THINK LOCAL: DAVE EVANS
British
“CHANGE YOUR PACE” DAVE EVANS: forget about how things worked where you lived before
Dave Evans is an advisor at the insurance broker Spectrum-IFA Group. Born in Holyhead, Wales, he grew up in Durban, South Africa, before returning to live in the UK for eight years. He has been a resident of Luxembourg since 1995. AG: Why did you move to the Grand Duchy? DE: My sister arrived a couple years before I did. We came to visit her and we had two very young children at the time. We liked the looks of Luxembourg, the feel of it. AG: What was the biggest surprise when you arrived? DE: The way the authorities make it so easy for you to arrive and get settled in. From the receptionist at the local commune to the tax office, they’re all approachable. They’ll all give you advice. They don’t just give you a form and say “read the manual.” AG: What was the biggest integration challenge you had? DE: When we first arrived we put our children in the local school system. That was pretty tough. I look back and it was a good move. They got basics in French, German and Luxembourgish. That’s a hell of a start for kids today. They still have these languages. One of my kids is at university in the UK and my son is doing his bac this year. I don’t think they appreciate--yet--
Resident in Luxembourg since the year Jean-Claude Juncker became prime minister, Dave Evans gives his insight into working and living in the Grand Duchy. Interview: Aaron Grunwald — Photo: David Laurent/Wide
what opportunities are out there because of their languages. It doesn’t matter what course of life they follow, what career, the languages do help. AG: Was the local school system frustrating for you as a parent? DE: They start giving them homework at a very early age. Not having the languages, it was very difficult to help with their homework. That was the greatest struggle for the family. We had a very candid, frank conversation with a teacher at our local school. He put his cards on the table when my kids were 10 and 11. He said, “ find another system. They’re struggling now; it’s not going to change. Get them out.” So eventually we got them into the European school, and the whole family dynamic changed. Life became so much easier. They were better behaved. I think they lost their frustration. AG: Do you think Luxembourg schools should change the lingual system? DE: It would be tough to do that without losing identity. Luxembourg is their country; they want to keep their identity, which is fi ne. But maybe there should be two school systems. AG: What is the biggest difference you see between Luxembourg and the UK, for adults? DE: I think everybody is less stressed in Luxembourg. There’s a lot more laidback attitude.
I used to travel three hours between Kent and London each day. That puts a huge amount of stress on people’s lives. It shortens their day. I think in Luxembourg, because there’s no real commute, you can become more familyoriented. There is time to do things. AG: What about in professional life? DE: Really, the country works. Through my work and being president of Rugby Club Luxembourg, I meet a lot of new arrivals in Luxembourg. Sometimes they get a bit stressed at the pace things work. Things do happen slowly, especially over the summer months. My advice is, don’t bang your head against the wall. It will happen. Change your pace; don’t expect Luxembourgers to change theirs. AG: How about in the insurance sector? DE: The insurance industry in the UK is so, in my view, over-regulated. I do believe regulation is good, but there are limits and I think the UK has gone too far. Europe has not, as yet, over-regulated things. AG: What advice would you give newcomers? DE: Mainly, forget about how things worked where you lived before. Every country is different. You really do give yourself a headache when you compare. I’m not an expat. I chose to come here, so I don’t have the “expat attitude.”
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05.05.2011 12:51:00 Uhr