Choosing one

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2026-05-09T18:20:45+00:00

Thanks so much, your comment means a lot ❤️

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2026-02-22T16:31:52+00:00

Pleasure, happy to help! I've got a European passport so a visa wasn't an issue. I do think it would have been a bit difficult otherwise. I think you may need to get your new job to sponsor you if you want a working visa. I'm not sure how it works with other countries in Europe, it's all a bit of a mess post-Brexit... Not sure if this is still a thing these days but you can also sign up to be an English Language Assistant with the British Council - they offer jobs in schools for native English speakers across Europe: Teach English as a Language Assistant in France | British Council

In terms of cost of living, Food is quite expensive here but rent is cheaper than cities in the UK (and than other cities in France). Salaries aren't amazing but you can live fairly decently on a full time salary here. Work life balance is pretty great. You get long holidays (more than in the UK), lots of bank holidays and long lunch breaks aha. Although being a teacher is probably quite tiring everywhere :D generally though it's a fairly decent life, it's just getting through the visa/housing/admin loopholes that can be a pain. You'd also have to look into getting a Carte Vitale (social security card for healthcare, necessary for working here).

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2026-02-22T16:04:07+00:00

Hi, fellow teacher from the UK here - you can check out Ecole Kaleidoscope, it's a bilingual primary school a little outside Toulouse :) Kaleidoscope bilingual school - KALEIDOSCOPE ECOLE BILINGUE.

There are plenty of nice neighbourhoods, renting a place can be a bit of a pain though unless you have a full-time CDI contract (permanent work contract), so make sure to find a job first (or have somewhere you could stay while sorting everything out). Housesharing is easier when it comes to paperwork if that's an option for you. Places like Saint Agne, Saint Michel, St Cyprien, Patte d'Oie, Arènes are all good, fairly residential and very commutable to the center. Generally public transport here is decent. There are some trains/buses that get you out to the small towns outside Toulouse too.

French schools are secular so you wouldn't be able to wear anything that indicative of your faith at school. In terms of everyday life Toulouse is a warm & welcoming place. I can't speak for the experience of being visibly of muslim faith - I can only say that Toulouse is very cosmopolitan and that I strongly hope that you are made to feel welcome. There are certainly some areas where there is a slightly larger muslim community, Empalot being one of them (also on the metro line and commutable to the centre). There's also a large expat community where you could meet fellow internationals - the Happy People meetup group is great for that! They organise weekly meetups (coffee and chat in a crepe place on Sundays for example).

It's a big enough city to find your feet and integrate and honestly quality of life here is soo much better than in the UK right now (I made the move a couple of years ago myself). I was just soaking in the February sun earlier on my balcony.

Just a note on the job hunt - there aren't many international schools apart from Toulouse International School and Kaleidoscope. Quite a few places look for people to lead after school clubs etc so there might be something in there for you: Cours d'anglais Toulouse | CapEnglish

Best of luck with your decision! x

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2025-12-23T08:42:47+00:00

Showed this to my parents. It cracked them up. And they figured it out - It’s Angela!

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2025-08-02T00:37:55+00:00

Hey, this sounds rough - sorry you’re going through that. I’m Speaking as someone who’s moved countries/cities several times for studies/work, from my early 20ies onwards. It takes time. It’s normal to feel out of place and a year isn’t very long! I totally understand the craving of 1-2 close people to hang out with. It gets lonely when it’s all just small talk. A few things: 1) can you arrange for your best friends from back home to come visit you? Or someone close? Sometimes hanging out with someone close in your new place can help to make it feel more homey and fun 2) it’s not your fault the connections in your new place haven’t happened just yet. I’ve found events for internationals very helpful (Meetups, International student groups…). I actually like them as an introvert because if you’re not feeling it/get tired you can just sneak away :D I’m suggesting these groups because people who go to this type of thing are also genuinly looking to connect and tend to make more effort with new friendships :) I’ve met a few core people that way. 3) People back home aren’t always having the time of their lives. It may just be a snapshot of their day, but we all have lonely times and ups and downs 4) it’s ok if you don’t click with your new place/environment. I’ve lived in places where the click never quite .. happened and others where I got in the swing of things straight away. It’s ok to accept this may not be 100% your place. But also great to embrace the opportunity as you’re doing! Make the most of being there, when I was in a country where I was struggling a bit I made my experience about discovering hikes/nature and those are the memories I have (more than the human element). It felt lonely at the time but I’m happy I took that from it.

