Welcome to Episode #23 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and 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: https://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: 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
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