Before moving to France, you really should learn these 10 phrases. It will make the transition easier and possibly reduce the number of times you bang your head against the wall in frustration.

1. Lu et approuvé Start now practicing your signature. The process for moving to France and getting set up will require a lot of signatures. But it’s more than just your name. It’s usually a signature, the date (remember day-month-year) and the words lu et approuvé, a legal term saying you’ve read and agree to the terms. On. every. single. page. I suggest practicing your signature + lu et approuvé 100 reps, 5 sets per day. By the time you move here, you should be in peak signing condition.

2. Les soldes! The first time you venture into French clothing shops, you may notice there is a lack of oxygen. The higher prices really do make it hard to breathe. Don’t bother looking for a sale rack in the back. Sales happen twice a year: winter and summer. You’ll see big neon signs for Les soldes! Then, and only then, is it safe to go clothing shopping without your inhaler.

Tip: The 2010 soldes d’hiver will be January 13-February 16 and the soldes d’été will be June 30-August 3.

3. Préavis de grève Did you know there are actually seasons for strikes in France? Right now we are smack in the middle of the annual strikes by public transportation workers here in Lyon. By law, advance warning has to be given before the strikes. So you will often see notices posted on bus stop and métro entrances to alert you of the upcoming strike, or grève.

4. Joindre un RIB "Adam, we’re going to need another rib to pay Eve’s phone bill." Okay, maybe not exactly accurate. Joindre un RIB is something you’ll see on bills that are due. It means they need your banking information so that the payment can be withdrawn from your account. Most checkbooks have RIBs (un relevé d’identité bancaire) in the back with the deposit slips, or you can print them off if you bank online.

5. Toutes directions We love these signs. Literally translated, they mean ’all directions’. But their purpose is to indicate to drivers headed out of town that ’all destinations other than this one’ are this direction.

6. Un justificatif On many occasions you will be asked to provide un justificatif. It sounds kind of painful, doesn’t it? You have to ’justificate’ that you actually live at such and such address or that you actually paid for the item already. It’s really just documentary proof (a bill with your name and address, a receipt) but a justificatif just sounds so serious!

7. Fermeture congés annuels These little beauties pop up on hand-written signs ALL OVER the place towards the end of July and thru August. It means that the business is closed for its annual vacation. (Usually two to four weeks.) You will quickly learn this little phrase - trust me. Inevitably you will set out one sunny summer day and find that your bakery, pharmacy, dry cleaners and corner grocer are all simultaneously en vacances.

8. Affranchir au tariff en vigueur Contrary to what I originally thought, this does not actually mean that you should ’vigorously affix postage’. It means be sure to use the correct amount of postage. More useful, less funny mental image.

9. Entrée libre France = liberty, equality & fraternity. And sometimes that liberty extends to shoppers too. If you see an Entrée libre sign on a shop door, it means you are welcome to come in and browse without any pressure to buy something. (Oh, the freedoms we take for granted in the US.)

10. 4 achetés, le 5ème offert ! ’Buy four, get the fifth free!’ Occasionally you will see signs advertising this special offer on viennoiseries, such as croissants, pains au chocolat, pains aux raisins...

Make an immediate stop and take advantage of this offer. Now.