Meet Clare, whose decision to make Marseille her home began with a simple longing — to speak another language.

Living in a London house share with multilingual flatmates, she felt the frustration of being limited to English, sparking a determination to conquer another language. A sabbatical in a small town outside Marseille gave her a taste of life immersed in another culture. And when Brexit and Covid combined to close the window on EU residency, she made the giant leap and moved to France.

But as Clare discovered, learning the language is just one part of the adventure. There’s also the challenge of navigating French bureaucracy, healthcare systems, job hunting, housing, and the all-important task of finding your kind of people.

Five years on, she shares the highs and lows of building a life abroad, and why working as a waitress in a busy food hall last summer finally made her feel anchored in her adopted city.

Marseille is having a moment, and Clare paints a vivid picture of the energy, grit, and beauty that make it so special — and why it will always hold her heart.

Music: Morning Span provided by Mobygratis #mobygratis