Besides these two reasons of Religious tolerance and Warfare, the reasons for immigrating then and now have similar patterns. So we can look at them as a part of present times.<\/p>\n
And then the walk\u2026<\/h2>\n
There is always a push or a pull that can instigate a change.\u00a0 The push could be a need to survive and the pull could be an attraction to a new life.<\/p>\n
Money Talk<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Take Monsieur Smith for instance. He moved from Paris to Boston, MA a few years ago and apart from the baguette which he says was and still is better in France, he loves the life here. Coming from a small French family with financial issues, he moved to the US to make a living. After a few years of hard work, he has earned for himself and his family a good life, close to the river, in a quiet neighborhood of Boston.<\/p>\n People come to America in search of better employment opportunities and more money. Many French people have a dream and want a fertile land to grow this seed and so head to the American lands.<\/p>\n Besides land and business, job opportunities are more abundant in the US. Life here in the US, is economical; you can live a reasonably good life even with a small income.<\/p>\n Freedom<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Freedom isn\u2019t a given and only those who don\u2019t have it, know its value. For many French people, the US represents a better way of life and more opportunities. Chef in New York, Jean-Claude says, \u201cI may never go back to France. For me this is where the heart is. There are no 35-hour working weeks; no restrictions and the people are much more friendly<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n A consultant, Fabian in FL says, \u201cWhat I have done here I couldn\u2019t have done in France. When I arrived, I taught French to business people, which I couldn\u2019t have done in France without qualifications.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Cultural blend<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n USA is a country made of people from many cultures and traditions making assimilation and acculturation easy. People in America are welcoming and open minded, so even as a tourist with a different language, it is easy to fit in. When people around are encouraging and optimistic about the future, a drastic change in location and country can be handled better.<\/p>\n For instance take Mathilda from Marseilles, who moved to the US 2 years ago to start fresh in life. She found it easy to adjust to the new change of country since people here are really enthusiastic\u2026about everything. She says, \u201cA cute dog in the streets, a baby in a stroller, or anything that happens to anybody becomes \u2018amazing\u2019 or \u2018awesome\u2019. Sometimes, it may be unnecessary and even pretentious, but it is a relief. It makes things easier on a day-to-day basis.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Pick up and move<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s say French national Pierre is a software engineer who has great skills and who can get a work permit for these skills. Imagine having no legal hurdles whatsoever and a chance to explore new opportunities. He can just \u201cpick his things up and move<\/em>\u201d. His choice of USA is easy \u2013 the ease of immigration without having to learn a new language, immigration laws supporting sponsorship of family, salary options, French widely spoken in many states, no right wing left wing politics affecting common man, equal opportunities and a promise of a new life.<\/p>\n The reasons can be piled further on, each attractive in their own way – a frog shown light outside his pond will make the leap. Like you will hear many expats say, \u201cJust try it!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n For those expats in the US with any lingering nostalgia, there is always one French brand or another lining up the shelves, a friendly face somewhere, a man in a beret enjoying a cup of coffee in a local caf\u00e9 (yes, berets are becoming fashionable in many places)\u2026and us, the French District!<\/p>\n \u201cThe real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes\u201d said Marcel Proust.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\nLike this?<\/h2>\n
![\"click](\"https:\/\/frenchdistrict.com\/new-york-english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2018\/01\/popup-52.png\")
<\/p>\n