A tale of two cities
What do you do when you would like to try working with something else, but you want to stay within Egmont? Two art editors, Phil Williams from Egmont Creative in London and Ayse Nacak from Egmont Ehapa in Berlin found a solution by swapping job, apartment and cat for half a year.
How did the idea of a knowledge exchange abroad come about?
Phil: “Peter Schlecht, Managing Director of Egmont Creative, came to visit Egmont Creative in London and mentioned the international culture in Egmont and the possibility of us being able to work for other countries. When I suggested it to Keith Ralph, Director of Egmont Creative in London, he agreed. It took about year and a half to sort out.”
Ayse: "Keith asked my manager, Joerg Risken, if Egmont Ehapa would be interested in doing this swap. Coincidently I had asked Joerg some months before if a swap with another Egmont country would be possible. And so he asked me one day if I would be interested to go to London – and I agreed from the first moment."
How did you organize the apartment swap?
Ayse: “From the beginning it was clear that it would be the easiest solution just to swap the apartments. Phil was so kind to offer not to swap the rent. Otherwise it would have been difficult for me. So we sent each other photographs and information about the area we live in. And Phil told me everything I would need to know about his cat!”
Phil: ”Myself and Ayse arranged it between ourselves by email. Ayse hadn’t been to London before, so we organized a weekend visit for her to meet me and to come the Egmont Creative office. This was funded by the company and really gave her a good introduction to London. I had visited Berlin on a number of occasions before, so no introductory visit was organized before I went on the actual exchange.”
What do you think are the major differences between working for Egmont Creative in London and Egmont Ehapa in Berlin?
Phil: “People are very friendly here, but they do have a different way of working. There is a different process involved because there are more people to deal with and that might also be a cultural difference. It can also be more informal at Egmont Creative because it’s a smaller team. Also, at Egmont Creative we are always providing materials for other countries so we are reminded of the international aspect, whereas over here they are working specifically for the German market and have a closer association with the magazines they work on.”
Ayse: ”Ehapa is a publishing company with about 100 employees working in different departments like marketing, editorial, sales and production. Egmont Creative is much smaller. It is a creative office
with 12 people where only editors and designers are employed. Their main topic is to create international Disney pre-school content for the Egmont publishers, and to develop new ideas and products. The working atmosphere is really nice and familial.”
How has your job been structured?
Ayse: “I only work for Egmont Creative. Phil has to do both, because his role with Playhouse is so
important that it wouldn’t be possible to displace him at Egmont Creative.”
Phil: “It’s been a really positive experience in most ways. However, the workload can be very demanding. It wasn’t really possible to simply stop my work for Egmont Creative, and initially I did feel that this made it a little more difficult to integrate myself with my colleagues here. Since then, I have taken on Ehapa work as well, which makes me feel more part of the team, but it can be difficult to keep on top of everything. Jörg and Keith agreed that I’d do three weeks of ECN work and one week of work for Ehapa, although to be honest it works out that I need to be flexible.”
What is the social life like in Berlin and London?
Ayse: ”The atmosphere in town is really nice and lively. Everybody is friendly and kind. It’s easy to have a little chat in a pub. The colleagues and neighbours are really nice and social. There are some after-work activities as well.”
Phil: “Berlin has a great social life – but you have to know where to go and to avoid the tourist traps. You have to make a few trips to see how it works, but once you know it’s brilliant. During the week, you usually just go home, although there are some work organised social events. Also, I’ve sort of been adopted by Ayse’s boyfriend which has been a great help! And I’ve got to know Ayse – she’s come back a few times to see family and friends since we started the exchange and we regularly email.”
How have you coped with language issues?
Phil: “Although my German has improved, on a day-to-day basis with work and friends, it’s simply not good enough. I try to study a few evenings a week, but my original plan to do an evening class whilst I was here ground to a halt when I realised how demanding the workload was. It’s a real shame, but German is notoriously difficult to learn. However, everyone has been very friendly, helpful and welcoming – and of course their English is fantastic.”
Ayse: “In the beginning it was difficult to understand people while they were talking to each other quite quickly. It was ok when they talked to me directly. After one month it began to get easier. It’s a good help that I have a flatmate to speak to in German. Now, after 3 months it’s much easier, especially understanding colloquial language or speaking on the phone.”
Do you have any general advice for someone thinking of doing an exchange?
Ayse: ”I would always advise to go over for a weekend before the swap should begin. It’s helpful to see the flat and the colleagues before, so I wasn’t too excited to come over. Then I would advise to do the flat swap because it is the easiest and best solution for both parts. Moreover I think it’s nice to live together with a flat mate. It’s good for your social life and for learning the language.”
