Profiles in Franceformation (Allison Grant Lounes)

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	Pub. Date	Title	Duration
	09 Feb 2022	Episode 27: “Stop spending and go for the experiences” - the advice of Kate Bickers, a retired federal prosecutor now enjoying all that the French Riviera has to offer	01:05:10
Welcome to Episode #27 of Profiles in Franceformation. This is your host, Allison Grant Lounes. And today I'm interviewing Kate Bickers, who retired to France post-COVID. Since arriving in the Var near Nice, Kate has launched a Singles in France Facebook group and has become involved with the American Club of the Riviera, jumping right into creating a fun and exciting new life in France. During our conversation, you will also learn: What Kate did to ensure she had a social network in her new hometown in the French Riviera Her unique housing situation for nine months out of the year and what she experienced when purchasing real estate in France What her experience with OFII was like and how this has compared to some of the experiences Allison has seen in other departments of France The various activities Kate has been involved in throughout her time in Nice Why Kate loves the “bonjour” culture of the French and how she misses it when she travels back to the States Kate’s favorite places she has visited in France and what she would recommend to others to explore as well The difference between driving in France and the US, and why this might be Kate’s only complaint about living in France Her favorite things about living in France including the art, the culture, the people, the lifestyle and the food! The sage advice Kate would offer to anyone hoping to move to France For additional information on the Facebook groups Kate created as well as the American Club of the Riviera: https://www.facebook.com/groups/218496453694805/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/382318595831265/ https://americanclubriviera.com/ If you are considering moving to France like Kate, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	16 Feb 2022	Episode 28: “I was bitten by the bug…I was determined to come back to France” - a conversation with Porter Scott, an American artist, entrepreneur, businessman, who is making his mark in France	01:06:17
Welcome to Episode #28 of Profiles in Franceformation, I’m your host Allison Grant Lounes. On this week’s episode, I speak with Porter Scott, who moved to France in 1980 to study art. He’s responsible for bringing both pecans and microwave popcorn to France, and his career has spanned real estate, American food imports, and French antiques dealings, before returning to his true calling as a fine artist. Thanks for joining me, Porter. Throughout my conversation with Porter, you will also learn more about… What brought he and his family to France in 1975 and why he decided to come back How he was able to stay in France after studying on a student visa The innovative and entrepreneurial idea he and his father had many years ago His experiences at the Préfecture trying to renew his visa and why gumption and resilience is essential for an American to have in order to stay in France Porter’s early days in business introducing pecans to the French market What happened that encouraged Porter to pivot from selling pecans to a new business venture His experiences in the antiques world of France and how the tradition of passing down antiques or heirloom family pieces have changed in the recent years How Porter began managing and renovating properties in Paris The challenges Porter has experienced as an American business owner in France What has encouraged Porter to stay in France despite challenges in his business ventures The things Porter enjoys most about France including the arts, the authenticity, the history, and how this has changed How Porter feels French when he visits the US or how he feels American in France What Porter would recommend to Americans wishing to come to France If you are considering moving to France like Porter, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	23 Feb 2022	Episode 29: “It’s like an iceberg” Ivy Dai, a French-trained American pastry chef, on the importance of looking beneath the surface	00:49:06
Welcome to Episode #29 of Profiles in Franceformation, I’m your host Allison Grant Lounes. On today’s episode, I’m speaking with Ivy Dai, an American who came to France to study as a pastry chef. She opened her café in the south of France, and is now selling it post-Covid to pursue an ecommerce career in health and wellness products. We’ll also hear about… What brought Ivy to France initially The difficulties she experienced while interning at Lenôtre but also how this experience helped her to learn French as well How Ivy’s visa type has changed over the years since she first arrived in France What Ivy finds frustrating about French culture but also the positive things she really appreciates, such as bringing your dog to a restaurant Allison and Ivy discuss the differences between a service and convenience culture in the US and how that differs in France What are Ivy’s favorite French pastries and what she enjoys making About the challenging working demands and environment of making pastries Ivy’s favorite places to visit in France and what she hopes to visit soon Making friends and relationships in France, both with other English speakers or Expats, and French citizens themselves What Ivy might do differently if she was to choose a new career in France The advice Ivy would give to anyone planning to move and live in France Check out Ivy’s Cafe and YouTube Channel here: https://grazecafe.fr/ https://www.youtube.com/user/ivyeats If you are considering moving to France like Ivy, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	02 Mar 2022	Episode 30: “Say yes to all the opportunities that people give you” Kayla Carpenzano, an American teaching English in a private international school in the Loire Valley	00:53:29
Welcome to Episode #30 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m interviewing high school English teacher Kayla Carpenzano. Kayla originally came to France with the TAPIF English assistant program, and has returned several times, with different visas, to pursue her dream of living and teaching English in France, before securing a permanent position with a private International Baccalaureate school in the Loire valley. Welcome, Kayla. Throughout our conversation, you’ll also hear… How Kayla was able to integrate herself into her new French community through joining a local choir The challenging moment when her friends from the TAPIF program moved away from France and she needed to rebuild her network Kayla’s experience applying for teaching jobs in France and how she ultimately came to find a job in Loches How Kayla was able to change her visa status to adapt with the various education or career changes in her life What Kayla really enjoys about her current teaching position and her advice to anyone wishing to apply for a job in France The various opportunities to meet new friends and see new places that have come from joining a choir What types of administrative challenges Kayla has had to face while in France What motivated Kayla to pursue applying for French nationality, in what ways she feels she has really become French, and in what ways she still feels American Kayla’s favorite things about living in France A few funny anecdotes of language faux pas that occurred by simply pronouncing one word a little differently, and why both Kayla and Allison have waited until they return to the US to get haircuts What foods or items Kayla will bring back to France from the US, and vice versa, you’ll also hear about her favorite items at a French bakery or a French restaurant Kayla shares her advice to anyone wishing to move to France If you are considering moving to France like Kayla, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	09 Mar 2022	Episode 31: Meet Donnie Calloway, the Ferrari-driving mystery man of the Americans in France Facebook group	00:54:54
Welcome to Episode #31 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m interviewing Donnie Calloway, international Ferrari man of mystery and fancy Paris hotels. Donnie first began intriguing the Americans in France facebook group by sharing his pictures of Ferraris driving in traffic-free Paris in front of important monuments during covid, and today, we can hear his story about how he decided to follow his love of cars from California to Paris and around the world. Donnie and I also discuss… How Donnie turned a hobby into a successful career in the luxury car industry What initially made him interested in luxury and collector cars How a bet with a friend over how to use Instagram paved the way for Donnie’s business to go international Several anecdotes of driving throughout Paris during the COVID lockdown Some of his lavish but often polarizing Facebook posts of eating hamburgers in the fanciest of restaurants or hotels in Paris His experiences traveling internationally during COVID and how typical tourist-filled cities in Europe were suddenly empty If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	16 Mar 2022	Episode 32: From Brooklyn to Paris, learn how Terrance Gelenter, American author, journalist and Francophile, settled into his new home of Paris	00:59:13
Welcome to Episode #32 of Profiles in Franceformation. I'm your host, Allison Grant Lounes and this week I'm interviewing your American friend in Paris, Terrance Gelenter. Terrance was a native New Yorker who always felt like a European and was coming to France regularly and integrating himself into ex-pat life before making his move permanent in 2009. A man of many talents, Terrance is the author of a memoir, **Paris par Hasard: From Bagels to Brioches, gives guided tours throughout France, hosts regular meetups at La Coupole in Paris and performs as a singer. Terrance also explains: What books inspired his move to France and what happened that encouraged him to eventually move to France permanently How his book collection was also the thing to slow his decision in moving to France The unconventional process and route he took toward getting his visa How he tackled some of the challenges of moving abroad, such as finding an apartment or adjusting to the culture Some of his favorite things about living in France, especially the quotidien or day to day life How he began singing and performing in Paris If there is anything he really misses about home and the US since living in France His job here in Paris and how it has evolved over time into the successful business that it is today, catering to the specific needs and interests of his clients seeking a tour of Paris or France Recommendations to someone wishing to visit France and experience it similarly to the local French people To learn more about about Terrance’s book, Paris par Hasard: From Bagels to Brioches or his guided tours, visit his website: http://www.paris-expat.com If you are considering moving to France like Terrance, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!**
	23 Mar 2022	Episode 33: How a summer trip throughout Europe influenced life coach Lindsay Poelman and her family to relocate to France	00:47:56
Welcome to Episode #33 of Profiles in Franceformation, I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes and in today's episode, I speak with Lindsay Poelman, a life coach from Utah who moved to the Côte d'Azur with her husband and three children. She talks about how she first came on a visitor visa, then returned to the US to apply for a profession libérale visa so she and her husband could operate their online businesses from France, serving clients all over the world while living five minutes from the Mediterranean coast. We’ll also hear about… How a three month vacation to Europe changed the course of Lindsay and her family’s future How following the advice of a friend led to some challenges with her visa Lindsay’s decision to move specifically to the South of France and what she enjoys about living there What step Lindsay and her family took to integrate into their local French community The visa challenges that Lindsay experienced early in her new life in France How Allison helped Lindsay out of a sticky situation at the VFS office when applying for her visa Their shared love of the sea and ocean What parts of France Lindsay has visited and what she hopes to visit soon by means of an RV trip with her family Lindsay’s return trip to the US and what felt different about it since having lived in France for a period of time The different places in France that Lindsay likes to visit with guests An example of culture shock that Lindsay has experienced The advice Lindsay would give to anyone wanting to move to France To learn about Lindsay’s work as a life coach, check out her website and Instagram here: https://www.lindsaypoelmancoaching.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypoelmancoaching If you are considering moving to France like Lindsay, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	30 Mar 2022	Episode 34: From Part-time to Full-time, how author Lisa Anselmo is creating her new life in Paris	00:49:41
Welcome to Episode #34 of Profiles in Franceformation, I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week I’m interviewing Lisa Anselmo, a New Yorker who has made Paris her part-time home. She’s a writer and author of a memoir entitled My Part-Time Paris Life about her experience building her relationship with Paris, and the growing amount of time she spends in Paris. She’s done advocacy work for Paris culture, from educating tourists about the damage caused by the Love Locks, to her more recent project, Save the Paris Café. Thanks for joining me, Lisa. Lisa explains… Her initial thoughts when visiting France as a student, and how that opinion changed 20 years later Her shift in careers as her life in New York became smaller, and her life in Paris exploded How she was able to integrate into her local Parisian community The process of buying her French apartment and the advice she would now give to anyone considering to rent or purchase their own apartment as well What she is currently doing to support local businesses, particularly cafes, within Paris In what ways she enjoys living in Paris and how it is different from her life in New York The differences she has learned between French and American culture In what ways she feels like she has started to become French and what things surprise her when traveling back to the States Her advice and guidance to someone wishing to move to France Read Lisa’s book, My Part Time Paris Life: https://amzn.to/3JNZwHU Be sure to check out Lisa’s website and social media accounts: BLOG: https://myparttimeparislife.com/ YOUTUBE SERIES: myparttimeparislife INSTAGRAM: lisa_anselmo FACEBOOK: myparttimeparislife TWITTER: @Lisa_Anselmo PINTEREST: lisaanselmo16 WEB: https://lisaanselmo.com/ LINKEDIN: lisaanselmo To learn more about Lisa’s project, Save the Paris Cafe, check the following link: https://savethepariscafe.com/ If you are considering moving to France like Lisa, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	06 Apr 2022	Episode 35: From cookbook publishing to natural wine distilling, learn how Sunshine Erickson has embraced living in Montpellier, France	00:49:51
Welcome to Episode #35 of Profiles in Franceformation, I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and today I'm speaking with Sunshine Erickson who moved to France from Boston at age 32, following her French husband. Once in France, she reinvented herself by enrolling in a licence professionnelle to enter the wine industry. Today she runs a natural wine distillation company called La Thériaque in Montpellier, France with her American business partner, Lana. Welcome Sunshine! Sunshine explains… What she did in Boston prior to moving to France and her career plan when she arrived in France If she notices any differences when marketing a product to a French vs American consumer What sort of challenges she experienced when first moving to France Her education pursuing a licence professionnelle and how she was able to find a long term job after her program The differences of working for a French company versus an American company If she encountered any challenges when starting her distillery business in France with her business partner, Lana What it is like to work in the wine and spirits industry in France Some of the best aspects of working in Southern France How COVID has impacted her business How her mindset shifted after becoming a French citizen and what her experience was like when getting divorced in France The advice she would offer to someone wishing to move to France To learn more about La Theriaque, visit their website and Instagram here: https://latheriaque.com/ https://www.instagram.com/latheriaque/ If you are considering moving to France like Sunshine, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	20 Apr 2022	Episode 36: A conversation with Janet Skeslien Charles, author of the New York Times Bestseller, The Paris Library	00:48:43
Welcome to Episode #36 of Profiles in Franceformation. In this episode, we have a very special guest, Janet Skeslien Charles, the New York Times Best-Selling author of The Paris Library, an historical fiction novel about a young French woman, Odile Souchet, who lands her dream job working at the American Library in Paris just before the German occupation of Paris in World War II. Janet became enamored with France as a young girl after hearing stories from the war bride who lived in her hometown, and she has lived and worked in France since 1998, when she came as an English teaching assistant. In our pre-recorded Q&A, we’ll hear Janet explain… The inspiration she found from a war bride in her hometown Her experience living in France with a host family while in high school How she came to work at the American Library in Paris, and what other ways she has been involved in the writing scene of Paris Where she drew inspiration for some of the characters in the book as well as the particular quotes or other works of literature she cited in The Paris Library The aspects of living in Paris that Janet found particularly challenging A bit more about her first book, Moonlight in Odessa How she enjoys spending her free time in Paris and where she likes to visit throughout the city What activities or places she might recommend to someone planning to come to Paris Her advice to someone wishing to write in Paris or hoping to move to Paris To learn more about Janet and her book, The Paris Library, visit her website here: https://www.jskesliencharles.com/ Purchase The Paris Library on Amazon (US): https://amzn.to/3JZ6ucn If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	17 May 2022	Planning Your Franceformation: Working Remotely in France	00:49:57
