Quote Originally Posted by tulip
I don't know. You live in France and don't know the language and culture and make little effort to do so? Then yeah, you're going to be bummed. But get out, learn the language, study the culture, meet people, get involved, no matter where you are--that's key. Can't blame it on the place.

I did not see the show. I do not watch Oprah. But I cannot accept such excuses, either. Life takes effort.
My sister lived in France for 6 months, and yes she did try to learn the language, study the culture and meet people. She is a very friendly person but it was still very hard for her. She said the people were very nice, this is not about the country. It's about not having the networks of people that you take for granted some times, like family etc, and also not knowing the language.

She had her partner who came home everyday and a small child who was there with her. She found it very lonely not having her extended family there. It's very hard to sustain friendships in a different country when you don't speak the language fluently. She found even the French systems very different, like enrolling her child in a school, like connecting the electricity, etc. And to do it all in a different language, it was difficult.

I'm not making excuses, but to live in a foreign country pretty much all alone for great stretches of time. Well, it wouldn't be easy, is all I'm saying. Of course you make an effort, I don't discount that.