Table of Contents
Expat Stories
Tell us a little about yourself
Where do you live now and how long have you been there?
I am Alexandra Paucescu, mother of two, an economist turned writer (my book, ‘Just a Diplomatic Spouse’ was published in March and is available on Amazon), wife to a career diplomat from Romania. We are currently posted to Germany, and we’ve been living in Berlin for the last five years.
What do you love about where you live now?
Berlin is a huge city (the second most populous in Europe). Due to its history (the division during the Cold War times), it is unique and will certainly fascinate you from the minute you get off the plane. It is extremely green, lots of forests and lakes inside it, posh neighbourhoods and historical sites. You can ‘smell’ freedom everywhere, you can be anybody and anything you like here.
How is it different from your home country?
Romania is a big European country, with warm, inviting people. It is not the same with Germans, who are certainly not that nice, at least at the beginning. Also, the weather is much nicer in Romania, and I had some trouble getting used to the countless rainy days in Berlin.
Have you been an expat in any other country?
Before moving to Berlin we have lived for five years in Vienna, Austria. I will always treasure those days, which are full of incredible, sweet memories
The Corona Virus
How has the Corona Virus affected you?
Berlin was not that strict when it comes to Corona lockdown. Of course, the school was off, we spent a lot of time indoor, but for our family was a blessing, spending so much time together. We went for long walks and spent time in nature. We enjoyed every day and tried to make our life as beautiful and relaxed as possible.
Where are you now and where are is the rest of your family?
We are in Berlin but the rest of our families are back home, in Bucharest, Romania.
Are you in self-isolation, lockdown or are you social distancing and what rules do you need to follow?
As I mentioned, the rules were not that hard to follow here. We wear masks in stores, schools have now reopened but with clear social distancing measures, there are still no big social or diplomatic events.
What do you find the hardest about your situation right now?
I think the most difficult part is not knowing what’s next when all this situation ends when we will be able to live our old lives again…
Isolation tips
Do you have any tips for anyone in lockdown or self-isolation?
I think everybody should try to relax and take each day at a time. We never know what tomorrow brings, but try to keep a positive attitude, stay focused on the good parts of your life and be optimistic about the future.
What are you doing differently now compared to a few months ago?
I don’t meet my friends that often, we don’t have diplomatic events to go to, we try to avoid going anywhere indoor as much as possible and we wash our hands a thousand times more than we used to
More information about Alexandra Paucescu
Link to the book:
Just a Diplomatic Spouse: A true story of lifeÂ
Link to magazine:
You may also like… Elizabeth Gilbert
As an expat myself, I loved immersing myself in Alexandra’s story. Her authenticity, the simple words, the sharing of her emotions, her joys, her difficulties spoke to me so naturally. I also like to feel that Alexandra has realized her childhood dream, it’s beautiful! I liked Alexandra’s objectiveness: even if our living conditions in expatriation are often privileged and make us dream, they also compensate for the difficult moments hidden behind the glitter… and being a woman, wife and mother in expatriation also requires courage, flexibility, patience, sacrifices and often a loss of identity in order to be present for one’s family and duty. I found myself very much in Alexandra’s words. I liked to think again how much I loved my life as an expatriate, the encounters, the learning of languages, the discovery of cultures, the travels, the closeness to family life… one life, live it!
I know Vienna but now I only want to discover Berlin! Thank you Alexandra for this beautiful sharing!