From East Germany to France

Who are you and where are you from? 

I am Anne from East Germany. DH is from Japan.

Where do you live now?

France .

Do you live with your family? 

I live with DH and DS.

How old are you?

Me 34, DH 38, DS almost 5.

Share your reason for leaving your country.

I didn’t want to live in East Germany.

I wanted to live abroad.

I was a francophile.

I wanted to start a new life far from my family of origin I didn’t get on well with.

Were the adjustments difficult? 

The first year and a half were the hardest of my life.

What was the immigration process like (visas, work permits, residency, etc.)? 

DH got the 10 years permit because he married a EU-member. 

Are you working?

No, I’m a SAHM.

What are the pros and cons of living in your new country? 

Only pros: I love living in France, it’s the most beautiful country of the world for me.

Do you miss 'home'? 

I go home maybe every 2 years or so (it’s really far and expensive to go there and not much space at my parents’), but I do visit Germany more often for a couple of days. Every couple of years I miss home somehow although I don’t want to return there.

Any advice to share?

If any, get only one child! ;-)