With the rise of “digital nomads” over the past ten years, the creation of fully-remote jobs requiring only a computer and an internet connection, and the pandemic accelerating the ability to work from home even indefinitely, many people have taken advantage and have been empowered to work from anywhere, including from other countries. While it may seem exciting to be able to live anywhere, explore a new city and learn a new language by day, then work on your home company’s timezone by night, there isn’t a sole effective and legal way to do so. The fact is that remote work is relatively new and not well-defined or regulated by existing laws makes it more difficult to ensure you’re doing everything correctly. What makes understanding international remote work situations even more complicated is the fact that consulates, tax offices, accountants, and attorneys often give conflicting information to people seeking to do the right thing. And hundreds, if not thousands, of people have been getting away with undeclared remote work for years, often mistaking the fact that they haven’t yet been caught or sanctioned for doing so for official approval of their setup. Many of these same people encourage others to circumvent the rules like they did and dismiss legitimate concerns about the consequences of working under the radar. So let’s dispel a few myths about the realities of remote work, and particularly, international remote work. In this episode, we're going to talk about the possibility of working remotely in France. ✅ What do most people mean when they say "working remotely" in France? ✅ How do people usually try to "work remotely" in France, and why is that setup risky? ✅ What are the consequences for the employing company that has an undeclared business activity and employee in France? ✅ The tax and regulation reasons why it doesn't matter where the company is or where the bank account is located ✅ What makes you a tax resident of France and why that's important ✅ What's okay versus not okay on short and long trips to France ✅ How to live and work in France for a foreign company if you do NOT need a visa to live in France ✅ How to live and work in France for a foreign company if you DO need a visa ✅ The benefits of getting the right visa and ensuring you are paying appropriate taxes to the right country If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	25 May 2022	How-to Franceform: 4 Paths to Self-Employment in France	00:39:12
Welcome to Profiles in Franceformation, I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes. In this second episode of How-to Franceform, we continue to discuss working remotely in France, but more specifically how to be self employed in France. In this episode, we’re going to cover 4 self-employment visa types: Profession libérale Commerçant Profession artistique Passeport talent entrepreneur You’ll hear about… What you should be including in your business plan What to do if you already have a self employment activity If you’re leaving a job to start a self employment activity If you have a job currently that you’re going to turn into a way to work remotely in France Enjoy listening along and learning How-to Franceform! If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	01 Jun 2022	Planning Your Franceformation: Intro to Retirement in France	00:31:54
Welcome to this special episode in our miniseries on How-to Franceform, specializing in retirement, Allison Grant Lounes identifies the main things you have to think about if you’re planning to retire in France, from your visa type, to the yearly renewal, to topics like how health insurance and taxes work when you have a Long Stay Visitor Visa for France. We cover: What it means to retire in France: not working, and not planning to work (And why you may want to consider other visa types if you aren’t of retirement age) Difficulty of switching visa types from visitor to something else and what timeline you should expect if you go this route Types of income you can and cannot have on your visitor visa Health care on the visitor visa and how to register for the French healthcare system Taxes on the visitor visa Renewing the visa each year and why you’re not likely to get a long term resident card or be naturalized as a French citizen Enjoy listening along and learning How-to Franceform! If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	15 Jun 2022	Planning Your Franceformation: Before You Move to France	00:40:02
Welcome to this special episode in our miniseries on How-to Franceform, specializing in the administrative tasks you'll need to consider before moving to France. In this episode, Allison Grant Lounes identifies the main things you have to think about if you’re planning to move to France, from what you need to consider before making your final decision, to which actions you'll want to focus on before you arrive. We cover: Determining the right visa type and how your career will be affected by a move How becoming a French resident will impact your tax and estate planning, and why you should consult qualified professionals (especially if you're a US person!) How to ensure you'll be able to easily obtain a family visa if you're the spouse of a French citizen How the transition from US healthcare (or healthcare in your home country) to the French healthcare system works, and what the timeline is Practical actions you'll need to take for your driver's license, your children's schooling, your personal belongings, and more... If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: http://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: http://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call
	03 Aug 2022	Episode 37: Learning how to wine and dine with Caroline Conner	00:48:40
Welcome to Episode 37 of Profiles in Franceformation, I’m your host Allison Grant Lounes, and in this episode, my guest is Caroline Connor, also known as Wine Dine Caroline, a Lyon-based British American wine expert, who went from winning the Oxford-Cambridge Blind Wine Tasting Competition when she was in school to starting a career in food and wine in France, becoming a WSET level 4 while sharing her passion for France’s wine industry. Caroline is currently sharing her passion for gourmet food and fine wine by hosting the Terroir Podcast, running wine tastings in Lyon and organizing a week-long gastronomy and wine retreat, to invite us to experience France’s food and wine capital in style. In this conversation with Caroline we’ll learn about: What brought her to Lyon and how she first began her business in the wine industry What tourists can expect when visiting Lyon or joining a culinary or wine tour in Lyon Caroline’s tip for dining more affordably at a Michelin star restaurant The culinary world of Lyon The importance of terroir and what it can mean for a food or wine How Caroline likes to teach others about wine through comparative wine tasting What launched Caroline’s career in 2009 Caroline’s reasons as to why she enjoys living in France so much The sustainability of local French wine and produce What challenges Caroline has faced since moving to France and establishing her life in Lyon Caroline’s recommendations for someone planning to visit Lyon and her advice for anyone planning to move to France To visit Caroline’s website or social media pages, please use the following links: https://www.winedinecaroline.com/ Instagram: @winedinecaroline Facebook: Wine Dine Caroline YouTube: WineDineCaroline Pinterest: Wine Dine Caroline The Terroir Podcast: https://www.winedinecaroline.com/podcast If you’re interested in signing up for Caroline’s retreat this October: https://www.winedinecaroline.com/french-wine-tours-retreats/lyon-french-wine-tour/ If you are considering moving to France like Caroline, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	07 Sep 2022	Episode 38: Reinvention with Paul Herbert	00:50:01
Welcome to Episode 38 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and today I’m happy to introduce our first British guest on the podcast. Paul Herbert moved to the Dordogne region, in southern France, with his wife Julia and their three young children at the age of 40 after losing everything in the UK. In the 29 years since, he’s reinvented himself several times, starting new businesses and making local friends in his community, before an accident sparked his most recent entrepreneurial endeavor, a CBD product business. Paul also runs the large and quickly-growing Facebook group South, West, & Rest of France, which he launched during the pandemic, for people to share their love of traveling in France and support France-based small business owners. Welcome, Paul. We’ll also hear about… The challenging first few days after arriving in France and how his family adjusted to their new home What led to Paul and his wife creating a new business venture, France One Call Paul’s experience purchasing a publishing company How an accident changed Paul’s life and eventually led to the start of his new business The success of Paul’s Facebook group, South, West and Rest of France How Paul and his family integrated into their new French community The things that Paul enjoys most about living in France To see Paul’s Facebook group, South, West and Rest of France, click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/southwestfrance If you are considering moving to France like Paul, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	14 Sep 2022	Episode 39: Vence in a Lifetime with Steve Wilkison and Carole Richmond	01:04:25
Welcome to Episode #39 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host Allison Grant Lounes and today I’m speaking with Steve Wilkison and his wife, Carole Richmond. Steve is a web designer, writer and photographer who lives in Vence, France, with his wife Carole and their dog Myla. Originally from southern California, he first became enchanted with France when he backpacked throughout Europe at the age of 18. He fell in love with Vence the first time he saw it in 2007 while passing through one day on his bike. It only took him 12 years to talk Carole into moving there! He loves to explore France, especially Vence, the Alpes-Maritimes and the Côte d’Azur, be it by car, bike, or foot. On any given day, you might find him exploring a medieval perched village in the southern Alps, cycling along the Mediterranean coastline or hiking in the Mercantour National Park. He writes about his adventures and discoveries on their website Steve and Carole in Vence. Carole Richmond grew up in Minneapolis, MN. And some more in Austin, TX. She's also lived in San Marcos TX, Nashville TN and Glen Cove NY. Carole worked as a nurse and as an Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper at Dejadisc, E-Squared Records and The Americana Music Association. She loves cats, dogs, wildlife, music, books, the outdoors and Austin. It wasn't her idea to move to France, but she's making the most of it! Some days are better than others as she adjusts to life in a new country. If you need someone to talk to about the ups and downs of being an expat in France she’s a good listener. In this episode, we learn… Why Steve wanted to move to France, and how he and Carole made the decision to turn that dream into a reality The process of obtaining their visas, first as Americans and then as British citizens Some of the obstacles they had to overcome in their first year of living in France How they integrated into their community of Vence in the south of France About their day to day life in Vence Their favorite places to visit in France A hilarious anecdote that involves a simple misunderstanding of two very similar sounding French words What Steve and Carole miss most about the US, but also what they’re looking forward to exploring in France and Europe Their advice to anyone wishing to move to France Check out Steve and Carole’s website here: https://steveandcaroleinvence.com If you are considering moving to France like Steve and Carole, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	28 Sep 2022	Episode 41: Dancing through Paris with Kate Matthews	00:36:25
Welcome to Episode #41 of Profiles in Franceformation. I'm your host, Allison Grant Lounes. And this week I'm speaking with Kate Matthews, originally from the UK, she moved to Paris 9 years ago to pursue her dream career as a professional dancer. She has worked at the Moulin Rouge, Cirque d’Hiver and the Lido de Paris and also gives yoga and dance classes. She transmits her passion for dance through her classes, which are designed to boost body confidence and self-worth by connecting to the femininity and sensuality of cabaret dance. For Kate there is nowhere in the world quite like Paris- a city of beauty and magic, where dreams come true. As an adopted Parisian her favorite activity is sipping an apéro while watching the world go by. We’ll also hear about: Kate’s audition at Moulin Rouge that led to her working and dancing in Paris Her experience learning French while in Paris The challenges she experienced when she first moved to Paris Her tough decision to leave Paris to pursue other opportunities and what eventually brought her back to Paris dancing at Lido The impact Brexit has had on Kate’s ability to work and live in Europe Kate’s ideas for her future career path How COVID impacted Kate’s dance and yoga classes The things Kate enjoys most about living in France, as well as what she dislikes How often she travels back to England to see her family and what English items she brings back to France with her when she returns to Paris Where she sees herself in the future Her advice to anyone wishing to move to France You can follow Kate’s adventures in Paris on her Instagram: katematthewsyoga If you are considering moving to France like Kate, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	05 Oct 2022	Episode 42: Finding Hidden Gems and Dream Homes in Southern France with Jacqueline Reddin Williams of Beaux Villages	01:12:33
Welcome to Episode #42 of Profiles in Franceformation. I'm your host Allison Grant Lounes. And this week I'm speaking with Jacqueline Reddin-Williams, an English real estate agent in the south of France who moved with her family in the nineties to François Mitterand's childhood home. To find simplicity and quality of life while giving her children an old fashioned childhood in the French countryside. We talk about reinvention, about cherishing, the privilege of making someone's dream of moving to France come true, and about the ins and outs of purchasing a home in France, and what you need to know before you start the process. Welcome, Jacqui. Listen along to learn… What Jacqui enjoys most about her job as a real estate agent Her motivation behind moving her young family to France in the nineties and what she has loved about her time in France The different quality of life Jacqui has found in the South of France, and how she explains this to her clients when looking to buy a home The challenges Jacqui experienced when first arriving in France Jacqui’s advice for someone who is interested in purchasing a home in France and how this experience may differ from purchasing a home in the UK or the US A bit about the process of buying a home in France and how this has changed over the past few years The bureaucracy involved in becoming an estate agent Jacqui’s advice to someone planning to move to France Follow Jacqui and the rest of the team at Beaux Villages here: www.beauxvillages.com You can also follow Jacqui on instagram at @jacquirw as well as on LinkedIn and Facebook. If you have questions, you can contact Jacqui directly at jacqui.reddin at beauxvillages.com If you are considering moving to France like Jacqui, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	21 Sep 2022	Episode 40: Living abroad since age 19, Marie Grout keeps blooming where she’s planted	00:51:18
Welcome to Episode #40 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, we’re speaking with Marie Grout, an American who has lived outside of the US since age 19, who raised three children in 8 different countries, and who is now retired with her French husband near Versailles, France. Since moving to France, she has been active with the American Church in Paris, and is a main organizer of the Bloom Where You’re Planted orientation that has welcomed expats and English-speaking immigrants to Paris for over 50 years. In this episode, we talk about how Marie keeps getting involved and her passion for helping others adapt to a new country and way of life wherever she goes. Welcome, Marie! During my conversation with Marie, you’ll also learn… How Marie came to find herself at the American Church in Paris and working with the Bloom Where You’re Planted organization Marie’s first experiences with Bloom and how things have evolved since then What challenges Marie faced when applying for her carte de séjour The changes that Marie and Allison have observed over the years when it comes to immigration in France Why Marie always tries to speak the native language as a guest in a host country Her experience raising three children in various countries Marie’s thoughts on being part of an expat community What she’s most looking forward to about the upcoming Bloom Where You’re Planted event For additional information on the upcoming Bloom Where You’re Planted event, check out the following link: https://www.acparis.org/bloomhome If you are considering moving to France like Marie, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	12 Oct 2022	Episode 43: Allez, viens! And take a page from Language curriculum creator Cherie Mitschke’s French book	00:54:31
Welcome to Episode #43 of Profiles in Franceformation. I'm your host Allison Grant Lounes and today I'm speaking with Cherie Mitschke, a foreign language curriculum designer, and editor who moved to France in 2021 after working with Your Franceformation. She's the editor of Allison's very first French textbook Allez, Viens!, and currently works to develop language learning materials for French and Spanish for various publishers in Europe and the US. Welcome Cherie. Cherie explains: Where her affinity for the French language and French culture came from How she and her husband made the decision to move to France in 2021 Her experience applying for a visa and first arriving in France, as well as her experience applying for a visa during COVID Her advice to women dealing with administrative procedures in France, all due to a name change What she loves most about living in France and what she has found challenging adjusting to within French culture Where she sees herself in the next 5 years in France The challenging aspects of French bureaucracy that she has experienced since moving abroad What she has done to meet new friends in her French town Her advice for anyone wishing to move to France If you are considering moving to France like Cherie, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	19 Oct 2022	Episode 44: Conjuring Dream Lives and Dream France Vacations, with Mallory Nettleton, Creator of France of a Lifetime Tours	00:42:19
Welcome to Episode #44 of Profiles in Franceformation, I’m your host Allison Grant Lounes and today I’m speaking with Mallory Nettleton, who inexplicably fell in love with France as a child, before ever setting foot on its soil. This love was cemented when she and her husband, Ben first visited in 2010 and has continued to grow into a passion over the years. They vowed to move to France one day and finally achieved that dream in March 2022. As serial entrepreneurs, they are now building a multi-day tour company called France of a Lifetime to share their love for all things French with others. Besides France, Mallory is also passionate about photography, history, animals, writing, uplifting others, and spiritual practices including meditation, yoga, and crystal singing bowls. She writes about their experiences moving to and living in France on their France of a Lifetime Facebook page and soon-to-be completed website. In this episode, we’ll also hear: Why Mallory fell in love with France at a young age and what made her decide to move to France The different business ideas Mallory and her husband thought of bringing to France How she decided to move to the Loire region of France The various steps she and Allison went through when planning her tour guide business How Mallory decided to choose working with Allison and the Franceformation team when planning her move to France Her experience applying for a visa and what challenges she faced throughout that process What she and her husband have been doing since arriving in France Some of her favorite places and chateaux to visit Mallory’s experience discovering French wine and foods What other regions of France she has visited beyond her home region of Loire Her advice to anyone wishing to visit France and also for those wishing to move to France like she did Check out France of a Lifetime Tours on Instagram: @franceofalifetime and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FranceofaLifetime If you are considering moving to France like Mallory, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	26 Oct 2022	Episode 45: Embracing courage and following your reason “why” with coach Patricia Brooks	00:55:32
