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XPAT Spotlight

Cherishing Her Love for Two Countries While Helping Fellow Expats – Barbara Kempen (Interview)

January 25, 2019 by Cornelia 2 Comments

Barbara KempenXPAT Spotlight – Interview with Barbara Kempen, business owner, and nature lover, who manages to combine the two cultures she loves in her daily work while helping fellow expats. 

Born in Cologne, Germany, Barbara Kempen has moved to Los Angeles about 30 years ago. She arrived in L.A. as a young student and was fascinated by the magic of the American dream. She decided to stay, raise a family and start a business of her own. She knows life in Los Angeles inside out and can tell you a story or two on what it takes to make it or break it here in California. 

What made you leave Germany and choose California as your new home?

I was 24 years old when I finished my Diplom Kauffrau (similar to MBA) at the University in Cologne. As I was very young I wanted to gain some work experience abroad. During that year I worked for Lufthansa in Marketing and Controlling in Los Angeles and met my ex-husband. Instead of returning to Germany I started a career in the fashion industry and was a successful fabric sourcing specialist for several LA companies and often traveled abroad.

Barbra0004How did your family and friends react to your decision to stay in California?

Naturally, my family and friends in Germany were not happy that I had decided to make my permanent home in Los Angeles, and that I had chosen Los Angeles over Cologne. However, I always made a point to regularly visit my parents while they were still alive as well as my three brothers in Germany.

Did you change careers while living here in CA?

Yes, I did. When my son was born, I decided to leave the fabric sourcing world and became a controller in a fashion business. While working there, I developed a huge interest in insurance, as I had to deal with all the insurance issues for the company. I decided to get my insurance license and, for 11 years now, I have owned my insurance company Solid Health Insurance Services which specializes in health, life, and long-term care insurances.

I love what I do, as I deal with people on a daily basis and I am able to help many clients to sift through the jungle of health and life insurance options. My job reminds me every day, how grateful we can be to be healthy and also enjoy such great medical treatment facilities. Each year, it gets more challenging as Californians have to struggle with the high healthcare costs and with that also increasing insurance costs.

Barbara KempenComparing your business here in California with Germany, what comes to mind? 

Without wanting to go into politics, it is frustrating for me to see no cost transparency and no medical cost control here in California or anywhere in the United States. In Germany, you can easily access any doctor charges online and know what a treatment costs. So it is frustrating to see how far behind the U.S. is in medical cost transparency. On the other hand, we don’t have to deal with the long waiting lines in doctors’ offices here in California, which are not uncommon in Germany. Also, we have many amazing treatment centers here in the U.S. should one get seriously ill. But sometimes it seems that medicine in the U.S. is more of a “hardcore business machine” rather than a “calling to help and treat patients”.

Is California your dream come true? What do you love and what could you do without?

Interesting question. Yes and No, and I think many expats will feel the same. I love Los Angeles with its mixtures of cultures, tolerance, unbelievable nature, and great weather. However, it is an expensive city; it has too much traffic, and sometimes it’s a lonely city. There are so many people, but so many people, who do not talk to each other!

Sometimes I think antidepressants and stress pills are given out like Smarties. So, I make a point to be active in my community. I am the co-chair of the Women In Business for GABA and love to organize workshops which support women to be successful in this big city. I also am a chamber member in the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.

I love my daily hikes here in the Santa Monica Mountains or spending time on the beach. I make a point to eat healthy and exercise. I’ve worked all my life here in California and have seen many financial ups and downs. I know that it makes sense to be a bit frugal and think before spending money in a restaurant, which charges me $50.- just for a glass of wine and an appetizer!

Do you miss Germany?

I do love and miss the ‘Deutsche Gemütlichkeit und Frohsinn’. There is nothing better Barbara Kempenthan Karneval in Cologne, Germany. The city closes its business for 5 days, everyone is in costumes and is out partying until the morning hours. Seven years ago, I happened to meet my husband Uwe in the Kölner Karneval. Uwe happens to be an investment and insurance specialist in Germany, so we both complement each other. We are able to assist many expats with questions in regards to insurance in California and Germany. As a result, we both travel often between the two continents. We both love this challenge and are very happy together. Life in Germany is easier, living costs are lower and there is less “Existenz Angst”.

However, who wants to deal with the cold weather and the “Stursinn” and “this is how it’s supposed to be”. California has so many possibilities that offer endless opportunities but, let’s not forget, it also demands much energy to ‘make it happen’ in California.

Your thoughts on Heimweh?

Travel, when Heimweh gets too big! No sense in torturing yourself when you miss your loved ones! I enjoy the trust of many older German clients, who have lived in Los Angeles for a long time. And many of them have been able to keep their roots to Germany alive and travel to Europe during Spring and Summertime. This is also my retirement goal as both places are in my heart!

Barbara KempenYour Special Expat Tip?

