Kevin Bru is not just happy in Ipswich, he rates it far higher than his native Paris and is looking forward to at least another three years of Suffolk life.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who plays his international football for Mauritius, is in his second year at Portman Road and has no intention of departing before his current contract expires in 2018.
Bru said: "I feel very good here — better than Paris. Yes, really. It is quieter and I have time to do what I want when I am not training and playing.
"In Paris everybody speeds and the mentality is not the same as here. I have my girlfriend here and she also likes it more here. We both think it is very good here.
"I have plenty of places to walk my dog and in Paris that is difficult because there are so many cars. I wanted to find a place where I would be happy and this is it. In Ipswich they are good people, good fun, we have a good pitch and we play some good football.
"It is the quiet life I enjoy most. I live in a village, Claydon, and it is surrounded by green fields. I can walk my dog and play with the ball with him. The people in the village are friendly and have also helped me to settle in.
"I have played more games for Ipswich than any of my former clubs so I was very happy to sign my new contract through to 2018 and I am very happy to be in England and Ipswich.”
Bru revealed that he might have come to England nine years ago when Tottenham, managed at the time by Martin Jol, not only invited him to White Hart Lane but offered him a lucrative deal to join them on a full-time basis.
He recalled: "When I was 17 I came over to Tottenham and they offered me a contract. I remember Edgar Davids was playing for them at the time. But I said no, that I wanted to stay in France, although I did want to join an English club later on in my career.
"I was only 17 and back in France everything was looking good because Rennes wanted to give me a professional contract. I went back there and I have no regrets when I look back. I am in England now and I am happy.”
Bru’s first season with Town was punctuated with several niggling injuries and a hamstring problem saw him sidelined for several weeks of the current campaign after he netted his second goal for the club in the opening-day draw at Brentford.
He added: "It is much better for me this year because I am not only speaking English better, I also understand the language more and this makes a big difference.
"It makes life easier for me and it means I understand better what the gaffer wants from me when I play. He played in France for Lyon and sometimes he says some words in French but he mainly speaks to me in English.”