Welcome to Episode #45 of Profiles in Franceformation! This is your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m speaking with Patricia Brooks, who moved to France on a visitor visa in 2018 to learn French and write her book, before deciding to stay and launch her business as a life coach. In this episode, we talk about the courage it takes to leave your home and your comfort zone behind, and to navigate the many new daily challenges of life in a foreign country and a different language. Patricia also talks about: How she fell in love with the French language What encouraged her decision to move to France and how she feels about the challenges associated with living in a new country The exhilarating feeling she experiences while navigating her life in France successfully conversing in French Some of the administrative challenges she experienced when she first arrived in France Her experience setting up her business in France What she enjoys most about living in France How she has made friends and connections since her move to France Some of the cultural and societal differences she has noticed between the US and France Her work as a coach for women wishing to move abroad What advice she would give to anyone wishing to move to France or to move abroad Offers suggestions of what to do when visiting the south of France Check out Patricia’s YouTube channel for more information about her coaching business: https://www.youtube.com/c/PatriciaBrooksCarefreeExpat If you are considering moving to France like Patricia, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	02 Nov 2022	Episode 46: "There’s always a way": how Kate Plummer moved her yoga business online to relocate to France	00:44:23
Welcome to Episode #46 of Profiles in Franceformation, I’m your host Allison Grant Lounes and in this week’s episode, I’m speaking with Kate Plummer. Kate, and her husband Marc, are full time senior Yoga teachers who lived and worked in Cheltenham, England for ten years. They bought a house in France 5 years ago with a view to retiring there in 10-15 years' time. A chance conversation with their business mentor a year later led to a late night “what if” conversation. Three months later, they had sold up in England and were living full time in France! They are now based in rural Deux Sèvres with their rescue dog, Brock. When they're not renovating their 200 year old stone farmhouse or negotiating with the French administration, they still teach Yoga full time. However, if you have an idea of what a Yoga teacher should be, you'll probably find they don't conform to it and their teaching style reflects this. Their classes are fun and accessible to all whether you can touch your toes or not! Kate also talks about… What happened after making the decision to move to France The challenges she and Marc faced when starting their business in France How COVID affected their yoga business What she and Marc have done to integrate and get involved in their local community How their hobby has opened doors for them to learn more about French culture and family life Some of the administrative challenges they experienced, especially due to Brexit The places she has visited within France What she enjoys most about living in France Things she will probably never understand or come to terms with in French culture Her favorite French foods and patisserie treats The advice she would offer to anyone wishing to move to France To learn more about Kate and Marc’s yoga classes, check out their website and Instagram account linked here: https://www.phoenixyogafrance.com/meet-the-team https://www.instagram.com/phoenix.yoga/ If you are considering moving to France like Kate, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	09 Nov 2022	Episode 47: Finding Humor in the Bureaucrazy with the Only American in Paris, Sarah Donnelly	01:02:23
Welcome to Episode #47 of Profiles in Franceformation, I'm your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, we're speaking with Sarah Donnelly, a standup comedian who moved to Paris in 2012 and who has been finding the humor in the bureaucracy ever since. Her current show, The Only American In Paris, is at Théâtre Bo, near République, and is hilarious for all of us who have experienced moving to France, navigating French bureaucracy, and making friends with the French as we create our new lives here. We learn… What originally brought Sarah to Paris and what her plans were once she arrived How Sarah found a community of friends in Paris Differences between French and American cultures that can pose a bit of challenges when making new French friends How Sarah started her career as a comedian and what sort of administrative challenges she experienced when starting her production company in France What transpired that made Sarah want to pursue obtaining French nationality Sarah’s experience raising binational children and their experience in the French school system Why Sarah hasn’t adjusted to celebrating Christmas the French way despite living in Paris for many years Her advice for anyone wishing to move to France As mentioned in this episode, you can purchase tickets to Sarah’s upcoming shows at: https://billetterie.theatrebo.fr/events/423 Check out Sarah’s website and social media accounts at: https://www.sarahdcomedy.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sarahdcomedy/ https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahdcomedy If you are considering moving to France like Sarah, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	16 Nov 2022	Episode 48: Living out a childhood dream with Vashti Joseph, an entrepreneur and small business owner	01:11:11
Welcome to Episode #48 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m speaking with one of our Franceformation clients, Vashti Joseph. Vashti grew up in Puerto Rico, lived in the DC area and the UK, and has had several C-suite positions in startup companies before deciding to launch her own business and fulfill her lifelong dream of moving to France. After discovering the benefits of Irish sea moss, she moved to France with a Passeport Talent Entrepreneur visa to launch Emerald Coast Beauty, an organic beauty brand that makes products with fewer than 6 ingredients. Vashti also tells us about… Her plan to move to Paris that began as a young child and what made her decide she was finally ready to move to Paris as an adult The desire for her daughter to learn French and to be educated in the French school system, and what her experience has been like since starting school in Paris How something as simple as water can be so different between the US and France, in restaurants, in the beauty industry, in schools too The motivation to start her company, Emerald Coast Beauty, and the importance of using quality products What she loves about living in France Her experience working with Allison and the Franceformation team Some of the challenges she has gone through while establishing her business in France Differences between costs in the US compared to France, especially medications, doctors appointments and sales tax What things she misses about the US Her advice to anyone wishing to move to France To reference the two websites that Allison mentions for verifying the ingredients in sunscreen, you can check out the following links: https://www.quechoisir.org/ and https://www.60millions-mag.com/ About Emerald Coast Beauty as told by Vashti: Emerald Coast Beauty is a small beauty brand that sources organic and natural products that are backed with real data and certifications, and comes from farmers I know and have visited personally. All of our products will have only 6 ingredients or less. We’re all about hand-harvesting, sustainable farming, recycling, and supporting women-owned businesses. We want to make sure you get a good product that you can trust to put on your body without worrying about what it’s doing to the environment or your health. Link to their Etsy shop:https://www.etsy.com/shop/EmeraldCoastFrance Promo code for our listeners is “FRANCE”:https://www.etsy.com/shop/EmeraldCoastFrance?coupon=FRANCE Instagram: @emeraldcoastfrance Twitter: EmeraldCoastFR If you are considering moving to France like Vashti, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	23 Nov 2022	Episode 49: Not in Kansas Anymore: How Abby Héraud Followed Love to France	00:54:33
Welcome to Episode 49 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and today, I’m speaking with Abby Héraud, who moved from Kansas to France in high school, and then came back after college to marry her French husband after their long-distance relationship. Throughout her time in France, she’s navigated working as a teacher, setting up a business during covid, and becoming a mom, and navigating the French school system. She lives in the South of France with her family and runs Spot on Services. Welcome, Abby! Abby explains: What brought her to France as a high school student and what brought her back later on for a second time The administrative challenges she experienced when moving to France Her experience as a new mom during the first Covid lockdown How she set up her business working as a formatrice individuelle The differences between working in the public and private school systems in France Some of the challenges that exist in teaching and education If you are considering moving to France like Abby, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	30 Nov 2022	Episode 50: The Psychology of Moving to Paris, with Dennis Roberts	00:54:29
This week, I’m interviewing Dennis Roberts, a psychologist with the Paris Psychology Center who moved to France in August 2021 from Chicago with his spouse and two big dogs. He’s certified in the UK and 5 US states, and in the process of working on his Profession Libérale visa application, he used Foolproof French Visas as a guide, and also went through the process of becoming a certified psychologue in France with an ADELI number to treat patients through the French healthcare system. He now serves the English speaking community in Paris and would like to encourage other English-speaking licensed psychologists to take the leap as well. We discuss: The “joke that he took to far” that motivated him to move to Paris His experience applying for a visa during the COVID pandemic and how using Foolproof French Visas paid off during the visa application process The process of having his doctorate of psychology recognized in France in order to practice in France The different types of counseling and degrees recognized in France, from psychologue to psychotherapeute to psychopracticien The difficulties and mental health challenges people can face when they move abroad or are adjusting to life here, and how it can be helpful to discuss these things with professionals who know what’s normal and can guide you through them The types of help Dennis sought out from experienced professionals through reading Foolproof French Visas and also through connecting to other English-speaking psychologists in France who could give advice The mindset to adopt while observing different cultural practices and getting used to how things work differently in France The rare opportunity to change and grow as a person that moving abroad and learning a new language can bring. How it’s normal to want to integrate but to also want to have comforts from home. And more… If you are considering moving to France like Dennis, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	07 Dec 2022	Episode 51: Getting into the swing of things in Paris with Brian Bailey	00:34:42
Welcome to Episode 51 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m speaking with one of our Franceformation VIP clients, Brian Bailey, who moved to Paris for a year after covid to work as a professional swing dance teacher, before deciding to go even further and travel the world. And, just so you know, we're going to be taking a break at the end of the year, so next week's episode 52 will be the last episode of 2022! We'll be back in January with more great stories from people who have pursued their dream of moving to France. Listen to Brian’s experience in France including… Why he wanted to move to France and his initial steps toward preparing for his move The timeline of applying for his visa up to the moment he actually arrived in France What administrative tasks he completed first once arriving in France Taking French classes at the Alliance Francaise in Paris Integrating into the swing dance community in Paris and how this was impacted by COVID How living in France compared to being a tourist in France What he enjoyed versus found annoying about French culture His most memorable experiences while living in Paris What factors played a role in his decision to move back to the US The benefits he enjoyed while living in France Working with the Franceformation team His upcoming plans to travel the world The advice he would give to anyone wishing to move to France If you are considering moving to France like Brian, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	14 Dec 2022	Episode 52: Moving 2 Paris and more with Laura McIntyre	00:46:09
Welcome to Episode #52 of Profiles in Franceformation! I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m speaking with Laura McIntyre, an Arkansas native who left corporate America to follow her dream of moving to Paris. After deciding to stay, Laura changed from a visitor status to a profession libérale visa status and put her passion for helping others discover Paris to work, by starting a business helping people find and furnish their dream home here. Just a reminder, this is the last episode of the 2022 season, and we’ll be back on Wednesday, January 4 with another episode about following your dream to create your new life in France. Happy Holidays from the Franceformation team, and we wish you a happy and healthy new year 2023. Laura and I discuss… Why she first wanted to move to Paris Her experience obtaining a visa and opening her business in Paris How she integrated into local Parisian life and culture The challenges of trying to rent an apartment as an expat in Paris Her process of helping clients, catering to their needs and what sort of assistance they are looking for How her business changed during the COVID outbreak What she enjoys most about living in France and the French culture The things she really misses about the US, and what sort of items she takes back to friends and family when she returns to the US Her advice for anyone wishing to move to France To learn more about Laura’s business, check out her website: https://move2paris.com/ If you are considering moving to France like Laura, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	18 Jan 2023	Episode 55: Learning the charms of the French countryside life with Kylie Lang, an English copywriter	00:53:52
Welcome to Episode #55 of Profiles in Franceformation, I'm your host, Allison Grant Lounes and in this episode, I'm speaking with Kylie Lang, a British copywriter, author, and amateur line dancer who lives in the Charente region, and who runs Life in Rural France on Facebook and Instagram. Kylie talks about… The reasoning behind her decision to move to France after having lived in many different places, and how she and her husband chose to settle in Charentes Her experience of purchasing a home in France and how that experience compared to previously purchasing a property in Australia Adjusting to the different of the pace of life when living in France Integrating into the local culture in rural France and what she has come to love in her new hometown Her online business and the process of moving it from the UK to France The local group she joined to better integrate into her local community Her goals for 2023 and what she plans to accomplish in her professional life What she typically orders in a French restaurant The thing she enjoys most about her French home and what she finds most annoying Favorite places to visit within her region of France, as well as other regions Her advice for anyone wishing to move to France To follow Kylie and her adventures in the rural countryside of France, check out her Facebook and Instagram accounts here: https://m.facebook.com/lifeinruralfrance Instagram: @lifeinruralfrance If you are considering moving to France like Kylie, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	11 Jan 2023	Episode 54: Finally Finding Home in Strasbourg with Franceformation Client Ashley Sorci	00:46:05
Welcome to Episode #54 of Profiles in Franceformation, I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes and in this episode, we speak with one of our Franceformation clients, Ashley Sorci, who pursued her dream of moving to France and who runs a student exchange program between France and the US. Ashley also tells us about… What initially inspired her to move to France and how she chose to settle in her new hometown of Strasbourg Her experience studying abroad in Bordeaux The feelings and reverse culture shock she experienced when going back to the US after studying abroad What she did to keep ties to France after returning to the US, and eventually the decision to pursue moving back to France permanently Her experience purchasing a student exchange program The decision to work with the Franceformation team to turn her dream of moving to France into a reality What she enjoys most about officially living in France, especially about Strasbourg Administrative challenges she has experienced Her advice to anyone wishing to move to France If you are considering moving to France like Ashley, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	04 Jan 2023	Episode 53: Introducing Kim Mousseron, International Mobility Consultant with Your Franceformation	01:02:11
Today’s very special guest is Kim Mousseron, the very first full-time member of the Franceformation team, as she began her permanent role as an International Mobility Consultant on January 2nd. Kim has a Master’s from Middlebury College, and a rich and varied professional history of teaching, office and administrative work and most recently, as a housing coordinator and administrator in a study abroad program. She is a longtime member of the American Women’s Group of Languedoc Roussillion and FAWCO, the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas. She joined me in April 2021 part-time, we finally met in-person this past October at the Bloom Where You’re Planted event, and we finally signed her CDI for her new position right before the Christmas break. It has been a pleasure getting to know Kim and working with her, and I am very excited to have her on the team full time going forward. She has wonderful energy, she’s a great problem solver, she’s also from Massachusetts and appreciates, or at least tolerates, my snark, and most importantly, she speaks fluent French bureaucracy. Study abroad’s loss has been the good fortune of me and of our Franceformation clients, and I am thrilled to be able to introduce you to her as our team member.
