Étranger Things: Why I Started This Little Corner of the Internet

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My Journey: My 5-Year Plan for French Citizenship (Yes, Really) — From A2 → C1, and “Rayonnement” as My New North Star

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The part where I admit I wasn’t planning on French citizenship

Confession: when I first landed in France, citizenship felt… not for me.

Not because I don’t love France (I do—sometimes to an embarrassing degree, like when I whisper bonjour to the boulangerie door as if it’s a person). But because I did the math. The classic path I had in my head was “a decade,” and I’d be well into my 70s by the time that clock ran out. That felt like training for a marathon that ends with someone handing you… more paperwork.

And then came the scary story that really sealed it in my mind: retirees—people who had lived in France for decades—being refused because their pension income came from outside France. Whether the details are always that simple or not, it planted a fear: “If you’re not economically anchored here, you’re not fully anchored here.” (More on that nuance below—because France is rarely simple, and neither is paperwork.)

So I parked the citizenship idea in the mental drawer labeled: “Probably not happening. Don’t get your hopes up, monsieur.”

Then the new year arrived. And with it, a little spark.

The Clooney moment: “Wait… is ‘making France shine’ actually a thing?”

I saw news that George and Amal Clooney were granted French nationality by decree in late December 2025. (Nice-Matin)
And what made my ears do that cartoon “boing” thing wasn’t celebrity gossip (although… yes, my brain did briefly whisper: George Clooney has fewer tabs open than I do, and yet…).

What stopped me mid-coffee was this: reporting said the French foreign ministry referenced Article 21-21 of the Code civil, a provision for francophone foreigners whose eminent action contributes to the “rayonnement de la France”—France’s influence and shine—and to the prosperity of its international economic relations. (Nice-Matin)

In other words: “making France shine” is not just a poetic phrase. It’s literally the legal vocabulary.

And that’s when the little internal lightbulb went on—not a blinding stadium light, more like a humble IKEA lamp:
My joy of learning French language and culture—and documenting it through this blog—might be more than a hobby. It might be a pathway to deeper integration. Maybe even, one day, a citizenship argument.

Is it guaranteed? Oh non. Is it straightforward? Also non.
But is it suddenly imaginable? Oui.

Revelation (in the middle of regular life, because France loves a plot twist)

My “click” moment didn’t happen while reading legal codes (although… I have stared at Legifrance pages like they were modern art).

It happened in December at Aix TGV, when  I suddenly noticed a five-year-old looked at me with that suspicious French expression that says: “Who is this Père Noël Bearded tall stranger and why does he look like he’s about to put everyone on his Naughty List?”

I took a calming breath in the frigid air of the station and—I smiled—just a simple, warm smile—and her whole face lit up like the Cours Mirabeau at Christmas.

That's real Christmas Magic.

Then, weeks later, I’m leaving Da Aldo with friends, speaking English, and a thirty-year-old guy shouts “Santa Claus!” like he’s just spotted an urban legend.

And I thought: Okay. I’m not invisible here. I’m… part of the scenery. Possibly seasonal scenery. But still.

And somehow—this sounds cheesy, but I’m going to say it anyway—I realized integration isn’t only about documents. It’s about moments where your presence becomes normal to someone else.

Also: I learned a new French line I can now say that I absolutely could not say before:
“Oui… et tu es sur ma liste des bêtises.”
(“Yes… and you’re on my naughty list.”)

First, a quick reality check: the “usual” timeline isn’t actually 10 years

Here’s something important I learned while digging in:
For naturalisation par décret, the standard residence requirement (the délai de stage) is generally five years of habitual residence in France before you apply—not ten. (Légifrance)

So if you’re like me and you’d mentally filed citizenship under “10-year project,” that alone is a big shift.

Now—five years is still five years. But it’s a different kind of five.

What “rayonnement” means in citizenship terms (and why it’s not a magic shortcut)

In everyday English, rayonnement = influence, cultural reach, prestige, soft power… basically “France shines and the world notices.”

In nationality law, “rayonnement” shows up most clearly in Code civil Article 21-21, which says French nationality may be granted by naturalisation, on proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to a francophone foreigner who requests it and whose eminent action contributes to France’s rayonnement and international economic prosperity. (Légifrance)

The big takeaway:

This is not the normal prefecture conveyor belt. It’s an exceptional pathway, and it’s aimed at people whose work has clear, demonstrable impact.

And—important detail—even for naturalisation by decree, you must have your residence in France at the moment the decree is signed (Article 21-16). (Légifrance)

So rayonnement isn’t “citizenship from abroad because you once posted a lovely reel about croissants.”
It’s more like: “You are francophone, you are established, your action is eminent, and France has an interest in welcoming you fully.”

How would a request even move?