I have in fact a few…

  • Make a point to actively get involved in a community, which represents your interest. This might be a German Association, Sport or Religion or a book club.
  • Make time to get out in nature for a hike in the Santa Monica Mountains, or go to the beach or do a sunset walk. You will be mesmerized. It’s beautiful!
  • Travel, when Heimweh gets too big! 
  • And, lastly, never believe the naysayers; you can move continents if you just set your mind to it!

Barbara KempenThank you, Barbara, for this insightful interview! You managed to combine the two cultures you love in your daily work. What a great path!

 

Credits: Images ©Barbara Kempen

———————————————————————————

Connect with Barbara Kempen and Solid Health Insurance Services here:

Barbara Kempen – Solid Health Insurance Services  (Lic.#  0G05625)

Tel. 310-909-6135  and Fax 310-633-8306

email: info@solidhealthinsurance.com   URL: http://www.solidhealthinsurance.com

 

Filed Under: News, XPAT Spotlight Tagged With: Barbara Kempen, Expat interview, Expatlife, Expats in California, Germans in California, health insurance, Xpat Spotlight

The Desire for Adventure Across the Pond made Rita Reiff leave Berlin for California (Interview)

December 28, 2018 by Cornelia Leave a Comment

Rita Reiff GASA

XPAT Spotlight – Interview with Rita Reiff, an integral part of the German speaking community of Southern California.

Rita, originally from Berlin, is a well-known member of the German community in Southern California. German speaking families with children especially appreciate her engagement as president of GASA, the local German American School Association. As an indispensable part of the German community in Southern California, Rita Reiff was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz) in 2014.

Together with her husband, Rita came to the United States as a young woman. They courageously left everything in Germany behind, ready to live the American Dream! [Read more…] about The Desire for Adventure Across the Pond made Rita Reiff leave Berlin for California (Interview)

Filed Under: News, XPAT Spotlight Tagged With: Expat interview, Expatlife, Expats in California, Germans in California, Rita Reiff, Xpat Spotlight

Following her Husband’s Love for California – Claudia Tichy, Writer & Therapist (Interview)

November 30, 2018 by Cornelia 3 Comments

Claudia Tichy, Martin, Hollywood

XPAT Spotlight – Interview with Claudia Tichy, a writer and therapist bringing European therapeutic techniques to Southern California

Claudia Tichy is originally from Steyr in Austria, a small town between Salzburg and Vienna. After deciding to move to California she settled first in Calabasas before finding her final home in Oak Park. She shares her life and home with her husband and their two cats from Austria: Funny and Fipsy. Fridolin, a Golden Retriever just recently joined them as well in the Agoura Hills Area and he instantly inspired Claudia to a new book that will be coming out soon: Fridolin, the Cuddlemonster.

What made you move to California? [Read more…] about Following her Husband’s Love for California – Claudia Tichy, Writer & Therapist (Interview)

Filed Under: News, XPAT Spotlight Tagged With: Austrians in California, Author, CaliforniaGermans, Claudia Tichy, Expats in California, Germans in California, Personality Training, Tesha entdeckt die Welt, Writer, Xpat Spotlight

The Rollercoaster of Life brought her to California – InnerWeaving Coach Silvia Schroeder (Interview)

October 26, 2018 by Cornelia Leave a Comment

TreeWeaving Silvia Schroeder InnerweavingXPAT Spotlight – Interview with Austrian Innerweaving Coach Silvia Schroeder

California was never on her list nor one of her dreams. Contrary to so many others, whose most inner wish is to one day make it in California, Silvia Schroeder was happy with her life and career in Vienna and enjoyed every minute of it. If anyone would have told her then that one day she will call California her home, she would have just laughed.

But, life had it all planned out for her. After eighteen successful years in her coaching and consulting business doing projects for clients like the European Union and the Cancer Association, for which she designed a therapy camp to help the siblings of cancer kids, she suddenly felt the whole world collapsing on her.

What happened?

Silvia, how did you end up in California? What was the trigger for you to consider moving here? [Read more…] about The Rollercoaster of Life brought her to California – InnerWeaving Coach Silvia Schroeder (Interview)

Filed Under: News, XPAT Spotlight Tagged With: Austrians in California, Business Coach, CaliforniaGermans, Expats in California, Germans in California, Innerweaving, Xpat Spotlight

‘Wine, the Elixir of Life’ – Continuing a Legacy of German Winemaking in California. (Interview)

September 28, 2018 by Cornelia Leave a Comment

IMG_9478XPAT – Spotlight – Interview with Claudia Schug Schuetz, Partner at Schug Carneros Estate Winery.

Claudia, a dual citizen of Germany and the USA, has experienced both worlds, only the other way around compared with most of us expats.

Born in California and raised in Napa Valley, she has the wine business in her genes! She learned about wine from one of the most respected winemakers in California; her father Walter Schug. Both of her grandparents were part of this education as well, who were highly accomplished winemakers in Germany, with the Staatsweingut Assmaannshausen in the Rheingau and the Weingut Annaberg in the Pfalz.

