Partner of the week : Karen Del Toro

"My main goal is to relax"
A hard-working, perfectionist woman looking for a break.

Name: Karen Del Toro
Age: 30 years
City, Country: Guadalajara, Mexico
Profession: worked as a manager (sales and marketing) for a British beverage company for 7 years, her clients included department and convenient stores in Mexico
Partner: Juan Marin Ortiz, Married in December, no children yet

Favorite Music/Artist: Luis Miguel, song "Mexico en la piel"  

Yann & Nicki: What did you leave behind in your home country that you miss?

 Karen Del Toro: I knew that Switzerland would be quite a diiferent country from Mexico. I'm trying not to miss too many things. The culture is very different. I don't miss my family yet but I'm sure I'm going to later. In Mexico there are all kind of fruits, very good ones. Here you find just bananas, apples, oranges. That's it !

Virgin of Guadalupe, a gift from her sister

Y&N: What was your typical day in Mexico like?

 KdT: I woke up, went to my work, spent almost all day there in Mexico city. I used to lunch with my friends. I miss them. After work, I came back home, ran a little bit in a park near my home. Sometimes, at night, we used to go coffee or go to a bar or just relax.

Y&N: What was your reaction when you found out that your partner got into IMD (and you were relocating)?

 KdT: I was very happy for him. Very excited for this challenge. Because this is a challenge. When he started study with the GMAT, he was very sincere with me. So, he told me « I want to do this, but I don't want to do this alone. I need you in this life ». It was 5 or 7 months before he was accepted. So, I told him « Ok, don't worry, everything is going to be very good .. Do your best. But I didn't think a lot about this decision or what would happen if he was accepted. Finally he was, so I said « Do you really want to go or not ? » So it was difficult for me. I wasn't very sure.  I took a break, a week, to think about this. I used to have a very good job, everybody told me « don't quit », cause it's very difficult to have another job like this, especially in this crisis time. I said finally « OK, let's go and see what happens... ». Here I am.

 

Y&N: What is your main goal this year?

 KdT: I'm a very apprehensive woman... So, this year my first goal is to relax... to enjoy life, not to follow things people tell me to go for. Also I want to do a lot of things, make some friends, improve my English, and to practice French.

Y&N: What activities would you like to do with the other partners?

KdT: Go to the gym, run. I want to go to little towns near Lausanne. Just walk. To learn about the swiss culture. I love cooking. I brought with me some cook books. I want to learn to prepare desserts. I want to go to dance bars, just have fun. I used to dance hawaian and mexican traditional dance. 

Y&N: Are you looking for a job this year ? 
 KdT: I'm not looking for a job. But I know it's very hard to be here with doing nothing. So, we'll see. I have an interview next week. If it's a good job, I will take. If not, I prefer to be with my friends, to travel around the country. I could work for an NGO. That is something I always wanted to do. I used to love my work on profesionnal term but not personal. It paid me a lot but I want to do something that creates value for people.

Y&N: What do you like/dislike in Lausanne? 

 KdT: What I like the most... It is a very jolly city...very european... I love the buildings, the landscapes, the mountains...
I wish to have a better weather, because i'm not used to this. It's not too cold, but I prefer warmer weather.  And it's very expensive. The cost of life is very expensive.

Y&N: Where do you think you will be next year ?

 KdT: I don't have any idea. I'm very open. Hopefully in Europe. I want to stay 2 more years, or 5 . I love european culture. It's my first time to live abroad.

Y&N:  How would you describe yourself in 3 words ?

 KdT: Honest.... I'm very transparent. What you see in my face, is what I'm thinking. So if I'm angry, you just see me and notice... Perseverant.... and I'm always looking to grow, in a spiritual way...I'm forcing myself to be better...

Y&N: What is one thing that no one knows about you or would expect? 

 KdT: I'm a very persistent person. So, I always try to do what I want and almost all the time I accomplish my goals. There is a song that my husband loves a lot, Rachmanivo, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. So, I prepared a surprise for him at our wedding. I learned to play piano in one and a half months. It's a really difficult song. I told the piano teacher I wanted to learn this song, and he asked « How many years have you been playing the piano? » I told him « Never ». I learned the song and played it at my wedding. I love to surprise people! 

Y&N: Tell me something in your native language

 KdT: Estoy super feliz de estar en Lausanne. Pero mucho mas feliz de haber encontrado amigos tan increíbles como ustedes. Porque de verdad lo mas importante no lo encuentras en una ciudad tan linda y con paisajes increíbles, si no en la gente con la que puedes compartir muchas cosas. Mi vida, mi tiempo. Para mi es muy importante.

Y&N: What can you say in french ?

 KdT: Je suis heureuse d'être ici et aussi de mon mari, de l'école, car il est très heureux aussi. Je veux parler un meilleur français, quand c'est fini. Merci.

Yann and I had such a pleasure interviewing Karen. We had no idea how this project would go and as our first interviewee, we could not have been any more lucky! Karen's sweet, honest, and thoughtful personality really impressed us and we know that Karen is in for a wonderful year out of the fast lane and into slow and quiet Lausanne. A rest she surely deserves!