I lived in eastern France (Strasbourg) for some time. There are ups and downs.

1. Don’t plan anything. Live day-to-day and just accept that things get screwed up. Things that leave you stranded in Geneva with no cell phone or hotel reservation at 10pm.

2. It’s expensive, especially if you’re essentially looking for a long-term vacation. If you find a studio and cook for yourself, which I did, it’s not so bad.

3. Live outside Paris, especially if money is an issue. If it’s not than, than sure, go ahead. Otherwise Strasbourg and Nantes are very good choices.

4. Live in Germany instead, it’s much easier to deal with.

I really wouldn’t recommend that you live in France. It’s one thing to get by without French skills as a tourist, those who work in the tourist trade are used to it. It’s entirely different when you try to rent an apartment or open a bank account.

I’m serious about Germany, it’s a much more well-organized place to live and I enjoyed the few months I spent in Frankfurt more than Strasbourg from a practical standpoint.