Trish Jasinski, 54: Joie de Vivre

Imagine sending one email, and suddenly, you’re moving to Paris. For some, pivoting in life like this may induce anxiety. The domino effect of change and uncertainty as to how it will all unfold can feel overwhelming, too much of a gamble for some. But for others, their hearts flutter at the idea of change and the opportunities that moving to a new place, embracing a new culture, and diving into a new workflow can bring. We have one life, and we can make it what we want. All we have to do is muster up the courage to embrace the uncertainty and remain open to the unknown. Trish Jasinski did just that—and continues to do so. The result? A life of joy.

Despite not getting her first passport until her early 30s, Trish showed no fear in leaving Boston in 2008 for Paris. Thanks to her career trajectory, she gained valuable experience and skills while also growing accustomed to and comfortable pivoting when opportunities came knocking. After graduating with a degree in economics, she initially started her career at a brokerage firm in North Carolina. Then she worked at a radio station, a traditional ad agency, and then an online ad agency at the height of the dot-com boom, where she rode the wave. But when it crashed, Trish found herself changing course once more, both in her career and her personal life.

Moving back to New England, Trish took a job in marketing at an industrial automation company, which gave her the chance to travel internationally for work, learn a lot along the way, and pursue a Master of Business Administration. However, changes in the company’s management suddenly meant moving once more—this time to a state she had no interest in relocating to. So, what did Trish do? She created a new opportunity for herself by sending an email to the head of the company’s European operation, inquiring about work overseas. 

For over a decade, Trish has called France her home and hasn’t looked back. During COVID, she decided to venture out once more when she traded in her small Parisian apartment for a roomier château in the countryside. Having retired from corporate life, she now is embracing her newest adventure: opening Château de Gère’s doors to host retreats and events, all while still exploring her surroundings, enjoying the simple pleasures, and remaining open to what life has to offer because, as the saying goes, “The only thing constant in life is change.”

How old are you?
Fifty-four.

Are you married? Kids? Pets?
Divorced; no kids, but a cat (Marguerite), who is the queen of the castle, as well as a few chickens that I recently adopted.

Where are you from and where are you currently based?
I’m originally from the U.S. (born and raised in Connecticut) and moved to France from Boston in 2008. I currently live in the beautiful Vallée d’Ossau which is located at the foot of the Pyrénées mountains in southwest France.

You’ve worked in and traveled to several different countries, including the UK. What propelled you to take a position overseas initially?
I had been working for an international company outside of Boston and when a new management team came in and wanted to move my department (among others) halfway across the country (to a location I was not interested in living), it seemed like a good opportunity to request an international assignment. Being single at the time without any dependents, it was easy for me to pick up and move, so I sent an email to the head of the European operation and asked if I might transfer to their marketing team. To my surprise, he was open to the idea and voilà, I was moving to France!

When you moved to France, you were living in Paris. What about the French countryside enticed you enough to move away from the world-renowned city?
I spent over a decade in Paris and felt like I had a really good run in the city, but for the last few years of my time there, I felt ready to go somewhere quieter with a bit more space. And then COVID hit—and being confined to a small Parisian apartment was the push I needed to make the change. So I put my apartment on the market with a plan to move to the suburbs, but when a friend mentioned that I could buy a château for the price of a Paris apartment, I was intrigued and started to look at château listings.

You purchased Château de Gère in 2020. How did you come across this piece of property?
At the time of selling my Parisian apartment, my 50th birthday was approaching, and because COVID limited my options for a big adventure, I decided to go “château shopping” in the southwest of France. Half serious about actually buying something, I picked a location and set up a few appointments in the surrounding area. The third château I looked at was love at first sight, and I made an offer the same day.

What was the impetus for turning the château from a home into a business too?
I hadn’t bought the château for the purpose of opening a business, in fact, I really didn’t have a plan. I had a global role at a large corporation and was working remotely, which allowed me to move to the château full time. And as I discovered more about the Vallée d’Ossau and had friends and family who visited overwhelmingly agree how beautiful the area is and how much it has to offer, I realized there could be an opportunity for a business once I retired from corporate life. But that opportunity came sooner than expected when organizational changes impacted my role.

You host retreats and events at Château de Gère. How do you go about crafting those experiences?
My approach is simple: I start with what I find interesting and exciting and build it out from there. I love learning about different cultures, exploring charming villages, and sampling local gastronomy, so I created a “Discover the Vallée d’Ossau” retreat. I’m also interested in a healthy lifestyle, so I crafted a “Wellness with a bit of pampering” weekend getaway. One day, I came across a social post by a certified brain health coach/gourmet chef and have since teamed up with her to host some “Cooking for Cognition” classes.

I’m also trying to improve my French, so I partnered with a local French teacher and, together, we created “French Camp,” a one-week immersive language and culture course. And because there is so much to do in the area and people have different interests, I’m offering a “build your own adventure” option, where I provide a base accommodation and meal package and guests can choose the activities according to their specific preferences. With all of my retreats and events, I try to incorporate some aspect of the local area while supporting the businesses in my community.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of hosting retreats?
Seeing guests enjoying themselves and telling me that they will be coming back.

