Inspiring Women Spring 2018

September February 2018, 2017, Volume 2, 1, Issue 13 

CELEBRATING LIVES ACROSS THE FAWCO WORLD

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 

Inspiration from the Editor 3 

From our Cover Coordinator 3 

Women in Sport and Fitness 4 

Inspiration from The Netherlands 5 

First Take: New Member Reflections 8 

Tax Reform: What’s in it for expats? 11 

Inspiration from France 12 

Just For Fun 15 

Inspiration from Nigeria 16 

FAWCO Clubs in Motion 19 

Inspiration from Austria 22 

Inspiration from England 25 

Home and Away: Don’t Eat Pie 28 

Inspiration from Dubai 31 

Making the Connection: Women, Sport and Leadership 33 

A Club Inspires 34 

More Inspiration from Austria 40 

Inspiration from Norway 43 

Inspiration from The Dragon Boat Ladies 46 

Inspiration from Morocco 49 

Sport & Fitness: Antidotes to Life’s Challenges 52 

Inspiration from a FAWCO Friend 55 

Inspiration from Italy 58 

How Can You Get Involved? 60 

Magazine Feedback 60 

Inspiring You 61 

Esquire Group p. 11 

London & Capital p. 18 

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX 

This issue welcomes a new advertiser to Inspiring Women, London & 

Capital. For information about investing go to their ad on page 18. 

Click on their ad also to access their website. 

Want to take your business worldwide? Consider advertising in 

Inspiring Women. Contact Elsie Bose at advertising@fawco.org to get started. 

FAWCO would like to thank Esquire Group for underwriting 

Inspiring Women as our Premier Sponsor. This issue we have an 

interesting column on page 11 written by Esquire Group’s 

President, Jimmy Sexton. 

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Inspiration from the Editor 

I t ’ s a l w a y s 

fascinating to me, 

when we put the 

c a l l o u t f o r 

candidates for 

Inspiring Women 

magazine, what 

the response will 

be. With a theme 

of sports and fitness, 

I did wonder if we 

would only get a list 

of runners. 

relationship naturally! But over the years I 

have, like many of you, realised that fitness is 

an essential part of my life and without it my 

life is often harder and will probably be shorter 

if I’m honest with myself. 

So you can imagine my delight that, amongst 

our eleven profiles, we have, as well as various 

types of running (and there is nothing at all 

wrong with running of course!), seven other 

types of sport featured! 

Some of the women in this issue have risen to 

the top of their chosen fields, others have 

been consistent participants at a less extreme 

level. But they all have one big thing in 

common: they have made sport or fitness a 

part of their daily lives. 

I’m not a big sports person, never was as a 

child either. Sport is something I have to 

schedule into my life, it doesn’t just happen. 

The couch and I have a very close 

So to those of you who read these stories and 

think, “Blimey, I couldn’t do that,” I have one 

thing to say: 

Give it a go, you never know what might 

happen! 

Best wishes, Liz x 

Liz MacNiven, 

inspiringwomen.editor@fawco.org 

From our Cover Coordinator 

The cover photo for this issue is an image of Kirsten Kummert who is a certified yoga teacher 

and member of IWC Munich, Germany. The photo was taken in Corsica, France in July 2017, at 

sunrise on an empty and quiet beach. Kirsten explains “There were some 

challenges in doing this pose. In the early morning the body tends to be 

stronger but less flexible. A second challenge was the unstable nature of 

the soft sand beneath my feet. But it is great for an early start and opens 

me up for the blessings of a new day.” 

If you have a photo that you would like to see on a future cover of 

Inspiring Women, you can reach me, Marie-Bénédicte Luxem, at 

inspiringwomen.cover@fawco.org. There are full details of photo 

requirements on page 60 of this magazine. 

Please note: we can only accept portrait orientation images. 

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“I run like a girl - try to keep up.” 

There is something unbelievably surrealistic when someone is 

able to stretch their physical capabilities beyond expectations. It 

is powerful, it is satisfying and makes us want to push ourselves to 

the next level of success. 

Women’s involvement in sports today is more exciting and 

challenging than ever. We are participating in so many different 

sports; something that would have been unheard of ten years 

ago. Our abilities to be coached (we prefer to achieve goals 

through consensus) plays a big part. Our ability to coach will 

insure that the next generation of women will set new and reach 

improbable records. 

Women’s performance improvements are off the charts. We’re 

stronger, faster and fitter than we have ever been. The results are 

in and sports participation is helping us in our non-sporting life. 

The women in this issue have a number of unique reasons for 

participating and excelling in their sport of choice. They have run 

faster, jumped higher and as a result achieved their “personal 

bests” both in and out of sport. Their stories describe winning in 

their own personal way. 

We invite you to get ready, set - go! Enjoy these winners! 

Elsie Bose 

4

Inspiration from The Netherlands 

KRISHNA THAKRAR 

American Women’s Club of The Hague, 

Netherlands 

From: Kenya 

Lives: The Hague, Netherlands 

I am of Indian decent born in Kenya and 

educated in the United Kingdom. In 1984 I got 

married and moved from the UK to Canada 

and from there on to the US, India, China, 

Belgium, three other states of the US and now 

I’m here in the Netherlands. 

Professionally I am an accountant, my work with 

GE has given me opportunities to work in the UK, 

Canada and the US. Upon our return to the US 

in 2005 I started working independently as an 

accountant as well as a relocation specialist. 

Throughout my high school years I played 

netball (similar to basketball, smaller court, 

slightly different rules and no dribbling of the 

ball), and rounders (similar to softball). Once I started studying in the UK, I took up squash and 

reached a level that allowed me to compete at county level. I continued to play intermittently 

after I got married and moved to Canada. Due to 

injuries, I was forced to give up squash, eventually 

finding enjoyment in badminton. 

Early in 2015 I was introduced to Pickleball (PB) by a 

fellow badminton player in Minneapolis who was also 

playing PB. Despite hearing about it I had no interest. 

But soon the numbers of badminton players were 

decreasing and we were losing our courts to PB 

players. So I turned to the gym as my new form of 

regular exercise. 

May 2015 came around and I decided to finally give 

PB a try. That summer I must have played every day, 

looking for various locations to play all over the city 

and playing in various teams. Interestingly enough, I 

learnt one could play 3-4 times a day as there were so 

many locations where PB was being played! 

It dawned on me, instead of traveling to Amsterdam to 

play PB, why not bring PB to The Hague. I knew this 

would be a challenge but it would be rewarding to 

introduce my passion to a city new to me. 

With some of The Hague team at the Dutch 

National Tournament 

5

With US Top seed Jennifer Lucore, Kyle Yates and Atul Edwards 

15 months later, The Hague has a PB 

club which plays weekly, both 

socially and competitively. This has 

allowed me to continue my passion 

while also learning about setting up 

a sports club in the Netherlands. This 

has been a true test of my 

entrepreneurial skills and has been 

the most rewarding experience in 

my expat life. I am very proud to 

have introduced something to our 

city which allows the Dutch to be 

involved in a clean, fun, sport while 

allowing other expat families to 

socialize and enjoy what, to me, is 

the best sport - Pickleball. 

PB is such a social sport and has 

allowed me to meet so many wonderful people across the world. These players have opened 

their hearts and homes to one another all in the name of the sport. I have stayed at homes in 

Costa Rica, Thailand and Spain all in the name of PB hospitality! Pickleball has evolved in leaps 

in bounds in the last two years to become a competitive sport, yet it continues to be fun and 

really sociable. 

Sport does not always have to be “no pain no 

gain” – particularly in relation to PB, which is a fun 

strategic game where you don’t need to push 

yourself to the limit to play well. I genuinely enjoy 

training and playing and know for a fact my 

fellow players do, too. 

Although PB, which is a strategic game, is played 

with a partner, each player grows with the sport 

to become a strong player in their own way. 

Therefore your skills and ability to play the game is 

independent of your partner’s! Your game is your 

game. Your improvement, your growth, your 

strategies, your statistics grow and change as 

much or as little as you want it to dependent on 

how much you put into the game. 

Pickleball is now being played in many parts of Silver Medal, Spanish International Tournament Sept 2017 

Europe and Asia, after years of only being played in 

the US. In fact Amsterdam will be hosting the International Pickleball Championship in May 2018, 

and Bangkok another championship in the near future. If you are interested in joining in a 

Pickleball team and live in the Netherlands, go to pickleballholland.nl and give the game a try! 

With many locations around the Netherlands, you will be sure to find a location close to you. We 

promise you will be hooked! I’m sure Pickleball is being played in an area near you! 

GETTING TO KNOW KRISHNA 

Tell us about an event in your life that made a 

big difference When I was around 10 years 

old, a friend and I decided to skip school and 

go see a movie around 1:30 pm. I had the 

great notion of hanging out with my friend, in 

school hours but out of school. We decided to 

leave after lunchtime; however she needed to 

go home and get some money and meet me 

at the cinema. I waited and waited alone 

before I eventually decided to go home 

carrying the weight of being stood up by my 

friend. I had not told my parents that I had 

6

skipped school that day to see a movie 

with my friend, let alone my friend not 

showing up. 

When I got home I was so upset on two 

levels. 1) I was hurt that my friend did not 

come to the movies and believed that it 

was her intention all along. 2) I had now 

created a level of mistrust with my 

parents and could not tell them the truth 

of the day. I grew up to realize the 

difference between trust and mischief! 

Tell us something about yourself that not 

many people know. At the age of 21, I 

was on a backpacking trip around 

America with a desire to stay on a ranch 

and experience a cowboy lifestyle. Under the 

pretence of seeing a ranch I was lured to 

(what I was yet to discover) a Moonies’ prayer 

house. Once I got to this remote part of 

Colorado, I was asked to hand in all my 

personal identification and join them. Soon as I 

got there I discovered that I was at a cult 

home rather than a ranch with cowboys 

running around on horses!!! At afternoon rest 

time I managed to collect my belongings and 

escape from the ranch site, where I was 

fortunate enough to hitchhike back to the 

main city. 

If you could meet one famous or influential 

woman, who would it be and why? Our family 

business was in books, although I had not 

acquired the love for reading despite my 

access to so many books . 

It was not till I was 10 years old that I 

discovered a series of books titled The Famous 

Five by British author Enid Blyton. The title of the 

series took my attention as I myself am one of 

five children! If I could meet Enid Blyton, I 

would thank her for introducing me to the 

world of reading through her The Famous Five 

series – my favourite books as a child! 

I’d talk about how her book connected with 

me, hitting home the point that we are all part 

of the same universe and experience the 

same feelings whether we live in Kenya or we 

live in the UK. 

7

First Take : New Member Reflections 

New members join our clubs regularly and we thought we would give them a voice here in 

Inspiring Women. These stories are about or from women, often new to expat life, who have 

something to tell us. Our first feature is by Lyn Herr and Teresa Perez Y Landazuri, who are new 

members from the American Women’s Club of Hamburg, Germany (Region 5). 

LYN HERR 

From: Greenwood, WI, USA 

Lives: Hamburg, Germany 

TERESA PEREZ Y LANDAZURI 

From: Ireland 

Lives: Hamburg, Germany 

In June 2017, after attending a “Hello Mumbai Evening” fundraiser/awareness session hosted by 

Carol Strametz, AWCH’s FAWCO representative, we were inspired to plan a fundraising event for 

FAWCO. The evening included music, dancing, food, wine and information on FAWCO’s global 

initiatives. On the drive home that night, we decided to do something to support FAWCO. We 

went to lunch with Tracy Moede, VP of Programs for The FAWCO Foundation, and she 

suggested we organize a fundraiser. As we brainstormed various ways to raise money, Teresa 

suggested organizing a family fun/run walk. We both loved the idea because it was the perfect 

way to bring people together to promote fitness, friendship and charitable giving. However, it 

seemed like a huge undertaking. It was only after we actually wrote out a task list that we 

realized it was possible, but only if we worked together. 

Initially, we formed a small planning committee of people who knew we could rely on. The 

committee met regularly to brainstorm ideas, provide logistics advice and suggest local vendors 

that could donate as well as local organizations that would help publicize the event. 

We also recruited Teresa’s daughter to create an event website. The website was an important 

marketing tool and helped in our efforts to 

recruit additional volunteers. It included key 

event information, background on FAWCO’s 

charitable work, inspiring photos, a portal for 

online registration and a page where volunteers 

could sign up. 

When the website was launched, we sent 

personalized emails to all club participants and 

provided them with a web link. We received 

many offers to volunteer through this website. 

The volunteer support was really critical. Our 

volunteers made pom-poms and donated 

baked goods, homemade jams and crafts to be 

sold or raffled at the event. They also helped 

with event set up and take down. 

8

There were a few fairly big 

challenges. The first obstacle was 

that we both had recently moved 

to Hamburg and did not speak 

German (necessary to obtain 

event permit). We also did not 

have a strong network of local 

contacts to assist with the event. 

Fortunately, the planning 

committee assisted with getting 

the required city permit and 

recommended local businesses 

that could make donations and 

other organizations to help 

advertise the event. 

A second challenge was 

forecasting participation and 

profits. Because this was a first-time event, we didn’t know how many people would be 

interested in participating. We ultimately decided that if we could just get 30 people to sign up, 

we’d consider the event a “success.” We dreamed of getting 100 participants, but felt 

confident we could get 30 people to register. 

To get a good turnout, we needed to ensure that the registration fees were affordable for 

families while also ensuring a meaningful donation for FAWCO. We benchmarked fees charged 

by similar fun run/walks in Hamburg and used this information to find the “sweet spot” for 

registration fees. 

Finally, we needed to drive online registration by generating excitement for the event. We did 

this by sending personalized emails to club members, posting colorful signs on the event route 

and publicizing the event through local running and social organizations and social media. 

It had rained non-stop in the days leading up to the event, which took place on Sunday, 

October 8, 2017. When we went out to set up the pavilions that morning, the water was literally 

ankle-deep in the area we had mapped out for our set up. All we could think about was how 

miserable it would be for the participants if they were wet and cold. Fortunately, we were able 

to find higher ground nearby. Even more amazingly, as the sun came up that day, the clouds 

cleared and we had sunny, beautiful weather. It was an unexpected break in a string of rainy 

days. It definitely helped increase participation in the event, which included a 5k walk and a 

7.4k run or cycle. 

