A Survival Guide for American Expats & Frustrated Businesspeople
Welcome to France in August: the land of rosé, closed shutters, and automated email replies that say, “Je suis en congés jusqu’au 28 août. Je ne consulte pas mes messages.”
If you're an American expat, freelancer, or unfortunate soul trying to accomplish anything administrative or work-related during this time… I have some news for you: You’re up against centuries of deeply entrenched vacation culture.
Can you get anything done in August in France?
Well. That depends on your definition of “done.”
First, Understand the National Mood
France in August is not broken. It’s just on pause.
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City streets? Quieter than a library.
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Government offices? Ghost towns.
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Your French client? Currently unreachable from a sun lounger in Corsica.
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Your dossier? Collecting dust somewhere, probably behind a baguette.
Trying to accomplish something in August in France is like trying to schedule a dentist appointment in the U.S. on Christmas Day—but for four weeks straight.
Bureaucracy? Bonne chance.
Need to renew your residency permit? Open a bank account? Call the mairie? That’s cute.
Here’s what might happen:
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You email a government office. Bounceback.
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You call. No answer.
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You show up in person. Handwritten sign: “Fermé jusqu’au 29 août. Bonnes vacances !”
Your only option is to wait it out, or, if you're truly desperate, locate that one government employee who didn’t go to Brittany and plead your case like it’s a hostage negotiation.
Can You Work? Technically Yes. But...
If you’re used to the American ethos of "vacation is for the weak," August will feel like business purgatory.
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Your French colleagues? OOO.
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Your clients? Off-grid.
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Your inbox? Auto-replies stacked like baguettes at 7 a.m.
You can work, yes. But with whom? It’s like hosting a dinner party and realizing no one else remembered the invite.
The upshot? It’s the perfect time to do deep work, catch up on admin, clean your digital desktop, or write that novel you've been talking about since 2019.
The August Survival Toolkit
Here’s what you need to make it through:
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Why You Need It |
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Patience
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Like, meditative monk-level.
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A French calendar
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To confirm all the jours fériés and weird half-day closures.
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A fallback contact
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That one friend or coworker who didn’t flee the country.
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A chilled beverage
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Because if you can’t beat them, join them.
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An email auto-reply
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Embrace the culture. Write your own "I’ll get back to you in September." It’s liberating.
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The Bright Side: September Will Be Glorious
There is a silver lining: la rentrée.
In early September, everything—and everyone—comes back online. Schools reopen, inboxes fill up, and politicians, publishers, and professionals return with caffeinated energy and freshly ironed outfits.
If you can survive August without losing your mind (or your visa), September is when you’ll finally get answers, appointments, signatures, and that long-delayed Zoom call.
Final Advice: Don't Fight It
If you’re an American used to productivity culture, August in France will test your spirit. But fighting it is futile. Instead, lean in:
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Take your own vacation.
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Read a book in the park.
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Finally visit that museum that’s been on your list.
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Or just relax in the knowledge that nothing you do—or don’t do—will move the needle until September 1st.
TL;DR:
Can you get anything done in France in August? Technically yes. Emotionally, spiritually, bureaucratically? Probably not.
So pour a glass of rosé, embrace the slowdown, and pretend it’s your idea.