	01 Feb 2023	Episode 56 Retiring in Montpellier with Maquita Guild-Schwarz	01:03:20
Welcome to episode 56 of the Profiles in Franceformation podcast! This week, I’m interviewing Maquita Guild-Schwarz, a retired pediatrician who moved to Montpellier, France, with her husband in 1998 after living in Nairobi, Kenya, and 5 other countries. Throughout her time in France, Maquita has joined several volunteer organizations, such as the American Women’s Group, Restos Bébés du Coeur, and Cancer Support France. - Restos Bébé du Coeur Montpellier - Cancer Support France Maquita talks about… The reasons behind her decision to move to France after having lived in many different places, and how she and her husband chose to settle in Montpelier. How she fell in love in France and her observations towards the people of France and the beauty of it. How she learned French before they totally settled in Montpelier. The places she visited when she first arrived in France and how she enjoyed it so much. The kind of things she does to get integrated and how she becomes part of the community, where or how she learned her French Speaking. Basically, how she and her husband build their life together here in France. The hardships they encountered when they first got here in France and how they overcame it. And to whom they look for help at those times. The reasons behind achieving French citizenship. The basic assumptions in life and the culture shock she encountered. Her involvement with groups such as the American Women’s Group, Cancer Support France, and Restos Bébés du Coeur If you are considering moving to France like Maquita, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	08 Feb 2023	Episode 57: Becoming a French Immigration Attorney with Daniel Tostado	00:48:00
Introduction: Welcome to episode 57 of the Profiles in Franceformation podcast! I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m interviewing Daniel Tostado, an American attorney who was a teaching assistant with TAPIF in La Réunion, before attending law school in France and becoming an immigration attorney registered with the Paris bar. Daniel does all kinds of things to serve the American community in France, including hosting a regular free legal clinic at the American Church in Paris, and serving with 100 Nights of Welcome, which provides refuge to homeless people in the ACP gym during the winter. Welcome, Daniel. Daniel talks about... The idea that pushed him to move to France and make a living. The process of getting a seat in French Law and how he became a lawyer. His inspiration of becoming a lawyer and the idea of getting into immigration law. When he started learning French and how he started it. The process of what kind of work he wanted and how much he expected to earn and how long he wanted to stay in France. The difference between American and French immigration procedures. The different challenges that he faced outside Law school. The things he loved and enjoyed about living in France. The advice he could give to someone who might be thinking and planning of moving to France. If you are considering moving to France like Daniel, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	22 Feb 2023	Episode 58: Communication Consultant Amy Gruber regales us with Tales of Brittany	00:56:56
Introduction: Welcome to Episode 58 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, my very special guest is Amy Gruber. Amy is a former educator turned communications consultant who made the decision to begin her Franceformation in January 2020 - right before covid closed the borders. She finally received her Profession Libérale visa and moved from Michigan to Côtes d’Armor, Brittany, in November 2021, where she lives with her dog, Stella, and her cat, Albus. Amy has a blog, Tales from Brittany, where she writes about her life in France, she’s a contributor to the My French Life website, and, as one of our favorite clients, she also works with Your Franceformation on some of our writing projects. Welcome, Amy. Amy talks about… The reason that motivates her to transfer to France. The idea on how she fell in love in Brittany. How she learned French before she totally settled in Brittany. How she ended working with Allison. The challenges she encountered in processing her transfer in France, especially during covid era. Her experience when she first got to France and her plans on how to get life moving, knowing that she will be in France for good. How she built her business in France so easily and even got more clients. The process she did in finding the first French client and how she showcased her business, talents and skills to potentially work with them. How she enjoys her life and works in French and how she finds the people in France, specially in Brittany. Why do you need to have furry friends particularly during the lonely time of your life? You may reach her out through: https://talesfrombrittany.com/ on instagram: @agruber17 www.myfrenclife.org If you are considering moving to France like Daniel, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	01 Mar 2023	Episode 59: If You're Not Failing, You're Not Growing: How Charlotte King Keeps Finding New Opportunities in France	01:06:20
Welcome to Episode 59 of Profiles in Franceformation! I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m speaking with Charlotte King, my friend, an art history and wine expert, and the co-owner of two companies in France. Bacchus and Clio offers customized tours of France focusing on wine, gastronomy, and French history and culture, while Kira Consultants offers trainings on food and wine to professionals in the restauarant industry. Charlotte moved to France at the same time as me, and we sang in choirs together in Paris while she explored various careers, from teaching at the university level, to becoming an art history tour guide at the Louvre, to working as an interpreter in the wine department at Le Cordon Bleu, where she met her business partner. You can follow Bacchus and Clio @bacchusandclio and learn more about wine and gastronomy tourism with the God of Wine and Muse of History here: https://www.bacchusandclio.com and Kira Wine Consultants @kira_consultants Charlotte talks about… Why she wanted to move to France and how she learned French immersed with a host family in Burgundy as a high school student How she pursued various professional experiences in France, from teaching in universities to becoming a tour guide, to finally becoming a wine interpreter at Le Cordon Bleu, where she met her business partner How the groups she joined, like singing with Allison in Voices and other choirs, led to professional opportunities and connected her with foreigners who had been living in France for years. How she shares her ideas about wine and foods to the tourists as their first trip here in France. Her journey in the wine industry that made her collaborate with the best of the best winemakers in France. How she fell in love in France and her observations towards different wine companies Her travel journey all over France and how it made her feel like France is still a foreign country to her even though she has already become French. The things that made her feel like she was ready to become French and what that process was like. The things that motivate her to get her French citizenship. The thing she does aside from work, when she finally first got here in France. If you are considering moving to France like Daniel, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	08 Mar 2023	Episode 60: Sarah McGrath of Women for Women France Helps when the Dream Becomes a Nightmare	00:48:40
Welcome to Episode 60 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, we’re celebrating International Women’s Day with an episode on a very important topic that can affect any woman moving to France. Sarah McGrath is an Australian woman who volunteered as a advocate for domestic violence survivors at home, before moving to France and becoming the founder of Women for Women France. Women for Women France is a non-profit organization that helps immigrant women in France who are subjected to physical abuse, coercive control, and administrative and financial abuse to navigate the complex legal system which is difficult to navigate in a foreign language and which so often fails to adequately support victims. Women for Women France also provides an informational portal in 15 languages, including English, which provides information on legal procedures and helps women to understand issues like child custody and their immigration situation in the event it’s tied to their relationship status. Women for Women France is doing incredibly important work supporting immigrant women in France, and I am proud that Your Franceformation made an €1800 donation in December to help fund these important resources. This week, I’d like to ask you to join me in donating, and I would love it if our community of listeners and Americans in France could collectively donate another €1800. Please check out the link in the show notes or on my Facebook page to join our efforts. Before we begin, I want to warn you that usually, the Profiles in Franceformation podcast is fairly light and child-friendly, but in this episode, we’re going to talk about feminicide, male violence against women, and domestic violence and coercive control, so you may want to listen away from little ears. And now, it’s my pleasure to introduce Sarah McGrath, of Women for Women France. Sarah founded Women for Women France in 2018 and has 17 years of financial governance and complex project delivery experience in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors across three continents with budgets ranging from 5m to 750m USD. An Australian immigrant living in France since 2016, and close to the stories of her family’s journey as refugees from Eastern Europe to New Zealand, Sarah is engaged in the fight against the vilification and dehumanisation of migrants from all countries of origin. She advocates for cultural and systemic change within first-contact victim services and within the French judicial system, and is calling elimination of the culture of intersectional discrimination currently present. Women for Women France's multilingual portal can be accessed through their website: https://womenforwomenfrance.org/ and you can follow Women for Women France on social media: @womenforwomen on Instagram and WFW France on Facebook. In today's conversation, we talk about male violence against women and the many challenges that face immigrant women in France who are subjected to coercive control, financial and administrative abuse, and physical abuse, and the resources Women for Women France has put together to help women navigate these complex issues. Please join me in making a donation to Women for Women France in honor of International Women's Day: https://www.womenforwomenfrance.org/en/about-us/make-a-donation Your donation is tax-deductible in France and it helps fund important resources like the multilingual informational portal providing support to victim-survivors. Sarah and the team at Women for Women France will be grateful for your support.
	15 Mar 2023	Episode 61: Magic that Comes from Creating a Life in a Different Place, with Ally McDonald-Bull	01:07:02

	06 Apr 2023	Episode 62: Immigration by Trauma & by Choice: How Marta Hobbs's Move to Paris Prompted an Unraveling and a Spiritual Healing Journey	00:50:29
Welcome to Episode 62 of Profiles in Franceformation! This week, my guest is Marta Hobbs, author of Unraveling: A Woman's Search for Freedom and the Journey of Coming Home, a memoir about her spiritual healing journey. Marta has been an immigrant twice, in very different circumstances. The first time, she was a young girl fleeing communist Poland in a cloak-and-dagger operation, and she arrived in the unwelcoming city of New York, not speaking a word of English, to compound the trauma of escaping by abandoning herself and her identity to fit in and become American. The second time, after creating outward business and family success, she moved to Paris by choice. And once she arrived, with financial security, and distance, and space, everything started to unravel. I am delighted that Marta was willing to share her beautiful story of healing, and I encourage you to read her book. You can purchase her book on Amazon: Unraveling: A Woman's Search for Freedom and the Journey of Coming Home Purchase on Amazon France Marta's website: www.martahobbs.com Instagram: @martahobbs
	26 Apr 2023	Episode 63: Transferring Dreams and Transferring Currency with Fiona Warren of Currencies Direct France	00:45:57
Welcome to episode 63 of Profiles in Franceformation. This week’s guest is Fiona Warren, a currency transfer specialist with Currencies Direct who moved from the London suburbs to southwest France in 2009. In this episode, we talk about how transferring money has evolved significantly and become much easier and cheaper since the early days, and the different ways you can transfer money internationally so you can pursue your dreams of buying property, starting a business and establishing your life in France. To register with Currencies Direct, click here.
	03 May 2023	Episode 64: Finding the Perfect French Home in 3 Days with Mark & Kim Jesperen	00:44:50
Welcome to episode 64 of Profiles in Franceformation. This week’s guests are Mark and Kim Jesperen, an author and artist from Maine who fell in love with their home and village in southern France and purchased their French house in 3 days when their trip was unexpectedly extended. Mark Jespersen - Author www.facebook.com/lapetitefantome www.mark-jespersen.com Jespersen & Associates LLC - www.ja-online.com
	10 May 2023	Episode 65: Organizing Life in Paris with Robynne Pendariès	00:46:05
Welcome to episode 65 of Profiles in Franceformation. This week’s guest is Robynne Pendariès, a professional organizer and ADHD coach who found her calling after joining Message, the Paris-based group for English-speaking parents in France. Robynne followed love to Paris after school and discovered her knack for organizing during the early years of motherhood. She is involved with many groups and associations in Paris, including Message and AAWE, the Association of American Women in Europe, and Cancer Support France. She has also created an excellent organizational resource and checklist for international couples that will be useful for anyone living in France. AAWE: www.aaweparis.org Message Paris: www.messageparis.org Cancer Support France: http://paris.cancersupportfrance.org/paris-home www.robynnependaries.com Instagram: @robynnependaries T‌o receive Robynne's "Checklist To Complete LONG Before You Need It", send an e-mail to robynnependaries@noos.fr
	17 May 2023	Episode 66: Expat Author Erin Zhurkin releases novel Plus-Size in Paris	00:45:58
Welcome to episode 66 of the Profiles in Franceformation podcast. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and today my guest is author Erin Zhurkin. Erin moved to Paris to follow her husband’s job and has lived in 6 different countries, including France, and she now lives in Seoul, South Korea, with her family. Her novel, Plus-Size in Paris, is out this week, and available on Amazon. Purchase Plus-Size in Paris on Amazon. Follow Erin on Instagram @ErinZhurkinWrites and @plussizeinparis Check out her website https://erinzhurkin.com/
	20 Sep 2023	Episode 67: FUSAC Founder Lisa Vanden Bos On Bridging The Culture Gap	00:42:27
Welcome to Episode 67 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m back with Lisa Vanden Bos, who has been a pillar of the American community in France, since she arrived three decades ago. Lisa launched FUSAC in the 90's, a print magazine that was the go-to resource for English speakers in Paris to help them find jobs, housing, and much more. Lisa has also recently launched Bill and Rosa's Book Room, a used English bookshop at Poitou Sacou. Listen to Lisa's story and love for France including… Why her Mother's scrapbook inspired the move to France How the business developed and the challenges they faced. Navigating Retirement in France How Lisa navigated the citizenship process How Lisa created a French life. The plans for the book shop And much more... If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	27 Sep 2023	Episode 68: Fabricio Carminati On How To Buy Your Dream French Home With Ease	00:33:02
Welcome to episode 68 of Profiles in Franceformation. I'm your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week my guest is Fabricio Carminati, a real estate agent and creator of French Riviera House Hunting. His goal is to help English-speaking property hunters find the right property and navigate the process of buying their new home in France with ease. Fabricio talks about: How he started helping Americans find their dream homes in France How the buying process works What there is to offer in the French Riviera Handy hints and tips to help you purchase your dream home in France. To find out more about French Riviera House Hunting, you can find all the details here: https://linktr.ee/frenchrivierahousehunting If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	04 Oct 2023	Episode 69: Joanna from Happy Hugs Explains How To Navigate The Maternity System In France	01:02:22
Welcome to episode 69 of Profiles in Franceformation. I'm your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week my guest is Lounes, and this week my guest is Joanna of Happy Hugs. Joanna is originally from Romania, and she moved to the UK, where she trained as a doula, and then to France with her French husband. She now helps pregnant women navigate the French healthcare system during pregnancy, hosts birth preparation classes for first time moms, and has multiple free resources for English speaking women to prepare for pregnancy and for giving birth in France. Today, we'll talk about the challenges of navigating maternity care for English speaking women in France who are used to different systems and options, and the resources she has for any woman planning to have a baby in France. To find out more about Joanna you can visit her website here: https://happyhugs.fr/ If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	18 Oct 2023	Episode 70: Spiritual forces and Admin Challenges - Author John Frederick recounts the trials and tribulations of moving to Paris	00:37:46
Welcome to Episode 70 of Profiles in Franceformation. I'm your host, Allison Grant Louness, and this week our guest is John Frederick. John worked in government and lived many lives in the U. S. before coming to France as a visitor to follow his dream of living in Paris. Since arriving, he's written multiple books, including Prosperity Now and Paris Histories and Mysteries. After living in Paris for several years, John began working with us so he could work as a life coach in Paris, and the epic tale of the administrative hurdles we had to jump through to change his status will go down in Paris Histories and Mysteries. To find out more about Joanna you can visit her website here:https://www.johnafrederick.com/ If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	01 Nov 2023	Episode 71: How Jacqueline Menoret and Maria Laura Ribadeneira are giving opportunity for different voices to express themselves in France.	00:41:46
In Episode 71 of Profiles in Franceformation. Allison is joined by Jacqueline Menoret and Maria Laura Ribadeneira. Jacqueline studied abroad in Montpellier and then at the London School of Economics before marrying her French husband and working in higher education in Paris. She founded the Immigrant Book Club in 2020, where she was soon joined as a co-host by Maria Laura, who is originally from Quito, Ecuador, and who studied at Vassar College. Together, they have recently launched Versions Originales, a multilingual literary review in Paris. In this episode, you will hear: 💜 Why they ended up moving to France? 💜 Why they don't identify with the term 'expat' 💜 Maria Laura's experience of moving from Ecuador and how that differs from the process of moving from the US 💜how the book club started and how it led to their literary review 💜 How they aim to bring bilingual people together. 💜 What French Traditions they love and what they love about living in France To find out more about Jacqueline and Maria Laura's Literary Review, you can visit their website https://revueversionoriginale.com/ or follow them on instagram @revueversionoriginale If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	15 Nov 2023	Episode 72: Michael Yuille explains how to avoid financial mistakes during the relocation process that can cost you thousands.	00:47:30
In episode 72 of Profiles in Franceformation my guest is Michael Yuille, a British financial advisor living in the south of France near Toulouse. After deciding to move to France with his family, Michael became aware of the many challenges people face when trying to do retirement and financial planning while living abroad. British and American clients, and clients of other nationalities, struggle to understand the financial and tax implications of their move, and strict regulations normally prohibit financial advisors from working outside of their own country withoutn Special Certifications. In this episode, we'll discuss the most important aspects of financial planning for an overseas move, and Michael, who is certified in France, the UK, and the US, can help. You will also hear: 💜 Why they ended up moving to France? 💜 What led Michael to helping people with their finances 💜 How ‘Hand holding’ helped him with relocating to France 💜What you can put in place before you move to France to help protect your finances 💜 How to avoid costly mistakes 💜 What Michael’s top 3 tips are for people before they move to France If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	29 Nov 2023	Episode 73: Lacey Bertrand-Reilly talks about joining the Your Franceformation Team, and the ebbs and flows of life in France.	00:44:37
In episode 73 of Profiles in Franceformation my guest is Lacey Bertrand-Reilly, the new Franceformation Team Member. In this episode, we discuss how Lacey ended up living in France, and why they have opted for Countryside living over the Big City Lifestyle. You will also hear: 💜 Why a courtesy robe or scarf is a top tip for people using the healthcare system 💜 What career advice and tips Lacey would give to those embarking on work in France 💜The challenges applying for French Nationality 💜Lacey’s role and involvement in Your Franceformation. If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	13 Dec 2023	Episode 74 - Sophie Hargreaves on finding adventure and alpaca farming in Sanzay, Deux-Sèvres	00:37:26
In episode 74 of Profiles in Franceformation, my guest is Sophie Hargreaves, owner of La Petite Ferme d'Alpaga - a small alpaca farm in Sanzay, located in the Deux Sèvres in the western French countryside. Sophie, along with her husband Will, moved to France to start their alpaca farm in the period between COVID and Brexit. They are now the proud parents of a small herd of alpacas and, more recently, one human child. La Petite Ferme d'Alpaga welcomes guests and parties, has an on-site gîte, offers glamping experiences, and also sells gorgeous products made from soft alpaca wool. https://www.lapetitefermedalpagas.com/ Instagram: @lapetitefermedalpagas/
	07 Nov 2024	Planning a Successful Move to France for 2025	00:34:16
In this first episode of the 2024-2025 season of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes shares practical advice for planning a successful move to France in 2025. Join Allison as she talks through the finer details of some of the more popular visa types, including the various work visas available for self-employed and salaried professionals. The episode also touches on some of the recent changes in French immigration policies and common hurdles in the relocation process. Gather helpful resources on preparing your move, and learn about some of the French admin procedures that allow both a smooth transition and a path to long-term residency in France. If you’re planning a relocation to France in 2025, you won’t want to miss this episode! For more information about how Your Franceformation can assist you in your relocation to France, visit our website at www.yourfranceformation.com
	15 Nov 2024	Episode 76 - Tadji Kretschmer on finding community, creativity, and a new career path in Paris	00:42:45
In episode 76 of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes interviews travel consultant and photographer Tadji Kretschmer, who relocated to Paris in 2021. Tadji shares how the 2020 pandemic led her to create an Instagram account, "Inseinely Paris", and to follow her dream of moving to Paris. She also discusses the importance of embracing the local lifestyle and establishing a community, and the challenges she experienced with French bureaucracy. Follow Tadji www.travelswithtadji.com IG: @inseinelyparis
	27 Nov 2024	Episode 77 - Andrew Guck on Turning a Love of France into a Life You Love	00:54:46
In episode 77 of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes chats with real estate agent Andrew Guck, who relocated to France in 2011. Andrew recounts his unique story of a long-distance love that ultimately led to a fulfilling life and career in the South of France. Along the way, he shares his experiences in language learning, his culinary and cultural adventures, and his advice on making a home in a new country. Follow Andrew: andrewguck.com YouTube: @AndrewGuckLeggett IG: @andrew_guck_leggett If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won’t miss our next episode!
	11 Dec 2024	Episode 78 - Janice Deerwester on the Challenges and Joys of Embracing New Experiences	00:32:10
In Episode 78 of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes is joined by Janice Deerwester, whose journey of a post-retirement solo relocation led her to Fontainebleau and a fulfilling new chapter as a content creator. During the conversation, Janice offers practical advice for moving abroad, discusses the nuances of settling into a new culture, and touches on the everyday joys of French life. Follow Janice: janiceinfrance.com Instagram: @janiceinfrance YouTube: @JaniceInFrance If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won’t miss our next episode!
	08 Jan 2025	Episode 79 - Rick Jones on the Value of Creating Meaningful Connections	00:38:23
In Episode 79 of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes sits down with Rick Jones, president of WICE (Where Internationals Connect in English). Rick shares the story behind his decades-long love of France and his decision to move to Paris permanently in 2018. The conversation also touches on the value of networking, cultivating luck, and creating meaningful connections as key to a successful transition. Learn more about WICE at wice-paris.org
	29 Jan 2025	Episode 80 - Traci Tooman on Settling into a New Rhythm & Remembering Your "Why"	00:39:21
In Episode 80 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison is joined by Traci Tooman, who relocated to France with her husband Billy and their teenaged son in 2022. Listen as Traci shares the highs and lows of moving abroad - from navigating the school system and understanding French bureaucracy, to turning her passion for the culinary arts into a dream job working at Julia Child's former villa. Learn more about Billy's yoga retreats at billy.yoga/retreats and on Instagram @sudandsea Find Traci and Billy's book "Your Ultimate Guide for Relocating to Portugal" here: https://a.co/d/bzJfZla
	12 Feb 2025	Episode 81 - Janeen Sonsie on Committing Wholeheartedly to Your New Life Abroad	00:33:40
In Episode 81 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison is joined by Janeen Sonsie, breakthrough coach and admin for the Facebook group Expat Women in France. Listen as Janeen shares how she finally pursued her dream of moving to France in 2018, and the steps she took to establish herself both professionally and personally in her new home. Get in touch with Janeen https://janeensonsie.com https://getrealcommunication.com The Expat Women in France Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/expatwomenfrance/
	11 Apr 2025	Episode 82 - Claire Naughton on Creating Balance Between Personal Happiness & Professional Growth	00:46:18
In Episode 82 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison is joined by writer and marketing consultant Claire Naughton. Claire moved to Paris as an au pair in 2018, before joining her French boyfriend (now husband) in Strasbourg and starting her own business. Listen as Claire shares her experiences of cross-cultural dating, making friends through new hobbies, and how life in France has supported her quest for balance between personal happiness and professional growth. Follow Claire : Website: https://www.themillennialabroad.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-naughton/
	30 Dec 2020	Joie de Vivre: Understanding & Appreciating the French, with Harriet Welty-Rochefort	00:57:48
Welcome to the first episode of Profiles in Franceformation! In this podcast, we talk to people who have followed their dream of moving to France, from why they moved to what challenges they faced, to what they love about living in France - and what annoys them even after so many years of living here. In this episode, I spoke to Harriet Welty-Rochefort, an American author from Iowa who has lived in Paris, France for 50 years. She has written 4 books, 3 of which are about the French, and the fourth, a novel, is about a woman living in France during World War 2. Her books are available ono Amazon: Joie de Vivre: Secrets of Wining, Dining, and Romancing Like the French (Thomas Dunne Books, 2012) French Toast: An American in Paris Celebrates the Maddening Mysteries of the French (St. Martin's Griffen, 2010) French Fried: The Culinary Capers of an American in Paris (Thomas Dunne Books, 2001) Final Transgression: One Woman's Tragic Destiny in War-Torn France (Understand France, 2020) In our interview, we talked about how Harriet decided, at the age of 8, that she was destined to go to France, how she navigated the immigration process to ultimately acquire French citizenship in 1996, and how her understanding of the French and of French culture deepened as she has lived in France. We discuss: Harriet moved from Iowa to Paris, and the process for an American obtaining a residence card in the late 60s and early 70s was very easy. But, she couldn't acquire French nationality until an American law changed in 1996, enabling her to be naturalized French without sacrificing her US citizenship. She worked in many random secretarial jobs in France, before becoming a reporter for outlets like Time Magazine and Newsweek, going to journalism school, and becoming a full-time writer. Hanging out in cafés and spending time at the old American Center on Boulevard Raspail, in the 6th, eating hamburgers, enabled her to make friends with French people, master the French language, and sparked more than one love story - including setting her up with her husband. Navigating cultural differences as a Franco-American couple was challenging, but there are some secrets about how the French communicate and argue that make inter-cultural marriage a whole lot easier. Harriet explains what American women get wrong when they marry French men. Appreciating the laid-back, non-"busy", philosophical approach to life in France. An American perspective on the social safety net, how it enables the French to protest, why French presidents seem so ineffective, and what we can take away from the Gilet Jaune movement. Arguing about politics is different in France than in the US: in France, you can be loud and opinionated, and be friends with those whose opinions differ. In the US, however, if you have left the country, nobody thinks you should even be able to have an opinion about current events, and talking about politics can cause you to lose friends. The embarrassing language mistakes Harriet has fortunately grown out of. What Harriet thinks is truly exceptional and loves about the US, and what she thinks is truly exceptional in France. Harriet's favorite French meal, cheese, and wine - she's not picky, but she definitely has refined French tastebuds! What she misses eating and always brings back from the US when she visits. Why she advises newcomers in France to learn French and to "avoid blaming the French" to get along and to develop understanding. If you like this episode, please subscribe, and you can go to www.yourfranceformation.com/podcast to learn more.