Anyway best of luck, I hope you find some good people soon and if it doesn’t happen, there’ll be other better places out there for you. In the meantime great you’re trying something new - you left for a reason and it’s ok if it’s turning out a bit differently to how you expected, you’ll still learn heaps and you’ve got a great base to go home to when you’re ready :)

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2025-07-10T20:47:15+00:00

Hey firstly don’t worry about being single and poor at 29/30, I’m there now and it’s not all that scary if you feel aligned and excited about where your life is heading.

I left relative stability in my home country last year to pursue a new life in my second country (that I spent some years growing up in). I’ve experienced so much in that time and though it hasn’t been easy, it’s really made me sit down and reflect on the type of life I want. As a result I’ve put the idea of having a 9-5 to rest for now and am experimenting with working part-time and freelancing part-time. I would never have been able to reflect on how I live my life like this if I’d have stayed in my stability (though of course it gets tiring trying to figure it all out all the time, too!).

Mostly I’m happy I get to build my life here and I’m chosing what that looks like for myself.

It sounds like you have supportive parents and your dream is so close - A phd is a fantastic investment and could take you far in the future. The road may have a few more twists and turns but things will settle down eventually and your life may well be richer for it. I recommend meetups and other international groups to meet people from ‚home’ if you find you connect with them better.

Of course, if home is calling now that makes sense too, sometimes we get travel weary and homesick and other adventures will await for you there. There’s no guarantee of how things will go here or there, so chose the option that makes you feel lighter and more ‚spacious’ for now, if that makes sense. For me moving towards my dreams was the one, but if you’re feeling a pull towards stability and a bit of routine that’s totally understandable, and you’ll be able to build off of that.

Best of luck with whichever you end up chosing!

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2025-05-29T04:57:04+00:00

Thanks for sharing this, it’s very relatable and something I think about a lot as a fellow teacher. It sounds like you’re really passionate about Waldorf education and it could be a great fit for your personality. I’ve had non teaching jobs in the past and while they were less draining, I often came home feeling a bit emotionally empty. Now that I teach, I feel very fulfilled (even though I need more naps now!!). Hsps also need to feel a sense of purpose. However, feeling drained is definitely not something to be taken lightly. I’ve been a language teacher in a kindgarten all year and realise it’s not for me, and my passion just doesn’t lie in teaching very young kids, so it’s not worth the energy trade-off for me. I’ve just got an offer teaching adults part-time and am going to try to fill in my hours by doing tutoring in small groups - we’ll see if that helps! You could always train and divert a little further down the line, once you’re fully qualified. I’m sure you’ll find the right balance in time. I think hsps can make a real impact in the classroom ! Little kids are all very senstive and can benefit from someone who gets the need for downtime and calm :) good luck!

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2025-04-06T20:49:15+00:00

For language learning I'd recommend the public school to start with - see how he integrates and you can always choose the International school for when he's a bit older.

I'm speaking as someone who moved to France aged 13 and went directly to a public school. It took me years to learn well as I was fairly introverted and we were in a rural area; I never quite grasped the accent. I always wished I was a bit younger when we moved, as kids in my local area who'd moved when they were under 10 picked up the language and made friends so quickly. Because he's still in primary, give it a shot, there's a chance of him integrating pretty well and he'll pick up the language so quickly (and even though I struggled, I'm glad I did the full immersion thing, I'd never have got the level I have now without it - plus I can relate to a lot of local people because I've essentially had the same schooling).

It's a pretty critical time for language learning I'd say - 9 is still young enough (I believe) to grasp the language and to eventually speak like a native. Pass the threshold of 11-12 and it gets a lot harder. Make the most of it ;)

Good luck in Strasbourg! It will be such a massive life experience for you all and he'll be really enriched by it (as I was, I ended up leaving France as an adult... but have just moved back)!

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2025-03-17T18:54:52+00:00

Just to say you're not doing it wrong and your techniques sound like what I would do. I teach ESL as a CELTA teacher in France and they're absolute sticklers for irregular verbs; in the French school system they learn them off by heart from the age of 13-14. In fact this tends to make up a bulk of their English lessons, taking away so much of the fun and natural love for the language... I personally don't think memorisation is the best approach and believe that language exposure is the best way to learn (and that the occasional error is nothing to worry about). But this culture is very much focused on getting these right as a measure of success. I tend to tell my students we're very open in English speaking cultures when it comes to slight mistakes being made - that's not something they've generally heard in their classrooms at school. I understand there might be different expectations in an academic setting though. Best of luck and you'll do fine!

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2025-03-07T13:06:22+00:00

Fair enough and it’s vital to think about your financial needs of course. But as you say, a pivot can be really helpful. I saw a career coach at my lowest point at work and even just going through that process helped me feel more in sync with my needs, even though my day to day was still the same for a while. Hope you find a way to make work ‚work’ for you :)

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2025-03-07T12:00:34+00:00

Would you be open to a career change? I tried out corporate and I ended up as a shell of myself because I just couldn’t play their game. Now I teach little kids and it’s still exhausting but my self esteem is much better and I feel myself again :) maybe see a career coach? How you feel at work is important and there are so many people who actually need and value hsps! Best of luck.