After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics at Stanford University she moved to Germany in 1988 and lived for almost 30 years in North Rhine-Westphalia, where her ex-husband was from. There she started a California wine import and distribution business, worked as a wine educator, and served even as an international wine judge. From 2012-2017 she was California Wine Institute’s Trade Education Ambassador in Germany before she relocated to Sonoma in July 2017 to join her brother in managing her family winery, Schug Carneros Estate Winery. [Read more…] about ‘Wine, the Elixir of Life’ – Continuing a Legacy of German Winemaking in California. (Interview)

38.2307051-122.4767768

Filed Under: Expat Stories, News, XPAT Spotlight Tagged With: Expats in California, Germans in California, Oktoberfest wine event, Schug Winery, Sonoma, Xpat Spotlight

Following Your Dream – A Challenging Experience at Times! (Interview)

August 31, 2018 by Cornelia Leave a Comment

DSC_5917XPAT Spotlight – Interview with Franziska Steinmetz originally from Barleben near Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt.

Persistence, flexibility, and determination mark Franziska’s path of making her dream of living in California a reality.

When she traveled to the USA for the first time as a teenager, Franziska was bewitched by the beauty of California and decided to check out the U.S. as soon as she had finished school. She chose to become an au pair to find out if living in the United States was something she would like to pursue.

Today, Franziska lives in Alameda, CA, but her search for a way to make California her home forever isn’t over just yet. 

Read about her challenging journey in our interview. [Read more…] about Following Your Dream – A Challenging Experience at Times! (Interview)

Filed Under: Expat Stories, News, XPAT Spotlight Tagged With: CaliforniaGermans, Expats in California, Germans in California, Xpat Spotlight

It’s Not Always Just Sunny in California – A Different Perspective (Interview)

July 27, 2018 by Anne-Kathrin Leave a Comment

LinkedIN-1

XPAT Spotlight – Interview with Desiree Perez, my BFF and CEO of Aviation Leadership Academy

Growing up together in Germany, Desiree and I both immigrated to the United States in 2011.  For the first four years, she resided in Texas before her career brought her to Los Angeles in 2015.  During her time in California, Desiree faced some crucial challenges that made her rethink her move as well as her career choice.

In this interview, Desiree shares her raw and honest perspective about living in California, why it is not her dream come true, and how her experience resulted in a career change. [Read more…] about It’s Not Always Just Sunny in California – A Different Perspective (Interview)

Filed Under: Expat Stories, News, XPAT Spotlight Tagged With: Aviation, Business Coach, Expats in California, Germans in California

Reaching For The Stars! Hollywood Here I Come. (Interview)

June 29, 2018 by Cornelia Leave a Comment

XPAT Spotlight – Interview with German Actor Constantin Cascante

Graduating German high school (Gymnasium) with accolades and having won prizes in subjects like Economy, French and Latin, Constantin Cascante was expected to continue his path in the academics and go for a career in medicine, business or law. But to the surprise of everyone and against all odds Constantin chose a much unexpected path.

He decided to pursue his passion since childhood. Acting!

In search of the ‘American Dream’, he set out for his adventure and left Germany at the age of 19. After stops in Oxford and New York, he finally ended up in Hollywood – a dream come true for all actors.

Born in Tübingen and raised in Stuttgart, Constantin now lives in Studio City in Los Angeles.

Constantin, you’re living THE dream! You were in the midst of preparing for entrance exams to get into Oxford when you suddenly changed course and decided to follow your childhood dream of becoming an actor.

Instead of Oxford, you set out to make it in the film industry. Today, you are in fact successfully working in the industry. I am sure it wasn’t just as easy as it all sounds… [Read more…] about Reaching For The Stars! Hollywood Here I Come. (Interview)

Filed Under: Expat Stories, News, XPAT Spotlight Tagged With: acting, Constantin Cascante, Expat Spotlight, German actor, Hollywood, interview

XPAT Spotlight – A New Interview Series Starting this Friday

June 25, 2018 by Cornelia 2 Comments

XPAT Spotlight – A New Interview Series Starting this Friday

To celebrate our new website we are launching a new monthly series this Friday:

 – XPAT Spotlight – 

Following our principles to offer you a personal look into living here in California through our stories, articles, and reports on things, that we experience here in this beautiful State ourselves, we have feverishly worked on this new series for you.

We are so excited that it’s finally happening and we have some interesting stories for you lined up. Every last Friday of the month we will surprise you with a new installment of our XPAT Spotlight.

Ever wonder what brings other expats out here to live in California? How do they make life in California work for them? What do they do for a living? And, how about if a wave of ‘Heimweh’ is catching on to them?

This and more you’ll read in our interviews with expats, who have left their home in Austria, Germany or Switzerland to come live here in California.

People, like you and me, share with us their stories and adventures of making California their new home. You learn of their struggles and get to celebrate their successes. You witness how some have reinvented themselves while others came here with a firm idea and strong conviction of what they want to accomplish here.

Read for yourself and be touched by the experiences of other expats. Get inspired!

Our first XPAT Spotlight is all about famous Hollywood and the world of acting! 

 

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Filed Under: News, XPAT Spotlight Tagged With: Expats in California, Germans in California, interview, Interview Series, Xpat Spotlight

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