Moving to France is often described as a dream. But what happens when it doesn’t feel like one?

In this episode of Living the Dream: French Riviera, Cecile Liconnet speaks with Valentina Gargano, an independent educational consultant, who first moved to the South of France in her mid-forties full of hope, only to realise that life there was far more complex than expected. The excitement faded, professional stability was hard to find, and eventually, she made the difficult decision to leave and return home.

Later, something pulled her back. This time, without illusions, but with experience, clarity, and a deeper understanding of what it really takes to live and work in France.

What followed was not an overnight success story, but a slow, thoughtful professional shift. Drawing on years of teaching and personal experience, Valentina gradually built an independent practice helping families navigate university choices across Europe. A niche role shaped by trust, word of mouth, and real expertise.

This conversation explores disappointment, resilience, and the courage it takes to try again. It speaks honestly about failed relocations, rebuilding confidence, finding legitimacy in a new country, and creating a professional life that finally feels sustainable.

🎧 This is the full-length episode. A condensed 28-minute radio edition is available on the Living the Dream – Radio Edition channel.

Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com

Suzanne’s story is a powerful illustration that building a life abroad rarely follows a straight line.

In this episode, Cecile Liconnet sits down with Suzanne Shields, who first arrived in the South of France in 2000 after a career as a British Airways stewardess. What followed were multiple relocations and a series of professional reinventions, from villa management to running a creative ceramic café in Biot, and eventually creating her own bespoke cake business, Les Gâteaux Sucrés.

Together, they explore what it really takes to make relocation work long term: resilience, adaptability, strong work ethics, and the willingness to learn the language and adjust to local culture. Suzanne shares honest insights into working in France as a foreigner, navigating administration, adapting to the French palate, dealing with seasonality, and why effort and integration matter when settling into a local community.

This episode also touches on the realities of entrepreneurship in France, the importance of evolving your offer, and how community, word of mouth, and consistency quietly build a sustainable business over time.

A grounded, inspiring conversation about relocation, work, and finding your place in France without shortcuts. Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com

What does learning French really look like when you are living in France and trying to find your place there?

In this episode, Cecile Liconnet speaks with Patricia Pedditzi a Riviera-based French teacher whose approach is built around immersion, everyday situations, and cultural understanding. Drawing on her own experience living abroad and years spent working with expats, she explains why real-life practice matters far more than textbook exercises.

The conversation also touches on career transitions and the practical support available in France when you want to change direction professionally. From business incubators to guidance on starting something new, this episode offers a realistic look at how people build confidence, work, and stability over time on the French Riviera.

A thoughtful conversation about language, integration, and finding a professional rhythm that fits real life in France. Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France.https://livingthedreampodcast.com