	16 Dec 2020	Welcome to Profiles in Franceformation: Podcast Trailer	00:04:07
Welcome to the first episode of Profiles in Franceformation, with your host, Allison Grant Lounes. I’m a Franceformation consultant and immigration specialist who has been helping people move to France since I began writing about it in 2011. I’m known for my comprehensive visa guide, Foolproof French Visas, and for my Franceformation method, a unique combination of life and business coaching with French visa and administrative support that helps you to create and pursue your dream life in France. In this podcast, I’m going to be interviewing ordinary people like you who pursued their dream of moving to France, many of them from the Americans in France online community. We’ll hear their individual stories while they tell us in their own words why they wanted to move to France, how they ended up here, and how they navigated the bureaucracy they faced along the way. We’ll learn what the moving and immigration processes were like at different points in time and what challenges they faced adapting and adjusting to living in France, speaking French, and pursuing their careers here. And we’ll discuss what it means to be an American living in France: what we love, what we hate, and when France starts to feel like home. When my guests talk about specific administrative challenges or visa issues, I’ll do a shorter followup episode where I walk you through the visa type or administrative procedure we discussed, so you can learn how to navigate it and what pitfalls you might encounter. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you on the next episode of Profiles in Franceformation!
	30 Dec 2020	Discovering Paris, the History of Our Streets, with Morgan Walesh	00:46:00
Morgan Walesh came to France from Wisconsin and has been living in the 5th arrondissement of Paris for 7 years. Originally a nursing graduate, she came to teach English with TAPIF (the Teaching Assistant Program in France), and switched her visa when her daughter, Jayce, was born a few years later. Unable to work as a nurse in France, she instead works as a "local recruit" for TAPIF and spends her spare time unearthing amazing historical stories about Paris, which she shares on her Facebook page, Paris, History of Our Streets. We talk about: The challenges of raising a French/English bilingual and bicultural child, and how we each navigate the language learning process with our kids. The super French thing Morgane's daughter says when she wants something. How Morgane decided to move to France, and what she did when she discovered, upon moving here, that she definitely did NOT have an intermediate level of French! The embarrassing language mistakes we make when we learn French words out of context and use inappropriate language for the people we're speaking with. Morgane's dream of studying French history, and the favorite Paris history stories she's learned since starting her Facebook page. How diving deep into the history of her neighborhood and of Paris has enabled Morgane to love Paris again after losing the stars in her eyes, and how it has helped her to make connections with French people. Morgane's Sancerre Baptism, in which she vowed to forsake all other wines besides Sancerre in a unique ceremony at a vineyard. Morgane's favorite places to visit in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, and beyond. Living with a social safety net, and how Morgane appreciates not living on credit, and not being one medical disaster away from financial doom. The challenges of constantly adapting your language to the person you're talking to, and how it can be tricky for English speakers to understand the different styles of speech in French. How coming from a small town in Wisconsin to the big city in Europe opened her mind, gave her the opportunity to learn a second language, and gave her the gift of experiencing another culture. How my original website, Paris Unraveled {now Your Franceformation} helped Morgane to navigate the French bureaucracy when she first arrived in Paris. The French gifts that her American friends and family back home just can't appreciate properly.
	30 Dec 2020	Moving a Family to France After Newtown, with INSEAD Researcher Michael Olenick	01:08:33
Michael Olenick is an attorney and financial researcher who was living near Parkland, Florida, with his wife and 6-year-old daughter when the mass shooting in Newtown, CT claimed the lives of 20 first grade children and 6 adults. He and his wife decided shortly after that shooting to relocate to France, so Michael took a job with INSEAD Business School in Fontainebleau, France, about 45 minutes from Paris by train. They have lived in France since 2014, and haven't even been back to visit the US since. In my interview with Michael, we talk about: How emotionally difficult it is to prepare children for shooter drills in the US, and our appreciate for the fact that schools are much safer in France. When the Fontainbleau palace was built, the difference between a castle and a palace, and what happened to King Louis XIV's architect after he built the magnificent Fontainbleau palace. Why you should get a Navigo pass for public transportation in Paris, even if you're only visiting for a few days. How his family adapted to living in France, and how his then-8-year-old daughter Sienna adapted and became bilingual after being thrown into a French school without speaking any French. The benefits and drawbacks of sending bilingual children to bilingual schools in France. How French high schools and university admissions procedures differ from high school and college admissions in the US, and how that affects kids' education and career plans. Michael's Passeport Talent - Carte Bleue Européenne visa, the most difficult and most prestigious type of French visa, and how his employer handled the relocation process. How his now-14-year-old daughter has become very French, yet still embraces her American identity and teenager attitude. Why minor children who move to France with their parents at young ages have to pay close attention to the rules for becoming naturalized French citizens - or risk having to start the immigration process over if they leave France for higher education. How many boulangeries are within walking distance of his apartment and his daughter's school, and why he still loves to visit Costco now that it's in France. Why he hasn't been tempted by opportunities to travel back to the US since he's been here. The cultural expectations that can cause Americans to say the French are "rude." (They're not!) How he's learned to get good cheese and the perfect wine to go with his meal. French and American approaches to eating, snacking, and wine.
	06 Jan 2021	Living a French Life in Cahors, France, with Hawaiian-born Entrepreneur Karen Kriebl	00:50:52
Today I'm here with Karen Kriebl, an American entrepreneur from Hawaii who moved to France in 2017. Her business living a French life as an e commerce site selling vintage French treasures. And her mission is to share the beauty of France through her online shop of vintage treasures and French lifestyle essentials. She's located in the countryside near Cahors, not far from Toulouse in southwest France. You can find her Facebook page or Instagram page Living A French Life, or go on her website, LivingaFrenchLife.com. Karen and I talked about a lot, including: How her daughter's decision to go to a university in London prompted Karen to sit down after a 24-hour plane ride back to Hawaii and tell her husband and their son she wanted to move to France. Her decision to get a Visitor visa when she initially moved to France - and the subsequent headaches that caused when she wanted to start her business. Why her son Oliver ended up in high school in Germany, and how her family was split up throughout Europe for a couple of years. Why knowing the goals of your move is crucial before you begin the immigration process, and her saga of trying - and failing - to get her visitor visa converted to an entrepreneurial visa. How, when it comes to making friends, an American is like a peach, and a French person is like a coconut - and why. What she appreciates about the pace of French restaurant dining, and how rushed meals annoy her when she returns to the US. Her favorite French gifts to bring back to the US when she visits. Her "wrong" way of doing laundry - and she still doesn't know how to wash the socks! Karen's dream of sharing French antiques and hosting creative workshops with Americans visiting France, and how she'd love to restore an old abbey to build her business.
	13 Jan 2021	Stumbling Into the Study Abroad Office Led to Almenia's Move to France	01:12:10
This week's episode is with guest Almenia Garvey, an American woman from North Carolina and Chicago, who asked her job to transfer her and moved to Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France with her husband and two children in 2017. The best part of her story is that at all started long ago because she took a wrong turn one day and ended up standing in front of the study abroad office, which led to getting married to a French man she met in Ireland. We discuss: How her job agreed to transfer her to their French office so her family could move back to France. How her children were devastated by the news that they were moving to France, how they adapted in French immersion classes once they arrived, and their phase of rejecting French culture as a means of protest. Why getting help with your move and French administrative paperwork is important, even if you're an EU citizen and don't need to navigate the visa process. Getting used to the fact that things take longer in France, and it's hard to navigate French bureaucracy when you don't know what you don't know. The challenges of banking in France when you just want to open a savings account, transfer money from abroad, and follow good principles of personal finance and tax and estate planning when saving and investing, which are complicated for US citizens living abroad. How moving to France boosted her career in her company and gave her new opportunities for visibility and promotion that she wouldn't have had in Chicago. The cultural differences of working in a French office, and the things that surprised her - from all of the different types of time off to the 90-minute lunches with her boss. How the pandemic has made living in France, away from family, difficult, because she doesn't know when she'll be able to travel to her family the next time. Why the 3-year mark living in France is the crucial point for deciding whether you're committed to speaking the language and integrating, or giving up and relying on just English. When family and friends from home think you live in utopia when you talk about enjoying living in France, and why it's complicated to have real conversations about the challenges and triumphs of being an American living abroad. The invisibility of racism in France, and what racial segregation looks like in France versus in the US. Protesting and employee benefits, and the trade-off between giving cool perks to all employees and increasing wages for the lowest earners.
	30 Dec 2020	Foolproof French Visas: Getting the Right Visa For Your Dream Life in France	00:16:29
5 years in the future, you’re in France, living your dream life. What are 3 things that you’re doing in your life and career? Now, the reality is that creating these dreams IS possible, and it’s possible in France. And if you haven’t figured out how, yet, it’s not your fault. It’s that French bureaucracy is notoriously difficult to navigate, and when you’re trying to create your dream, you need to make sure it’s built on a solid foundation. In this brief presentation recorded live at the annual Bloom Where You're Planted Event hosted by the American church in Paris (held via zoom in November 2020), Franceformation and visa specialist Allison Grant Lounes discusses the 5 steps to take to begin the process of envisioning your dream life and of moving to France. Foolproof French Visas is available as an ebook on yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon.
	30 Dec 2020	Bonus Episode 1.5: Understanding French Naturalization	00:22:11
In Episode 1 of Profiles in Franceformation, I spoke with my guest Harriet Welty-Rochefort about her life in France, and we talked about how easy it was for her to get work and a French residency permit as an American in France in the late 1960s. However, despite living in France, she was unable to become a naturalized French citizen until 1996, when the US changed a law that stripped US citizens of their citizenship if they became naturalized citizens of a foreign country. In this bonus episode, I talk about how changes to US law have enabled Americans to gain passports abroad, and the process of becoming a French citizen after living in France. I discuss: The recurring theme we'll cover about what makes someone living in France "French enough" to "deserve" to become a naturalized French citizens What the actual requirements are for becoming French through marriage or "by decree": the residency, language, income, and integration requirements you'll have to fulfil if you want to one day apply. Why you'll want to have a vision of applying for naturalization before you apply for your first French visa. The benefits of having French or even EU citizenship, and why Harriet might have been able to pursue different career options had she been able to become a naturalized French citizen earlier in her life. Why gaining French (or another) citizenship is the first step towards renouncing your US (or other) citizenship Which French visa types can be cumulated and count towards your minimum residency requirement (usually 5 years) before you can apply for naturalization Why student, visitor, and temporary work visa types often do NOT provide a path to residency or naturalization Which visa types you must have to go through the naturalization request process Where to find out more information on forging a path to becoming a French citizen. Foolproof French Visas can help you to identify your potential visa paths to naturalization, and it can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books/ or in paperback on Amazon.
	30 Dec 2020	Bonus Episode 2.5: Student Visas, Vie Privée, and Teaching English with TAPIF	00:32:30
In Episode 2 of Profiles in Franceformation with Morgane Walesh, we talked about how she came to France initially as a student to study French, and then, after the birth of her daughter, switched her visa status. She now works as a "local recruit" English teacher with TAPIF, the Teaching Assistant Program in France. In this episode, I outline and elaborate on the administrative statuses we discussed: How Morgane was able to come to France with a student visa to study French language, and why this path has become more difficult since 2012 The requirements for getting a student visa to study French in France How to maximize your chances of a successful student visa application The CampusFrance process Why Morgane was able to easily switch her visa status from "student" to "vie privée et familiale - parent d'un enfant français mineur" The criteria for getting the VPF visa as the parent of a minor French child, without being married or PACSed to the child's other partner How Morgane's VPF status enabled her to get a part-time job teaching English locally, in Paris, and why TAPIF sometimes needs to recruit local teachers who already have the right to work in France The basics of the TAPIF program, its advantages and disadvantages for teachers Why you shouldn't expect to stay in France after doing TAPIF if you come with a work visa for that job specifically How to apply as a TAPIF local recruit if you already live in France with the right to work. As always, Foolproof French Visas identifies the different types of student visas and programs eligible for student visas, and discusses several temporary teaching positions available to non-EU citizens, along with their visa types. It can be purchased at https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books/ or in paperback on Amazon.
	20 Jan 2021	Moving to France during Lockdown with Brian Jones	00:32:59
Welcome to Episode 6 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, my guest is Brian Jones. Brian is originally from Michigan and moved to a village near Rennes in Brittany, France, in 2019 with his French wife. Initially, he worked as a technical mechanic at nuclear plants, and now, he restores artisanal furniture with Phénix Meubles. You can find him on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Phénix-Meubles-103042188065060 In this episode, we talked about Brian's move to France on March 12, 2020 just before France entered confinement, and his experience of getting settled and doing various French admin tasks: The CRAZY serendipitous way Brian met his French wife, and how he knew they were meant to be together. Why getting advice in France abut how to do any particular administrative task is so difficult The difficulty of finding work in a technical field in France when you don't speak French and don't have a French degree - and how Brian has chosen to pivot to furniture restoration The French meal schedule, and how Brian finds it difficult to adapt to a light breakfast and a late lunch, when he's ready to start his day early in the morning. Why Brian is not a fan of la bise, and why he might get away with not doing it ever again! and more! If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. You can join me, Brian, and 12,000 Americans in France in the Americans in France facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/americansinfrance/; You too can enjoy and comment on our many posts about the proliferation of dog poop in France. And if you'd like to learn more about how you can begin your own Franceformation, go here: www.yourfranceformation.com
	27 Jan 2021	"France Will Take Care of You:" The Cancer Disaster that brought Suzanne White Home	00:51:40
Welcome to Episode 7 of Profiles in Franceformation! I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes. In this episode, I interview Suzanne White, an American woman who came to Paris from Buffalo, New York, at age 22, in 1961. Suzanne is the author of a book called The New Chinese Astrology and a memoir about her life in France entitled Unmitigated Gaul, both of which are available on Amazon. We talk about her multiple moves back and forth across the Atlantic, how she got into writing about Chinese Astrology, and the cancer disaster that made her move from the US to France permanent. Unmitigated Gaul: https://amzn.to/2JXXhIq The New Chinese Astrology: https://amzn.to/38tx0eI In this episode, we talk about: After a conservative upbringing and being "overly emotional" for her family, Suzanne moved to Paris in 1961 and finally felt free to be herself and to express herself Our shared love for the 14th arrondissement, where she spent her Paris years until 2006, and where I spent my first few years in Paris The surprise she got when she went to find a bilingual psychologist in Paris, living right around the corner from her How Suzanne became a writer, and how she became the leading expert on Chinese astrology in the 1970s Why she temporarily returned to the US when her daughters were born, and how she brought up two children between cultures The doctor's mistake that led to her health insurance being canceled in America, and how that bankruptcy brought her home to France. The hybrid language bilingual Americans speak in France, and the fun of communicating in two languages at the same time If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. You can join me, Suzanne, and 12,000 Americans in France in the Americans in France facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/americansinfrance/ And if you'd like to learn more about how you can begin your own Franceformation, go here: www.yourfranceformation.com Foolproof French Visas is available as an ebook on yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon.
