Born in the last century in Colombia, from a French father and a Colombian mother, lived 25 years in Switzerland and travelled in America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Divorced mother of 3 children, 21, 17 and 15. Business administrator and customer care specialist, used to work at a managerial level and as a consultant for multinationals, NGO's and UN agencies.

She launched CESC (Central European Services Centre) in 2007 as a one-stop-shop service for expatriates in Budapest. Her firm provides multilingual services: relocation, expatriate assistance, property management, and proposes an English speaker health practicians network.


1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I arrived in August 2007 and came here because my ex-partner was appointed to work in Budapest.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
I have been almost all my life an expatriate; I was born in Colombia, used to live for more than one year in Germany and spend a lot of years in Switzerland.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
Well... few things: Hungary is among the European Union but none other European language is spoken in governmental offices, only Hungarian!! That Hungarian girls seems to be all of them, part of Elite model?s agency. The pessimism and fear of people when it comes to try new things or in business. How good the public transportation is. And of course that they ask me everywhere the name of my poor mother!!

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
They have to spend one evening at Litz Square, having a drink, they have to go to Nancy Nenny to eat true Hungarian food, and walk at night near to the chain bridge.... nothing more beautiful than that! And last but not least, the Spas and thermal baths.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Goulash (I know is not very original) and lángos.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Cheese, coriander, beer and wine.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Alma and Puszi (I find it funny, no need to explain why!)

8. What do you miss the most from home?
Fondue, raclette, mountains, the mini cosmopolitan atmosphere from Geneva and overall my friends.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
A successful writer.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
High school teacher, civil servant at one Hungarian governmental office or George Bush's body guard.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Would you believe if I say Afghanistan and Pakistan?

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
In Croatia or Montenegro

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
My favourite movie: no doubt it was Grease. I saw it 5 times or more! And my hobby to read...still.

14. What can't you resist?
White chocolate

15. Red wine or white?
White

16. Book or movie?
Both

17. Morning person or night person?
Morning but not too early!!!

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Mistreated and abandoned children. The women condition in some countries.

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Becoming Pest (I used to live in Buda and loved it).

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
...."The heart has reasons that reason does not understand."..... from Blaise Pascal.