Have you ever wondered who is actually behind the screen when you read our updates?
We know some of you aren't always sure which one of us is posting at any given moment. Honestly, we're not sure it matters too much! But we do try our best to remember to tag our posts Jen or Jenna. After all, we are the two distinct voices bringing you these daily outpourings of love, laughter, and—let’s be real—the occasional bout of frustration that comes with navigating expat life here in France.
Since our community is growing so fast, we thought it was high time for a proper introduction.
The Tech Genius vs. The "Geriatric" Mother: Who is Who?
On paper, we couldn’t be more different. But somehow, it just works.
Meet Jenna
Jenna is the younger, tech-savvy half of this partnership. She is the calm, organized anchor of the operation. Married to Lee, she’s a busy mum to two gorgeous girls and a handsome son—who, in an exciting recent twist, has officially made Jenna and Lee grandparents!
Meet Jen
Then there’s me. I’m Jen—the older, white-haired one of the duo. I’m married to Bob, and our daughter (affectionately known as OG) isn't actually much older than Jenna’s eldest. Do the math on that one, and you’ll realize why the medical professionals slapped me with the lovely label of "Geriatric Mother" when I was pregnant. How rude!
How a French Bakery Habit Sparked a Partnership
About 18 months ago, Facebook decided to monetise My Life in Languedoc. Before anyone gets too excited and thinks we’re rolling in euros, let me assure you: it is a lot of work for what essentially amounts to pennies.
But for me? It was a genuinely thrilling milestone.
I originally started this little blog as a form of therapy because I wasn't coping with our new life in France as well as I thought I would. Suddenly, Facebook was noticing it. Sure, the payout only bought me about one croissant a week—which absolutely satisfied my French boulangerie cravings—but if I’m being completely honest, it fell slightly short of my grander, hidden aspirations.
On one particular "this is so much work, why do I do this?" kind of day, my mate Jenna stepped in. She asked if I wanted a Sous Chef.
I did not. I made that very plain!
What I wanted—what I actually needed—was a full-on partner in crime. I needed someone to share the heavy lifting, help our content reach a wider audience, and jolly each other along when expat life gets difficult. And trust me, it does. At that point, I’d had more writer’s block than a loft partition.
The Power of Two Different Perspectives on Life in France
That is exactly where the "opposites attract" magic happens.
Jenna brings real, lived experience to the table, just a completely different version than mine. She’s navigating:
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Raising kids in the French school system.
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Watching her children grow up thoroughly French.
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The sheer terror of walking through the school gates on day one with absolutely zero French vocabulary.
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Building a house completely from scratch after buying a plot of land.
Jenna shares her journey in the funniest, most vivid way possible. Her writing just pulls you right in and makes you feel like you're living it right alongside her. It’s incredibly clever.
We don't agree on everything either, which is what keeps things interesting for you and gives us a massive amount of laughs behind the scenes. If you want to see our differences in action, just ask us both if we want a coffee. That'll show you.
We’re just getting started with this new venture, but we have a sneaking suspicion it might resonate with quite a few of you.
Thank You For Being Here
Whether you've been here since the "one-croissant-a-week" days or you just joined us yesterday, we genuinely love having you with us in this community. There is so much more to come!
From now on, keep an eye out for the Jen or Jenna tags at the bottom of our posts to see who is talking to you. (Though, if I'm being completely honest, I would love to claim a lot of Jenna’s posts as my own. They really are epic.)
Jen x
Are you navigating your own move to France, or already living the dream in the South of France? Let us know in the comments below which side of the country—and which one of us—you relate to most!
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