“Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel” and “Sissi” are my favorite holiday movies. I completely watched “Downton Abbey” this holiday season again, and like every woman, being treated like royalty is very high on my wish list. I was delighted that I received a king statue on Monday, 6 January 25, in my “Dreikönigskuchen” because I see that as a sign of luck for 2025, a sign that I will get over past challenges and stop working so hard for my income. As a fan of Aschenbrödel and someone who mentions her in talks, I came across Colette Dowling’s book, the “Cinderella Complex”. She described her journey with a deep need to be saved by a man, a knight in shining armor […]

Rhoda Bangerter specialises in split family assignments, frequent business travel, and their impact on family life. Rhoda helps parents manage the stress and disconnect from living this life so that they can enjoy the growth and intention this lifestyle can bring. International organisations (foreign service, military, humanitarian and private organisations) are increasingly aware of the specific requirements for staff and their families when on non-family duty stations. Through talks and workshops, Rhoda helps organisations, such as the World Food Program, support their employees when they are regularly sent on international assignments from a month to a couple of years without their partners and children. Having experienced frequent work travel and a split family assignment from the point of view of […]

An expat coach typically helps individuals who are living or working abroad navigate the challenges and opportunities associated with expatriate life. Their role can involve various aspects: 1. Cultural Adjustment: They assist expatriates in understanding and adapting to the culture, customs, and social norms of their new location. This may involve providing cultural training, language lessons, or advice on how to interact effectively in different cultural contexts. 2. Career Development: Expatriate coaches often help their clients advance their careers while living abroad. This might include guidance on job search strategies, networking in a new country, or understanding local workplace dynamics. 3. Emotional Support: Moving to a new country can be emotionally challenging. An expat coach provides a supportive environment for […]

When I had Covid-19 the first time in 2020 I was one of the first cases in Switzerland and advice was hard to come by. I created a guideline for myself and others: Top Nine Tips to Deal With Viral Infections. it’s four years later, and many times I felt I had COVID again, but I did not test positive anymore. Maybe the first time was such a huge dose that I am now WonderWoman (a secret escape fantasy I had after I recovered as WW was always my childhood superhero role model, and the movie “WW 1984” was supposed to be out at the same time, so I listened to the music during recovery). What I have noticed though […]

Expatriate Health and Wellbeing has been on my mind since the Pandemic. During the height of the Pandemic, my mother could not find yeast for weeks. Her village in southern Germany had a yeast shortage. We didn’t have a shortage of anything here in Zurich, neither toilet paper nor yeast, even though demand for both was higher than in “normal” times. I went to SPAR and bought five packs of dry yeast. The man at the post office laughed when I told him what was in the small parcel. My mother and aunt love to bake, even in “normal” times. The price for the package was higher than the value of the goods, but this was the only thing I […]