Embracing a foreign land: A journey that will indelibly alter your course in life, in ways you may never have anticipated
Lisa Pellise, a 26-year-old native of Nice, France, embarked on an exciting adventure when she joined Brot für die Welt in Hamburg, Germany, in January 2023. Her journey began through the Volunteer for International Experience (VIE) program, a French government initiative that offers international internships to young professionals aged 18 to 28.
Initially, Lisa's role at Brot für die Welt focused on digital marketing and content creation. Her aim was to increase international visibility and engagement for the organisation. However, her responsibilities expanded, and she also worked on creating 'Life Abroad,' a magazine with translated content from German. Later, she shifted her focus towards data analysis.
Lisa initially planned to stay at Brot für die Welt for a year and then move to another part of the world. However, her plans took an unexpected turn, as she recently signed a new contract as a Junior Analyst in Hamburg, extending her stay in the city.
Living abroad has been a transformative experience for Lisa. Despite the challenges she faced, especially with language barriers in a professional and everyday context, she learned more than she could have imagined. The short, dark days in winter were a change for Lisa, but she found comfort in the rhythm of the city's water everywhere.
Moving to another country requires acceptance of challenges, Lisa advises. She encourages researching the culture, language, and daily life at the destination. Lisa prepared practically for her move by organizing everything before she left, finding an apartment, and improving her German language skills through online courses at the Goethe-Institut.
Lisa's first impression of Germany was cold and rainy, with a gray and freezing climate compared to what she was used to. Nevertheless, Hamburg was a pleasant surprise for her, and she fell in love with its charm quickly. Lisa enjoyed working at Brot für die Welt because her team accepted her and helped her find a shared apartment.
Lisa's experience shows that life can have unexpected twists, both professionally and personally, and it takes time to settle in when moving to a new country. However, she suggests not worrying about making mistakes and being open to feeling uncomfortable as part of the learning process.
In addition to her work, Lisa created a video about her experiences at Brot für die Welt as part of the VIE program. She wishes she had given herself more time to explore other parts of Germany instead of focusing solely on work during her time at the organisation. Masks were mandatory in public transportation for the first few months after her arrival.
As Lisa continues her journey as a Junior Analyst in Hamburg, her experiences living and working abroad have taught her the importance of creativity, patience, and adaptability in communication. She looks forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
