Let’s start at the very beginning!
This is me a bunch of years ago, gazing thoughtfully into the horizon somewhere around Sainte-Maxime. Making plans for the future, most likely envisioning my upcoming adventures... I cherished books (which I still do), found solace in nature, and my dream job was to be an adventurer. Not surprisingly, my favorite books were "White Fang" and "The Little Prince."
Years later, the future has taken a slightly different path. I continue to dream of explorations and have embarked on quite a few. Along my journey, I've discovered that adventures can be found wherever we are, within ourselves and in our everyday lives.
I'm grateful that I set my books aside for a while and ventured out on my own adventures, as that's how I gained my most valuable lessons. Eventually, the day came when I found myself dreaming once again of a room filled with books and a sense of belonging.
That's when I embarked on my most recent adventure: settling in the country where I spent some of the most cherished moments of my childhood - Portugal. A real-life adventure where sunny days are synonymous with expansive sandy beaches, as much as they are with seemingly endless queues at various administrative offices where my dreams encountered reality.
And that is (one of) the story(-ies) of me. Not yet the story of What The French? I know. But we're getting there...
So here we are….
It actually began during a visit to my family in Normandie. My aunt and I were spending the afternoon catching up by the fireplace when she told me about her new neighbors. She explained that they are British, just like the previous neighbors, and that both families had found it challenging to navigate French bureaucracy. They soon became good friends after she offered to assist them with their administrative tasks.
My aunt excels at administration - it was her profession until health reasons unfortunately confined her to home. This meant she had both the time and expertise to help her new friends while improving her English skills. The challenge was her limited language proficiency at the time, so she asked if I could support her with translation. That's precisely when we began collaborating on solving administrative challenges.
At that time, I was establishing my new life in Lisbon and contemplating my professional future. I had left London a few months earlier to settle with my partner under the Portuguese sun. After a few sunburns (and extra kilos of pasteis de nata), it was time to rediscover my professional identity.
In London, I had worked as a personal assistant for a wealthy international investor with interests in France and the US. Working in an international environment was exhilarating and stimulating as I was constantly learning - something I truly missed! However, if I'm honest, my employer wasn't the most personable individual, and I was aspiring to greater independence and more meaningful human connections.
So, back at my aunt's place, after several hours of problem-solving and some lengthy digressions, came the eureka moment. Naturally, I asked: "Why wouldn't you make a business out of it?"
Too modest, she replied that she wasn't certain she had what it takes. Additionally, she felt her English was insufficient to start a business. So I wondered: could I help? As it's often easier to believe in people we love than in ourselves, I began to envision developing What The French for us both.
And that's how it all began.
At that point, What The French? was merely an idea that swiftly evolved into a rapidly growing venture. Just like relocating to a new country, founding a company is an adventure. Having lived in three different countries by then, I was well-acquainted with the challenges. I knew that most often, all you need is a helping hand. I wanted to be that hand and support people on their journey.
At What The French, we are passionate about what we do, approaching our work with dedication and attentiveness. We strive to provide you with the finest support so you can fully enjoy life wherever it feels right for you.