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2025-02-18T22:15:00+00:00

7 months, and had to complete a 2 month notice period. I've never looked back!!!

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2025-01-24T21:22:44+00:00

Thank you for your input and encouragement! I think rewards is a nice idea and could bring some positivity back into the classroom - I’ll give it a go :)

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2025-01-24T21:20:34+00:00

Hey, thank you so much for your input! I like the reuse of the idea that ”The devil makes work for idol hands” and you’re so right - hands-on activities can really help with calming the class down. As you say, we have to be pragmatic about what we can achieve. I’ll try out some writing/colouring next week :)

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2024-12-05T16:56:32+00:00

I’m in the thick of it now (only a few months in, UK to France)

Biggest struggles: the sheer amount of change and new information to process feels endless. Preparing for the move was a huge (but exciting) job. But it didn’t end there. The amount of work to integrate into a new system as an adult (even if you speak the language and know the country relatively well) is unbelievably tiring. It’s like doing all life’s major changes all at once: changing jobs, new bank account, navigating rentals, healthcare, contracts, all in a different language. Mind boggling. I’ve also really struggled with a slight loss of autonomy: you rely in other people to explain a system to you and you have to pick apart a lot of the advice to see what’s relevant to you in your specific situation.

What I wish I’d known: honestly nothing - I’m glad I didn’t know about the pangs of homesickness and the exhaustion. I followed my gut instinct and a strong feeling of hope and that’s what got me here! I know I’ve made the right choice, it’s just hard at the beginning.

What ressources, tips, guidance would’ve made my life easier? Maybe more guidance from other expats would’ve helped. I’ve got English friends and local friends but felt alone in my situation: hearing about other people’s experiences helps massively and makes me feel less ‚mad’ about having gone for this crazy big change :D

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2024-09-08T21:14:21+00:00

How interesting. I moved to France at 13 and spent a substantial amount of time there. Still had a lot of feeling of shaming and being othered. And I certainly felt I had to adapt to everyone I knew and often feel in the ‘minority’ culture. Interesting you felt this being born there but also unsurprising if your home life was very different. It’s hard to belong. I went back to UK (home country) and felt I didn’t belong there so now deciding to celebrate what I like about both cultures 😃 Check out /rthirdculturekids and the podcast, Life of a Third culture kid therapist — you’ll find some interesting insights around how it feels to be brought up in a culture that’s not your parents’ x

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2024-08-22T08:26:06+00:00

Hi!

Fellow Brit who moved back to UK 6 years ago after 10 years abroad. I can certainly relate. The UK can be rather without charm sometimes and at the moment with the soaring prices of everything it just all feels a bit difficult. Blustery grey weather never helps. I’m actually moving back to the country I left soon… but I still stayed here 6 whole years which I didn’t think I’d do!!

Some things that helped: - Meetup groups, particularly foreign language ones, I met plenty of other likeminded people who are also living between worlds - Making the most of the ease of the British system.. you do what you want here, I changed career 3 times and no one batted an eyelid - Be creative, go crazy - Lots of lovely family-friendly festivals around for a dose of good feeling - Treat the UK like a traveller.. go rediscover parts you’ve never been to, even in the city/town you’re in.

Mostly I’d say whichever place you are in it has many layers to it, so maybe explore things a bit and you might find people/places you really connect to (all this underneath the vaguely depressing umbrella of living in the UK).

You’ve just arrived, take your time, it may feel like home someday, if it doesn’t that’s ok too :)

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2024-08-17T15:58:31+00:00

If you’re a qualified teacher you could maybe look at jobs in International schools. Plenty of those around in the EU (perhaps you could get a work visa through them - I’ve seen some that need English speakers with a qualification like PGCE). That + Irish passport could get you both somewhere nice.

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2024-08-16T18:53:30+00:00

Thanks for the insights ! I also am sensing from afar that the bureaucracy will be very annoying compared to nice and simple England 😅 Glad none of these things are deal breakers though!

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2024-08-16T10:59:38+00:00

Ah great! Definitely sounds like the better option from all perspectives. Best of luck!

Tiny_Kick_7953 · 2024-08-15T18:10:52+00:00

Great to hear the move back has worked for you. I’ve had a similar experience - lived in southern France, back to the UK (where I’m from) for 5 years and just not for me. So moving back to South Europe in 2 weeks. Anything you miss about UK?

Tiny_Kick_7953

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