What makes the Vallée d’Ossau, where the château is located, so special?
Where do I start? I believe the Vallée d’Ossau is a hidden gem. I was not at all familiar with the area before buying the château, and the more time I spent here, I realized I hit the jackpot. It has so much to offer, from sporty activities to a rich culture and history to local gastronomy to charming villages to absolutely stunning scenery in every direction. And the people are just wonderful! It really has something for everyone—and it’s a bit off the beaten path, so it’s not overrun with tourists and you get an authentic experience.

Having worked in marketing, radio, and internet startups over the years, you’ve acquired a lot of different tools in your toolbelt, so to speak. Which ones were you surprised to use and grateful to have when becoming an entrepreneur?
I am so grateful for the opportunities I had in my career to learn and prepare myself to become an entrepreneur. For example, some of the foundational things like writing a business plan, developing a marketing strategy, managing a budget, and developing partnerships came relatively easy thanks to my work experience. I can’t think of anything specific that I was surprised to be able to leverage, but I think between my collective experience and the clear vision I had for what I wanted to do really helped in starting my business.

As an American who has lived in France for nearly two decades, what advice do you have for other expats as they adjust to a new culture, a new pace of life, and/or navigate periods of loneliness?
Make the most of it—be curious, step out of your comfort zone, find your people, and have fun.

What assumptions about French culture and life do you think most Americans get wrong?
That the French are rude and don’t work a lot—these couldn’t be further from the truth in my experience. I am grateful to have met so many wonderful French people who are incredibly kind, patient, and generous. And having worked in France for over a decade, while we do get more vacation time here than most Americans, I’ve found that the French work hard—and because they take the time to relax and recharge, they are also very innovative and productive. I never appreciated how important this was until I moved abroad.

Favorite French dish you love or have come to love?
Magret de canard (duck).

Paint a picture for us—what’s a typical day look like for you?
It starts with coffee and prioritizing my to-do list for the day, which often depends on the weather and if it’s going to be an indoor or outdoor project day. If I’m running a retreat or hosting guests, I will already have a detailed list with timings to keep things on track and will start working through it, from preparing and serving meals to leading activities to grocery and baguette runs to cleaning up, all while ensuring my guests are happy and comfortable.

What’s your earliest travel memory? Did you travel a lot growing up?
I didn’t get my first passport until I was in my early 30s, so I didn’t travel too extensively before then. As a kid, family vacations were mostly camping near the beach, of which I have a lot of great memories. As I got older and moved away from home, I enjoyed road trips with friends. And once I started working in large, international companies, my traveling really took off, and I’ve now visited about 40 different countries.

Not only are you living in a place many dream of traveling to, but you’re also only a short plan or train ride away from so many other bucket list destinations. How do you approach traveling and seeing new places now?
When I first moved to France, I really had the travel bug. But having moved here alone, I didn’t have anyone to travel with, so I started a Meetup group for weekend travel around Europe. About once a month, I would pick a destination and post my flight time and hotel and see who wanted to join. We’d meet at the gate and go from there. It was a great way to visit a lot of places on my bucket list while meeting new friends. Since moving to the countryside, I don’t travel as much and don’t have the desire to do so like I once did. There is still so much to discover where I am, and between my business, château maintenance, and gardening, I don’t have much time to get away.

You’ve navigated periods of great change in your life. What gave you the confidence to take the leap despite uncertainty?
I think it’s because with every opportunity, I tend to ask myself, What’s the worst that can happen, and what’s my plan B? When I moved to France, I knew if I didn’t like it, I could just move back to the U.S. And it doesn’t always work out as expected—like when I moved to London and decided my heart was in France—so plan B was finding another job that would allow me to return to France. I’ve recently started a business and hope it will be successful, but, if not, I’ll do something different. I’m generally comfortable with uncertainty (I believe that attitude plays a key role), I try to keep a positive attitude, look for opportunities, and focus on what’s possible—and it often works out. And if it doesn’t, then I look for what I can change.

What advice would you give to someone looking to make a big life move?
If you think you’re going to look back and regret not doing it, then go for it. But be smart about it, put in the effort, and stay positive.

Do you think age has influenced your perspective on success?
Definitely—when I was younger, success was about my job title and salary…now it’s about enjoying the simple pleasures in life.

What are your ambitions for the future?
To be happy and healthy.

What are your three life non-negotiables (i.e., the things you can’t live without)?
1. My family. Although we’re an ocean apart, I’m very close with my family and am grateful for their love and support.

2. Good friends. I feel lucky to have so many wonderful friends in my life, from those back home who I’ve known forever to those I met through living in Paris to relatively new friends I’ve made here where I currently live.

3. Being happy in my environment. I’ve always been a bit picky about where I live, willing to sacrifice other things to live in a place where I’m comfortable and content, whether it’s the actual dwelling, neighborhood or surrounding area.

Editor’s Note: Some answers may have been condensed and/or edited for clarity.

Connect with Trish: LinkedIn

Learn more about and visit Château de Gère: Website / Facebook / Instagram