Welcome to the Network of English-Speaking Women!

The Network was founded in 1993 with the goal of providing a forum for communication and exchange between English-speaking women in and around Freiburg, Germany. By putting women in contact with one another and encouraging the exchange of information and experience – both personal and professional – the Network offers fun and informative evenings in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

Our next Meeting - Friday, November 13th! 

Interculture at the Network!

The Coordinating Team thought it would be interesting and insightful to convene this forum given that many of our Network women have lived intercultural relationships over the years, whilst for some it may be a new experience. Perhaps we can learn from each other’s successes and mistakes! We asked the same questions of all three of our speakers and each one has put together a presentation based on these questions describing her particular intercultural lifestyle. Imagine you’re 22 years old, American, and you’ve just graduated from Ohio University and decide to accept a teaching job in Japan, advertised in the newspaper. Lisa Grathwohl thought she was going to glamorous Tokyo, but ended up instead in Obihiro, Hokkaido, in the middle of nowhere on a two-year contract. Fortunately, she met her German husband-to-be there and, thanks to an earthquake destroying her apartment and everything in it, the two were thrown together and ended up living in his apartment. Three children, at least 10 moves and 33 years later, Lisa finally ends up back in Germany in her husband’s home town. Some kids born into patchwork families immediately embrace different cultures, languages and countries. Indian-born (to Indian and German parents), US-raised, German citizen Sabina Sahni had lived in all three countries at a young age, growing up in California. After meeting and marrying her English husband in Los Angeles, Sabina felt that it was important not to ‘trail’ her husband in his career, so they decided to move to a different third country, new to both of them, and headed to Singapore! The move was the right decision. Their next move took them to England and later Germany where Sabina and her husband could experience life in each other’s ‘home’ country.
Münchener Kindl Ariane Schüßler, similar to Sabina, grew up in a German/Greek patchwork family. She feels her life has always been culturally colourful and centred on people. Being curious by nature, she wanted to learn more about the world and expand her horizons, which is how she found herself as a young and adventurous traveller in Canada. For over 30 years, Ariane made Canada her home. Eleven years ago, together with her German husband and twin girls, the young family moved full circle and returned to Germany. Ariane says that moving countries taught her early that identity isn’t fixed to one place, it’s something you keep building.

If you would like to join us please register by November 11th with registration@nesw.de or use the form below.

The Coordinating Team