, experience is not a must - just willingness to work.
Try phoning Geoffrey's in Antibes http://www.geoffreysoflondon.com/ as he supplies all the big private boats with British food. If Geoff can't give you a job himself, he may be able to pass on some links! Check out Riviera Radio http://www.rivieraradio.mc/home.asp which also advertises local jobs and is THE expat radio referance in the area.

At 19 you won't want to be stuck away in a rural community - you'll want to be where the action is - and that's on the "Côte"!I worked there 1994-2003 in the hi-tech park near Antibes so I know the place pretty well.

Our 19 year old daughter is the same - but in the other direction - she moved over to London Mile End 3 months ago and is discovering the big city life!! She easily got a half time job (while studying) at Pret a Manger with her 3 Languages, good looks and willingness to work.

snaphappyalex

Thanks Roger, The issue nowadays is everything has to be done by within a set of thin lines, otherwise you end up breaking one side of the law, And I just dont want to get there, And be fined a severe amount for something I wasnt prepared for by either my home country, or france. Or even worse, Be locked up.
I just dont know how to go about it. Finding accomodation will be my biggest issue first off, along with learning basic french.

Roger O

Why on earth should you be fined or locked up. You're European and you have the right to work in Europe - which is a lot more than I ever had! What I would do is, provided you've got a little cash, is to take a return lowcost flight to Nice for a week or two. Take a bus (or train) to Antibes, go to Geoff's place within walking distance of the train station at the harbour. Next door to Geoff's is a pub (and also nearby, others) where you'll see and hear mostly English and meet mostly people of your age and early 20's. Start chatting with them and you'll find your way! If you want, you can even pack a small tent and sleep on the beach, using the beach shower and toilets to wash, etc. You'll find company - no problems and French you don't need!
You will quite possibly find you don't need the return half of your "safety net".

It's up to you - if you want to go, then do it.
Anyway, that's my advice - the choice is, of course, yours!
Roger

snaphappyalex

Haha! Roger, You've struck a chord with me once again. I dont particularly have any cash at the moment, But I can earn a small saving up. I need to get my passport sorted first though I'll give what you said a go though provided I can get some money together.
Already have a brand new tent I never got around to using, so it definately sounds like a feasible idea! Thanks Roger!

G-J-B

If you're young and relatively carefree, go for it. I know people who had nothing, jumped countries at a young age and landed on their feet. At worst it would be a life experience, and better than looking back in later years with the regret of having never tried.

I remember the romanticism of youth, and projecting fantasties of how I wanted places and things to be; nothing wrong in being a dreamer, but do be braced for the possiblity that France is nothing how you imagine it, or perceive it through books/school/tv/internet etc. Some aspects of it will fulfil the side of the dreamer, and others will be a hard slap in the face.

Roger's advice is good. At least if you have to rough it for a while, better to do it somewhere where the climate's more agreeable.

dmu

Hi
http://www.aljt.com/
will give you an idea of hostels
http://www.pole-emploi.fr/accueil/
is where to register as a job-seeker when you have an address.
(If you "rough it", you'll be an SDF (sans domicile fixe = homeless) with no chance of a job and social security coverage).
Bring over enough money to last you 6 months (about 6000€).
Good luck!

le plumber

Its a tough one
At 19 we all think we're invincible, that we've pretty much seen it all and we know even more. This is not criticism, I'd say about 99% of all boys feel the same at that age - I certainly did. However when you're older you'll realise how young 19 really is.
I had the idea of setting up a bar in Spain - completely wacky idea when I think of it, but anyway, I packed a back pack and hitch hiked crossed France and Spain to Gibraltar. It took me about two weeks in all to get from the UK to Gibraltar, and when I arrived it took me about 6 hours to find a job!! I found a job on a yacht basically being the skivvy. Crap job, lots of hours but I was paid and was allowed to lodge on board. After 4 months the yacht was to leave to go to the Caribbean for the winter, so there I was without a job. I had saved quite a bit of money, as I was fed and watered by these people and since I was working all hours I didn't have the time to spend it anyway!
But I'd had enough and decided that the UK wasn't that bad after all and headed back and ended up joining the Army.
As I said it was hard work but I don't regret a minute of it. If you're determined enough you can do whatever you want if you put your mind to it.

Roger O

Have a look at this (scroll down).
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/lis...m/france.shtml
You will see yacht crew agencies in Antibes, among others!
Don't be put off by the word "experienced"! There are plenty of inexperienced youngsters who get jobs on yachts - as starters.

The Côte (Alpes Maritimes) is completely different from the domaine of Georges Frêche (Languedoc-Roussillon) which would compare with the Alpes Maritimes as a "depressed area" as far as work is concerned.

For example, my wife (much younger than I) who is very experienced in airline and airport jobs (trained by Swissair and Swissport) had no problem to find a job at Nice airport (and not via the local CCI Chambre de Commerce, either, but directly with the local airline implantations themselves!) while we were there, whereas getting an airport job at any of the lowcost dominated airports, anywhere in the LR region from Montpellier, through Béziers, Perpignan and Carcassonne, your only hope would be to be 'pistonné' (have strings pulled) by some good friend or relative in the local CCI). She tried for 4 1/2 years in Perpignan, but, being neither Catalan - she is bretonne - nor having any CCI "connection" finally ended up with a very nice job at Hotel de la Cité in Carcassonne - a **** deluxe Orient Express hotel which at least put her back in the high end service industry and is one of the reasons why we moved up here 3 years ago from near Perpignan!