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.l ..read more

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 F ..read more

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 Cert ..read more

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 e ..read more

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 Par ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

Welcome to episode 66 of hte Profiles in Franceformation podcast. I’m yourhost, 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 ..read more

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 i ..read more