The expat
community in France abounds with brilliant voices and captivating tales of
abandoned homes, lost love, endless adventure, culinary discovery and personal
enrichment. It’s those who offer a different perspective on life abroad that stand
out from the growing glut of Franco-focused novels, vignettes and blogs.
Katia
Grimmer-Laversanne, an Australian who moved to Paris in 2001 after finding love
online, cemented herself as distinguishable storyteller with the Katia &
Kyliemac podcast, an internet radio show she co-hosted from 2006 to early 2012
that addressed some of the more peculiar and amusing elements to expat life.
When her co-host left France to embark on a new adventure, Katia felt she still
had more stories to tell.
As of last
week she’s back with The France Project,
a new podcast that explores different themes about France from different
perspectivesI was beyond humbled when she asked to interview me for the first episode
(catch me at 22 minutes !), alongside Ann
Mah who reads
a beautiful story of how she fell in love with France as a little girl. You’ll
be hooked immediately, as I was, to Katia’s natural verve and passion for France !
Describe what you love about France in three words.
Food, wine, (the) challenge
With family so far away, what has kept you in Paris for over 10
years?
My French husband, first and foremost. We met online, at a time
when I was just finishing my studies in Australia and he had just started a
good job in Paris. It made sense to start our life together in France and we
simply haven't left yet! We both have jobs that we love and that has played a
big role in our decision to stay here for now.
Beyond the practical reasons for staying, one of the
things I love most about our life here in France is the opportunity to
meet so many interesting people. These encounters continue to inspire,
challenge and invigorate me, and I'm always pushing myself to do, see and create more
thanks to the people I've met here. Of course, Paris as a city has a
history of inspiring creativity, and it continues to do so for me on a daily
basis.
I'm not sure I would have had this same creative experience in
my own country - living here has taken me out of my comfort zone and
forced me to question my goals and ideas about how I want to live my
life. I've come into my own here, I've found my place in the world, if you
will, and a big part of that is thanks to this country which never ceases to
surprise and challenge me.
That said, I don't think we're meant to stay in one place,
really. France is our home for now (and will always play a big role in our
lives because of our familial links to this country), but who knows where the
next years will take us? Perhaps one day we'll be living in Australia - I can
definitely see another version of my podcast happening there, The Australia
Project! But I think that there are opportunities all over the world for people
who are willing to make them happen.
Best place to relax and recharge in France?
Chez mes beau-parents! My in-laws live near Saint-Etienne,
surrounded by some wonderful national parks and since I'm a country girl at
heart (I grew up on a farm in rural Australia), I really enjoy getting outside
with them and breathing fresh air!
My in-laws are also two of the kindest, most generous people I
know, and I am so grateful to have them in my life. My mother-in-law is a
brilliant cook, and my father-in-law is a walking encyclopedia of general
knowledge about everything from wine and cheese to Roman ruins and geology and
everything in between, so we always leave their home feeling nourished in both
body and soul!
But family aside, I'll find any excuse to pick a wine region
and spend a week travelling around the area, visiting vineyards and learning
more about the wine and that region's specialities, and where we always manage
to fit in a tasting or thirteen... It's a wonderful way to discover the
country. I also have a special spot in my heart for Brittany - we have great
memories of wandering along the wild, untamed coastlines in the heart of
winter, hunting for cockles and chipping oysters off the rocks, slurping them
down then and there!
Favorite spots in Paris for a glass of wine and a snack?
Au
Passage (Passage Saint-Sébastien,
75011 Paris). It's much hyped but it's well deserving of the attention (even
with the departure of James Henry, the chef who put it on the map). I've spent
many an evening there with friends, working our way slowly through their
amazing tapas-style creations and enjoying their very well
curated wine list.
Most amusing or frustrating interaction with the French?
I've been here for so long now that things rarely surprise me
anymore! I steel my resolve when I have to deal with any administration or
general services and I grit my teeth and reinvent my question when I don't get
what I need from a public servant or a cranky shopkeeper. Living here has
taught me that the old saying "no is only the beginning of
negotiations" is very true in France, and a little bit of charm goes a
long way!
***
Thank you, Katia! I can't wait to listen to the next episodes of
The
France Project!
For updates on the show and Katia:
