I remember a family holiday many years ago. In Florence in Italy, we had rented a small apartment, and the scenic walk into the city centre took forty‑five minutes. By the time we arrived, I had already had three espressos. Because the coffee was excellent, and the little delicacies that came with it were irresistible.
In Sydney, I’m experiencing something very similar now. The coffee culture is exceptional. In the urban suburbs, cafés are barely a hundred meters apart, many with their own roastery. And along our favourite coastal walks around Sydney, the enjoyment continues: so many places that invite to take a break with a Flat White or a Long Black.
Anyone walking from Rose Bay to Watsons Bay should definitely stop at Vaucluse House Restaurant for lunch. The Affogato is served in the classic way: espresso and Frangelico separately. The hazelnut liqueur is the perfect bridge between the vanilla ice cream and the espresso.
During our last week here, we walked one of the most beautiful routes: from Bondi to Coogee. Early in the morning it’s quiet, the light is clear, the weather perfect. A path for taking a deep breath.
Perhaps you can read it between the lines: saying goodbye after seven weeks in Sydney is not easy. On Tuesday we return to Germany, and a touch of wistfulness accompanies us. My wife and I truly feel a bit at home here, because beauty, everyday life, and relationships weave together in a way that creates a quiet sense of belonging.
And now I’m curious: Where do you experience beauty in your everyday life?
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I am Bernd Scharbert, member of the German Australian Business Council (GABC) and regularly traveling between Frankfurt am Main and Sydney.
I am happy to support and advise you on intercultural leadership, and in my book “Prepare for Landing: Leitlinien für interkulturelle Führung” (transl.: Guiding Principles for Intercultural Leadership), I also mention that everyday moments are excellent opportunities to “learn” a culture.
A look into my book is always good for a piece of advice or a practical option. It is available in bookstores all across Germany and online from Verlag Barbara Budrich.
#Prepare4Landing #LeadershipInBalance #ExpatLife Budrich Inspirited
