Meet Adrianne, an Integrated Marketing Communications Consultant and multi-award winning creator of many digital resources for Black women expatriates, including Black Women In Europe. Read on to find out more about the digital communities she’s created as well as how she learned French and Swedish.
BGLL: Thank you so much for agreeing to share your story!
Tell us about yourself. Who are you and what do you do?
Adrianne: My name is Adrianne George and I’m African American. I’m
originally from Washington, D.C. and have lived in Belgium and England but
currently live in Stockholm, Sweden. My native language is English. I have a BA in English from the University of
the District of Columbia, an MA Public Communication from the American
University and an MS Business Administration from Boston University. I’m an integrated marketing communications consultant for the
AG Communications Group
and the founder of Black Women in Europe (BWIE), a blog that
celebrates women of the African Diaspora living in Europe. In 2010, I created
the BWIE Power
List™, a list that
highlights powerful black women in Europe in order to inspire others to reach
their full potential.
I created stockholmexpat.com, a blog of resources for black expatriates in Stockholm and
the BWIE Social Media Group, a non-profit that empowers black women in Sweden and across
Europe.
I am the co-editor
of Blackexpat.com, an online magazine website and co-founder of the Women
of the African Diaspora website. I am also
the President of the American Women’s Club in Stockholm. I’m one of 8 Democrats Abroad members of the Democratic
National Committee.
BGLL: Wow, you’re doing such amazing work with black women
and expatriates. That is such an inspiring and motivating list of
accomplishments. Did you get to add language skills to such an impressive list?
Adrianne: I also know know French and Swedish, New arrivals to Sweden are given the opportunity to learn Swedish at no cost to them. So, I completed the Swedish for Immigrants course but that's not enough to be fluent. I'm not fluent now but have improved by reading Swedish newspapers and magazines, watching Swedish TV, listening to Swedish radio and making lots of mistakes when talking to people. Once mistake I try not to repeat, is switching from Swedish to English when I get stuck or when offered. It is better to push through, mistakes and all.
In the 7th grade, I was given the choice of Spanish
or French in school and chose French. Because of it, I was able to muddle
my way through eventually during the 4 years I lived in Brussels,
Belgium.
BGLL: Which of your foreign languages is/are your favorite
and why?
Adrianne: English is my favorite language because it is my mother's
tongue. But I respect all languages.
BGLL: What are 3 tips you can offer those who are trying
to learn the languages you know?
Adrianne: Speak it every day. Listen to it every day. Read it every day.
BGLL: How can we keep up with you on social (social media)?
Adrianne: My Facebook is: https://www.facebook.com/blackwomenineurope, my twitter: is @bwie. Also, be on the lookout for our 9th Power List this fall: http://blog.blackwomenineurope.com/power-list. Help our non-profit compile the most comprehensive directory of organizations across Europe that support black women (http://bwiesmg.org/organizations-directory) by sending submissions to contact@bwiesmg.org.
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