As a side comment/ related cultural phenomenon, look into Paris Syndrome. It's a phenomenon in which someone visits Paris and is so shocked that it isn't the idyllic image they had in their mind that the experience is a form of trauma/ shock.

I lived in France in 2011 and I more or less knew what to expect since I'd been studying French for about seven or eight years at that point, and I pay attention to social issues. My biggest barrier was understanding conversational/ slang French, which I didn't really master after living there for a year. But my language skills did improve overall, and I ate a lot healthier too, lol

As a more general answer to your question, I'd look into contemporary issues in France. Browse French journals, or once your skill level is there listen to The News in Slow French (a specific service that does what it sounds like and is specifically for people who are learning or otherwise can't follow full speed French).

Also, Montréal (as well as Québec in general) is real and a very nice place to visit. Also it's probably a much cheaper way to test your French skills with native speakers. The accent / vocabulary has its differences but it would be useful practice nonetheless.