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Post by cernunnos on Apr 9, 2023 19:21:12 GMT 1
Good discussion
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Post by ForumUser2 on Apr 9, 2023 19:25:49 GMT 1
Good discussion It is. It was a good original question and I think the resulting posts show that there as many reasons for applying for French nationality as there are people doing it! And, imo, all those reasons are equally valid.
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Post by houpla on Apr 9, 2023 20:14:17 GMT 1
Just as an aside, an observation, the presentation ceremony was a real eye-opener. You could spot the Brits from afar...we were the ones togged out as though for a Buckingham palace garden party, suits, ties, posh dresses and hats (and that was just the chaps ). Also in many cases discreetly dabbing at our eyes with a tissue. The Portugese, Russians, Spaniards, South Americans et al were smart casual. The erstwhile colonists (mostly under 60) slouched in in torn jeans, battered trainers, tattered T shirts, unshaven and frankly, surly. Before anyone jumps on me with cries of 'racist' and 'the Brits can afford posh clothes', it doesn't cost much to shave, does it? Even less to be polite and pleasant?
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Post by omegal on Apr 9, 2023 20:52:06 GMT 1
That is exactly why I wouldn't do it, I'm English in my head and heart and that will never change. Getting another passport doesn't change you. Thinking you are English because it says so "in the records" is very naive.
Wouldn't becoming a French citizen and having a French passport be the same as also being naive in so much you are actually English/British o whatever and only a French citizen in name only? I have absolutely nothing against anyone going for French nationality but no one has ever convinced me that you will feel more of an affinity with the French. I live in a commune of around 170 people spread around the area, they wouldn't have a scooby if I had changed to being a citizen, or was still the English chap in the commune. I get on well with the locals, very well with my direct neighbours and having citizenship would not make one iota of difference. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose........... and all that.
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Post by norfolk on Apr 9, 2023 21:38:59 GMT 1
Weird I know but I feel moreFrench since Brexit, I therefore feel less British.
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Post by pcpa on Apr 9, 2023 21:51:20 GMT 1
As & when I get citizenship I doubt anyone will get to know about it, certainly not the French, I don't want it because I feel I have anythibg to prove, its because of how I feel about myself and the country I have chosen which has been very very good to me especially in the last " years.
My closest neighbours are mainly immigrants, I have no idea if they have taken French nationality but I guess their children will be.
There is a Muslim Marocaine family, an Afro-Caribbean family or so i think, he played basketball for France, a Spanish Marocain and next door French born Foraines.
I had hoped for some sense of community but bought blind as regards the neighbours, I just had a good feeling, because the previous owenrs for 50 years were such neighbours from hell I was welcomed with open arms, anyone would have been an improvement.
The basketball player is fitting new gates and automation, I chatted with him and offered my help for the welding and enduit spraying, he was trowelling on the gobetis coat of render, later on I saw 2 other neighbours helping him and one clearly was a wizard with the trowles, later on the man mountain basketball player helped me swing around a laden trailer that was beyond me.
I reflecetd that the community here is like the one I joined in Sussex in my first house nearly 40 years ago, trades people who helped each other out, something which I sorely missed with the later generations that moved in and something I really did not think existed any more, I could not be more pleased.
What I will get out of French nationality is the opportunity to make a Fracisation of my given and family name, it will still be pretty much the same and recognisable as such but for the first time in 20 years I will be able to give my name and the people will know how to spell it correctly, when I spell my English name (a very simple one and a noun they would all learn at school) it out letter by letter they always get it wrong, that will be a thing of the past thanks to Johnny Hallyday!
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Post by omegal on Apr 9, 2023 21:58:44 GMT 1
Weird I know but I feel moreFrench since Brexit, I therefore feel less British. I admit that not so much feeling more French, it's been our home for many years but since Brexit definitely feel more European.
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Post by pcpa on Apr 9, 2023 21:59:19 GMT 1
The erstwhile colonists (mostly under 60) slouched in in torn jeans, battered trainers, tattered T shirts, unshaven and frankly, surly. As you had said the Brits were dressed very posh what nationality would the erstwhile colonists be? A lot of men do not close shave but leave a few days growth of designer stubble, not something that looks good on me but it doesn't bother me on others. Or was it the women who were unshaven? (laughing smily, they are too small for me to use at present)
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Post by tim17 on Apr 10, 2023 7:17:28 GMT 1
Tim's entitled to have his cake and eat it That is an accurate description of how we've lived our lives here. Most of the French people we've met over the last 20 years enjoy the fact that they are mixing with an English family with their weird food and drink (think Yorkshire pud and Ginger wine) and I doubt getting French citizenship would have made people any more welcoming.