In the predawn hours on the 

day, volunteers and their 

families gathered in the dark to 

set up booths, assemble the 

sound system, hang balloons 

and post signs. As the sun came 

up over the Alster (Hamburg’s 

downtown lake), the runners, 

walkers and cyclists began to 

arrive. They checked in, picked 

up t-shirts, munched on goodies 

from the bake sale, bought 

raffle tickets and enjoyed free 

Coke and Yogi Tea products. 

9

At 10:30, Richard Yoneoka, Consul 

General of Hamburg, called everyone 

to the starting line to kick off the event 

with a motivational speech. Participants 

snapped pictures and then quickly 

began their treks around the Alster. 

After crossing the finish line, participants 

relaxed, chatted, listened to music and 

snacked as they awaited the results of a 

raffle. The day’s activities resulted in a 

significant financial contribution for 

FAWCO (over $2000) as well as strong 

feeling of community spirit and 

friendship within the club with 120 

people turning up to participate. 

Those that came enjoyed the event and talked about it for weeks. Pictures circulated on social 

media and lots of lasting memories were made. The event was a really great way to engage 

club members and strengthen friendships. We saw first-hand how kind and caring fellow club 

members can be when supporting a worthwhile charity. We also proved that a small group of 

dedicated people can achieve spectacular results and we learned how much money can be 

raised through a bake sale and/or raffle! We were pleasantly surprised by this. 

So, what is next for us both? We are both transitioning into 2018 board roles with the AWCH, so it 

will take us some time to get adjusted to the new responsibilities. Teresa will be in charge of 

club events and Lyn will serve as President. Additionally, we want to make the fun/run walk an 

annual event in Hamburg, so we’ll have to kick off the 2018 planning activities soon. 

10

Tax Reform: What’s in it for expats? 

Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you’re aware the US passed the most 

sweeping tax reform since 1986. Since its passage, my US expat clients have been 

asking me, “What’s in it for me?” The short answer, not much. 

Neither FATCA nor citizenship-based taxation were repealed, so plan on continuing to 

file a US tax return and FBAR for the foreseeable future. Foreign reporting of things like 

foreign accounts, PFICs, and foreign entities, are unchanged meaning you still have to 

report them! The foreign earned income exclusion and foreign tax credit are largely 

unchanged as applied to expats. 

There are, however, some changes that will affect all US taxpayers, including expats. I thought I’d take this 

opportunity to offer a brief explanation of them. Please excuse the brevity of my explanations, but my 

space is limited. 

Individual income tax rates were lowered and there are now 7 brackets ranging from 10% to 37%. The 

standard deduction was more or less doubled, and personal exemptions were eliminated. The impact is 

that fewer people will be able to itemize deductions. You can no longer deduct moving expenses, 

unreimbursed job related expenses, business entertainment expenses, or miscellaneous itemized 

deductions like investment expenses or professional fees to fight the IRS. The child tax credit was doubled 

to $2,000. The healthcare mandate whereby you would be penalized for not having health insurance was 

repealed. Alimony is now not deductible to the payor and not income for the recipient. Estate, gift and 

generation-skipping tax exclusions were doubled to $11.2M. 

Tax reform will have the biggest impact on expats who operate businesses through foreign (i.e. non-US) 

corporations. Prior to tax reform, expats would often operate businesses through foreign corporations 

because they wouldn’t have to pay US tax on their foreign corporation’s earnings and profits until it paid 

them a dividend. Tax reform changes this. For 2017, they will have to pay a one-time deemed repatriation 

tax - 15.5% on cash assets and 8% on non-cash assets - on any tax-deferred earnings and profits. And, 

going forward, they will have to pay 10.5% tax on their foreign corporation’s Global Intangible Low Tax 

Income (GILTI). GILTI is basically any income not from tangible assets, like real estate. 

Have questions? We have answers. Contact us if you need help navigating the maze that is the tax system 

in the US! 

Jimmy Sexton, LL.M., is an expert in the field of international taxation, with an 

emphasis on expat issues. He has presented to American expats at groups that 

include American women’s clubs throughout Europe and is a sought-after expert 

for several news organizations, including CNN and the Washington Post. He is the 

President of Esquire Group, an international tax preparation firm and Premier 

Sponsor of Inspiring Women Magazine.

Inspiration from France 

JILL JACQUOT 

Association of American Women in Europe, Paris, France 

From: Ohio, USA 

Lives: Near Fontainebleau, France 

12 

I was born and bred in Ohio, and I earned a BA in 

International Studies and another BA in French along the 

way. My first taste of living abroad was Junior Year abroad 

when I went to Tours, France. 

After college I went into the Peace Corps in Niger, after 

which I moved to Paris, and met my (now) husband. I 

spent 2 years in Paris, 2 years in London and finally moved 

to Romania to join my husband. From there we moved to 

NYC, then back to Paris. After a short stint in Canada, we 

have now lived in the same place, near Fontainebleau, 

France, since 2009. 

Having stopped working to raise my children, I recently 

went back to earn a diploma in psychotherapy. I am now starting my practice as a personcentered 

counselor 

As a child and teen, I was primarily a springboard 

diver, and I was also a lifeguard (so a little 

swimming!). But after college, I basically did no 

sports at all and only started running around the age 

of 44. In September 2016 I became involved in the 

world of Triathlon (swim, bike, run). My brother is a 

triathlete (an Ironman to be exact, which entails a 

3800m swim, followed by a 180km bike ride and a 

marathon at the end). I figured, hey, if he can do it, 

why not me?! And it would be a good way to do 

more than “just” run. 

My goal was to do a half ironman for my 50 th . In fact, 

I hope to have it completed before I turn 51 in July 

this year - I’m signed up for one in June. 

I try to ensure that training doesn’t take over my life 

(it is an ultra endurance sport, and many triathletes 

eat, breathe and sleep triathlon during the peak 

season). I swim with my team every Wednesday 

night and Saturday morning, so that takes a little 

time away from my family. Since I have a sporadic 

schedule, I fit my biking and running in during the 

day. I try to run 3 - 4 times a week and bike 2 times a 

week. I also do a little strength work through crossfit.

But on a personal level, I feel much stronger (not just 

physically). Building my physical endurance and 

strength has also been a factor in feeling more 

balanced overall. I have been quite surprised at how 

my stamina has developed. Last year I did two 

Olympic-distance triathlons (1.5km swim, 40km bike ride 

and 10k run). It sounded a lot easier on paper, but 

getting to the end of the run felt just amazing – not 

giving up. 

Also, I didn’t expect to find such a supportive 

environment. Even the most competitive athletes are 

there to help out those, like me, who are happy to 

“just” finish. I participate for me and not for or against 

anyone else. 

self-doubt was huge for me. 

But it’s not all plain sailing. During my first tri, I had my 

first ever panic attack in the water. It took an incredible 

amount of will power to keep going, I was really proud 

to have found that inner strength. The swim was 2 loops 

of 750m, with a short exit. At one point during the first 

750m, I imagined myself drowning and no one 

noticing, ha! So getting back in that water to prove to 

myself that I could face and overcome my fears and 

Fancy trying it yourself? I’d suggest shopping around, if possible, for a local triathlon club. There 

are 2 clubs in my area and I chose Melun Triathlon because they have a true spirit of helping 

each other. Of course there are those who just want to win, or be in the top %, but many 

members are happy to help out (teaching me about taking care of my bike, peddling with me 

at a slower rate, etc). The fact that there were a few women was also a draw for me. Triathlon 

is still dominated by men, so having other women made me feel more secure. 

GETTING TO KNOW JILL 


big difference and why it did. I guess the most 

important event in my life (other than the birth 

of my children) is probably a breakdown. 

After three children, choosing to stay home to 

raise them, I had lost myself somewhere along 

the way. Starting therapy was a huge step for 

me (as it is for most who dare to take the 

step). After a year or so of therapy, I realized 

that it had made such a difference in my life 

that I wanted to be able to offer it to others. It 

also fits with me, the person that I am and my 

natural empathy. And so I came to embark on 

a 3-year training course to become a personcentered 

counselor. The process strengthened 

my understanding of myself and my ability to 

accept my vulnerability as a strength, to 

gauge my feelings and visions in a nonjudgmental 

way. In counselor jargon, we can 

that internal evaluation … knowing what feels 

right or not from the inside. 

13

This internal strength has changed my life, and 

most certainly my children’s as well. It also 

drove me to be more physically active and, for 

now, to the world of triathlon. 


woman, alive or dead, who would it be and 

why? I find this question really hard. There are 

so many incredible women who have done 

incredible things, how to choose one and why 

would it be her? Perhaps Audrey Hepburn. A 

woman of natural talent, grace and beauty, 

she could have easily remained a star. Instead 

she used her talents and her renown to fight for 

the rights of people throughout the world. I 

would ask her about her choices, not as 

common then as they might be for stars today. 

Listen to her vision of the world as a better 

place, her optimism and enthusiasm. 

Tell us something interesting about yourself that 

not many people know. When I was a young 

girl and a teen, I wanted to “save the world”. 

My dream to go into the Peace Corps budded 

around the age of 12, when I learned of its 

existence. Prior to that, I wanted to be a 

lawyer to “help” people in situations of distress. 

Though I left the world of development after 

my service in the Peace Corps (primarily due 

to my lack of patience at that young age), I 

continue to believe that the world can 

become a better place. For me, becoming a 

therapist has been a process of coming back 

to my core beliefs. 

14

“When I grow up I want to be….” 

“...living in San Francisco, first 

hand learning about all the 

wonderful new technology that 

makes our lives so much easier 

and of course, playing Pickleball 

outdoors under the sun!” - Krishna 

Thakrar 

“...a therapist. If possible I’d like to 

be an inspiration to women feeling a 

little lost, a little worn down by life. 

Like my mentor, I’d like to offer the 

possibility to other women to dare to 

find and follow their dreams. ” - Jill 

Jacquot 

“…an ice skating champion and dance 

and fly high in the air…or a Doctor without 

borders…or a famous actress!” 

- Sarah Boulos 

“...a writer and I’ll make 

my readers dream and 

wonder about my 

adventurous life.” - 

Anna d’Albertis 

“ ...the hostess with the mostess. I 

want to own an inn where people 

can come and rest, dance, sing, 

eat good food, enjoy stunning 

views, find encouragement during 

difficult times, etc.” - Alicia Partee 

”...Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes 

or Dr. Spock (Starship 

Enterprise).” - Urte Paulus 

“...working for a local non-profit 

organization, hopefully putting my 

law degree to work after more than 

20 years exploring other 

avenues.”- Laura Tridico 

15

Inspiration from Nigeria 

SARAH BOULOS 

American Women’s Club of Lagos 

From: Born in Burkino Faso; half Lebanese, half French 

Lives: Lagos, Nigeria 

16 

I was born in Burkina Faso to a French mother and 

Lebanese father and lived in Burkina Faso until I was six. 

We moved to Brittany in France, where I lived until I was 

eight. Then my parents moved me to L’Ecole des 

Roches, a boarding school in Normandy, and finally on 

to Lebanon to finish my French baccalaureate. In 1988, 

at 17½, I got married and moved briefly to France, 

spending 6 months in Fontainebleau, and then to 

Houston, Texas for 10 years. In 1996, I moved to Nigeria 

and I am still here today. 

My journey has been filled with excitement, joy, and 

deep pain due to the different tragedies I have 

experienced. I have four beautiful children, and have 

been married for 30 years, with the usual ups and 

downs that entails. I treat every moment as if it could 

be my last and always do my best to serve and support 

others. My inner strength for this journey comes from Christ and the people he leads me to meet 

in my classes. 

I am a certified creative dancer and Zumba instructor with over 250 hours of dance training in 

ballet, Latin and ballroom dance, contemporary dance and sacred dance. It all started 

because of a calling to dance for the Lord, which led to me building a performing arts center for 

Nigeria in Lagos. Due to a 

tragedy in my family, my 

fitness and dance world 

became even more 

important in my life 

because I needed to heal 

and restore my body. 

Dance and fitness has 

totally changed my 

perspective about the 

need to live a wholesome 

lifestyle. It has motivated 

me to do more and to see 

life as a precious stone 

and protect it. It has also 

brought joy to those 

around me. I love the 

communication between

dancers, the depth of community we have, the intimacy of cherished moments of joy and 

teaching joy with others individuals and peers. I have also found a sense of significance and 

deep belonging, forging important relationships along the way. 

Through my sport, I have discovered that we must be committed, we must be versatile in 

choosing different fitness pathways so that our bodies continue to experience different patterns 

of exercises, and not only one monotonous pattern. Shocking my body with different 

experiences has made me stronger inside and out, and I lost 25 kilos after my last pregnancy 

even though I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. 

I am proud that through my dancing I have been able to pass on the baton, giving others an 

opportunity to excel, and becoming wholesome in the process. I am also proud that I have been 

able to give my community a need for significance…a place where they can belong in the 

fitness world. 

If you want to try it, all you need to do is find your nearest dance studio and meet those special 

dance teachers. Or you could get involved in a spiritual dance class in a church. You could offer 

one yourself or just put on some music and start dancing without anyone watching you…the 

beginning of a fabulous journey of self-discovery. 

GETTING TO KNOW SARAH 


big difference and why it did. In May 2003, 

Unna from South Africa was praying during a 

ladies’ Bible study, and she asked me if I 

danced. I said I did at parties, and as a child I 

had taken ballet classes. From then on, a new 

journey started for me, as she actually asked 

me to start dancing for the Lord. I read The 

Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, which was 

given to me by my friend Tanya, and one early 

morning as I was waking up, I received the 

vision to build a performance center for 

Nigeria in Lagos with a mandate to teach and 

build an academy. 

In September 2003, while studying the story of 

King David in the Bible, who also danced for 

the Lord, I decide to pray for people to 

support me in my performance center vision. 

On December 8, 2003, while I was looking for 

Christmas carol singers, the spirit of David 

appeared in the form of a very strong gospel 

dance club. We decided to join hands to see 

the vision through. 

Not long afterwards, while I was on holiday in 

Lebanon, I heard, at midnight on December 

24, that my uncle and aunt in the family village 

in Lebanon had died, asphyxiated in a fire 

17

caused by the candles falling from the 

Christmas tree. Within a few hours the funeral 

was organized and people from all over the 

world were trying to catch planes to get there 

in time for the funeral. 

In the mid-afternoon on Christmas Day, my 

mother, brother, sister-in-law, sister-in law’s 

father and cousin rushed to the airport in 

Cotonou Benin to get on the first plane. They 

had tickets, to fly with Air France, but at the 

airport they found there were 5 seats left for 

an earlier flight. So, they 

switched to UTAGE Flight 

141. The plane crashed. 

On Christmas Day 2003, I 

buried 7 members of my 

family, and my life would 

never be the same again. 

The world of fitness and 

dance helped me along 

with my spiritual journey, to 

hold onto the pain and 

grieve in a healing way. 

Tell us something interesting 

about yourself that not 

many people know. I love 

horseback riding and ice 

skating and always wanted 

to become a champion in 

either field. 

18

FAWCO Clubs in Motion 

Clubs in Motion is a FAWCO initiative to 

encourage members to stay physically fit. Why 

should clubs get involved? Exercise benefits your 

health. For every hour of regular, vigorous 

exercise you do, such as brisk walking, you can 

live two hours longer. And we all know that it's 

more FUN to exercise with friends. 

The earliest record of a FAWCO Clubs in Motion 

activity was by AILO Florence in January 2010, 

with photos of their Garden Walking Tour in the 

Lucca area. They reported that they did not 

cover many kilometers, but had a great deal of 

fun, and that’s a good part of what Clubs in 

Motion is all about. 

Today there are 21 clubs (and one individual member from Dubai) on our mailing list (AWC 

Amsterdam, AWC Antwerp, AWC Bern, AWC Bogotá, AIWC Casablanca, Chilterns AWC, AWC 

Denmark, AWC Dublin, AWC Dusseldorf, AILO Florence, AWC The Hague, AWC Hamburg, AWG 

Languedoc-Roussillon, AWC London, AWC Luxembourg, AWC Mumbai, Munich IWC, AIWC 

Naples, AAWE Paris, AW Surrey, AWC Zurich), but not all of these regularly report their activities. 

Munich IWC wins the prize for the best reporting of their activities. They are also the club that has 

recently published a book about walks in their area, 20 Walks from Munich, with trail guides and 

tips about where to eat and drink along the way! 

FAWCO Clubs in Motion activities have traditionally included regular walking or hiking groups, 

participation in charity walks or runs, marathons, etc., with clubs submitting monthly reports 

including number of club participants and km/miles walked for each event. We do need three 

or more club members exercising together for it to count. The totals are tallied, with the hope of 

reaching the same number of kilometers as the circumference of the earth. By the end of 

February 2015, we were only 145 km short of that goal. The clock was set back to zero after the 

conference, but sadly, we have never achieved such record numbers since. 

19 

So, we would now like to 

encourage you to report ANY 

group physical activity, such as 

cycling, swimming, tennis, folk 

dancing, skiing, mountain 

climbing, sky-diving, Zumba, 

bungee-jumping, etc, even if the 

motion can’t be tallied in the 

same form as walks or hikes. And 

we are ALWAYS open to new and 

creative suggestions about group 

motion. Why not Tai Chi? Just 

because it is slow doesn’t mean 

it’s not motion - and it’s healthy. 

It’s certain that there is even more 

motion out there. We’d like to hear

about it. If your club hasn’t yet signed up with Clubs in Motion but would like to, please send an 

e-mail message to Maggie Palu (the one in the red in the photo on p. 19) at 

mspalu@wanadoo.fr with a copy to fawcoclubsinmotion@gmail.com. And once you’re on the 

mailing list and reporting your club’s activities, don’t forget to send photos that can be shared 

with the other clubs. 

Here are some reports from the Clubs about 

their Motion: 

AWC ANTWERP has a weekly walking club with 

3 to 5 participants. Club members, along with 

Region 4 conference attendees, participated 

in the annual Run - or Walk - for the Cure (for 

breast cancer) in September. 

AUGSBURG IWA has been practicing Cardio 

Tennis for more than five years. It is a high 

energy fitness activity that combines the best 

features of tennis with cardiovascular 

exercise. There are 6 to 11 players on the 

court, with music in the background, and all 

the participants keep their heart rate at a 

high but healthy state throughout the whole 

Cardio Tennis lesson. 

AWC BERN has one hike per week from the 

end of May until the end of October, with 3 to 

8 members participating. The hikes are about 

10 km. 

AWC BOGOTÁ has a Nature Lovers’ Club that 

hikes every second Tuesday and Friday, the 

Usaquen Walking Group on weekdays in 

Santa Ana, and the Hiking with Dogs Group 

that meets intermittently. Sometimes members 

of the club organize outings further afield. 

CHILTERNS AWC has a hiking club which does 

two walks each month, approximately 5 miles, 

but with a novel idea: they do the same hike 

twice, once on a Tuesday and once on a 

Thursday, which gives members a choice. The 

club also has tennis, golf and running groups. 

AWC DENMARK reports that they are reviving 

their City Walks group, to meet every couple 

of weeks to walk around Copenhagen. They 

also participated in Ladywalk 2017, which is 

Denmark’s largest one-day sporting event for 

women, and they plan to participate again in 

May of this year. Funds earned by the event 

support women stricken by specific illnesses 

(e.g., heart disease and polycystic ovarian 

syndrome in 2017). 

AWC DUBLIN aims for once a month, with 

scenic walks that are not too difficult and are 

accessible via public transport. They also join 

an international women’s club in Dublin three 

times per month for more difficult walks, which 

involve driving to a trailhead. 

AILO FLORENCE reports that most of AILO's 

members walk several miles a day, since that 

is the primary mode of transportation. Since 

Florence is a “walking city” and is also small in 

size, members get exercise easily by walking 

just about everywhere. 

AWG LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON has opened 

its monthly hikes to members of two other 

local anglophone groups in order to increase 

the numbers. The hikes, which usually cover 6 

to 8 km and last 2 hours, are often 

educational, with descriptions and 

background information about the 

architecture, farms and ruins along the 

way. Club members also regularly participate 

in the annual Cancer Support France 

Languedoc Walk for Life which raises money 

to support breast cancer care. 

AWC THE HAGUE’S Walkie Talkies have been 

meeting every Monday morning since 2012. 

They start walking in whichever direction 

inspires them, with beaches, dunes, woods 

20

and parks all nearby. They recently appeared 

on Dutch television and in the local 

newspaper. They usually walk about 7 km, 

with a stop for coffee mid-route. In December 

some members participated in a nighttime 

walk, with special light installations dotted 

along the route. 

AWC HAMBURG held a charity Fun Run/Walk 

last October to benefit FAWCO (see the First 

Take article in this magazine). The club also 

surveyed members on how they keep fit. 

Walking was the clear winner, with close to 

40% of all survey participants, regardless of 

age, saying walking was an activity that kept 

them fit. Cycling was another favorite sport 

enjoyed by all ages, with 30% listing it as a 

favorite sport. 

AWC LONDON’S hiking group walks once per 

month, rain or shine, for an average of 10 

miles. It is a full day of walking in the 

countryside outside of London, on moderately 

easy walks, although in the summer the 

difficulty increases due to longer walks over 

more rugged terrain. The club also has a 

running group, a health and fitness group and 

a London walks group. 

AWC LUXEMBOURG has three hiking groups. 

One meets weekly, with a reconnaissance on 

Monday and then a repeat of the same walk 

on Friday. The hikes average 9 km and take 2 

hours to complete, and many members hike 

more than 1000 km per year. The more 

adventurous ramblers meet once a month, 

averaging about 20 km and walks take the 

better part of a day. Once a year, on the last 

weekend in September, they organize a 

hiking weekend a bit farther from home. 

Previous years have taken them to France, 

Germany, Belgium and Sweden. This year’s 

destination is a chalet in the French Alps. 

MUNICH IWC, with its two walking groups (one 

long monthly walk, and two to five short ones) 

has reported thousands and thousands of 

kilometers. No club will ever catch up with 

them, but this isn’t a contest! 

AIWC NAPLES recently had an inaugural walk 

and is looking forward to further participation 

with Clubs in Motion. 

AAWE PARIS is organizing a group to 

participate in the 12 th annual Rochambelle 5 

km women’s walk/run against breast cancer, 

held in Caen, Normandy, on June 9, just after 

D-Day, as part of a larger event called Les 

Courants de la Liberté. They will also have a 

team at La Parisienne in September for the 

breast cancer race. 

AW SURREY has a hiking activity every Friday, 

where hikers explore the Surrey countryside for 

two hours. The paths vary, with easier trails 

through parks, gardens and quaint villages, 

and more challenging climbs up and down 

hills, on muddy paths and over fences through 

meadows and farms. It’s a friendly, healthy 

and free outdoor activity for club members all 

year round to help them stay physically fit. 

AWC ZURICH participates in the International 

Women’s Day “Join Me on the Bridge” event, 

and invites other clubs and community 

organizations to join them. 

INDIVIDUAL MEMBER Renuka Matthews does 

vertical marathons, and you can read more 

about her in a separate article in this issue. 

21

Inspiration from Austria 

URTE PAULUS 

22 

I grew up in Freiburg, Germany together with my 

mom, grandma, two sisters and a brother. I 

studied Biology at the University of Freiburg and 

in Vienna, Austria and ended with a Master of 

Science degree. In 1991, I moved to Vienna, 

where I married my husband and also we had 

two children together. 

As hobbies, I dance a lot (nowadays mainly Hula 

inclusive performances and lecturing), write a lot 

of poems, meet with friends and travel, and I like 

to do handicrafts. 

From the age of about three, I was involved in all 

kinds of sports. I went to a school where my main 

subject became sports. During my school days I was involved in swimming, athletics, 

gymnastics, ballroom dancing, tennis, table tennis and soccer! As a child, I loved the film The 

Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn and dreamt of doing archery, shooting with a bow 

and arrow, myself. However, there was no possibility of doing that. 

Then, just by chance, that I got the opportunity to 

get involved in archery in Vienna. First a few times 

in the Prater (Vienna’s famous amusement park); 

then I found a beginners’ course in archery in 

2000. From that moment on, I was into it. The kids 

were at school, so I had the morning for 

practicing (shooting practice six times a week 

plus fitness and mental training or competitions). I 

was basically self-taught, especially when I 

became an archery coach myself in 2006. 

Since I am not interested in technology, I started 

to shoot with a longbow American flatbow 

(traditional bow) without a sight or any other 

aiming aids. Gradually my level got higher and 

higher, and I became member of the Austrian 

squad. In the following years, I won many medals: 

In the 105 regional, national and international 

tournaments I entered, I won 85 gold and 10 silver 

medals. I also won a many national titles in 

Austria (outdoor, indoor, 3D) and was an Austrian 

Team member from 2006 onwards. I am really 

proud of my World Champion and European 

American Women’s Association of Vienna, 

Austria 

From: Germany 

Lives: Vienna, Austria

Champion titles because I practiced 

very hard. 

In 2006, I opened my archery school 

"White Arrow" for Austrian archers, and 

then in 2011, "Archery Education 

International", which caters to archers 

and coaches from all over the world. 

From 2009-2011, I was head coach of 

the Austrian 3D-Team (3D = shooting 

on plastic animal-like targets on a 

course in the woods), and between 

2008 and 2013, I was a team 

supporter when there was no head 

coach for the team. 

In 2009, I became a national - and in 

2011 an international - coach trainer (this is still my job), specializing in the Olympic Recurve bow 

and traditional bows. I also finished my education as a sport mental trainer in 2011. 

In 2010, I started to write a textbook about coaching in archery with many practical tips and 

exercises for archers, coaches and coach trainers. It will be available in 2018 in German, and 

hopefully in 2019 in English. 

I have learned so much 

through my archery. For 

example: I can do almost 

everything if I try hard 

enough. But I do think that 

to be successful, the most 

important thing is to have 

fun at what you are doing. I 

loved to practice hard. 

There was never a time I 

didn't want to take my bow 

and arrows and practice 

my shooting technique, 

focusing on every shot; 

there were the days I had 

to stop myself to have a 

rest. When you focus on 

your shooting technique, 

the hits will come by 

themselves. It is wonderful 

to feel the body's tension and relaxation, the harmony and smoothness in the approximately 15 

to 20 seconds you need for one shot. 

I always had goals: for the training and for the competition. They were all related to my 

technique (which key words I want to use, where to put my focus) and how to act in various 

situations. Whenever I failed, I just asked myself what I could have done better to achieve my 

goal and tried to act accordingly the next time. Whenever I finished an archery competition (no 

matter whether I got a medal or not), I asked myself what is the next thing to practice so that I 

can improve my skills. Archery also taught me to focus much more on me, on the moment; to 

concentrate on the important things and blank out things that are unimportant or not relevant. 

This all had a massive influence on my private life. 

23

GETTING TO KNOW URTE 

What personal motto do you live by, and how 

does it affect what you do/don’t do? Carpe 

diem: live every day as if it is the last. Always 

live in the present, but do learn from the past 

(your own and that of others). Always look 

hopefully into the future and be optimistic. If 

you want to be successful in life, you need to 

have a plan and stick to it. However, never 

forget to be flexible and listen to yourself. 

Goals may change. 

Also, always be yourself and live your dreams. 

Do not live your life for others. You only have 

this single one. Never wait until a man (or a 

woman) asks you to dance. If you want to 

dance, go and ask them yourself. 

Tell us something interesting about yourself 

that not many people know. I proposed to 

my husband Hannes; I didn’t wait for him to 

do it! 

24

Inspiration from England 

LAURA TRIDICO 

American Women of Berkshire & Surrey, England 

From: Arlington VA, USA 

Lives: Virginia Water, Surrey, England 

I married my husband, Anthony, in 1997, and we 

have three children – John (17), Anthony (14) and 

Nicole (11). Prior to expat life, I was a corporate 

lawyer in Washington, DC. In 2001, we had our first 

child and immediately moved overseas – a 

massive lifestyle change all at once! We lived in 

Brussels, Belgium from 2001 to 2004 and again 

starting in 2009. We then moved to London in 2013 

and have lived here ever since. Career-wise, I 

taught French in the USA for several years 

between expat assignments and now work parttime 

as a freelance translator. 

Over the years, I’ve been involved in track and field (discus and shot put in high school; high 

school coach when teaching in Virginia), fencing (University of Michigan), recreational running, 

general fitness and, most recently, golf. 

I was a late bloomer when it came to sports, 

until I discovered the shot put and discus in 

high school. I competed at the state level, but 

did not pursue it in college. Instead, I joined 

the fencing club at the University of Michigan, 

and enjoyed three years of representing my 

school in the Big Ten. At that time, Michigan 

did not have a varsity fencing team, so we 

were the only game in town! 

I drifted away from organized sports during 

law school, and my fitness level took a nose 

dive. Approaching 30 and massively out of 

shape, I started running. I was not fast, and 

could never have won a race, but had the 

satisfaction of completing two marathons, 

including New York City in 2005. 

As I approached 40, my interest in running 

started to wane (in inverse proportion to my 

enjoyment of Belgian beer and chocolate). A 

couple of years later, I realized that I’d let my 

fitness go yet again. Surprisingly, it was an 

infomercial for a workout program (Insanity) 

that got me back off the couch. I bought the 

25

DVDs, and over the next six months lost 20 

pounds and got my body back. 

Upon moving to the UK, I started to take up 

golfing, which I had played a little bit when I 

was younger. That is my focus right now: since 

starting, I’ve lowered my handicap from 36 to 

a somewhat respectable 22. I’ve gotten 

involved in a match play team at a local club, 

which is a great way to get to make friends in 

the local community. 

That said, my focus on golf came at the 

expense of regular fitness workouts. That was a 

mistake that I’m now rectifying. No matter 

your sport, it’s essential to maintain your basic 

fitness level, especially your core muscles. 

Failing to do that can lead to injury. I’m happy 

to say that I’ve been back on my fitness 

program for a couple of months; I feel much 

stronger and I’m seeing a huge difference in 

my golf game. 

When I was younger, sport was about training 

to win for the team. Now that I’m 

approaching 50, the most important thing is to 

stay fit and use my involvement in sports to 

make connections and friendships. 

I’ve learned that at whatever level you 

participate in a sport, you can get a lot of 

satisfaction from working hard and improving. 

Competition can be a real motivating force at 

any level – you don’t have to be an incredible 

athlete to enjoy your chosen sport and jump 

into competitions. For the most part, the sports 

I’ve been involved in are accessible wherever 

you live. Whatever interests you, just give it a 

go! The first step is always the hardest – whether 

starting a workout program or joining a sports 

club. Just get up and move! 

26

GETTING TO KNOW LAURA 


big difference and why it did. 

Our initial decision to accept an expat 

assignment way back in 2001 was lifechanging. 

Growing up, my idea of 

international travel involved driving across the 

border into Canada, so it was a massive leap 

of faith to decide to move to Belgium, with 

minimal experience abroad. 


that not many people know. A lot of people 

know that I’m a translator (French to English), 

but don’t know that I didn’t start seriously 

learning French until I was nearly 30, when I 

lived in Belgium. Proof that it’s never too late 

to start something new! 

If you could meet one famous or 

influential woman, alive or dead, 

who would it be and why? I would 

love to meet Ruth Bader Ginsburg. 

She has a stunning intellect, true 

compassion and a powerful sense of 

justice. She’s also a role model in the 

way she’s stayed at the top of her 

profession at the age of 84. I think it’s 

due in part to her dedication to 

fitness – in fact, her personal trainer, 

Bryant Johnson, just published a 

book called The RBG Workout: How 

She Stays Strong … and You Can 

Too! I’d love to talk with her about 

her fitness regime – in addition to her 

career on the US Supreme Court. 

27

Home and Away: Don’t Eat Pie 

Home and Away columnist Robin Meloy Goldsby 

recalls her stint as an exercise instructor and diet 

coach in Flushing, Queens, New York. 

January 1981: “Ladies! Listen up! It’s ‘Team Time 

with Deanna!’ Grab your buddy and head to 

the center of the floor where we’ll meet and 

greet, dance and prance, and burn away that 

winter blubber.” Deanna is a thirty-five-year old 

exercise instructor and seasoned resident of 

Queens. I am a twenty-three-year-old out-ofwork 

actor/pianist and a newish New Yorker. I 

wear a white leotard, a purple polyester sash 

around my waist, and a very large badge that 

says, “Elaine Powers Figure Salon TRAINEE.” It is not my finest moment, but I’m grateful to be 

employed. I’ve graduated from Chatham College, a gentle but high-minded women’s college 

in Pittsburgh, with a BA in Theater Arts. I know a lot about Shakespearean comedies and Greek 

tragedies, but hardly anything about how to get work as a performing artist in New York City. 

For over a year I’ve been counting pennies and looking forward to the day when I can afford 

food that doesn’t come in a white cardboard carton or a greasy paper bag. Now, a little 

uncertain about my next shaky steps in a city jam-packed with out-of-work actors skidding in 

their own greasepaint, I’ve signed up to work part time as an instructor at an Elaine Powers 

Figure Salon. I haven’t found an Elaine Powers salon with job openings in Manhattan—those 

places are already staffed by Bob Fosse rejects, soap opera spit-backs, and runway models 

who are an inch or two under the 5’9″ minimum. But I’ve nailed down a position as an instructor 

at the Flushing, Queens salon, in the shadow of Shea Stadium. 

During “Team Time with Deanna” I sit on an Elaine Powers weight bench and take notes. I’ll be 

expected to conduct my very own “Team Time with Robin” in the next few days, and there’s 

an Elaine Powers protocol I’ll need to follow. 

28 

Cats have claws! Dogs have fleas! All I’ve got are chubby knees! 

I’m not dumb! I’m so wise! Pump away these flabby thighs! 

Move those arms! Move those feet! How I hate this cellulite! 

Pec-tor-als! Stretch and reach! We’ll look foxy on the beach. 

Remember, it’s 1981. “Foxy” is one of our favorite words. Donna Summer blares from the Elaine 

Powers sound system. “She Works Hard for the Money” is 

the track of choice. The music and the rhymes don’t sync 

and I feel like I’m caught in a John Cage nightmare. 

Deanna, single mother of four sons, resembles a female 

version of Barney Rubble. She is tiny and rock solid—no 

chubby knees on her. During my shift, I watch her conduct 

Team Time every hour on the hour. No matter how much 

she jumps around, her Sue Ellen Ewing hair stays in place. 

After Deanna’s third session I head back to the front 

desk—a platform that oversees all the weight machines, 

vibrating belts, and treadmills. The vibrating belts intrigue 

me. The clients strap a belt around their problem zones 

and the belts shake-shake-shake the fat. Wow.

“Do those things work?” I ask Deanna. 

“Nah,” she says, evading my eyes. “They make your thighs 

itch, and that’s about it.” 

“Oh,” I say. “Who needs that? Itchy thighs. Blah.” 

“Right. So. You understand all about Team Time, now?” 

“Yes. I do.” 

“Good. Okay, write this next thing down in your notebook. 

It’s one of our most critical functions, as, like, Elaine Powers 

role models and instructors.” 

“Ladies, listen up! It’s time for your ‘Diet Tip of the Day.'” The 

gyrating women step down from their weight machines, 

treadmills, and vibrating belts. They swivel to face Deanna. 

She is their weight-loss queen of Queens, their caloriecounting 

pocket-Pope, their great white hope for slimmer 

thighs and sleeker silhouettes. 

“Okay, ladies, here we go. Your ‘Diet Tip of the Day’—drum roll, 

please!” The ladies beat on the purple padded benches of the 

weight machines. 

“Your ‘Diet Tip of the Day’ is . . . DON’T EAT PIE!” 

A startled silence fills the salon. Then the ladies break into 

applause. After a few moments, they return to their workouts. 

“That’s it?” I say to Deanna. “Don’t eat pie is your diet tip for the 

day?” 

“Yeah,” she says. “Good, right?” 

“But that’s ridiculous,” I say. “Everyone knows not to eat pie if 

they’re trying to lose weight. These poor women are paying $11.99 

a month—” 

“$9.99 a month for the two-year program, $7.99 a month for the five-year plan and a one-time 

fee of $499.99 for a lifetime membership.” 

“Right. What a deal. But shouldn’t you give them something more than a poem about chubby 

knees and a diet tip that tells them not to eat pie?” 

Deanna glares at me and I’m really glad she doesn’t have one of those Barney Rubble clubs. 

“Sometimes,” she growls, “you just have to hit them over the head with this stuff. It’s not, like, 

rocket science. Obvious is good.” 

“Obvious is good,” I write in my notebook, which, thirty years later, I will dig out of an old carton 

so I can write this story. 

*** 

Cathy, a platinum bottle-blond with an inch of black roots, dangling earrings, water-balloon 

boobs, narrow teenage-boy hips, and lavender tights, paces on the magenta carpet of the 

violet-walled Elaine Powers back office. Purple, purple everywhere. Working in this place is like 

living inside a grape. Cathy (who might be a man) is our manager, a job that involves chain 

smoking and convincing middle-aged female citizens of Flushing that they, too, could look like 

her if they stopped eating pie, exercised, and forked over 

$11.99 a month for the next year. 

Cathy has called me into her office to discuss “security” issues 

at the salon. Deanna accompanies me. We all light up 

cigarettes. It’s 1981. We smoke. No guilt. 

“So,” says Cathy to Deanna. “Did you show Robin the panic 

button?” 

“The panic button?” I say. 

“You didn’t tell her?” says Cathy. 

29

I wonder if the panic button has something to do with pie. I haven’t thought about pie for a 

couple of years, but now I can’t stop conjuring visions of my mom’s pumpkin, lemon meringue, 

pecan, and peach pies. Flaky crusts, whipped cream, the works. I take a drag from my Benson 

and Hedges cigarette, a luxury I can’t afford. I scrimp on meals, but I buy these stupid cigarettes 

because I like the way the package looks. 

“If any man comes into the salon for any reason, one of us has to stand by the panic button and 

be prepared to hit it. Because we don’t want a VBI here in Flushing.” 

“A VBI?” I say. 

“Vibrating Belt Incident,” says Deanna. “Don’t ask.” 

*** 

The following week when I’m alone and closing the salon—I step onto one of the vibrating belt 

machines and hook the belt 

around my butt. I turn on the 

machine. In the mirror—there are 

mirrors everywhere in this place—I 

catch a glimpse of myself as I 

shake, waggle, and roll. Look at 

that. Turns out I have a lot of fat 

on my skinny frame. There’s a 

stout girl lurking inside me, and I 

see her, right there in my jiggling 

reflection. That’s it. No more pie 

for me. I lock up and go home. 

*** 

A miracle! Four months into my 

Elaine Powers siege a music 

agent calls and offers me a gig at 

the Newark Airport Holiday Inn, 

where I’ll play the piano five 

nights a week for turnpike lounge 

lizards, red-eyed truck drivers, and world-weary flight crews—the worker bees of the 

transportation industry. For a while I do both jobs, but eventually, I resign from Elaine Powers. I’ll 

miss getting paid to exercise and I’m sad about saying goodbye to Cathy and Deanna. During 

my final Team Time, I blast Donna Summer’s cassette on the boom box. I work hard for my 

money, chase away those chubby knees, and wish my clients well. 

“You know what?” I say to the ladies. “A little bit of fat is okay. Be fit. Be foxy. Be healthy. Be 

happy. Listen to music. Dance. Keep moving. Don’t worry so much about the pie. ” 

Cathy smiles at me. Deanna scowls. I exit. Obvious is good. 

30 

Robin Meloy Goldsby's solo piano career has taken her from Pittsburgh to posh New York City 

venues and exclusive resorts, and on to the European castles and concert stages where she 

now performs. Robin, a Steinway Artist, has seven recordings to her name and has appeared 

in the USA on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and Piano Jazz with Marian 

McPartland. She is the author of Piano Girl, Rhythm, Waltz of the Asparagus People, 

and Manhattan Road Trip. 

Currently, Robin is the featured pianist at the Excelsior Hotel Ernst in Cologne, Germany. Her 

latest recording, Home and Away, launched on November 26th, 2017. You can visit Robin’s 

web page at www.goldsby.de.

Inspiration from Dubai 

RENUKA MATTHEWS 

I am an individual member of FAWCO 

From: India, now a US citizen 

Lives: Dubai, U.A.E. 

31 

I was born in Kerala, South India and moved to 

Washington, D.C. in 1994. My husband and I 

relocated to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1996 and 

moved again to Dubai, U.A.E. in 2004. I worked 

as Administrator for a US law firm in Riyadh and 

Dubai. I joined FAWCO in 2011 and served on 

the Finance Committee for several years. I 

currently am Co-Chair of FAWCO’s 

Environmental Team. 

I was involved in various sports in my youth. In my 20s I studied yoga and continue to practice 

on and off. After I stopped working full time, I took up a number of sports including bowling, 

squash, and running and I devoted much of my time to sports – and fitness in general. I currently 

spend 1-2 hours in the gym at least 6 days a week. Since 2008, running has become my primary 

sport and I have run in several 10 km events, 4 

Half Marathons, and 3 Vertical Marathons (52 

flights of stairs). In January 2017, I completed 

the Dubai Marathon (42.2 km). 

It was tough in the beginning. As a lifelong 

vegetarian, I was “scrawny” and had very little 

muscle development in both my upper and 

lower body. I have worked diligently with a 

trainer over the past several years and have 

also altered my diet, substantially increasing 

my protein intake. This has enabled me at a 

later stage in my life to develop muscle mass 

and increase my stamina. Keeping fit is hard 

work but it is well worth it. 

I ran my first organized 10 km race after 

working out only on a treadmill in the gym. This 

showed me the importance of training. In 

preparing for my longer races, I made sure 

than I ran at least half the total distance in my 

training and close to the full distance 5-7 days 

before the big day. This has helped me 

physically to be sure, but it has also helped me 

develop confidence that I could complete the 

full distance. 

