Not very well known by tourists, there is a magical place in the heart of Provence in the South of France, next to the little village of Malaucene.
Today I take you for a walk with me into the cold water of the river so that you can enjoy a time of awe in nature.
There is both magic and empowerment in traveling alone my friend my sister.
If you are in the South of France, I highly recommend paying a visit to the village Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
Welcome to a city as big as Paris plus its suburbs and in a country where women were granted the right to vote in 1930 (1944 in France) or my mesmerizing travel to the magical city of Istanbul in Turkey.
If I say Syria do you think about war?
One conversation about language opened my mind to the beauty of the world.
Thanks to travel and meeting new people.
One member of our beautiful community asked me why I decided to go and live in Tunisia, Africa.
First I love this country for a reason which is difficult to explain. I feel like the spirit of this country is running through my veins. I feel like I am 9 years old again when I am in Tunisia. The air feels familiar. The magnificent ever-present sun, the softness of the weather, the beautiful blue sky together create a magical bubble. I feel I live in paradise. I feel like I can really fulfill my mission in Tunisia. Had I stayed in Paris, I would have gotten very ill.
Second, I wanted to go and live in Portugal because it was in the European Union. However I could not find schools where classes were taught in French for my kids. On the contrary, it is easy to find French schools in Tunisia.
When you arrive in Tunisia, you have 3 months to apply for a visa or residency card.
You need to bring:
Moreover, you will be asked some questions, to make sure you are trustworthy and serious in your application.
If you live in France and move to another country for longer than just a vacation, here are my 10 tips to help you (with templates in French language):
1. If you rent a flat, inform your landlord that you move soon by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt at leat one month beforehand, this may vary so the notice period shall be checked on your renting contract – please find herewith a Lettre de résiliation bail appartement 2018,
2. If you are a mother, terminate the school insurance contract on the grounds that you move soon, by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, at leat one month beforehand (contact your insurance company to check the notice period),
3. Terminate the home insurance contract by sending the exit inventory to your insurance company on the last day of the tenancy by email asking them to terminate the home insurance contract because you just left the flat (once you arrived in your new place, check they received it properly as you should receive a “lettre de résiliation” from them),
4. If you keep generating income from France, fill in form N°2042-NR, which completes your tax declaration if you move abroad or before you come back to France during the year, as soon as income from France has been generated after the move abroad or before the come back to France,
5. Moreover, French tax authorities need to be made aware of the bank account you opened abroad,
6. As regard to your internet box, this is the example of what shall be done for SFR (according to your provider, the formalities may vary: in any case, check with your internet provider how to terminate your contract): send a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt within two months before the move at “Service de résiliation SFR, TSA 30103, 69947 LYON cedex 20 with a documentary proof of your move for a duration over a year to avoid paying fees of 49 euros then print the labels SFR will send you and bring your box and cables to a post office to send it back to SFR (I provided my renting contract in Tunisia, which has a duration of a year, as a proof) – please find herewith a template of Lettre de résiliation box SFR 2018,
7. For your mobile phone, this is the example of what shall be done for SFR (according to your provider, the formalities may vary: in any case, check with your mobile phone provider how to terminate the contract): send a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt at “Service de résiliation SFR, TSA 30103, 69947 LYON cedex 20” at least 10 days beforehand with the reason for terminating the contract – please find herewith a template “Lettre de résiliation portable SFR 2018“,
8. If your mobile phone is working with Bouygues télécom, all you have to do is phone 614 at least 10 days before the move (fees are 6 euros) or online (free),
9. As regard to the electricity provider if you use EDF, phone EDF on the day of your move at 09 69 32 15 15 giving the meter reading (peak and off-peak hours, if applicable), then ask them to terminate the contract indicating an address in France so they can send you the last invoice, such address can be a friend’s,
10. Lastly as regard to social security services, inform them of your new address online on their website (ameli.fr).
One last tip outside formalities is vacuum bags. They were so handy for duvets and clothes. I managed to move from France to Tunisia with only one suitcase thanks to them.
I discovered the air box after battling for 3 weeks to install a telephone line and ADSL in my new home.
Had I known it existed beforehand, I would have bought this nice little wifi box on the first day, not to keep it for ever, but to wait with peace of mind while my internet connection was being set up.
Having the internet when traveling abroad is not only very enjoyable to keep close to our heart people we love (like skyping with my child), but it is also a must-have when working from home and setting up our life around the internet.
Advice from a sister: open a bank account where you plan to live several months before actually moving there by travelling to that place a few months before the official move.
I am in Tunisia at last! In my new home! I am on cloud 9 and deeply thankful to this country for welcoming me and my family.
