Social life and friendships in France

On moving greet your neighbours with Bonjour when meeting them on the stairs, in the lift and the street, and introduce yourself with the sentence Bonjour, je suis votre nouveau voisin.

• You might post a small note at the entrance introducing yourself and apologising for moving noise.
• In buildings (copropriété) an annual assemblée générale of owners is held and a syndic manages the shared parts, and the règlement de copropriété sets rules on noise and waste.
• Quiet hours are usually after ten at night and on Sundays and holidays, and tapage nocturne, night noise fines, are widespread.
• Lower your voice and do not carry out disturbing works at these times.
• And the Fête des voisins is held on the last Friday of May (a group meeting with food), and it is a wonderful opportunity.
• And if a dispute occurs speak kindly then write a letter then the manager then a mediator (conciliateur de justice free).
• And exchange neighbours' numbers for emergencies.

The apéritif (apéro) is a fundamental social habit: a drink with light foods (cacahuètes, olives, saucisson, fromage and chips) at home or the café before dinner, and it is the easiest way to meet, and you may be invited à l'apéro for an hour.

• You can ask for a non-alcoholic drink (jus de fruits, limonade, thé and sirop) without embarrassment, and no one usually insists, and say Je ne bois pas d'alcool.
• The café is a social centre: people sit for hours reading and talking.
• Friends go out to a terrasse in good weather.
• And for young people there are bars, clubs, parties and nights out.
• Bills are split or taken in turns.
• And celebrating a soirée at a friend's invitation.
• And the French love exhibitions, cinema, theatre, museums, festivals and walking in nature (randonnée).
• And parks and public gardens and weekend outings are widespread.

Associations (associations loi 1901) are the backbone of social life: over a million associations in France for sport, culture, music, theatre, photography, crafts, cooking, reading, social aid, migrants and neighbourhoods.

• Registering is easy by paying a small annual subscription (10 to 100 euros), and a forum des associations is held in September in every city to show them all in one day, so go and register.
• Sport: football, tennis, swimming, judo, running, walking, cycling and gyms (salles de sport).
• And culture: music bands, choirs (chorales), theatre, dance and painting.
• And for Muslims there are mosques and cultural associations with social activities and for women and youth.
• And for students the BDE and associations.
• And libraries (médiathèques) organise cultural units and free workshops.
• Search via HelloAsso and the municipality's site and Meetup.
• And persistence builds friendships.

Volunteering is a deep-rooted culture and one of the best ways to integrate, learn the language, build relationships and improve the CV. Activities: food banks (Banque alimentaire, Restos du Cœur and Secours populaire) and social aid (Emmaüs, Croix-Rouge and Secours catholique) and French lessons for others and homework help and visiting the elderly (Petits frères des Pauvres) and environment, culture and sport.

• Search via francebenevolat.org, jeveuxaider.gouv.fr and the municipality's site.
• Not many hours are required, so you may volunteer two hours a week.
• And there is the service civique (civic service) for young people from 16 to 25 (30 for the disabled) for eight months with a monthly allowance (about 620 euros) and it includes foreigners resident legally.
• Volunteering is recorded in the Compte d'engagement citoyen (CEC) and gives you a credit for training.
• And you can learn French and offer your skills.
• Choose what you like and persist.

You may feel away and lonely in the first months, and that is natural.

• Building friendships in France needs initiative and repetition: propose a coffee or a walk, accept invitations, and repeat the meeting.
• Friendship is built slowly but is deep and loyal.
• An invitation to the home comes after trust, so consider it an honour and return it. Invite your neighbours and colleagues to tea or a meal from your cuisine, since the French like food and diversity.
• And keep in touch with your family and friends in your country.
• If you feel persistent sadness or anxiety do not hesitate to ask for help: speak to your doctor or the Maison des adolescents or the free Centre médico-psychologique (CMP), or call 3114 (suicide prevention around the clock) or SOS Amitié (09 72 39 40 50), or Fil santé jeunes (0 800 235 236), or the Psycom line.
• And the service Mon soutien psy gives sessions with a psychologist with reimbursement.
• And in emergencies 15 or 112.
• And remember that you are not alone.

What is the apéro?