I have learned that maintaining fitness is an

important part of my life and includes not 

only exercise but also a proper diet. I 

have also developed a great deal of 

confidence from my running and other 

sporting activities. I could not have 

imagined myself running a marathon 

when I was in my 20s, but with hard work 

and dedication I made it a reality. 

One of my most important achievements 

was completing my first marathon in 

Dubai. I had been training for several 

years and while not a particularly fast 

runner, I was determined to achieve this 

goal. Several of my friends told me, “You 

must be crazy,” but I was mentally strong 

and ready for this challenge. I displayed 

pure grit that day and finished the race 

feeling confident and stronger than ever. 

GETTING TO KNOW RENUKA 

If you could try a sport/fitness activity you’ve 

not done before, what would it be and why? I 

would love to participate in an Ironman 

competition, which combines swimming, 

biking and running. Sadly, I am unable to swim 

despite taking lessons for over a year. The 

Ironman is simply beyond my reach. 

What personal motto do you live by and how 

does it affect what you do/don’t do? “Don’t 

make excuses; just carry on.” This applies to 

almost everything in life. 

If you could meet one person or influential 

women, alive or dead, who would it be and 

why? There are two such people in my life. 

The first is Mother Teresa. She was an 

extraordinary person. She had an impact on 

my life because she has inspired not only me 

but countless others by her selfless actions – 

undergoing great personal sacrifice to make 

life better for the poorest of the poor and the 

sick and dying. She did everything with an 

enormous smile on her face. If she were alive, I 

would love to have a dialogue with her about 

creating opportunities for the most 

disadvantaged people to have access to 

education, medical care, etc., and to learn 

how to plant seeds of empathy in others. 

While few of us can emulate Mother Teresa, 

we can all aspire to develop and spread 

some of her passion and commitment for the 

less fortunate in life. 

My parents played a huge role in my 

upbringing as well, especially my mother. She 

taught me the meaning of love and the 

importance of caring for and helping others. 

She has always maintained an open mind 

and warm heart and taught us not to 

distinguish between rich and poor, nor to 

discriminate based on religion or color. I am so 

grateful for that. 

32

33

A Club Inspires: AWC Amsterdam 

There are FAWCO clubs of all sizes and shapes across the world. A Club Inspires is a feature 

where you will learn more about one of them. This time we are pleased to share with you one of 

the FAWCO clubs based in Region 4: American Women’s Club of Amsterdam. Over to their 

FAWCO Reps Lauren Mescon and Julie Lehr... 

The American Women’s Club of Amsterdam (AWCA) was started in 1927 by Carolyn Korthals 

Altes. The first meetings were held at the home of the wife of the US Consul General, who was an 

early member. While the club was started for social and cultural purposes, they soon began to 

get involved in serving the public. The club actually began their own “Marshall Plan” before the 

official one started. They would reach out to their friends in the States who would send care 

packages full of needed items and the AWCA would distribute the packages. The Americans 

back home were so happy to help that this continued for several years until the AWCA actually 

had to beg their friends to stop sending them! 

We have about 260 members representing a 

variety of nationalities. The majority are 

Americans but quite a few are not. Many of 

our members are here for their husband’s or 

partner’s job, although, not exclusively; 

many women also came sans partners for 

their own careers. 

There is an elected board and candidates 

are solicited via our nominating committee, 

in accordance with club by-laws. We usually 

have an amazing slate of officers, with most 

positions being filled with co-leaders (i.e. two 

people). With the busy schedules of many of 

our members as a result of their jobs, 

children or travels, they are more comfortable not having sole responsibility for something. The 

beauty of our board, though, is that everyone does everything; if someone is missing, even last 

minute for unforeseen reasons, the rest of the board does not hesitate to step in. 

We have two monthly meetings - a daytime General Meeting (GM) and an evening event the 

following week known as At Night. The speakers are different as the At Night meetings tend to 

be smaller and attended by members who work during the day. Naturally we also have regular 

activities, from book clubs to cooking club to 

Pokeno nights to Guys Night Out to pub 

nights. There are tons of newcomers’ 

activities, including a monthly newcomers’ 

coffee, lunch and a Saturday night cocktail 

party. Everyone is welcome and there are 

plenty of non-newcomer regulars at each 

one. We also have a robust excursions 

program which includes day trips and 

overnight trips. 

34 

The club also fundraises for the FAWCO Target 

project. This year we were really excited to 

have “Raise Your Hand for Education” events 

both for members and a corporation. We

painted nails for a fee and 

had all of the participants 

“raise their hands for 

education.” We also had a 

fabulous Share Your Gifts for 

Good campaign which was 

the brainchild of our member, 

Margaret Dwyer, after the 

Paris Regional, her first-ever 

FAWCO meeting attended 

shortly before she repatriates 

(in February!). Over six weeks 

we solicited “gifts” (talents) 

from our members which 

consisted of things such as 

flower arranging, antique 

tours, teaching mahjong, dog 

sitting, yoga, horoscopes, 

foodie tours - you name it and 

our members offered it. We then held an online auction where other members bid on the 

items. The auction culminated at our newcomers’ cocktail party in November; to ensure that all 

members could participate, even if they were unable to attend the party, we offered “buy it 

now” prices on everything. As a result, we raised 6005 euros for Hope Beyond Displacement 

and created relationships among club members that had not existed before. It was a great 

way to promote the Target Project and at the same time build community within our club. 

We are very proud of our club’s philanthropic efforts: 

• Several members of the club supply the funds for food and cook a meal on a monthly 

basis for De Kloof, Amsterdam’s oldest shelter for the homeless. 

• One group created their own foundation to support Safe Spaces, an education and 

empowerment program that supports 1200 girls and young women in the Eastland slums 

of Nairobi, Kenya to get an education, learn life skills and reproductive rights, find their 

voice, and take up leadership positions in their community. 

• Another group volunteers for 

Not For Sale, a nonprofit that 

offers victims of human 

trafficking a new perspective 

on their future. Through its 

social enterprises it provides 

education and training to 

bridge the gap to the job 

market and society. 

Our club is 91 years old and 

evolving with the times. Our 

membership is dynamic and allinclusive 

with members ranging 

from those who have been 

members for over 20 years to the 

newbies who are stepping up to 

join the executive board; they 

want to give back and ensure 

that all new members have the 

same great experiences that they have already had. Our members recognize that FAWCO 

takes us from being a local organization to a global one and that together we can have a 

larger impact on the things that are important to us all. 

35

Visiting Amsterdam 

Julie: Amsterdam is a great city! I had no idea what to expect when we arrived here. I tend to 

be a “homebody” and would have been content to spend my whole life in the place I was 

born and raised. Needless to say, I was extremely hesitant and nervous to embark on such a 

HUGE life change to an unknown place. I was pleasantly surprised at what our new hometown 

had to offer! It’s like history come to life in Amsterdam! I love roaming the streets and seeing 

signs of the past in the buildings and architecture, some of which date as far back as the 

15 th /16 th century. As I stroll the canals, I find 

myself thinking of how life must have been 

and what insight it took to understand how 

to use water to the city’s advantage 

instead of fighting it. I also absolutely love 

that I can walk or bike anywhere I need to 

and that going months without driving or 

riding in a car seems completely normal…. 

Almost to the point that I get frustrated 

back in the States when I have no choice! 

Some undiscovered gems for you: 

• Kinderdijks are amazing (https:// 

www.kinderdijk.com). It is like the 

unknown little sister to Zaanse Schans, the popular tourist destination to see windmills. It‘s 

super small and very quaint, with access to some very cool windmills. 

• Also taking the ferry across the Ij to bike through towns and along the dykes is another 

great thing to do. 

• The museums in the city are too numerous to mention but the Amsterdam Museum, Our 

Lord in the Attic, Museum of Bags and Purses, and the National Maritime Museum are a 

few lesser known ones that are among my favorites. 

Lauren: The Dutch are very direct! But once you get past that they can be very friendly! They 

love their coffee and everyone, from workers to visitors, must be offered coffee (and a biscuit) 

when they come to your house. 

For me, King’s Day is the best day of the year - the city is one giant garage sale and everyone 

wears orange for the House of Orange, the royal family. Then New Year’s Eve is the best night of 

the year (if you like fireworks) as the fireworks are non-stop from midnight until around 2 am and 

they are everywhere! 

Julie: The thing that first struck me when we moved to the Netherlands was the passion of the 

Dutch to bike everywhere! Their bikes are like an extension of themselves. They are so efficient as 

they ride and the things I have seen them transport is mind boggling… several bags of groceries 

balanced on handle bars and the back, appliances and so much more! This usually done while 

also riding multiple children in a cart on the 

front of the bike, one on a seat on the handle 

bars and one standing, yes standing, on the 

back of the bike holding on to their parent’s 

shoulders. Oh, and did I mention no one is 

wearing a helmet! For this triathlete from the 

States, that was shocking! It seems to work 

though and I quickly realized that if you want to 

fit in and not stand out like a tourist or expat, 

you don’t wear yours either unless you’re riding 

your race bike. Finally, what I love about their 

love of biking is that bikes outnumber cars and 

the bikes actually have the right of way and 

drivers respect that. 

36

GETTING TO KNOW LAUREN AND JULIE 

LAUREN 

GORDON 

MESCON 

From: 

Savannah, 

Georgia, USA 

Lives: 

Amsterdam, 

Netherlands 

My life journey has been fabulous, really. 

Grew up in Savannah, small town living, 

became a lawyer, Guardian ad litem and 

mediator, loved my practice and clients 

(mostly), worked very hard as I was a single 

mom for eight years and am now very happily 

married with a total of four amazing adult 

children, two daughters-in-law and a 

grandbaby (omg - how did I do this without 

aging?) on the way! Living in Europe has 

allowed me to retire and see places I never 

dreamed I would. 

My sport is running. I honestly detested it; I did 

it with my husband as a way to get my 

exercise out of the way early in the morning; 

until I moved here. With all of the new things 

we have to absorb as expats in a totally new 

place, running kept me grounded. I would 

plug in my headphones, go outside and run, 

simply putting one foot in front of the other. I 

think it was the familiarity of it that felt so 

good. Now I cannot go for very long without 

going for a run. 


big difference and why it did. I survived a 

major illness 28 years ago. I dislike calling 

myself a “breast cancer survivor” as that is the 

last thing I want to define me. However, as I 

approach 28 years of beating that horrible 

disease, I would like to think I might have 

been able to inspire others to have faith and 

a positive 

outlook should 

they ever 

have to face 

something 

similar in their 

own lives. 

JULIE LEHR 

From: Cincinnati, 

OH, then Red 

Bank, NJ, USA 

Lives: 

Amsterdam, 

Netherlands 

I’ve had a lot of ups and 

downs on my journey, 

but the ups far outweigh 

the downs! I have found 

the downs always lead 

to 

something 

unexpected, such as…. I 

was a widow with three 

children when I met my 

husband. Before meeting 

him, I wasn’t sure life would ever be the same. 

What he brought to our family can’t be put 

into words. Today I have one daughter (and 

son-in-law) and three sons and have taught 

kindergarten, coached swimming (my passion) 

over 20 years and now enjoy my expat life! 

I was a swimmer from the time I was 10 years

old and swam collegiately for Bowling 

Green State University in Ohio. These 

days I have found my way back into 

the water swimming, but have added 

the elements of biking and running as 

well. At the age of 51, I started doing 

triathlons. Triathlon involves swimming, 

biking and running. The distance of 

each varies depending on the race 

you are doing. 

I have done numerous triathlons and 

three Half Ironman races as well. But 

my biggest accomplishment, and the 

one of which I am most proud, is 

completing Ironman Lake Placid in 

2016 at the age of 56 in 15 hrs and 34 

minutes. Nothing will beat seeing my 

family as I was getting close to the 

finish, running into the Olympic Oval, 

crossing the finish line and hearing 

Mike Reilly announce…. Julie Lehr of 

Red Bank, NJ YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!! 

Even writing this now, I can’t believe I 

really did it! 

I have always had low self-esteem and 

lacked a lot of confidence. Through 

triathlons I have learned that things will go 

wrong, but that doesn’t mean you quit. You 

regroup, adapt and keep going. The only way 

a failure is a fail is if you choose to not learn 

from the experience. In acknowledging this, I 

found a fierceness in my heart that allowed 

me to believe that I could take on and 

conquer Ironman. It was so important to me 

not only to finally prove to myself that I indeed 

was capable of something I thought 

impossible, but to also show my adult children 

that you’re never too old to have a dream; if 

you work hard and believe in yourself (Wow! 

What a change for me!), you will achieve it. 

That day in Lake Placid, my heart was filled 

with joy all day long and it forever changed 

me. What a blessing! 


big difference and why it did. I think moving to 

New Jersey was a huge life-changing event for 

me. I had always lived 

in Ohio, had a great 

circle of friends all 

over the city, and 

never said no to 

anything, especially if 

it involved doing 

something for my kids. 

When we moved, I 

knew absolutely no 

one, except my 

daughter who lived in 

NYC at the time. I was 

depressed, extremely 

overweight and so 

38

out of shape that walking 

across the neighborhood was 

a challenge. 

The summer after we moved, 

Emily (my daughter) was 

doing the NYC Triathlon. I was 

in awe since it involved 

swimming, biking AND 

running! My husband and I 

took the train into the city so 

we could be there to cheer 

for her and support her. I will 

NEVER forget that morning 

standing at the entrance to 

Central Park waiting to see 

her go by. It was my aha 

moment as they say! I saw so 

many athletes going by me 

who had so many 

challenges, including a blind 

athlete being led by their 

sighted partner and a very tiny mother running 

with her adult child in a wheel chair. However 

the one that got me was the man missing one 

arm to his shoulder, the other to his elbow, and 

he was running on two prosthetic limbs/hooks 

because he had lost both legs as well. 

I remember wondering how that athlete had 

swum, then biked and was now running??? I 

was ashamed and 

humbled as I thought 

about the fact that I was a 

former Division I swimmer 

who made every excuse in 

the book to not work out. I 

was fat, 50 and I was out of 

shape, but in light of what I 

had just witnessed, those 

were NOT valid excuses. 

