Working and Living France Book

Introduction     5
Getting to Know France     7
Climate and Geography     8
Historical Overview     10
The French Language     22
Profiles of the Regions     25
Paris and the lle de France     26
Normandy     28
Brittany     30
The Loire Valley     31
The Atlantic Coast     32
The Southwest     33
Gascony, the Basque Lands and Pyrenees     36
The North     37
The Northeast     38
Burgundy     39
The Rhone Valley and the Auvergne     41
The Alps and the Jura     42
Provence and the Cote d'Azur     43
Languedoc-Roussillon     46
Corsica     47
France Today     65
Government and Major Political Parties     66
Religion     70
The Family and the Role of Women     71
Major Media     73
Economic Background and the EU     78
Internal Issues     81
Modern Culture and Art     87
Architecture     88
Philosophy     89
Music     90
Cinema     91
Theatre     92
Literature     94
Modern Visual Arts     95
French Cuisine     97
Eating Habits     98
Regional Specialities     99
Wine     103
First Steps     107
Why Work and Live in France?     108
Buying Property     110
Starting a Business or Self-Employment     110
Educating and Raising Children     111
Retirement     111
Getting to France     111
By Air     112
By Car     114
By Coach     114
By Train     115
By Boat     115
Read Tape     117
Visas, Permits and Other Paperwork     118
Visas     118
Residence Permits     120
Taxation     122
Are You Resident or Nonresident for Tax?     122
Taxes Payable in the UK     124
Paying Tax in France     124
Living in France     131
Learning French     132
Renting a Home     133
Buying a Home     135
Home Utilities      174
Telecommunications     179
Telephones     179
Mobile Phones     180
The Internet     181
Television and Satellite Service     183
Postal Services     183
Money and Banking     184
Shopping     186
Life in Cafes, Bistros and Culinary Notes     191
Transport     194
Public Transport     194
Private Transport: Cars     196
Crime and the Police     203
Taking your Pet     205
Health and Emergencies     207
Social Services and Welfare Benefits     210
Retirement and Pensions     213
Education     215
Sports     221
Working in France     225
Business Etiquette     226
The Labour Market     228
Job and Business Ideas     230
Being Employed     234
Job-hunting     235
Employment Contracts     240
Terms of Employment     241
Pensions and Retirement     245
Teaching English     245
'Freelancing' or Part-Time Work     247
Starting Your Own Business      248
Business Structures     249
Registration and Licensing     250
Volunteering     251
References     255
France at a Glance     256
Further Reading     257
Dictionary of Useful and Technical Terms     259
Internet Vocabulary     270
Public Holidays and Events     270
Regional Climate Chart     272
Departements     272
Useful Addresses     273
Index     276