About me
I grew up in East Germany and despite only being allowed to travel to a selected few countries, I had always been interested in other cultures and foreign languages. In my first year of secondary school, the Berlin Wall came down. Suddenly, everything was different and the possibilities were endless. Of course, this new freedom raised its own questions: Where should I start? What else is out there? This was my first culture shock.
I started travelling to other countries and continued to learn foreign languages. As part of my degree course I spent a year at a university in London. Living in this large, metropolitan city was a dream come true: being right in the hustle and bustle and close to all the cultural experiences. But it could also feel lonely at times to live in a big anonymous city.
After finishing my degree, I moved to London and found a job with an international trade organisation, where I worked in PR and marketing for a few years. Moving here was my second big culture shock and I coped in part by continuing German traditions at home. Luckily, my new British husband didn’t mind. As our family grew over the years, we speak English, German and other languages at home (whatever the kids learn at school or pick up randomly) and I have adapted the German traditions or blended them with British ones. For instance, my Christmas and Easter decorations are authentically German woodcraft ones and Santa visits us on Christmas Eve, though we also have stockings on Christmas Day morning.
When we swapped the big, anonymous city for a small town in the Shires, as they say here, I felt like a fish out of water again. Life here was slower and while I could explore a completely new local area I also had to navigate the practical things in another country, like renting/buying a house and applying for a school place, and of course, building a new social network.
Over the years, I settled in, made friends, tried new hobbies I never would have considered before and now can’t imagine living anywhere else.
However, workwise I reached the point so many of us hit at one point or another: my job left me unfulfilled and, not knowing what I wanted to do next, I felt stuck. When the opportunity to train as a coach came along, I took it. I have always been coaching without noticing: friends, colleagues, junior staff members, people I’ve just met who tell me their stories… and I’ve always enjoyed helping people solve their problems.
The training and coaching I’ve received brought me clarity about what I want to do next (I just wish I’d had it sooner!) and it has changed my outlook, boosted my confidence and allowed me to reinvent myself again. Now I help others who have relocated to settle into their new life abroad.
Training and Qualifications
I have an M.A. in English Literature and Culture, Spanish Literature and German as a Foreign Language, which helps me see different perspectives of other cultures.
I am a certified coach, credited through the ICF, EMCC and AC, having trained with Optimus Coach Academy. It is important to me to have relevant training and a certification. I adhere to the ICF Code of Ethics and I am a member of the Association for Coaching.
