Kate Lasten France Explained

Kate Lasten France Explained Between curiosity and relocation. Understanding France through daily life, food and culture.

10/15/2026

Why the Toilet Has Its Own Room in France
Ask for "the bathroom" in a French home and you might end up in a room with a bathtub and no toilet. In many French homes, the toilet has its own small room, separate from the bathroom. It's seen as cleaner, more private and more practical for families, and "WC séparés" is even a selling point in real estate listings. Would you prefer it this way?

10/13/2026

France is famous for luxury w**es, but that's only part of the story. What I find even more interesting is that good w**e was never reserved only for special occasions. It's simply woven into everyday life. That says a lot about how the French think about food, quality, and pleasure—not as symbols of status, but as part of living well. Do you usually choose w**e by region, price, or recommendation?

10/11/2026

In France, fall baking starts with apples. 🍎

Almost every French family has its own gâteau aux pommes, and this one is my kids' favorite. The secret is simple: whip the egg whites separately and fold them in gently. That's what makes the cake light and soft, what the French call moelleux. Real butter, lots of apples, just a sprinkle of sugar on top. No frosting.

The full recipe, with US measurements, is on my Substack: https://katelasten.substack.com/

Do you have a family apple cake recipe?

10/08/2026

Why Lunch Is Still One of France's Best Traditions
One of the things I admire most about France is that a good meal doesn't have to wait for the weekend. The weekday lunch menu is more than a way to save money—it's a reflection of a culture that still believes everyday life deserves quality. Sometimes the most interesting things about France aren't the famous landmarks. They're the habits people don't even think twice about. Would you choose lunch over dinner if the food was exactly the same? #

You may have heard France banned social media for kids under 15. It did pass a ban this summer. Then France's Constituti...
09/30/2026

You may have heard France banned social media for kids under 15. It did pass a ban this summer. Then France's Constitutional Council struck it down: to keep kids out, every user, adults included, would have had to prove their age. Now the government is trying a different route, limiting the features considered most addictive for young teens instead of banning the apps. Nothing has changed yet. It's a good example of how France works: a vote in Parliament isn't always the last word.

Public school in France is free, from maternelle to lycée. But the school year still comes with costs: supplies, canteen...
09/27/2026

Public school in France is free, from maternelle to lycée. But the school year still comes with costs: supplies, canteen meals, trips, activities. School lunch prices are set locally and often depend on family income; in Paris, the lowest brackets now eat for free. And eligible families receive a back-to-school allowance, the ARS, every August. If you're moving to France with children, these are the numbers worth knowing.

09/24/2026

Private school in France can mean something very different from private school in the United States.
Many French private schools operate sous contrat with the state. The French government pays teachers in these schools, and public authorities contribute to operating costs. In return, these schools are integrated into the national education framework and subject to state oversight.
Hors contrat schools work differently: the state doesn't pay their teachers, and they have more freedom over their curriculum and timetable, although they still have legal educational requirements and are inspected.
So when comparing private schools in France, the first distinction to understand is sous contrat vs hors contrat.

09/22/2026

Why doesn't all of France go on school vacation at the same time?
Metropolitan France is divided into three school holiday zones: A, B and C. The current three-zone system has been in place since 1995, although France has used different holiday zones since the 1960s.
The zones mainly affect winter and spring breaks. Christmas, Toussaint and summer holidays are common across the three zones.
For winter 2027, for example:
Paris — Zone C: February 6
Lyon — Zone A: February 13
Nice — Zone B: February 20
That's a two-week difference between Paris and Nice.

09/16/2026

People often associate France with fine dining, Michelin stars, and luxury.
What fascinates me even more is something much simpler: the quality of everyday food.
When good bread, seasonal produce, and regional cheese become part of ordinary life instead of special occasions, it changes the way people eat.
To me, that's one of the most interesting things about France.
What surprised you most about French food?

09/03/2026

In many countries, your salary says the most about your financial stability.
In France, your employment contract can matter even more.
A CDI (Contrat à Durée Indéterminée) isn't just a permanent job—it's often the key to renting an apartment, getting a mortgage, and navigating everyday life in France.
That's why someone earning €2,500 a month with a CDI may have an easier time renting than someone earning €8,000 as a freelancer.
It's one of the biggest cultural and financial differences people discover after moving to France.
Would this surprise you?

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