Global Awards 2020 Winner : Christine Bos
Meet our Global Award-winning Ambassador and Consul Christine from Paris! She organizes great events in her community, and here she shares what inspired her to get involved as an Ambassador and Consul and how she has adapted to the online experience during the global pandemic.
Congratulations on winning the members’ choice Global Award! How does it feel?
I feel very inspired.
What inspired you to get involved as an Ambassador and Consul in your community?
Being an expatriate myself, leaving my family, friends, and home country, arriving in a new country, not knowing anyone, with rudimentary knowledge of the local language — I can relate to the challenges expatriates face and I want to help whenever I can.
In your own words, what is the role of an Ambassador and Consul?
The role of an Ambassador is to organize regular events, sharing their passions, knowledge, and enthusiasm while at the same time encouraging members to share theirs to achieve a solid network of friends.
The past year has been challenging with the sudden change to online life but you have excelled in hosting many events and activities in your community. How did you adapt to the online experience and keep the community spirit alive?
I looked at it as another challenge in life. The only difference is, I cannot control this situation, so I might as well just roll up my sleeves and join in the the good vibes and be a part of the solution, not the problem. It was anopportunity to slow down, take stock of my expat life so far which has been very satisfying. From that perspective, I just worked on the positive aspects of the pandemic, what can I do to keep the members motivated, what can I learn from this confinement, how can I better myself physically and mentally ? These strategies have worked extremely well for me and I wanted to share them with the members through events and activities I organized.
What can members expect from your events and activities?
Camaraderie, inspiration, and lots of fun and laughter.
How has InterNations helped you?
I have made many lasting friends through InterNations.
What makes the InterNations community so special? Why would you encourage others to get involved as an Ambassador or Consul?
I like the concept and motto of “nobody stands alone”. I would encourage others to get involved if they want to share their experiences with the expat community.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
Advertisement
About Franziska Mutsch
Article topics
Related articles
Ho-Ho-Hosting Festive Events in December
The upcoming holiday season can be particularly tough if you’re not able to join your loved ones back home. Luckily, there’s always your InterNations family that you can fall back on!
Our March Calendars Are Overflowing with Celebrations & Events!
In many of our communities, spring is knocking on our doors and bringing with it fun occasions to celebrate culture, tradition, and come together as one big global family. Let’s have a look at what’s been happening so far in March — and what upcoming events you won’t want to miss!
Thank You for Connecting Global Minds
Looking back at all the fun and exciting activities and official events that our Consuls and Ambassadors organized last year makes us really happy. And not just us: We have collected some of our members’ feedback and stories in a video!
Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Expat: Trying Something New in July
Curiosity is an important trait that many of us lose as we grow up. But it’s what opens up our world to more knowledge, ideas, skills, and opportunities. Find out what our members were curious about this month and how they broke out of the expat rut!
Tell us your pioneering story!
Moving abroad is not for the faint of heart. In fact, it takes a lot of planning and quite a bit of courage. We think the strength and resilience of expats should be celebrated — we want to hear your “pioneer” story!