Category: International Host 2017
For a Consul who is especially well-traveled, getting involved in other communities when they are abroad, crossing borders and connecting global minds!
2017 Winner: Monica Dierks in Brussels, Belgium and Beijing, China.
2017 Honorable Mention: Tevfik Binen in Rome, Italy
Why They Won
When determining 2017’s choice for International Host, the Global Awards Jury considered Consuls who are involved in multiple InterNations Communities, truly living the InterNations motto of crossing borders and connecting global minds. One of our jury members says, “Monica has been an especially active Consul in two of our InterNations Communities for over a year. She is always coming up with versatile activities in both Brussels and Beijing. We have been quite impressed with how Monica is able to remain active halfway across the world and have such an incredible spirit while connecting with her members!”
Why did you initially volunteer to become a Consul? What was the most appealing aspect about the position and what motivates you to remain active on an international level?
A long time ago, I became an Albatross Member of InterNations but I had never attended any activities. At the end of 2016, and in the midst of a personal crisis, I suddenly found myself living alone in China. I remembered the InterNations philosophy: Nobody Stands Alone! Well, so as not to stay alone at home, I started to go out to events and activities. Every evening, I joined another one and, whenever I could, I mixed and mingled with thousands of new friends who were more or less in the same boat like me. Even when we have our own problems, we can forget them while we have a lot of fun together.
These hours were so helpful to survive my personal crisis and to find a new way of life with new friends. I was so grateful to find the InterNations Community who supported me, that after some months I made the decision to give back. Nobody should stay alone at home. This, and the fact that I was convinced that I’d be the right host, have been the reasons why I first applied to become Consul in Beijing for the 40+ and the Single Group.
We made visits to the Bird Nest, Olympic Parc, had dinner, experienced the nightlife, especially the Friday and Saturday Night Fever Parties in Downtown Beijing lasting from the early evening until the morning light. I could see the delighted faces of my group members, to have new friends. I could see a lot of happy hearts and that’s the reason why I volunteer more and more. In addition to being the Consul of the Single Group, I am the Co-Consul in the DACH, DinnerNations, and Beijing Art and Culture Group, too. I have such a huge network and people always ask when the next activity will be posted. Well, that makes me happy! As I am always on the plane between Beijing and Brussels, I also applied for the Midweek-Mixer Group in European’s Capital. In all of my groups, I can see smiling faces when we are together, when we talk about the world, the globalization, friendships, respect, happiness, peace, love and much more. I want to give back what I have received through InterNations. I want to make people happy wherever I can!
Life is sometimes not easy but we can help each other, learn from each other to create a better and happier world together. That’s what makes me remain active on an international level!
What steps do you take to maintain monthly activities in both of your InterNations Communities?
Well, I’m on the plane from Europe to China and vice versa once or twice a month. I am able to speak French, German, English, and Mandarin fluently. This gives me the opportunity to maintain both communities. I always plan my activities in advance, negotiate special prices, happy hour discounts, or menu packages for my guests with bar and restaurant owners ,. This method works very well. Sometimes my guests receive a glass of champagne, buy one drink and get the second free, or enjoy package prices with discounts of 30–40 % each. People are very attracted by special deals as well as by interesting, elegant, cozy venues. However, the most important part of being a good host is introducing the guests to each other even when somebody is coming late. This makes everyone feel welcome and helps them to make friends with one another. Nobody stands alone in my groups!
Do you have a memorable experience you want to share? Seeing as InterNations wishes to cross borders and bridge cultures — you are the epitome of our ideal volunteer!
A special memorable experience is being able to speak Mandarin to the locals in China. People are positively astonished and can hardly believe that a foreigner handles this difficult language so easily. They get bright eyes and immediately our relationship starts to become warm-hearted. I like to connect two different worlds beyond borders but bridging such different cultures is only possible by using the local language. Mandarin opens the doors to communicating with each other, but in order to comprehend the Chinese culture we have to understand the Chinese thinking and the way of life, Chinese festivities, the Chinese lunar calendar, the food, why they eat with chop sticks, why they like to drink Baijiu, how they do business and how they maintain friendships. As an Intercultural Communication Coach and Ambassador with 10 years of experience in China, I have a very good knowledge of this country, the Chinese people, their attitude, customs, and behavior.
Congratulations to our International Host 2017 winner, Monica Dierks in Brussels and Beijing, as well as our honorable mention, Tevfik Binen in Rome. We can’t wait to see what exciting activities you have planned for your groups around the globe in 2018!
About the winner:
Monica Dierks has been the Consul of the Beijing DACH, DinnerNations, Singles, and Arts & Culture Groups since May 2017. A month later Monica also took on the Brussels Mid-Week Mixer Group as she has spent the last eight years dividing her time between the two cities. She loves meeting people from all walks of life and truly embodies InterNations motto of crossing borders, bridging cultures, and connecting global minds. Her extensive international network and motivation to connect like-minded expats, makes her a perfect fit as Consul.
