An article from CNN -
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Doesnât surprise me as seems they might have had unrealistic expectations. And with little French itâs not hard to see why they canât have long conversations with people.
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Idiots.
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Yes I read that article - I think she said that she had ânever got aroundâ to learning French but was then disappointed that they hadnât integrated.
As we have discussed in another thread, itâs up to each individual or couple to decide how involved they want to get with local life; not all do - but it seems that these two imagined it would happen by osmosis.
And wanting to move back to the US because you miss frozen yogurt?
Anyway each to their own!
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My first thiught was, count the towels.
Itâs a lot to expect of oneself in their seventies to move to live in a new country where they do not speak the language. Rather adventurous of them to try. Wisely, they kept their rent-controlled apartment in US, just in case the migration plan failed. And at least they are still together.
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Except learn French?
Though perhaps one could argue that they did this knowing their hearts were not 100% into the move to France.
I confess I do have some sympathy - when we bought the idea was that weâd âobviouslyâ retire to France. Currently it is distinctly less obvious.
Some of this is due to Brexit, some the realisation of just how much bureaucracy moving will entail, some the knowledge that we both need to learn French to a good standard or it is likely that we will be socially isolated, some that in order to not be socially isolated not only do we need to learn French we also need to pretend we are a lot more outgoing than is natural to us.
Donât get me wrong, I still love France and want to spend more time here, but if we do move permanently at least we will have had a long period of property ownership to acclimatise us to French life (ten years next Feb).
And I still think the culture shock will be a handful.
They are right about French supermarket veg though 
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They are idiots.
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I havenât read the article but this made me chuckle.
Moving countries as we know IS a big deal, but having things not work out is Tom Jones syndrome (not unusual) and going back home - at any age - seems sensible if it doesnât.
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No you donât. As long as you donât slam the door in peopleâs faces, and smile and say bonjour/bonsoir itâs fine.
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Typical Californians - move somewhere new and whinge that itâs not the same a California.
Like Brits chasing Sunday roasts, Fish n Chip vans, English breakfasts with proper Danish bacon and Irish sausages, Yorkshire tea, John Smiths,
Guinness and Sunday shopping?
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Thereâs a much bigger difference between California and France than the UK and France.
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And you canât simultaneously say you donât want to talk to non-French people, not âget around toâ (=not bother) learning French and then complain you never have conversations with locals. 
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Mr and Mrs Sunak? âItâsâ probably not the same as India either - not enough assassinations.
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It really does depend where you go. Yes, some of the supermarkets are not great, but you need to shop around. Many are not lucky enough to have a Grand Frais close by but if you do then check it out. It has a reputation for being expensive, but actually the basics are if anything cheaper than the supermarkets and the quality is much better.
I agree with @vero 
. It seems like they expected French culture and way of life to fit in with them.
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This exactly. Iâm not a particularly outgoing person and my French isnât great, but I always say bonjour/bonsoir, sâil vous plaĂŽt, merci etc. I always invite people into the house, I always offer a coffee etc. Itâs just basic politeness for me, and doesnât mean youâre the best of friends.
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As my old dad would have said âtoo bloo*y fussyâ. What a pair of plonkers trying to export american values and way of life to a totally different culture.
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Iâd definitely not want to be moving back to America nowâŚ! 
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âI think every married couple needs two places to live, because youâve got to get away from each other,â
We generally manage that by having a house with more than one room.
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