Kerstin

Travel information

I am currently

Activities i am interested in:

enjoying home

Description

Hello! My name is Kerstin, I’ve just turned 54, and I live in southern Germany with my husband Holger (52) and our daughter Finja (18). Our son Jonas (21) has just moved out, living on his own for the first time.

I have been working as a language teacher (English and French, year 5-12) for some 25 years now. I have always felt that it is more of a vocation than a job. I am a very committed person and love teaching and helping my students mastering foreign languages. This year I’m also teaching German as a foreign language to students from the Ukraine.

I was born and raised in northern Germany. After school I spent a year in California working as an au-pair. Throughout my studies (English, French and educational science at the University of Bonn) I travelled the US, GB, France and other Europeans countries plenty of times.

From an early age onwards I have been fascinated by other cultures and found joy in connecting with people from all over the world.

I also lived in Bonn (central Germany) for 17 years, where I met my husband, got married and had our two kids. I am very grateful for my family and truly enjoy being a mom.

In my free-time I like to travel, exploring new cultures. I have always been quite adventurous. Especially in spring and in summer, I love swimming and riding my bike. I’m also very much interested in photography and like to take pictures wherever I travel to or at home. When I have the time, I indulge in abstract acrylic painting on large canvases. I also appreciate a good read, tasting new food (resp. cooking and baking it), I love to plan our next travel adventures and enjoy music. I’m an avid concert-goer and love to sing along but do not really play any instruments. I have been organizing house concerts at our home though for about 12 years now, mostly hosting singer/songwriters from Canada, the US, GB, and Australia. All in all, being creative looms large in my life.

I’m now looking forward to taking a sabbatical year: From August 2024 to September 2025 I’ll be taking a year off from school. I’ll be travelling the Faroe Islands first (Aug – Sep 24) and would then love to spend a few weeks in Norway (or Sweden or Finland), maybe helping a family with everyday life (chores), teaching English, French or German. For me it’s important to have a cultural exchange, to learn from each other.

From Jan – March 2025, I would like to do some humanitarian work. My life has been blessed so far, and I would like to “give something back.” I hope I can find a school (maybe in India?) that would like me to support their teachers. I’ve never been to India before and would love to learn more about the Indian people, their culture, customs and history.

Interests

Water sports

Politics / Social justice

Nature

Animals

Books

Outdoor activities

Performing arts

Languages

DIY & crafts

Art & design

Gardening

Sustainability

Photography

Movies & TV

Hiking

Drawing & painting

Charity work

Beach

Plant care

Music

Events & social

Cooking & food

Cycling

Culture

Languages

Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Latin: Intermediate
Italian: Beginner

More details about my language interests
I speak a few languages fluently (German, English, French), got some basic knowledge of the Italian language, have tried to learn other languages but never mastered them (Danish, Finnish, Dutch) and would love to learn Faroese, Norwegian and Hindi. I'm interested in teaching and learning - a linguistic exchange!

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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Charity Work

Being an elderly companion

Hospitality/Tourism

Eco Projects

Animal Care

Life at a Farmstay

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Some knowledge of:  

Art Projects

Babysitting and creative play

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Able to teach about:  

Languages

Teaching

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Helping around the house

More details about your skills

I graduated from Bonn university in 1998 (after 5 years of studying) with a degree (the First State Exam) in English, French and Educational Science (for secondary education I and II, teaching students from year 5-13). After two years of practical studies at a school (Gymnasium) in Cologne, I obtained my second degree (the Second State Exam).
During my practical studies (in the school holidays) I taught English in Oxford, England on various occasions as the German course leader.
I have been working as a language teacher (English and French, year 5-12) for some 25 years now. I have always felt that it is more of a vocation than a job. I am a very committed person and love teaching and helping my students mastering foreign languages. This year I’m also teaching German as a foreign language to students from the Ukraine.

Age

55

Some more information

• 

  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies
  no

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  Special dietary requirements
  no