There’s also procedural text explaining that when someone seeks to benefit from Article 21-21, the request is received by an authority and then sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who transmits it (with an opinion) to the minister in charge of naturalisations. (Légifrance)

So yes: there is a channel.
But no: it’s not a “fill out this online form and pick up your passport next Thursday” situation.

Rayonnement-adjacent “fast tracks” people confuse with Article 21-21

France has a few ways the délai de stage can shrink or disappear. If you’re building a five-year plan, it helps to know the landscape.

1) The standard rule: 5 years (Article 21-17)

Naturalisation generally requires five years of habitual residence before the application. (Légifrance)

2) Reduced stage: 2 years (Article 21-18)

The five years can be reduced to two for certain cases—especially:

  • completing two years of higher education in France, or

  • someone who has rendered (or can render) important services to France through their capacities and talents. (Légifrance)

This is a big deal because “capacities and talents” is broad—and it’s often where cultural, scientific, economic, or creative contributions get argued.

3) No stage at all: exceptional services / exceptional interest (Article 21-19)

There are situations where someone can be naturalised without the stage requirement, including cases where the person has rendered exceptional services to France or where their naturalisation presents exceptional interest—and that requires an opinion from the Conseil d’État. (Légifrance)

This is rare, but it’s part of the map.

So where does rayonnement fit?

  • Article 21-21 is the most explicitly “rayonnement” route. (Légifrance)

  • Article 21-18 is the “talents / important services” route that can also function like a rayonnement-style argument if your work benefits France. (Légifrance)

The pension/income fear: what’s real, what’s rumor, and what changed recently

Naturalisation decisions in France are discretionary. It’s not “I meet checklist → I get citizenship.” It’s “I meet conditions → the state decides.”

One factor that has gotten sharper in recent administrative guidance is the idea of where your economic life is centered—your centre des intérêts économiques. A French Senate Q&A discussing a May 2025 circular about naturalisation mentions retirees and the idea that resources coming mainly from outside France can play into refusals. (Sénat)

Does that mean “foreign pension = automatic refusal”?
Not automatically. But it does mean: economic anchoring matters—and the direction of policy attention can shift.

If you’re retired (or semi-retired) and your income is mostly non-French, the safest approach is to build the strongest possible “integration” file: taxes filed properly, stable resources, deep local ties, language, and visible participation in French civic/social life. (And yes, some French-sourced income can help the story feel coherent.)

My new five-year plan (with three pillars, one word: truc, and a Santa suit in the corner)

Here’s what I’m doing. I’m sharing it with you because this blog is a community space—and honestly because I need witnesses. If I say it out loud, I’m more likely to follow through.

Pillar 1 — Language: A2 → C1 in five years

This goal stays the same. I’m probably solid A2 right now, but I feel the vocabulary gap every day.

I have one heroic vocabulary strategy: when I don’t know the word, I deploy truc like a Swiss Army knife. (Thank you Géraldine. You saved me from saying “the… the… the thing of the thing that does the… thing.”)

Plan: slow and steady, with milestones:

  • Year 1–2: A2 → B1 (confidence + survival + fewer blank stares)

  • Year 3–4: B1 → B2 (real conversations, nuance, less panic)

  • Year 5: B2 → C1 (precision, style, “I can argue politely at the mairie”)

Also worth noting: current rules require strong French for naturalisation, and the legal framework references at least B2 for language knowledge in the naturalisation process. (Légifrance)

So C1 isn’t overkill. It’s my way of future-proofing my file and my friendships.

Pillar 2 — Rayonnement: turning the blog into “France, explained lovingly”

This is the fun part.

I started Étranger Things to document language and culture because it made me happy—and because I wanted to stay connected with everyone who has studied French in Aix or dreams of it.

Now I’m realizing this could also be evidence of something bigger:
ongoing cultural mediation, community building, and maybe—if I do it right—real “rayonnement” work.

Not “look at me, I’m special.”
More like: “Look at France. France is special. Here’s how to fall in love with it respectfully.”

And because I’m American, I’ll say this plainly: France and the U.S. have a long democratic relationship, and it feels newly precious. My hope is to honor that relationship by showing up here as a good neighbor—learning the language, respecting the culture, and contributing something kind in return.

What would “rayonnement” evidence even look like?

If Article 21-21 is the gold-plated celebrity route, I’m not pretending a blog is automatically on that level. But rayonnement-style contributions can be built.

Here’s my curated list of “rayonnement-building” moves that are realistic for a normal human with a notebook, a Wi-Fi signal, and occasional confusion about whether it’s chez or à la maison:

  1. Publish bilingual resources that help newcomers integrate (admin vocab, mairie scripts, CPAM steps, cultural etiquette).