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Post by houpla on Apr 10, 2023 8:15:39 GMT 1
Tim's entitled to have his cake and eat it That is an accurate description of how we've lived our lives here. Most of the French people we've met over the last 20 years enjoy the fact that they are mixing with an English family with their weird food and drink (think Yorkshire pud and Ginger wine) and I doubt getting French citizenship would have made people any more welcoming. That was also the case way back in 2003. It was very fashionable to have Brit friends To a lesser extent it still is amongst some educated French. But I think it's noticeable the effect that Brexit has had generally in reviving the historic dislike of Brits and Britain. I don't suppose it ever went away, either in UK or France, but Brexit was the perfect excuse for certain sections in both countries to air their prejudices.
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Post by norfolk on Apr 10, 2023 8:21:13 GMT 1
That is an accurate description of how we've lived our lives here. Most of the French people we've met over the last 20 years enjoy the fact that they are mixing with an English family with their weird food and drink (think Yorkshire pud and Ginger wine) and I doubt getting French citizenship would have made people any more welcoming. That was also the case way back in 2003. It was very fashionable to have Brit friends To a lesser extent it still is amongst some educated French. But I think it's noticeable the effect that Brexit has had generally in reviving the historic dislike of Brits and Britain. I don't suppose it ever went away, either in UK or France, but Brexit was the perfect excuse for certain sections in both countries to air their prejudices. I’ve been living in France full time or part time for over fifty years including half that time with French families and I haven’t detected much ‘historic dislike’ of the British, on the contrary. The vast majority of French I’ve either lived with or close to have been the opposite.
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Post by houpla on Apr 10, 2023 8:33:07 GMT 1
The erstwhile colonists (mostly under 60) slouched in in torn jeans, battered trainers, tattered T shirts, unshaven and frankly, surly. As you had said the Brits were dressed very posh what nationality would the erstwhile colonists be? A lot of men do not close shave but leave a few days growth of designer stubble, not something that looks good on me but it doesn't bother me on others. Or was it the women who were unshaven? (laughing smily, they are too small for me to use at present) Stop being disingeneous I'll spell it out, if you insist and you're shaky on French colonial history, but don't blame me if the thread degenerates into the usual race histrionics North Africans, Maghrébins, arabs, I've no idea what Marocains, Tunisiens and Algeriens prefer to be called collectively. If I knew, I'd be delighted to use the acceptable word. I do know the difference between deliberate neglect and designer stubble, though. So did the Préfecte. However, back to my original point, which was the importance that the event held/holds for the Brits who succeed in their applications. No doubt the obstacles carefully placed along the route contribute to the sense of achievement and even emotion The process put me in mind of a mix of doing 'O' levels, taking my driving test, my first job interview and getting married
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Post by houpla on Apr 10, 2023 8:38:11 GMT 1
That was also the case way back in 2003. It was very fashionable to have Brit friends To a lesser extent it still is amongst some educated French. But I think it's noticeable the effect that Brexit has had generally in reviving the historic dislike of Brits and Britain. I don't suppose it ever went away, either in UK or France, but Brexit was the perfect excuse for certain sections in both countries to air their prejudices. I’ve been living in France full time or part time for over fifty years including half that time with French families and I haven’t detected much ‘historic dislike’ of the British, on the contrary. The vast majority of French I’ve either lived with or close to have been the opposite. I quite agree and that has been my experience too. But just as in UK there's a hardcore of the population who dislike France and the French on principle (without ever having been here or met a French person) the same goes for a section of the UK population. I've still got friends in UK who feel that way. It doesn't stop them coming over for a free holiday, mind you
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Post by monsieur3seas on Apr 10, 2023 9:01:54 GMT 1
The question you must ask if you get a french passport is who will you support when France plays England, or what ever country you come from. I will always support England - just have to!
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Aardvark
Non-gamer
Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
Posts: 2,172
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Post by Aardvark on Apr 10, 2023 9:43:35 GMT 1
I would be equally indifferent, such is my interest in sports.
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