Im leaving USA, which is better London or France?

[::A'La Mode::]

Im leaning toward London because I dont have to learn another language But I hear that in France a college education is free, which will benefit my children immensely. What are your thoughts? Open to other countries as well..
I dont have kids yet so whatever country I decide on, they will be born citizens.
im aware that London is a city and France is a country. thanks.

[the demoiselle]

france. and you are correct about uni education being free, as long as you have lived there for a year before applying. i lived there and got sick of it, but i still like it better than london.

[Manly_Stanley]

London is cleaner and more civilized. In France they are rude, foul bodys because they do not bathe much which is why they came up with toilette water, it is perfume to hide their body odor. Since you're american the French will automatically hate you as they hate all americans. They dump their sewage into the canals and I am sure there is alot of disease becase of that. No, London is by far the best place for you to go.

[I Say Intensive Purposes]

Well London is a specific city whereas France is a country and the regions and setting (i.e. urban, suburban or rural) will define your experience there. I studied abroad in London for a semester and I loved it. I didn't find it to be significantly different that most major cities in the US though there were some differences that were easily overcome.

France does have free university education for qualified students but your experience there really rest heavily on your location. Paris is a beautiful city but the people are rather as advertised. They're a bit abrasive and very arrogant - in my experience anyway. Marseille, in southern France, was kind of like being in NY and the people were a bit easier to acclimate to. Lyon and Nice were fabulous. I would say that for an American, generally speaking, southern France is your best bet but if you have a typical American approach to life, you will have to learn to be a bit more relaxed. Above all, be fluent in French before you go. In Paris especially, many people won't even bother speaking to you if you don't speak French and speak it with a very good accent despite the fact that many of them speak English quite well.

[RJR]

Theres only one problem about being in France. You'll be an AMERICAN in France. That could prove.......difficult for you and your children.

England however is a bit more tolerant. Both of my sisters live there and enjoy it. They both got thier Master's degrees there and had no previous college here in the states.

Good luck wherever you go. Be careful what you wish for.

[Markovka]

It depends on where in France. I'd go to Paris or Lyon. London is OK too, I lived there for a while, but France will really challenge your cultural experience.

[Moi1990]

London. France is a lovely country too though.