  2. Host small French/English exchange meetups (in cafés, libraries, parks)—and document them to encourage more participation.

  3. Collaborate locally (language schools, associations, cultural centers) so the work isn’t just “me talking,” it’s “us building.”

  4. Highlight French civic life in an accurate, respectful way: festivals, museums, markets, local history—especially Aix/Provence.

  5. Demonstrate impact: readership, shares, testimonials, partnerships, and evidence the project helps people engage with France.

That’s not me gaming the system. That’s me doing what I already love—but with more intention.

Pillar 3 — Income & status: moving from visitor → work (because anchoring matters)

This is the practical pillar.

If you’re on a visitor residence permit/status, the rule is simple: it allows you to stay without working. (Service Public)
And Service-Public is also blunt that with visitor status, it’s not possible to request a work authorization. (Service Public)

So if my long-term plan includes stronger economic anchoring—and maybe French-sourced income—I have to explore a real legal pathway for that.

I’m not pretending it’s easy. It’s France. If it were easy, the prefecture would hand out croissants and high-fives and send you home with a ribbon.

But I am taking it seriously, and I’ll keep documenting what I learn (because if I’m confused, someone else is too).

And yes: part of this pillar includes my emerging seasonal career trajectory:

Père Noël, en Provence (apparently?)

I did not wake up one morning and think, “You know what France needs? A tall American Santa.”

France decided that for me:

  • the five-year-old at Aix TGV

  • the guy yelling “Santa Claus!”

  • and my own realization that I can now deliver the most important French line of all:

“Oui… et tu es sur ma liste.”

If I end up doing holiday work legally someday, I promise to write the guide:
“How to Become Père Noël Without Accidentally Committing Administrative Crimes.”

Okay, but is rayonnement a realistic “fast track” for a normal person?

Here’s my honest, non-Clooney take:

  • Article 21-21 is real law. It exists. (Légifrance)

  • It’s been cited publicly in the Clooney case reporting. (Nice-Matin)

  • It’s likely intended for high-impact, internationally visible contributions, especially with a cultural/economic diplomatic dimension.

So my working mindset is:

  • Aim high, build real value, integrate deeply, and let the file speak.

  • Meanwhile, treat the standard 5-year path as the practical backbone. (Légifrance)

  • If something qualifies for 2-year reduction based on “talents / important services,” great—but I won’t plan my life on exceptions. (Légifrance)

This way, the plan is ambitious and sane.

Tiny language tips for every level (A1 → advanced), because we’re a learning community here

A1 (brand-new brave hearts)

Move: Learn one “I’m trying” sentence and use it daily.
Phrase: “Je suis en train d’apprendre—merci de votre patience.”
(I’m learning—thanks for your patience.)

A2 (hello, my people)

Move: Build “truc sentences” so you can keep talking even when vocabulary disappears.
Phrase: “C’est un truc pour… euh… faire ça plus facilement.”
(It’s a thing for… making that easier.)

B1 (conversation stamina)

Move: Practice explaining your opinion politely.
Phrase: “À mon avis, c’est important parce que…”
(In my opinion, it’s important because…)

B2 (nuance + credibility)

Move: Add softeners so you sound less like a courtroom and more like a neighbor.
Phrase: “Je vois ce que vous voulez dire, mais…”
(I see what you mean, but…)

Advanced (C1/C2 vibes)

Move: Learn “precision connectors” (they make you sound calm and smart even when you’re not).
Phrase: “Cela dit, dans la mesure où…, on pourrait considérer que…”
(That said, insofar as…, one could consider that…)

A few good official places to read more (without drowning)

If you want to explore the legal basis yourself (and join me in the thrilling sport of scrolling official sites):

  • Code civil on residence + stage + rayonnement articles (21-16, 21-17, 21-18, 21-19, 21-21). (Légifrance)

  • Service-Public on visitor status (no work). (Service Public)

  • Interior Ministry nationality conditions overview (helpful orientation). (Immigration France)

Your turn (please save me from monologuing into the void)

If you’ve read this far, you are officially on my liste des gens formidables.

Now I want to hear from you:

  1. Have you heard of rayonnement as a citizenship pathway—real stories, real outcomes, real “my cousin’s neighbor’s dog did it”?

  2. If you’re retired (or planning to be), what’s your experience with the “economic anchoring” question? (Sénat)

  3. What would you consider meaningful “making France shine” contributions that normal people can actually do?

And a practical favor:
If any of my posts answer someone’s question in your social feeds, drop a link in a comment where it helps. (It supports the project and it helps the next confused newcomer—who is basically all of us, on different days.)

And if you’re ever in Aix, message/comment and let’s grab a coffee and practice our French—entre “tu” et “vous,” with maximum good humor and minimal shame.

À bientôt 🥐🇫🇷

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