	03 Feb 2021	The 7-Year Crisis Point: How Sandy Anderson decided to spend the rest of her life in France, without becoming French.	01:10:00
In Episode 8 of Profiles in Franceformation, I interviewed Sandy Anderson, a retired English teacher who is a fellow graduate of the Middlebury College French School, which I also attended. Sandy, an American, was born in Ontario, Canada, went to school in Jamaica, and considers herself a “third culture kid,” as she grew up without the same cultural references as her American peers. We talk about how she developed her career and the challenges of maintaining relationships and friendships in the community of expatriated Americans in France. In this episode, we discuss: How Sandy started learning French as a child in Ontario, Canada, and continued her study through the British school system in Jamaica Why it was difficult to start college in the US as an American kid who had lived all over the world, and the challenges of making friends when you don't have the same cultural references How arriving in France in 1969, just after the May 1968 riots, into a completely renewed French university system, gave Sandy the opportunity to take classes at the Sorbonne The difficulty of being a foreign student in a French university, where you can't express yourself in French as well as a French student -- and a funny story about when Sandy used the new "contrôle continu" grading system to her advantage What happened when Sandy wanted to stay in France after graduating from Middlebury, and how she was able to land a work contract teaching English back before the UK joined the EU in 1973. The crisis Sandy experienced after around 7 years in France when she ultimately decided to spend the rest of her life in France. How Sandy's career developed over 30 years, from teaching English, to teaching technology, to teaching technology in English, and how she was ultimately downsized and forced into retirement The dangers of being hired as an autoentrepreneur instead of as a salaried employee Her main criticism of the French When other Americans think we're communists because we live in France - and what communism (and real politics in France) actually looks like Why Sandy made the decision not to become French What irritates Sandy about the community of Americans in France, and the things she just doesn't understand about some people who move here and about Americans back in the States.
	17 Feb 2021	"Leave all your expectations at the door:" How Expat Coach Mundey Young Keeps Creating Herself & Her Life Vision in Marseille	00:49:00
Welcome to Episode 10 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and today, my guest is Mundey Young, founder of Mundey Young Coaching. She is a US Air Force veteran, mother, wife and entrepreneur who has been coaching people from around the world for 9 years. While she’s originally from the States, she has been living in Europe for 18 years, and in France, working for herself and living that dream for the past 15 years, and is now in Marseille. Her specialty is in helping expats create and live the vision they have for their life no matter where they are. Mundey also hosts a podcast on World Radio Paris "Living La Belle Vie", which supports expats in France, and she has a youtube channel supporting the international expat community called "Mundey Young Coaching". You can find her at mundeyyoung.com, or at any of the social media profiles here: LinkedIn 💜 Facebook 💜 Twitter @MundeyY 💜 Instagram @mundeyyoungcoaching In this episode, we discuss how Mundey keeps recreating herself, creating something positive in the world, and : How Mundey moved to England with her French (now ex-) husband, in 2000 and then followed him to Paris in 2005 Why she gave up her career as a chef to pursue other entrepreneurial dreams in France Why she found it SO DIFFICULT to adapt to living in Paris and so frustrating that nobody spoke English - and the value of putting herself out there and volunteering to make friends and connections locally. How she found friendship, comfort, and commiseration in the Anglophone & expat community in Paris, but then found the "turnover" difficult Making French friends: Mundey's pragmatic tips for acting like an extrovert to forge true connection and pursuing the friendships you want in France* How Mundey built a thriving first business in Paris managing expats' rental apartments, all through the connections she made within the English-speaking community in France Her failed first attempt at requesting French naturalization, and why she felt she fully deserved her French passport when she finally got it The psychological games we play when navigating French administration and trying to get stuff done Her advice on being flexible and avoiding setting expectations when you move to a new country *If you want to hear the interview where we learn why French people are like coconuts and Americans are like peaches, listen to Episode 4. Whether or not you work with a coach like Mundey, once you have your vision of what you want your life to look like in France, Foolproof French Visas can help you to identify your potential visa paths to naturalization, and it can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books/ or in paperback on Amazon. If you'd like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to go over your visa options and decide how to move forward with creating your dream life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call/ If you liked this episode, be sure to leave a positive review, and subscribe so you'll get next week's episode as well!
	06 Oct 2021	Episode 12: Learn how French native, Annie Sargent, host of the podcast, "Join Us In France" reintegrated back into French life and culture after living in the US for 16 years. “I could understand all of the words, but none of the concepts.”	00:58:31
Today, Annie Sargent she tells us about her journey from France, to Utah, and back to France again. We’ll learn about her experiences in the US and in France including: Why she moved to Utah and her experience living in the US as a technical translator. What prompted her move back to France and the impact the move had on her family, including her young daughter in school. The inspiration behind starting her podcast, Join Us in France. What sort of challenges she experienced when reintegrating back into French life, including her thoughts of French administration and how important it was to have both she and her husband’s names on bills. The things she misses from America, including American service. For more information about Annie’s podcast, as well as her self-guided audio tours and books, visit her website at joinusinfrance.com If you are considering moving to France like Annie, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call
	13 Oct 2021	Episode 13: our conversation with Annie Sargent, host of the podcast, "Join Us In France", continues: “That’s the flag I claim, is the French person who can speak English and wants to talk about France the way French people see France."	00:39:13
Our conversation with Annie Sargent is actually broken into two episodes, so be sure to continue listening along to Episode #13 with Annie to hear more about her podcast including: Her recommendations of places to visit within France. How she created a cookbook and tested recipes with the help of her podcast listeners. What types of foods she misses most from the US. Her love for audio mediums like podcasts and how this inspired her to become a self-guided audio tour guide. The importance of the word “bonjour” in French culture. Her advice to someone wanting to move to France. For more information about Annie’s podcast, as well as her self-guided audio tours and books, visit her website at joinusinfrance.com If you are considering moving to France like Annie, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call
	20 Oct 2021	Episode 14: Listen to David Sargent's experience moving to France over 15 years ago and learning the differences between the American vs French way of doing things. “It’s not about language, it’s about culture.”	00:47:29
Today, David Sargent is going to tell us about his experience moving to France from the US over 15 years ago as the spouse of a French citizen, and his experiences adapting to living and working in France. We’re going to learn about: How his job at a technology company was able to transfer David to France and what type of work contract was needed. He registered his marriage in France, obtained a **livret de famille, and whether or not he has applied for French nationality at this time. The differences in attitudes between Americans and French people. Challenges he faced in moving to France, including driving cars in France and experiencing a minor snow storm in Toulouse. David’s favorite things about living in France, what he enjoys most about Toulouse, and the first restaurant he plans to visit once the French government allows for eateries to reopen. His advice for anyone moving to France. If you are considering moving to France like David, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!**
	27 Oct 2021	Episode 15: a conversation with Shannon Pratuch, an American expat in France who runs the successful Instagram and blog, This French Life	00:54:18
Today we are talking to Shannon Pratuch, an American expat in France who splits her time between Paris and Brittany. Shannon runs the successful instagram account and blog, This French Life. You can hear how much joy she has for France just by listening to this episode! We’ll learn: About her first trip to Paris and how she fell in love with the city, staying for a bit longer each time she came back to visit. How she planned her move to France over several years. Which type of visa Shannon used to travel to France as well as her move to France. The level of French language comprehension that Shannon had prior to her move, and how having a French bulldog has increased her comprehension of the language! The challenges she experienced when learning to speak more French. Her favorite places to visit in both Paris as well as Brittany. Be sure to check out and subscribe to Shannon’s Instagram account and blog This French Life. Instagram: thisfrench.life Website: https://thisfrench.life Allison also mentions a client’s awesome Instagram account with pictures of Dinan. Be sure to check her account here, https://www.instagram.com/agruber17/, as well as her blog, https://talesfrombrittany.com/. If you are considering moving to France like Shannon, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	03 Nov 2021	Episode 16: listen to my conversation with Summer Jauneaud, “It makes me happy to have visitors come here and fall in love with the place… I really want people to love it [France] as much as I do.”	01:17:36
In today's episode, we’ll be speaking to Summer Jauneaud, an American expat from Los Angeles living in the town of **Amboise, located in the Loire Valley of France. Summer is the Loire Valley Concierge. She and her friend, Christy, also have a YouTube Channel called FrenchDish, in which they share their love for the country and the “joie de vivre'' of France with their viewers. We’ll learn about what brought Summer to France over 20 years ago as well as: The interesting sites and attractions to see within her hometown of Amboise. What made her decide to move to France. Her experience of applying for French nationality after marrying a Frenchman. What it has been like raising her children in France. Differences between French and American cultures, and how she helps her clients to navigate those differences as the Loire Valley Concierge. Her favorite French foods, wines, cheeses and most importantly, dessert! Summer references one of Allison’s previous podcast episodes with Harriet Welty-Rochefort, follow this link here to take a listen: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/2020/12/30/episode-1/ Be sure to check out Summer’s YouTube channel, French Dish: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC38F_VrVnPR4Hr04R7oxupQ/featured You can also find links here to her Loire Valley Concierge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Loire-Valley-Concierge-103824868439925 and Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/loire_valley_concierge/ Also, check out the other cohost of the FrenchDish Christy’s website https://www.traveloffthebeatenpath.com/ and her Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/franceotbp/ If you are considering moving to France like Summer, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!**
	10 Nov 2021	Episode 17: Listen to Nicola Rose, an actor, film producer and director, “One of the things about France and Paris in particular is that there are all these hidden corners. And each of them has something that’s kind of hidden in a fold.”	00:58:25
Today my guest is Nicola Rose, an actor, film producer and director whose films include Creative Block; Gabrielle; and Goodbye; Petrushka. While currently living in the US, Nicola has previously lived in Paris twice and she hopes to move back to France one day. Today, we’ll hear about Nicola’s experiences in France including: How a spur of the moment decision about visiting France changed her life. The big impact a Parisian bookstore closing had on her. How she finds inspiration and creativity in French arts. Bureaucratic and administrative issues she faced at the Préfecture. An anecdote about the mispronunciation of Tupperware. Her favorite French foods, desserts and rosé wine. If you are considering moving to France like Nicola Rose, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	29 Sep 2021	Episode 11: How Richard Nahem of Eye Prefer Paris turned his insights of Paris into a thriving tour guide business	01:06:01
In today’s episode, we chat about the details of that life-changing move to France, as well as how Richard created his business Eye Prefer Paris and integrated into French culture. We also learn: What sort of challenges Richard faced when moving to France and integrating into the culture. How Richard started his business in France and how he has marketed his website and guided tours to clients. We will hear how Richard’s business was impacted by COVID-19 and the lockdowns within Paris. We also learn which French cities and Parisian museums Richard was able to visit during the brief period between lockdowns in France this past year. You will hear a hilarious anecdote about Richard’s visit to a French bank. This type of story is something that American Ex-pats are all too familiar with in France. Richard discusses his knowledge of the French language and how he has learned French since moving to Paris. Richard’s thoughts on the cultural differences between France and the United States, as well as differences between foods, shopping, tipping in restaurants and the cost of wine. We hear Richard’s advice to anyone thinking about moving to France. For more information about Richard’s tours throughout Paris, visit his website ipreferparis.net. If you are considering moving to France like Richard, Foolproof French Visas can help you to navigate the path to obtaining a visa. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call/ If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won’t miss next week’s episode!