I went home and made a 

decision that I needed to 

change my life and be 

grateful for all the blessings I 

had. I started working out in 

earnest. I put my name into 

the lottery for the race my 

daughter had done, got 

into it and freaked out a 

little bit! I spent months 

getting in shape and losing 

almost 70 pounds. I did the NYC Triathlon the 

following summer at the age of 51 - swimming 

a mile in the Hudson River, riding 25 miles on 

my bike in the driving rain on the West Side 

Highway and then running 6.2 miles down 72 nd 

Street and through Central Park - smiling, 

laughing and crying like a crazy person the 

whole way. It was the best day and I have 

never looked back! 

39

More inspiration from Austria 

SAMANTHA DAY 

American Women’s Club of Vienna, Austria 

From: Melbourne, Australia 

Lives: Vienna, Austria 

I’m originally from Melbourne, Australia. My husband 

and I are currently living in Vienna, Austria. I’m 

studying for a MSc in Project Management and 

Data Analytics. I have previously studied 

Engineering, specializing in Applied Electronics, and 

I also have a degree in Business and Management. I 

really enjoy travelling and experiencing new 

cultures, and I have been fortunate enough to visit 

over 80 countries (and counting!) so far. When I’m 

not training for my cycling I really enjoy jogging 

through the Viennese Woods with my little 

dachshund-cross dog, Chilli. 

Most of my friends currently know me as a road 

cyclist; however my first foray in the world of 

competitive sport was actually in athletics. In 

primary school I showed a talent for running 100m 

and 200m sprints, so much so that they had me 

racing in the in boy’s events as I was so much faster than the girls my age. I took running more 

seriously in high school and regularly trained with my school’s athletics team for 100m, 200m, 

400m, high jump and long jump. I 

competed in athletics at a national level 

for a number of years, but unfortunately I 

did not receive the support required to 

take things further. 

I continued running for enjoyment (and 

stress relief!) throughout high school and 

then university. In my 20s I became 

interested in middle-distance running 

and competed in local running meets 

and charity fun-runs in distances 

between 4km-8km. My favorite event 

was the 5km. 

When I moved away from Australia and 

joined the expat world, the type of 

exercise I could do depended on where 

my husband and I were living. For 

example, in Berlin the streets were clean 

and the air was fresh so running out to 

40

the former airport Templehof was easy and 

enjoyable. Things were quite different in 

Moscow. At one stage I tried running to and 

from work but would literally be covered in a 

thin layer of grime when I arrived, as the 

pollution in central Moscow was so bad. So in 

Moscow I stuck mainly to gym workouts 

during the week and did horseback riding on 

the weekends. 

But back to cycling. A few years ago we 

moved from Moscow to Vienna. My husband 

had been a keen cyclist in Australia and 

decided to get back into the sport in Vienna. 

In an effort to spend more time with him I 

decided to give it a go as well and 

discovered that I had a bit of talent for it. In 2014, I joined the cycling club VICC Racing Division 

(VICC = Vienna International Cycling Club) and I have been competing for them ever since. I 

had a very successful year last year, competing in 21 races and standing on the podium for 18 of 

those. My sporting highlight of 2017 has to be when I won the Vienna Masters Championship in 

Road Cycling. 

Sport has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I believe that being involved in 

sport has helped my non-sporting life in a number of ways, such as being a great stress relief and 

keeping my body strong and healthy. Competing at a high level in any sport involves 

commitment, planning, time management skills, mental stamina, self-discipline, patience, 

training, etc., and these are all skills that can be transferred into non-sporting life. In particular, 

my mental stamina has evolved: the ability to push through pain or to do a training session when 

I’d much rather sit on the couch. Having the fire inside to dig deep and find something extra for 

the last km of an event is essential. Pushing your body to its absolute limit is a crazy thing! 

In terms of black and white sporting 

achievements I am most proud of, being a 

state champion in 100m and 200m sprints, 

as a teenager. Then as an adult, I am 

proud of being the current Viennese 

Masters Champion in Road cycling. 

In terms of personal achievements, 

recovering from a very serious car 

accident in 2016 has been an important 

achievement. I was out cycling on a quiet 

Tuesday mid-morning near Vienna, when 

an oncoming car made a sudden left turn 

and drove straight into me. Witnesses said 

that it was like a scene from a movie as I 

was thrown up into the air and landed 

head first through the car’s windscreen, 

bouncing onto the bonnet and then onto 

the road. I was rushed to hospital, my bike 

was destroyed, and I was unable to walk 

for a number of weeks. That was over 18 

months ago. I still have a lot of back pain 

from torn lumbar discs, but I have worked 

very hard to rebuild my body/muscles. 

41

Fortunately, road cycling does not require a lot of lumbar 

movement so it’s been OK for me to do. I have had to give 

up other sports that I loved such as skiing, SCUBA diving 

and horseback riding. 

So how do you get involved in road cycling? It is still quite 

a male-dominated sport and can seem a bit intimidating 

to a newbie, plus there is the added unknown of what kind 

of bike and clothing is required. Having said that, there are 

some great women’s cycling groups on Facebook that are 

very supportive and welcome all the newbie questions. 

Also, you could try visiting your local bike shop as many 

offer support and even organize regular social rides. 

Cycling is a great exercise for everyone as it offers 

supported aerobic activity. If you join a group ride it is a 

great social outing as well, and depending on where you 

ride you can experience some really scenic views. 

GETTING TO KNOW SAM 


big difference and why it did. My car accident 

was extremely life changing for me. It took me 

a long time to accept the reality of how 

quickly your life can be changed, even 

through no fault of your own. Life is precious. 

All life should be respected. 


does it affect what you do/don’t do? A 

personal motto is not really my thing, but I do 

like many of the Dalai Lama’s musings such as: 

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always 

possible.” I do wish that people would show 

just a little more kindness and respect for each 

other in their everyday lives. 



why? This is a tough one to answer, as I would 

have loved to meet some of the pioneering 

women mathematicians and physicists. 

However one women that stands out for me is 

Florence Nightingale but not for being the 

mother of modern nursing, 

but rather f or her 

outstanding skills in research 

and statistics. 

Tell us something interesting 

about yourself that not 

many people know. I have 

played violin since I was 6 

years old, and I even 

worked as a violin teacher 

when I was younger. 

42

Inspiration from Norway 

ALICIA PARTEE 

American Women’s Club Oslo, Norway 

From: California, USA 

Lives: Eiksmarka, Norway (right outside Oslo) 

I grew up in Oakland, California with both my 

parents and one brother. I went to Catholic 

school most of my life and started my career 

in telecommunications and technology in 

1989. I spent a couple of years in Atlanta, 

Georgia before settling in San Jose, California 

for most of my working life. After working in 

the dot.com industry for several years, I went 

back to school to study theology and 

marriage and family therapy. In 2008 I 

married Tyrone Partee and moved to 

Hawthorne, California and then finally in 2013, 

I became a trailing spouse when we moved 

to Norway. 

I started cheerleading, running track and participating in a drill team in elementary school. As 

cheerleaders we cheered and danced for our school’s basketball team, the St. Louis Bertrand 

Lions. I joined the track team at St. Louis Bertrand mainly because my aunt was the coach. I 

usually ran the 50 and 100 yard dash. I can’t say I was the best, but I placed first, second or third, 

a few times. One time I snuck into the 

440 and came in first place. It was not a 

race my coach had signed me up to 

compete in, but I wanted to give it a try. 

She was very happy when I won and 

quickly wrote “440” on my badge. 

Track required practice three or more 

times a week and a track meet every 

Saturday. Drill team, was, however, by 

far my favorite. The East Oakland Youth 

Development Center had a drill team 

that performed in most holiday parades. 

We would practice dancing and 

marching band steps to drums and other 

instruments. I was a natural. I loved 

choreographing new dance moves and 

steps. We wore pink leotards, wine 

colored skirts and shoes with pom poms. 

In high school I participated in ROTC and 

continued to work with a drill team. This 

43

time we got to add the use of 

rifles in the show. We did a move 

called “the guillotine” where 

one person would level their rifle 

and spin in a circle while the 

person on either side ducked as 

the person turned. This move 

continued down a long line of 

about 10-15 people. 

As an adult I continued to love 

dance and started a boys mime 

team at a Maranatha Christian 

center. They would tell a story 

without saying a word. I started 

this team because I had three 

boys with lots of energy. Along 

with the many boys that 

attended the church, they wanted to dance. The only option for them at the time was praise 

dancing. They were not interested in slow moving dance. They wanted to jump around and 

express themselves. 

After moving to Norway, I knew I would not find the job I wanted without learning the language, 

but I wanted to work. I walked into a gym that needed Zumba instructors. I flew to Virginia to 

become a certified Zumba instructor and was hired as soon as I returned. I love that dance is a 

language in and of itself. Without speaking a word of Norwegian, I was able to do what I loved 

to do - “dance” and lead others in dancing too. Everyone in my class was able to enjoy 

themselves, dance and train without one word being spoken. Just a smile, lots of energy and 

music – a global language 

From there I became a Les Mills Body Vive trainer. Body Vive is a strength, cardio and core 

program. After tearing my meniscus, I wanted to do training to rehabilitate my knee and build 

up my strength. Body Vive was 

perfect to accomplish both. 

Currently, I am not training but hope 

to start a line dance class in the 

future. I want to teach the Chicago 

Step, Cupid Shuffle and other group 

dances that people at all levels can 

participate in. I enjoy being active. 

My friends tend to call me the 

Energizer Bunny. 

My main focus today is inclusion. 

Starting out I had to qualify to 

participate in a sport. Usually it was a 

popularity contest, especially in 

cheerleading. I now try to do and/or 

lead things where everyone feels 

included. That is one reason I loved 

Zumba. You could do “you.” As the 

instructor, I had a routine but the 

participants could add their own 

flavor and intensity. 

44

Fitness can be fun. Many believe it must be painful to be fit or that you can’t have fun. I believe 

dance mixed with exercise in programs like Zumba can be a great way to stay active and reap 

the benefits of being fit. 

You never know what people come into a room with. Some may have a disability, be sad about 

something, etc. As an instructor, I have the responsibility to make sure everyone feels included 

and to put a smile on their face, if only for a moment. 

GETTING TO KNOW ALICIA 


big difference and why it did. One year I tried 

out for the cheerleading team and did not 

make it. You see, I was awkward! I was born 

with a disability. Nystagmus is a vision 

condition in which the eyes make repetitive, 

uncontrolled movements. (My eyes dance 

too!) These movements often result in 

reduced vision and depth perception and 

can affect balance and coordination. 

Doctors didn’t know much about it when I 

was young. They say that low vision is the most 

difficult disability for people to understand 

because you look so normal. Teachers did not 

understand that I couldn’t see, even with 

glasses on. Glasses corrected the stigmatism, 

but nystagmus could not be corrected. 

So you had this skinny, light-skinned girl whose 

eyes danced. My head was always slanted to 

the side because that is how I focused. It’s 

called the “null point.” My eyes slow down 

when I tilt my head. 


does it affect what you do/don’t do? ”Be the 

artist of your life. With every experience, you 

alone are painting your own canvas, thought 

by thought, choice by choice." Oprah 


that not many people know. I had the 

opportunity to dance in a Disneyland parade 

– that was a dream come true. 

45

Inspiration from The Dragon Boat Ladies 

LIBBY CATALDI 

American International League of Florence, Italy 

From: Annapolis, Maryland, USA 

Lives: Annapolis, Maryland and Florence, Italy 

46 

Three years ago, I had a bilateral mastectomy, and this 

trauma, life being what it is, has led me to a rowing team 

in Italy. I’m now a proud member of the Florence Dragon 

Boat Ladies, a group of over thirty Florentine women, each 

of whom is a breast cancer survivor. We’re different in 

shapes, backgrounds, and interests, but we’re all the same 

in our stories, in our fight against breast cancer. When we 

talk with each other about that history, we listen deeply, 

respectfully, knowing each other’s walk and honoring the 

pain. There are Dragon Boat teams all over the world, and 

we join together to demonstrate visibly that there’s not 

only life after breast cancer but also unity. We row, stroking 

together in synchrony, ahead, vai avanti. 

I’m American and the only English speaking member of the team. I came to Florence after my 

surgeries to heal physically and emotionally. I have done just that. 

In May 2017, our team of 22 women, ages 42 to 76, participated in a kind of rowing rally in 

Venice. Our boat was the pink one: pink banner, pink shirts, pink caps, pink, pink, pink. As we 

took our position among the other 1,250 boats floating in front of Saint Mark’s piazza, we heard 

cries of brave ragazze which in English translates to something like, “You go, girls!” 

Under cloudy skies, hundreds of Italian boats were joined by teams from all over Europe 

including Finland, Great Britain, and Holland, each identified by flying its country’s flag. As a gun 

shot announced the start, 

the sun appeared, as if on 

command, turning the sky 

a celestial blue as church 

bells chimed throughout 

the city, and Alessandro, 

our coach, commanded, 

Vai ..avanti ...for za! (G o 

forward with strength!). As I 

listened to the cadence of 

the strokes of our oars and 

the laughter and cheers of 

those around us, tears 

swelled and streamed 

down my face. My 

teammates and I - we 

were there; we were the 

lucky ones; we survived.

We wove among small craft with single rowers and among grand and elegant wooden boats 

trimmed with copper. The course was 32 kilometers, and knowing that we didn’t have the 

stamina to complete the entire course, when the prescribed route turned right, we turned left. 

The rescue boat appeared immediately and Alessandro asked the guards to accompany us to 

the nearby island of Murano since we were cutting a shorter course. They looked at Alessandro 

as if he were crazy and told him with a wave of a hand that we should go on alone. I panicked 

as I tracked the large waves cascading in front of us, and then I heard our coach say that we 

were a team of women who had had problems. With instant recognition, they lifted their red 

flag to signal to the large cruisers bearing down on us that we were under their protection. We 

paddled again, a single boat of determined women, kept safe by the rescue boat at our side. 

As we neared the docks of Murano, the island famous for hand-blown glass, our protectors 

motioned to where we should dock. We smiled, waved, and shouted thanks as Alessandro took 

control again with, Vai avanti! 

A restroom stop, coffee, and cookies. We then formed a line of pink on the bank of our canal 

and cheered others as they passed. 

With a final warning from Alessandro to make a good impression at the viewing stand (in Italian 

something like, “act like you know what you’re doing”), we clambered back into the boat and 

took our positions. Knowing that we would soon approach the finish line, we were silent. Cheers 

from the thousands of people who watched our floating parade surrounded us, and as we 

passed under each bridge, we raised our paddles upwards to greet the cheering crowd. They 

all seemed to understand. 

The reviewing stand and floating pier came into view, and although my arms ached even after 

our shortened course, I felt proud that we had rowed 14 kilometers. The loudspeaker roared, 

“The Florence Dragon Boat Ladies have finished the course.” All 22 names were read, “Vanda, 

Francesca, Grazia, Cristina, Adrianna,” and the rest, followed by, “They’re survivors of breast 

cancer and they hold a message of hope.” With this, we swung our paddles high into the air, 

saluting everyone, to choruses of brave ragazze, brave. Then our team grew silent as Suzanna 

placed a pink peony onto the water’s surface, “For Anna Maria.” We quietly lifted our oars 

once more, for ourselves this time, and spoke in unison, “Anna Maria,” our teammate who died 

this Easter. We dedicated our finish to her memory. 

I watched the peony float away while my teammates were lost in private thought. I’d never 

met Anna Maria, but I had raised my oar, too. I wanted to remember the woman I didn’t know. 

47

I offered my silent respect to all those women who didn’t make it, who had gone before, who 

had no choice. 

We didn’t win the race, and I don’t even know if there was a winner. It didn’t matter. We had 

already won. Vai Avanti!! 

The International Breast Cancer 

Paddlers’ Commission is organizing the 

Dragon Boat festival in Florence 3-8th 

July 2018. The Festival takes place 

every 4 years and for the first time it will 

be held in Europe. It will involve 129 

teams from 17 countries and for the 

very first time since it began all the 

continents are represented. 

It is an international non-competitive participatory event targeting Breast Cancer Survivors 

teams who engage in Dragon Boat activities as post-operative rehabilitation. Born from the idea 

of a Canadian sports medicine physician, Dr. Don McKenzie, Dragon Boat paddling has 

become a rehabilitation therapy for tens of thousands of men and women worldwide who have 

undergone surgery. 

Organized and promoted by FIRENZE IN ROSA Onlus as the official Organising Committee, the 

Florence Festival will be a sporting event but above all a social occasion in which Florence will 

welcome from 4,000 to 5,000 people from all over the world. The participants are mainly women 

between the ages of 20 and 80, who will meet to take part in the exciting Dragon Boat races, 

paddling together on the Arno. They will also be accompanied by their friends and family, their 

faithful and enthusiastic supporters. 

AILO Florence is actively involved in the Festival by enrolling and instructing ambassadors for all 

the teams. They will be helping with translating, getting around Florence etc. Each team will 

have an ambassador to welcome them to Florence and help them during their stay. 

The program forecasts three days of intense program activity: demonstrations, workshops and 

social events aimed at awareness and dialogue within the large international community of 

“Breast Cancer Survivors”, in addition to the dragon boat races. 

For more information visit http://www.florencebcs2018.org/the-event/ or www.ibcpc.com 

48

Inspiration from Morocco 

GWENDOLYN DELLAR 

American International Women’s Club of 

Casablanca, Morocco 

From: London, England 

Lives: Casablanca, Morocco 

49 

I was born in London, GB and moved to the 

South of France aged 23. I stayed there for ten 

years, teaching English in and around 

Marseilles. I then moved on to Casablanca, 

Morocco, initially for a 2-year contract teaching 

English in a Moroccan state lycée. During that 

time, I met hubby Kamal and so I have been 

based in Casa ever since. I now work as an 

English-French translator and interpreter and go 

to France around four times a year on 3-week 

interpreting missions. We have no children, 

although our niece is our “adopted” daughter. 

In my sporting life I go jogging and have run 

many marathons and half marathons and did 

the Marathon des Sables ultra-marathon in 

2010. I also enjoy hiking and have done the 

London to Brighton 100km walk, the Cancer Research UK Shine night marathon and have 

walked the full length of Hadrian’s Wall in the UK. 

I was a volunteer for the London Olympics in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 

in 2014 and have volunteered as course marshal for Cancer Research events. I am also a Park 

Run running member and volunteer. 

I have always jogged 

and walked as a leisure 

pastime. I got into 

marathon running in 

2006, and thanks to 

jogging buddy Cynthia 

Smith-Ayed (FAWCO 

Rep for the Casa club 

and former FAWCO 

Foundation Board 

member) I started 

running marathons. I 

would never have 

dreamed I could do it 

without Cynthia’s 

encouragement and 

run/walk method.

Now I have made new friends through 

joining a running group and it has been a 

way for me to integrate more into the 

local community and become less 

oriented towards the expat community. I 

have found real support and comfort in 

difficult times through friends and 

acquaintances in the group. They help to 

take the focus off the problem and direct 

it on to the goal of the next marathon. 

I think my running helps me stay fit and 

motivated and able to continue working 

past retirement age. For a while I was a 

member of a hiking club; through this my 

eyes were opened to a completely 

different side of the country: rural 

Morocco. When I started to get more 

involved in running and had elderly 

relatives to visit more frequently, I 

regretfully gave up the hiking club. 

In Morocco, the running club starts runs 

at 5:45 a.m. Driving through virtually 

empty streets is a real pleasure in Casa in 

the early morning. The sea is also 

beautiful at that time of day and I have 

taken many lovely (or so I think) photos. 

Through the running, I have learned that 

rest is as important as training. If you do 

not rest enough between sessions, you 

get injuries or your performance will decline because of tiredness. I have also seen that taking 

part in marathons can help people in the grieving process after losing a loved one. It gives 

them a goal to work towards and that seems to help the healing process. Running is a mental 

sport. Of course, you need to train, but ultimately, it’s mind over matter and it’s determination 

that will get me through a marathon when physically I’m completely done. I have found that I 

can “dig deep” and I usually do finish a race, even if I have to walk towards the end. It gives 

me pleasure to say that although I’m slow (over 5 hours for a marathon), I AM a runner, just like 

the Ethiopians are runners, and the medal’s the same for everyone. 

Although I am not someone who is “good at sport” and have just plodded away at it, I have 

done things that many people have not: 

• I have walked 100km without sleeping for over 30 hours. 

• I have done the Marathon des Sables and spent the night alone in the desert after 

getting lost. 

• I have raised money for charity through sponsorship and volunteered at sporting events. 

• I have organized walking expeditions and encouraged people to get involved in running 

and walking. 

• I have started an informal weekend walking group in the Casablanca club for ladies 

desperate to get out of the city. 

• I organize a yearly fun run/walk for a local association for the visually impaired. 

50

GETTING TO KNOW GWEN 

Tell us about an event in 

your life that made a big 

difference and why it did. 

Spending the night alone 

in the desert when I got 

lost in the Marathon des 

Sables and coping with 

the idea that I actually 

might die if I wasn’t found. 

I realised that I had a 

choice: panic and go to 

pieces or stay calm and 

try and find a solution. This 

taught me that however 

bad things seem, just 

hang on in there and don’t panic. Never 

give up. 


does it affect what you do/don’t do? “Trust in 

life.” Most of the time “the sea of life” sends 

us what we need. Call it the law of 

serendipity, God, whatever. When the time is 

right, we receive what we need. 



why? What would you talk about with her? 

Zaynab, queen of Aghmat (the Moroccan 

Almoravid dynasty capital), who lived in the 

11 th century. Very little is known about her 

and I would like to know her life story. I would 

talk to her about how she exercised power 

through her husbands. 


that not many people know. I was nearly 

sent to a special school as a child because I 

was not learning to read. As a last resort, the 

doctor told my parents to stop reading to me 

at night. This they did and within a couple of 

weeks I was reading. It turned out that I was 

just lazy! 

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next issue of Inspiring Women 

as soon as it comes out? 

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51

Sport & Fitness-Antidotes to Life’s Challenges 

52 

Through my life coaching practice, I have worked closely with 

people who have used sport and fitness as motors for moving 

through their challenges. To be clear, I am not talking here about 

athletic challenges. Rather, I am talking about moving through the 

life challenges of loss, abuse, and doubt – in other words, 

emotional suffering. Suffering is part of the human experience, and 

moving through it means you are alive. Indeed, every life begins 

with the physical suffering experienced in the birth canal. 

A life coach accompanies a person as they move from where they 

are to where they want to be. As a result of a decade of 

coaching, my heart is filled with my clients’ inspiring journeys. I can 

rattle off the names of people who used sport and fitness to help 

them move forward: among them are Simon, Joanne, Pamela, 

Alice, and Peter. 

Simon and body building 

When Simon was a skinny 14 year old who required extra time for his tests at school, he spent 

more than a little time angry and insecure because of the disrespect certain kids showed him, 

some of whom were big and strong. He decided to take things into his own hands. His body 

building started simply enough a few times a week in his bedroom with 20 push-ups, 20 sit-ups, 10 

pull-ups, and an arm work-out using his mother’s one kilogram free weights. Steadily his muscle 

mass increased. Simon’s mother would find him in front of the mirror flexing his muscles, and soon 

enough his classmates noticed. At 16, his work-out includes 150 push-ups with handles, 50 sit-ups, 

and 60 pull-ups. He has moved from 1 to 2 to 5 kilogram free weights. His doctor recently 

embarrassed him by mentioning his tres joli buste. When he is disrespected at school it doesn’t 

bother him like it used to. Simon built more than his body and the ability to throw a mean punch, 

if needed. By sticking to a demanding fitness program, he proved to himself that he is selfdisciplined 

and courageous, and that has built his self-esteem. 

Joanne and yoga 

At 39 years old, Joanne was still 

suffering from an event that had 

occurred almost three decades 

earlier. Upon her father’s sudden 

death, her mother “checked out” of 

life. Joanne became a dutiful little 

soldier, taking care of herself from the 

time she was 11, and doing her best to 

comfort her mother. She repeated the 

pattern by marrying an alcoholic; until 

she left him. With a new stable 

husband, Joanne became a mother, 

and it was then that the little soldier started to fall apart. She had always thought of herself as 

resilient, but now the anxiety wouldn’t stop. Motherhood made it impossible not to 

acknowledge that she had never come to terms with her own mother’s neglect. When Joanne 

was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease, her doctor suggested that she practice yoga. 

Among other benefits, yoga can reduce levels of cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress and 

linked to auto-immune disease. Joanne followed her advice. At the start, her balance was so 

poor that she could hold the tree pose for a mere 10 seconds. Her strength was at a low point, 

and her body was inflexible from years of physical inactivity. Nonetheless, she persevered. In

addition to attending class, she practiced her sun salutations each morning and learned to 

breathe and be still when meditating. After a year, Joanne was marching like a soldier again. 

And at the end of our coaching, she was learning to play the piano, something she had always 

wanted to do. 

Pamela and martial arts 

Pamela wasn’t lucky in childhood. She had been physically abused by her father and 

emotionally abused by her mother. In her mid-thirties, in therapy, and very pregnant with her 

second child, she requested that her parents and siblings join her for a session. It was there that 

she realized that she was the only one who wanted harmony in the family. She told me that she 

experienced a profound shift and finally understood that things would never get better. She got 

back to the business of raising her own family in a healthy way, and to learning to accept her 

“new” old reality. Pamela would tell you that the exploration she did with her therapist and 

coach brought her a long way forward. Yet she also gives credit to something else – martial arts. 

After a couple of years of three-times-a-week practice, Pamela sparred for the first time. She 

faced a macho guy, returning his aggressive punches with her own. She felt a new energy when 

they met eyes and bowed at the end of the fight. Unlike what Pamela experienced growing up, 

this was a fair fight. She had held her own and departed the match with a new dignity and 

strength she could call on going forward. 

Alice and tennis 

Alice was 45 with four children 

ranging in age from 4 to 14 

years old when her mother 

died. She felt responsible. Her 

mother had been with her for 

the Christmas holidays when 

she had chest pain. Rather 

than take her to the hospital, 

a neighbor who was a doctor 

had checked her out and 

told Alice: “Your mother’s 

heart beats like a 50 year old 

woman’s. She just needs 

some rest.” Three weeks later, Alice’s mother was found slumped over her kitchen table, dead. 

Alice’s grief was overwhelming, and while she did her best to hide it from her children and 

husband, it went on for months. Eventually, she told a friend that she was emotionally exhausted 

and didn’t know what to do. Her friend invited her to join her Thursday morning tennis group. 

Alice hadn’t played tennis since adolescence, but accepted nonetheless. This was the start of a 

love affair that endured for the rest of her life. Alice joined a tennis club and went from taking 

lessons, to playing doubles on the C team, to playing doubles on the B team, to captaining the B 

team, to being nominated Chairwoman of the Tennis Committee. She brought her children to 

the tennis courts and taught them to play. One of her proudest moments was winning the club’s 

Parent-Child tournament with her son. When her husband was sick with early onset Alzheimer’s, 

Alice would sit him on a chair next to the court while she played, and when she mourned his 

death, she played tennis the first thing in the morning because she said if she didn’t, she would 

be depressed the entire day. Alice knew instinctively that practicing sport made her right, even if 

she couldn’t have told you that it was because it permitted her brain to release endorphins. 

Peter and spin class 

Peter and his brother-in-law were the second generation to lead a successful family-owned 

business. At work he was on the ball. But at home the story was different. Peter spent his evenings 

watching sports, drinking wine, and falling asleep on the couch. It had been years that his wife 

had watched him slowly gain weight and withdraw from family life. Finally, at 55 years old, Peter 

decided that he wanted his life back. He attended AA meetings and stopped drinking. He 

looked at his body and was disgusted. Peter had always liked cycling, so he tried out a spin 

53

class. His leg muscles felt the fatigue just five 

minutes in, but he loved the rock and roll that 

the instructor played good and loud, so he 

returned again and again. The pounds 

began to drop. Peter felt a new spring in his 

step. People told him that he looked great. 

Then he caught a cold, missed some classes, 

and then missed some more. His weight crept 

back up, and he started drinking wine. At 

one of our coaching sessions, Peter explored 

the impacts of the behavioral choices he 

had in front of him: drink or stay sober; spin or 

watch sports. By the end of the session, he recommitted himself to the healthy life. 

I will say it again. These stories and people inspire me. We can all take comfort in the knowledge 

that sport and fitness are available as a way to work through the challenges and suffering that 

we will face at different times in our lives. Really, aren’t they the most perfect antidotes? 

Jane Mobille is an ICF Professional Certified Coach, as well as a facilitator, editor, writer, and pianist. 

Previously, she had a 10-year career in telecommunications and as many again in music. Jane runs a 

coaching practice for individuals and organizations representing a diversity of ages, cultures, and 

professions. She is a member of AAWE, serving as editor of its quarterly magazine. She also authors a 

"Teen Coach" column at online magazine INSPIRELLE. Jane and her French husband have a 24-yearold 

daughter, and two teenage sons. 

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Inspiration from a FAWCO Friend 

LAURIE KJEL BROOKS 

American Women’s Club of The Hague 

and Amsterdam, Netherlands 

From: Huntsville, Alabama and Colorado 

Lives: Houten, Netherlands 

I started with ballet and jazz, and then 

became interested in gymnastics. I was quite 

competitive in that sport, and went to 

several state championships and the Junior 

Olympics. As I got older, I found other sports 

to occupy my time. I played volleyball and 

softball, then got certified in scuba diving 

and skydiving. For a time, I was interested in 

skydiving competitively, but I was travelling 

for work too much to pursue that. I also enjoy 

hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, paragliding, 

riding my motorcycle, and many other sports, 

but those are hobbies and not pursued at 

advanced levels. I taught ballroom dancing 

for a time as well. 

I guess I’ve always been interested in sports. 

From the time I was very little, I wanted to 

dance. I think I’ve also always been a bit of a 

thrill-seeker. Part of the reason I moved from 

dance to gymnastics was so that I could 

learn to flip my body through the air. I used 

to watch Nadia Comăneci on TV and I 

thought what she did was so beautiful and 

also so powerful. 

I grew up in Alabama, and have lived in 

Maryland, Virginia, Texas, Washington 

state, and Colorado. I’ve travelled all 

over the world, but outside the US I’ve 

only lived in the Netherlands. I married a 

Dutchman in 2010 and have 2 stepsons. I 

spent most of my adult life working in 

v arious engineering, I T, and 

management positions, but stopped 

working in 2015 so that I could focus on 

learning Dutch to pass my residency 

exam. Instead of learning Dutch (I’m still 

working on it!), I got involved with AWC 

Amsterdam, then AWC The Hague, and 

then FAWCO. 

55

I think sports have had a major impact on 

my life and they continue to help me 

evolve through determination and focus— 

both lessons that my experience in sports 

taught me. Also, even though gymnastics 

isn’t really a team sport in the traditional 

sense of having to work together when 

you’re competing, being part of a team 

was still an important part of growing up. 

We encouraged each other to do our 

best, supported each other when we 

failed, and learned to manage realistic 

expectations while still pushing ourselves to 

extremes. I continue to use all those lessons 

and expand on them in my current 

sporting activities. Most of all, I think sports 

have shown me that taking risks can be 

very rewarding. Something I may need to 

rethink just a bit as I get older…. 

So many things have surprised me through 

my involvement in sports, mainly the things 

I never thought I would see or do. I’ve 

fallen through a cloud at 7,000 feet and know what a cloud feels like at that altitude. I 

understand that the silence of being underwater brings the world around you into focus like 

nothing else can. I know the freedom of driving my motorcycle fast (yes, really fast), and the 

sensation of the air trying to stop me as I twist the throttle to go even faster. All these experiences 

and so many more are both surprising and memorable. 

I discovered that sports can be really good for both body and mind, but I also found out that 

doing sports to an extreme when you’re young can have some not-so-great impacts on your 

body as you get older. I’m glad to see a lot of new technologies being put in place in all sports 

that minimize that later damage. When I started in gymnastics, we didn’t have spring floors or 

foam pits, or a lot of the “gentler” equipment that is commonplace now. The biggest thing I 

learned about myself is that I’m not interested in 

competing with others. My desire is to challenge 

myself to the maximum that I can, and 

encourage others to do the same. 

My most important achievement was just 

making the cut for my gymnastics team, after 

having never competed at that level before. It 

wasn’t a real tryout. We were only going to get 

some information and then the coach said, 

“Let’s see what you can do.” I wasn’t even in a 

leotard, but he put me on the balance beam 

and then the floor and asked if I could do 

certain tricks. Some I had never done before, 

but I had seen them on TV. I was extremely 

scared, but I gave it my best and he said he 

would think about it. I suspect he was testing my 

ability to adjust to stress situations as much as my 

skills. I don’t remember being more proud of 

myself, even when I was winning ribbons and 

medals, than I was the day I found out I made 

56

the team. I was 8 years old and absolutely beaming inside. 

I think many people want to find a sport to help get into shape, but don’t know where to start. I 

think one of the best things someone can do to get involved is to ask yourself what you’re good 

at, or what you want to be good at. Then just go for it! Have you always wanted to learn to 

dance? Find a local studio and take a lesson. Want to learn to ride a motorcycle? It’s not too 

late! Does scuba diving tickle your fancy? There are classes everywhere! Don’t wait or psych 

yourself out. Take a chance and see where it leads you. 

Within the FAWCO organization I am the 1 st Vice President for Communications—since 2017. 

Locally I am the Club & Community Director and also co-president for The Hague club, and I 

was the FAWCO Rep for the Amsterdam club. 

My FAWCO role uses both my 

technical skills in managing the 

website and our communication 

platforms, and my editing skills for 

all our publications (including the 

awesome Inspiring Women 

magazine that was launched at 

the conference in Mumbai). 

I love everything philanthropic that 

we do in FAWCO, and my 

contribution to that is important to 

me, but the “behind the scenes” 

work getting the organization 

running on the Google platform is 

what I’m most proud of so far. 

Now I just need to get more 

registered users onto our website. We have so much to offer that is only for our members and I 

would like to see more people take advantage of that. 

For me FAWCO represents the hard work and dedication of SO many amazing and talented 

women from across the world! 

GETTING TO KNOW LAURIE 


not done before, what would it be and why? 

Bungee jumping or motocross riding. I think I 

would really like bungee jumping, and 

motocross riding looks like a lot of fun, but I 

would not want to get too extreme with it. Just 

catching a little air with a motorcycle would 

be a blast! 


big difference and why it did. Losing my 

grandmother impacted me greatly. We were 

very close, and it’s because of her that I chose 

my personal motto. 


does it affect what you do/don’t do? Never 

stop learning and always strive to be a better 

person. It really affects everything I do, and it’s 

a good reminder when I feel like I’m 

overwhelmed that everything is a learning 

experience and there is always a silver lining to 

be found. Sometimes you just have to examine 

the cloud up close ;-) 

Tell us something interesting about yourself that 

not many people know. I once passed out 

while skydiving, woke up still in the air but blind, 

and lived to tell the tale! 

57

Inspiration from Italy 

ANNA d’ALBERTIS 

American International Women’s Club of 

Genoa, Italy 

From: Genoa, Italy 

Lives: Genoa, Italy 

used to ride, roller skate and I was pretty good 

at windsurfing, but I never joined a 

competition. When I was fifty I got my licence 

for scuba diving, and I still enjoy it today. 

For me sport is about having fun, not a 

challenge. Results are not so important as long 

as you enjoy what you do. My life is still the 

same, with some additional interest. I think 

some people focus too much on their activity 

so that it becomes an obsession. 

Sport is good both for the body and for the 

mind; they are a whole and work together and 

one affects the other. 

An active life helps to keep fit and it is also 

important for our brain. It also helps to fight 

stress, which is a real poison for us. 

I was born in Genoa Italy in 1950, and I have 

been living there ever since. I graduated in 

Mathematics at Genoa University and shortly 

after I got married. I had two sons, Carlo and 

Filippo, but unfortunately my marriage ended 

in a divorce. I worked in shipping, informatics, 

in an interior decoration shop, in a boutique, 

as a technical translator etc. I’m now 

involved in research about a photographic 

archive of pictures dated around 1900. 

I started skiing when I was five, but I never 

reached any good results. My mother was 

very fond of sports, and she wanted me to 

enjoy as many sports as possible since I was a 

young child. Later I started playing tennis, 

and I still do, but at an amateurish level. I 

58

possible, trying to learn from other cultures and 

people. Travelling and reading are the best 

ways to broaden our visual angle on the world, 

I think. 


does it affect what you do/don’t do? Interests 

not commitments. I try to be interested in as 

many things as possible, but I try not be 

involved too much in any of them. 



why? What would you talk about with her? 

Beryl Markham, the first woman to fly alone 

across the Atlantic Ocean. She was clever, 

courageous and also beautiful. I think that I will 

not have much to tell her, but I’ll have much 

to listen and learn from her. 

GETTING TO KNOW ANNA 


not done before, what would it be and why? I’ll 

try to learn how to sky dive. I experienced 

tandem paragliding and parachuting, and 

that parachute jump has especially been one 

of the best experiences in my life. 


big difference and why it did. The turning 

point in my life has been the trip around the 

world that I made when I was fifty. I spent two 

weeks completely alone, meeting people of 

all races and nationalities, and I felt absolutely 

free. I understood how much we are 

conditioned by other’s judgement and why 

we shouldn’t be. Now I travel as much as 


that not many people know. I like writing short 

stories, some of which are true, others which 

aren’t at all! 

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How Can You Get Involved? 

The next Inspiring Women will be available in late May 2018. The theme will be Women of 

Words and Language. As in this edition, we would like to feature profiles of some of the 

wonderful women across the FAWCO world. If you know anyone in this field who has done 

something of particular interest and would make a good profile, please contact the editor by 

April 6, 2018. 

We would also like to feature cover photos taken by or of FAWCO members. The photo 

theme should be Women of Words and Language. 

Photos must be : 

PORTRAIT orientation (landscape photos cannot be accepted); 

Digital and Color, 150-300 dpi quality and 5-10 MB max.; 

Taken by a FAWCO member with details of where and when the photo was taken. 

Deadline for submission is April 26, 2018 

Please send to Marie-Bénédicte at inspiringwomen.cover@fawco.org. 

N.B. Accreditation will be given for photos used but no payment is possible. 

MAGAZINE FEEDBACK 

We want this magazine to be interesting for all FAWCO members. In an 

effort to provide articles of interest to all of our readers, we have created 

an online feedback questionnaire. It should only take a few minutes of your 

time to complete and will be a great help to us! 

Please click on the link or paste it into your browser 

to complete the survey. 

https://s.surveyplanet.com/Skx7ski6Uf 

Thanks very much indeed! 

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Inspiring You 

Founded in 1931, FAWCO is a global women’s NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), an 

international network of independent volunteer clubs and associations comprising 63 

member clubs in 33 countries worldwide, with a total membership of around 10,000. FAWCO 

serves as a resource and a voice for its members; seeks to improve the lives of women and 

girls worldwide, especially in the areas of human rights, health, education and the 

environment; advocates for the rights of US citizens overseas; and contributes to the global 

community through its Global Issues Teams and The FAWCO Foundation, which provides 

development grants and education awards. Since 1997, FAWCO has held special 

consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. 

OUR MISSION STATEMENT 

FAWCO is an international federation of independent organizations whose mission is 

• to build strong support networks for its American and international membership; 

• to improve the lives of women and girls worldwide; 

• to advocate for the rights of US citizens overseas; and 

• to mobilize the skills of its membership in support of global initiatives for education, the 

environment, health and human rights. 

For more information about this magazine, please contact 

Inspiring Women Editor in Chief Liz MacNiven at 

inspiringwomen.editor@fawco.org 

For more information on how to advertise in this magazine, 

please contact FAWCO Advertising and Sponsorship Manager 

Elsie Bose at advertising@fawco.org 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: 

Thanks to Alicia, Anna, Gwen, Jill, Krishna, Kirsten, Laura, 

Laurie, Libby, Lyn, Maggi, Renuka, Samantha, Sarah, Teresa, 

Urte and the ladies of AWC Amsterdam for taking the time to participate in this 

edition and for the use of their photos and those of their friends and family. 

Liz and Elsie at the Mumbai Conference 

Thanks to Robin for her Home and Away thoughts and Jane for her antidotes. 

Special thanks to the proofreading team of: Sallie Chaballier (AAWE Paris), Laurie 

Brooks (AWC Amsterdam and AWC The Hague), Janet Davis (AIWC Cologne), Mary 

Dobrian (AIWC Cologne), Cynthia Lehman (AIWC Cologne), Carol-Lyn McKelvey 

(AIWC Cologne and FAUSA), and Jenny Taylor (AIWC Cologne and Düsseldorf). 

ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER 

FAWCO receives financial remuneration for page space from advertisers. Views expressed or 

benefits described in any display advert, advertorial or in any webpage visited online directly 

from these adverts, are not endorsed by FAWCO. 

61

Don’t Miss the Next Issue of 

Inspiring Women due out May 29, 2018 

“Women of Words & Language” 

She has a Way with Words… 

Written, Spoken or Refined. Help us Find Her for our Next Issue! 

We want to learn how one becomes successful in the world of words. Written or spoken? 

Poetry or prose? Novelist or journalist? Do you have the passion that runs wild as an 

author or possess the steely Zen of one who edits? Do you express yourself in your mother 

tongue or a second language? We are interested in finding out what makes our profilees 

pick up their pens and articulate their thoughts and visions in a way that makes it’s mark 

on others. 

The process is simple. Send the name of the candidate, her club affiliation, her email address 

and a BRIEF description of why she would be an interesting person to profile, to Liz MacNiven: 

inspiringwomen.editor@gmail.com not later than April 6, 2018. 

Let the entrepreneurs in your club know that Inspiring Women is a great place to promote their 

products or services. To advertise in Inspiring Women, Contact Elsie Bose: advertising@fawco.org 

Thanks to the Official Premier Sponsor of Inspiring Women: 

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Inspiring Women Spring 2018

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