How to become a Frenchman: Part One

How to Become a Frenchman:  Part One

Tomorrow is a fateful day as we are going to Angers, the capital of our 'department' to submit our forms for becoming French!

I shall be writing a detailed blog of our experiences, available HERE but I shall be posting a few short notes to Facebook about our progress.

So far, we have around a dozen different birth certificates, marriage certificates, and certificates of divorce as well as details of what granny used to do in her spare time. Every document has to be translated into French by a 'certified' translator, someone who can charge around 50 euros for translating a simple document consisting of around 50 words. This is called "création d'emplois" in French and gives work to translators who would otherwise have to pick grapes for a living.

The application form is extremely long and complicated, and while Sally will have to sit some test to prove she understands French, being a geriatric of retirement age, I am saved from this ordeal.  Presumably as I am likely to die very soon,  I don't need to know French too well and can continue to talk very loudly in English to those who do not understand me.  Post Brexit, this may not be an acceptable strategy,  but we shall see.