A A A A shortshortshortshort presentationpresentationpresentationpresentation aboutaboutaboutabout myselfmyselfmyselfmyself…………

welcomewelcomewelcomewelcome to to to to Rebekka‘sRebekka‘sRebekka‘sRebekka‘s worldworldworldworld!!!!

BachelorBachelorBachelorBachelor in International in International in International in International

Relations, Relations, Relations, Relations, GenevaGenevaGenevaGeneva, , , ,

SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland

My parents originally come from the

French part of Switzerland but I was

born and lived all my childhood in

northern the German part of

Switzerland. So I had the chance to

be educated bilingual, which fosteredbe educated bilingual, which fostered

my interests for languages and

cultures.

Therefore I decided to go to the

beautiful multicultural city of Geneva

(French part of Switzerland) to study

International Relations from 2005 to

2008.

After After After After graduationgraduationgraduationgraduation::::

InternshipInternshipInternshipInternship in Abu Dhabi, in Abu Dhabi, in Abu Dhabi, in Abu Dhabi,

UAEUAEUAEUAE

After my graduation I did

two internships, one of

them was at the Embassy of

Switzerland in AbuAbuAbuAbu DhabiDhabiDhabiDhabi

(United Arab Emirates).

The working experiences as

well as the cultural

diversities during my time

abroad enriched me

immensly!

Attending the Arab Women‘s Conference in

Abu Dhabi, November 2008

Master in International Master in International Master in International Master in International

Affairs and Affairs and Affairs and Affairs and GovernanceGovernanceGovernanceGovernance, , , ,

St. Gallen (St. Gallen (St. Gallen (St. Gallen (SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland))))

In February 2009 I came

back to the German part of

Switzerland in order to

undertake a Master where I

specialised in PublicPublicPublicPublic

GovernanceGovernanceGovernanceGovernance,,,, DevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopment

My former flatmates… from India,

Colombia and the Netherlands

GovernanceGovernanceGovernanceGovernance,,,, DevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopment

PoliticsPoliticsPoliticsPolitics and InterculturalInterculturalInterculturalIntercultural

CommunicationCommunicationCommunicationCommunication in order to

gain a practical aspect for a

future career.

No, I haven‘t eaten part of the

photo…it‘s the corner of a white table☺

I have always loved…

culturesculturesculturesculturestravellingtravellingtravellingtravelling

outdoor activities

and when it gets dark…

… … … … meetingmeetingmeetingmeeting withwithwithwith friendsfriendsfriendsfriends and and and and singingsingingsingingsinging karaokekaraokekaraokekaraoke....

We have a strong carnival tradition and

celebrate it every year during several days

The dwarf is me…

INTERVIEW WITH REBEKKA

WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES IN YOUR MIND FOR THIS INTERNSHIP?

• Doing the required tasks in order the company’s director as well as the participants are convinced that it is an enrichment to organize activities with international leaders.

• Developing my social skills (mentoring / leadership competences, organization skills, sense of creativity)

• Building up new networks through teamwork and acting in a new environment

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE ESTONIA AS THE COUNTRY TO GO FOR AN INTERNSHIP?

• I chose according to the internship offered, but the fact that it is in Estonia is a big added value as I have always wanted to discover the Baltic Region.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY DURING/AFTER THE INTERNSHIP? IF YES, THEN WHAT KIND OF PLACES?

• YES! To all places that I will have the opportunity to visit! I enjoy the countryside, would like to see historical sites, cultural monuments (also museums), typically Estonian buildings, places to eat, places to go out, etc.

CAN YOU CONDUCT TRAINING SESSIONS ON ANY SPECIFIC SUBJECT?

• Climbing (I took classes on how to secure other people)

• Badminton, Tennis (playing myself)

• Giving language courses (did it several years in French, German and English)

• What is your favorite food? Pasta in all its varieties

• What kind of food you don’t like? Spinach

• Are their special places in Estonia you'd like to visit most of all? Everyplace has its specific features. I would also like to visit non-touristical placesthat are considered as charming by the local population

• What holidays do your celebrate? Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, Christmas(religious and national holidays) and the 1st of August (National holiday)

• What kind of music do you like? Depending on my mood! There are nicesongs in every type of music and I mostly listen to blues, jazz and rockmusic.music.

• What are your favorite activities? Outdoor activities, tennis, reading,communicating in foreign languages, travelling, cooking, wine-tasting.

• Do you want to get involved with LC meetings, activities, etc.? Yes.

• According to you, what are the biggest cultural shocks you will have toface? Youngster’s unpredictability☺. Fun apart, I think cultural shocks canwiden your horizon and you become aware of what you like / dislike aboutyour own country and the country you are in. You also learn how to copewith a situation you rarely encounter.

“I like to identify myself as a cosmopolitan person. As I was brought

up bilingual (French/German), I have always been interested in

languages and other cultures. Therefore I undertook a Bachelor in

International Relations in Geneva from 2005 to 2008. After

graduation I did an internship in marketing/communication and

another within the Embassy of Switzerland in Abu Dhabi, United Arab

Emirates. I chose a country in the Middle East because I developed a

special interest for that region: Abu Dhabi is a crucial point for the

economy and trade between Europe and Asia and for the spread of

“liberal values” like human rights, freedom of business, equality of

women, etc. in the Arabian Peninsula. I think that every country, may

it be touristic or not, has a hidden beauty and actually I was mostit be touristic or not, has a hidden beauty and actually I was most

amazed by discovering somehow “special” countries like Syria, Oman,

Japan, etc.

Through working and living in multicultural environments, my

fascination for the complexity of international mechanisms was

deeply enhanced. In February 2009 I started with my Master in

“International Affairs and Governance” at the University of St. Gallen,

where I focus on public governance, development politics,

management and intercultural communication. I wanted to add a

“practical” value to my studies because I want to learn how to apply

what I learnt in a future career.

Except my passions for international issues, I love reading (Pablo

Coelho, Khalil Gibran, Voltaire, Nietzsche, etc.) and being active.

Whenever possible, I practice sports in my free-time. These include

playing tennis, snowboarding, swimming, hiking, climbing, biking, etc.

I prefer outdoor activities because being in the nature makes me feel

really good. I also enjoy cooking, having good times with friends and

dancing. As an open-minded and communicative person I love to

philosophy about the world and listening to music (one of my big

objectives is to start to learn how to play the guitar soon!) and

everything that can broaden my knowledge. I am also a very

committed person, I love to undertake projects because I have the

chance to develop something and experience team spirit. Next to mychance to develop something and experience team spirit. Next to my

studies I always had part-time jobs. I like working for the same reason

of being able to creating something and because I feel useful and can

deal with my own deserved money.

I guess weaknesses belong to a person as well…so I tend to be too

meticulous (because I devote myself to what I do). Some relatives also

say I am too nice and people would therefore take profit of me.

Being flexible, I integrate myself easily into a group and I am

extremely excited about having the opportunity to discovering Estonia

and its diversities!

See you soon in Estonia, I am looking forward to meeting

you☺