And it has . A year later and the restaurant is doing well and we are currently opening a second location for Le Petit Zinc . We are much the wiser this time around , having gone through it before .
LOVING IN THAILAND
Has your relationship been affected by the move ? Throughout our relationship we always had different projects going on – buying an apartment in Paris , organising our wedding or planning our world tour . Our relationship has thrived on having a new interesting project to discuss , a shared challenge and creating something together .
The only downside was that we were always talking about work and having no personal time , especially in the beginning . We eventually agreed on some rules about setting time aside for us and not talking or focusing on the restaurant .
Do you have any other advice for couples thinking of a similar move ? I would suggest trying small projects first to see if you work well together before taking on such a huge one . Working together can make or break a relationship – even without the move across the world !
THAILAND VERSUS FRANCE
Have you experienced any culture shocks since moving to Thailand from France ? All in all , every difference has been positive . The Thai people are very easy going and extremely friendly . In terms of business culture , spending time with family and friends is more important than climbing the corporate ladder . We have also learned that it is a big ‘ no-no ’ in Thailand to reprimand an employee in front of others , this would cause such embarrassment that the employee may quit . These differences fascinate me and I believe that it is my responsibility to recognize and adapt to them the best I can .