Expat partner Anna Boyko and her family faced many challenges when relocating to France from Russia. But they have all been working hard to adjust to their new surroundings.
Home sweet home
“One thing that hasn’t changed for us is the weather – it rains just as much in Caens as it does in St Petersburg!” says Anna, now an online entrepreneur with a background in economics and finance. “Of course, it’s been a huge change for all of us in so many ways. We lived in apartments in major Russian cities our whole lives. Now we’re in a small French city with a house and a garden, which is lovely!”
Difficult moment
“I had some difficult moments after we arrived. For example, when I tried to open a bank account, I was turned away due to my nationality. I was quite upset but thankfully with my partner’s employer’s support everything on that front was quickly resolved,” says Anna, whose youngest child is 13 years old. “Compared to everyone else, she has adapted quite seamlessly. As soon as she joined school, she made friends and learned the language rapidly. I thought I’d be helping her with her French, but it’s already the other way around!”
Back to school
“Adapting has been hardest for my 18-year-old son. He had started his third level studies at a very good university in Russia. Now that we are in France, he has to return to school as his Russian school results don’t count for anything here. But, first things first, he has to learn how to speak French fluently. At his age, it’s hard to meet people as a newcomer in a small town. He has no friends and sometimes he wishes he could go back to St Petersburg, which we have told him is not a possibility, due to the risk of mobilisation.”
Discovering France
“We have really enjoyed exploring the countryside of Normandy and visiting historic towns across the north of France. We’re from St Petersburg so we are big lovers of music, art, culture and architectural heritage all of which we find in Paris, which is just a few hours away by car or train. We were thrilled to visit the city,” says Anna. “It took us a few months, but we have all adapted to a new rhythm of life and, even if there are challenges, we’re very happy to be here.”
Photo: Maria, with her daughter when she was little
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