	17 Nov 2021	Episode 18: Bringing Hard Seltzer to France: a conversation with Ricky Glass, co-founder of Colorado Craft Beverage	00:56:16
In today’s episode, I speak with Ricky Glass, co-founder of Colorado Craft Beverage based out of Paris. Their craft hard seltzer, Snowmelt, was the first to launch in France in late 2020. Prior to founding a successful business in France, Ricky fell in love with France during a high school trip, before attending business school at the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Pau, and starting his bicultural family with his French wife. Listen to our conversation to hear how that trip to France changed his life and impacted his choices moving forward. You’ll also learn about: What brought him back to France after his trip in high school. How working in France differs from working in the US. Some of the challenges his business faced when launching Snowmelt in France. What impacted his decision to pursue French nationality. His favorite French foods and pastry. Some of his favorite places to visit in Paris. To learn more about Snowmelt craft hard seltzer, check out their website and online shop: https://www.snowmelt.fr/ If you are considering moving to France like Ricky’s, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	24 Nov 2021	Episode 19: my conversation with Zachary Miller, a bilingual film director, producer, and writer living in Paris	01:11:34
In this episode, I spoke with Zachary Miller, who moved to France with his French wife for a year in 1990 to write the Great American Novel - and never left. When they decided to stay in Paris and he discovered he couldn’t continue to practice psychology, Zachary pitched a television series to the French television channel, Arte, about American Jazz musicians in Europe, and launched his career as a bilingual film producer helping international filmmakers make movies in France. We’ll also hear: How he never intended to move to France and how this gradually changed over time Details about his change in career path from working as a psychologist to a filmmaker How he proposed the idea for his series on Arte, “Jazz Life: American Jazz Musicians in Europe” featuring Steve Lacy and Mal Waldron, as well as a funny anecdote that lead to one of the best scenes of the series featuring jazz pianist, Mal Waldron An interesting discussion between Zachary and Allison about raising bilingual children in France How he created his American and French companies, and the differences between the two The various film festivals he has attended and why the Cannes Film Festival is his favorite Zachary’s comparisons between Paris and large cities in the US His favorite parts of French and Parisian culture including French foods, wine, cheese and different neighborhoods to explore For more information about Zachary and the films he has made: IMDB - imdb.me/zachmiller https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1694433/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 Cinanado - https://cinando.com/en/Company/2_bulls_on_the_hill_productions_24905/Detail Twitter - @ZachJamesMiller https://twitter.com/zachjamesmiller?lang=en LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-miller-161bb28 Discover the two musicians featured in "Jazz Life: American Jazz Musicians in Europe": Steve Lacy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Lacy_(saxophonist) Mal Waldron - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mal_Waldron To learn more and support Zachary’s next upcoming documentary, "Beauford Delaney: So Splendid A Journey", click here: https://fiscal.thegotham.org//project.cfm/2267/Beauford-Delaney-So-Splendid-A-Journey/ If you are considering moving to France like Zachary, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	08 Dec 2021	Episode 21: "I moved to France backwards." Lisa Czarina Michaud, author of Slanted and Disenchanted, tells us what not to do when moving to France.	00:51:07
In this episode, I talk with my longtime friend, Lisa Czarina Michaud about how she moved to France after leaving a career in fashion, by doing everything backwards. Now she lives in a village near Fontainebleau, and just released her first novel, Slanted and Disenchanted. We talk about how she went from making ends meet in a tiny studio in the Marais in Paris to her current career in freelance writing. Lisa also shares: What sparked her career in writing, and how this evolved over time from contributing articles to Paris-centric blogs, to writing full time for small publications, to releasing her first novel How her life changed after moving from a 30m2 studio apartment in the 12th arrondissement of Paris to living in a medieval village near Fontainebleau where watching TV is not an option Lisa and Allison share their experiences of raising their sons to be bilingual in English and French while living in France How she wove influences from the eastern French region of Alsace into her novel and fell completely obsessed with Alsace, its food, wine, people, everything Other aspects of her life that influenced her book including her Italian heritage, her love of music The things Lisa looks forward to when coming back to Paris for a visit, especially around the winter holidays What she enjoys about living in France, what she will probably never get accustomed to about living in France, as well as her favorite French foods, cheeses and wines Check out Lisa’s website: https://www.lisacmichaud.com/ and a link to listen to her grandmother’s jazz song, Notes So High by Stella Levitt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-PzbJXo-KA For your own copy of Lisa’s book, Slanted and Disenchanted, check out the following link: https://amzn.to/3ncRFuG If you are considering moving to France like Lisa, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	01 Dec 2021	Episode 20: Meet Jen Lesaigle, whose love of animals and wanderlust led her toward creating a pet travel concierge business	01:12:07
Welcome to Episode 20 of Profiles in Franceformation. In this episode, I speak to Jen Lesaigle, who has lived all over the world and settled in France with her French husband, many years after they originally met and lost touch. We jumped right in talking about her adventures, navigating OFII during COVID and she'll share how she started a pet concierge business helping people navigate bringing their pets to Europe when they move to France. We’ll also hear about… Jen’s experiences dealing with immigration in the UK and how this differed in other countries she has visited or lived in including France, Turkey and Bosnia An unfortunate incident that Jen witnessed at her OFII appointment, highlighting the importance of being respectful, appreciative and keeping your cool with government officials in France Her review of the French healthcare system and the level of care she has received while in France, in comparison to care she received in the US Specific tips from Jen to travel with your pet as easily and stress-free as possible, including how to obtain a passport for your pet Also, a nifty trick to keep a bottle of champagne from going flat once it’s been opened Be sure to check out Jen’s pet concierge business, LJL Collection, to learn more about their available services: https://ljlcollection.co/ If you are considering moving to France like Jen, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	15 Dec 2021	Episode 22: How former “Trailing Spouse” and author Kristin Duncombe created a thriving therapy practice for expats in France	00:53:30
In this episode, I spoke with Geneva based therapist, Kristin Duncombe. Kristin followed her husband, an Italian Argentinian doctor with Médecins Sans Frontières to East Africa and then to Paris, where she began a thriving therapy practice, counseling other trailing spouses living in France for their partner's career. After 10 years in Paris she relocated again to Lyon and now lives just over the border in Geneva, Switzerland. She is the author of two memoirs, Trailing: A Memoir about her time in Uganda and Kenya and Five Flights Up: Sex, Love and Family from Paris to Lyon. In this fascinating conversation, we also learn about: A dramatic moment Kristin experienced while living in Kenya and how France felt like an escape hatch after arriving in 2001 How she prepared for a nightmare of a day when needing to register as a travailleur indépendant at URSSAF and was delightfully surprised with the reality of being in and out of the appointment in fifteen minutes What Kristin did to get her name into the community once she received her right to work and how her private practice took off The challenges Kristin experienced shortly after starting her own private practice in France in terms of social charges and taxes Kristin’s perspective on raising her children in France, including her experience sending her children to public schools in France Her move to Lyon from Paris and why she says she was dragged there “kicking and screaming”, and eventually how she moved to Geneva, Switzerland from Lyon The cultural differences between the rigid, negative attitude one can find in France and how this can be challenging to adjust to as an American Be sure to check out Kristin’s website here: https://www.kristinduncombe.com/ Click here to purchase your own copy of Kristin’s two books: Five Flights Up: Sex, Love, and Family from Paris to Lyon https://amzn.to/3HhModo Trailing: A Memoir: https://amzn.to/3HbOiMu If you are considering moving to France like Kristin, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	22 Nov 2021	Bonus Episode: Interview with Allison Grant Lounes, Creator of Your Franceformation	00:51:15
In this special bonus episode of Profiles in Franceformation, our online business manager Chelley Wild interviews Your Franceformation's creator, Allison Grant Lounes, to talk about how she first moved to France, the challenges she faced when she first arrived, and what inspired her to start helping others make the move. Allison Grant Lounes is a consultant helping clients move to France, and the author of Foolproof French Visas and the Five Decisions Big Dreamers Make Before Their Franceformation. She's also the creator of online courses, including Fast Track to France, the Complete French Business Incubator and Intro to Microentrepreneur. She's admin of the Americans in France Facebook group with over 14,000 members and creator of the unique Franceformation system, helping dozens of clients annually to bring their dreams of moving to France, to reality. In this special interview, we talk about: How Allison fell in love with learning French and with the idea of going to France after her aunt spent a year doing a postdoc in Paris Her experiences studying French at the Middlebury College French Language School, and how that prepared her for actually speaking French when she arrived in France Her year studying abroad with Columbia University at Reid Hall, and why she decided to enroll directly in a French university to come back to Paris The administrative challenges of learning how to be a grownup in a foreign country and a foreign language, and why she thinks it's so difficult to navigate French bureaucracy The one secret she tells her clients about how to actually get help from a French administration The loneliness of living in France as a student with the intent to stay, and why she wishes she'd integrated the American community in France sooner Her favorite parts about living in France ...and more If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	22 Dec 2021	Starting over in France after 30 years: How Suzanne Grosso Vidal went from feeling like ‘Emily in Paris’ to feeling like Benjamin Button	00:59:48
In this episode, I interview Suzanne Grosso Vidal, who first moved to France in 1992 with her French husband. After having two children in France and living in 5 other countries, she returned to France to be with her daughter, and had to start the immigration process over from the beginning. In this episode, she shares with us what it was like to live in France as a young mom, and how much things have changed since she moved back. In this episode, we’ll hear about: What spontaneous decision originally brought Suzanne to France and the various countries that she has lived in throughout her years abroad as a trailing spouse and expat Suzanne’s experience dealing with administrative issues when she first arrived in France in the early 90’s and how that process has changed over the years as she now works toward obtaining her French citizenship Her visits to OFII and integration classes now despite being married to a Frenchman and raising three French children The real life ‘Emily in Paris’ moment Suzanne lived when she first arrived in France, right down to being corrected while ordering a baguette at the boulangerie The benefits and support Suzanne found through the expat group, Message, shortly after arriving in France and having her first child Her experience raising bilingual children in France, as well as some of their experiences visiting the US The other countries Suzanne has lived in throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and the comparison of these various places to the US and France Suzanne’s experiences with French customer service in different facets of life including in a shop, restaurant, and her kids’ schools The project she has been working on throughout COVID, eventually hoping to provide advice and recommendations to other expats, trailing spouses or folks visiting the places she has lived And of course, her favorite French foods but don’t expect to find Suzanne in a French patisserie anytime soon! Hear why! Be sure to check out Suzanne's website here: http://www.suzannegrossovidal.com If you are considering moving to France like Suzanne, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	05 Jan 2022	Episode 24: “Come with an open mind” - a conversation with Francie Plough Seder, an intercultural mentor at CrossCultural Directions, improving understanding and communication across cultures	01:04:05
Welcome to Episode #24 of the Profiles in Franceformation Podcast. I’m your host Allison Grant Lounes. In this episode I interviewed Francie Plough Seder who was born in the US and has lived half her life in the States and the other half in France. As a result, her development of cross-cultural awareness has been both empirical and professional. Francie has spent all of her career in education-related professions, working with students of all ages. For nearly 20 years, Francie has worked in cross-cultural exchange with a focus on interculturalism. She helped found and direct a study abroad program for American students and created a cultural mentor program for French American university students to learn about each other’s customs and traditions. She has raised three bicultural children which nourished Francie’s belief that the ability to navigate cultures leads to greater wellbeing. Currently, Francie is involved in several professional projects to promote cultural awareness, including creating her company CrossCultural Directions, which proposed workshops to activate skills for better understanding and communication across cultures. For more information about Crosscultural Directions, you can check the following links to their website, Facebook and Instagram pages: https://crossculturaldirections.com/en/crosscultural-directions/ https://www.facebook.com/crossculturaldirections2021 https://www.instagram.com/crossculturaldirections/ If you are considering moving to France like Francie, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	19 Jan 2022	Episode 25: One year later and how things have changed, a conversation with Richard Nahem of Eye Prefer Paris	00:44:59
Welcome to Episode #25 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes and this week, one year after our initial interview, I speak again with Richard Nahem, Paris tour guide and creator of Eye Prefer Paris. This week, we talk about how Paris has changed since Covid, how tourism has been bouncing back and the new project he has created while tours were not possible. In this episode, we also talk about: What impact the pandemic has had on Richard’s tour guide business and the method of providing virtual tours of Paris that has proven to be quite successful How the pandemic has changed the tourism industry in Paris, as well as the changes we have noticed in shops, restaurants, museums within our local neighborhoods in Paris and the Parisian suburbs The accidental blog post that spurred a successful postcard business for Richard Other income streams that Richard has found or created in the last year Positive changes post-lockdown that Richard is enjoying about his neighborhood, the Marais, and some not so positive changes that have brought a lot of traffic to his neck of the woods The upcoming summer Olympics in Paris that has ramped up construction projects throughout the city Differences between the allotted vacation time in France and the US To order your own set of Richard’s door postcards, be sure to check his Etsy store here https://www.etsy.com/shop/EyePreferParis You can also find more information about Richard’s tours on his website and blog https://www.ipreferparis.net/ https://eyepreferparistours.com/ If you are considering moving to France like Richard, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!
	26 Jan 2022	Episode 26: A conversation with Sumner Hargrove, a Texan who followed a Flight of Fancy to live her most authentic life in Paris as an interior decorator	01:05:36
Welcome to Episode #26 of Profiles in Franceformation. This is your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, our guest is Sumner Hargrove, a native Texan who left the financial sector on Wall Street to work in Paris at age 30, raised multi-lingual twins in Paris, and finally went back to school for a *diplôme d'état* to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an interior decorator. She created her interior decorating agency, *Flights of Fancy* in Paris in 2018. Through our conversation, you’ll also learn: How an advertisement on a bus encouraged her to overcome the hurdle and challenging experience of learning French at the age of 30 years old, and what she did to increase her confidence while speaking French The steps she took to “reinvent” herself in order to work in France How €27,64 almost stood in the way of Sumner’s ability to gain French nationality *The magic and power of the French words “je suis désolé de vous déranger*" What Sumner has learned in creating and developing friendships in France, and how this differs from the same experience in the US The decision to raise her twins to be bilingual and what steps she took to ensure they successfully learned French and English The steps Sumner has taken to integrate herself into her community, whether that is in English or in French, and how she has stayed true to herself throughout it all In what ways Sumner feels French when she goes back to Texas, and in what ways she feels very American when interacting with the French What Sumner loves about living in France, and her suggested route to anyone wishing to explore Paris or for Americans with an interest in history or chateaux The part of Paris that inspires Sumner’s creativity and how it has been the source of some of her best ideas, including her business’ tagline What Sumner means when she says she’s in “the business of daring” and how she combined the skillsets of both her parents in her current job Her favorite French meals, which seem to pay a bit of an homage to her Texan roots To learn more about Sumner’s company, Flights of Fancy: https://www.flights-of-fancy.paris Be sure to check out her YouTube and social media pages as well! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYctsP-8Kef48-gZADxKdPg https://www.facebook.com/paris.interior.design/ https://www.instagram.com/the.only.parisian.sumner/?hl=en If you are considering moving to France like Sumner, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!**

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