As part of a new series, our colleagues from RTL Télé visit Luxembourgish families who have moved across the border.
Nathalie Ricote, a resident of Bous in Luxembourg's Moselle region for two decades, found herself facing a life-altering decision last May. Following a divorce, her husband chose to emigrate, and their home in Bous was sold. As a result, Ricote and her two children suddenly found themselves without a home in Luxembourg. Today, they reside in the French village of Mondorff, situated just a kilometre from the Luxembourg border.
For her 16-year-old son, the move did not cause too many problems. He attends a secondary school in Luxembourg and is able to continue his studies there. For eight-year-old Eryn, however, things are a little more complicated.
The little girl can no longer go to school in Bous. Although she now has a new home, she has had to leave her friends and her old school behind.
In September, she starts school in France. Ricote is not happy with this arrangement, as she would have preferred her daughter to attend a primary school in Luxembourg due to the school system.
In France, Eryn will have to be able to read and write in French from one day to the next, meaning that she will be lagging behind her classmates from the start.
In addition, the disparity in school holidays between France and Luxembourg poses a logistical challenge for the family. Ricote, a single mother, faces the daunting task of coordinating her presence for both children, not even mentioning planning holidays that align with their distinct holiday schedules.
Ricote tried everything to get her daughter into school in Luxembourg, submitting applications to the school in Bous, as well as reaching out to the the municipality of Luxembourg City, Schengen Town Hall, and the Ministry of Education. However, her efforts were all met with either rejections or silence.
Speaking to our colleagues from RTL Télé, Ricote states that if she had known of these challenges beforehand, she would not have moved across the border. For the time being, the family is trying to make the best of the situation.
In any case, Ricote does not really have any other choice: although she has a job, it is not easy from a financial point of view to find a place to rent in Luxembourg, especially on a single income with two children.
Full report by RTL Télé (in Luxembourgish)