Phil: “General advice would be typical things such as getting a European bank account so you don’t get charged when you withdraw money. Make sure you’ve got internet access so you can Skype your family and friends. Also, chose a big football tournament year, because it’s always a uniting conversational topic, and an excuse for a party!”
Phil: “Peter Schlecht, Managing Director of Egmont Creative, came to visit Egmont Creative in London and mentioned the international culture in Egmont and the possibility of us being able to work for other countries. When I suggested it to Keith Ralph, Director of Egmont Creative in London, he agreed. It took about year and a half to sort out.”
Ayse: "Keith asked my manager, Joerg Risken, if Egmont Ehapa would be interested in doing this swap. Coincidently I had asked Joerg some months before if a swap with another Egmont country would be possible. And so he asked me one day if I would be interested to go to London – and I agreed from the first moment."
How did you organize the apartment swap?
Ayse: “From the beginning it was clear that it would be the easiest solution just to swap the apartments. Phil was so kind to offer not to swap the rent. Otherwise it would have been difficult for me. So we sent each other photographs and information about the area we live in. And Phil told me everything I would need to know about his cat!”
Phil: ”Myself and Ayse arranged it between ourselves by email. Ayse hadn’t been to London before, so we organized a weekend visit for her to meet me and to come the Egmont Creative office. This was funded by the company and really gave her a good introduction to London. I had visited Berlin on a number of occasions before, so no introductory visit was organized before I went on the actual exchange.”
What do you think are the major differences between working for Egmont Creative in London and Egmont Ehapa in Berlin?
Phil: “People are very friendly here, but they do have a different way of working. There is a different process involved because there are more people to deal with and that might also be a cultural difference. It can also be more informal at Egmont Creative because it’s a smaller team. Also, at Egmont Creative we are always providing materials for other countries so we are reminded of the international aspect, whereas over here they are working specifically for the German market and have a closer association with the magazines they work on.”
Ayse: ”Ehapa is a publishing company with about 100 employees working in different departments like marketing, editorial, sales and production. Egmont Creative is much smaller. It is a creative office
with 12 people where only editors and designers are employed. Their main topic is to create international Disney pre-school content for the Egmont publishers, and to develop new ideas and products. The working atmosphere is really nice and familial.”
How has your job been structured?
Ayse: “I only work for Egmont Creative. Phil has to do both, because his role with Playhouse is so
important that it wouldn’t be possible to displace him at Egmont Creative.”
Phil: “It’s been a really positive experience in most ways. However, the workload can be very demanding. It wasn’t really possible to simply stop my work for Egmont Creative, and initially I did feel that this made it a little more difficult to integrate myself with my colleagues here. Since then, I have taken on Ehapa work as well, which makes me feel more part of the team, but it can be difficult to keep on top of everything. Jörg and Keith agreed that I’d do three weeks of ECN work and one week of work for Ehapa, although to be honest it works out that I need to be flexible.”
What is the social life like in Berlin and London?
Ayse: ”The atmosphere in town is really nice and lively. Everybody is friendly and kind. It’s easy to have a little chat in a pub. The colleagues and neighbours are really nice and social. There are some after-work activities as well.”
Phil: “Berlin has a great social life – but you have to know where to go and to avoid the tourist traps. You have to make a few trips to see how it works, but once you know it’s brilliant. During the week, you usually just go home, although there are some work organised social events. Also, I’ve sort of been adopted by Ayse’s boyfriend which has been a great help! And I’ve got to know Ayse – she’s come back a few times to see family and friends since we started the exchange and we regularly email.”
How have you coped with language issues?
Phil: “Although my German has improved, on a day-to-day basis with work and friends, it’s simply not good enough. I try to study a few evenings a week, but my original plan to do an evening class whilst I was here ground to a halt when I realised how demanding the workload was. It’s a real shame, but German is notoriously difficult to learn. However, everyone has been very friendly, helpful and welcoming – and of course their English is fantastic.”
Ayse: “In the beginning it was difficult to understand people while they were talking to each other quite quickly. It was ok when they talked to me directly. After one month it began to get easier. It’s a good help that I have a flatmate to speak to in German. Now, after 3 months it’s much easier, especially understanding colloquial language or speaking on the phone.”
Do you have any general advice for someone thinking of doing an exchange?
Ayse: ”I would always advise to go over for a weekend before the swap should begin. It’s helpful to see the flat and the colleagues before, so I wasn’t too excited to come over. Then I would advise to do the flat swap because it is the easiest and best solution for both parts. Moreover I think it’s nice to live together with a flat mate. It’s good for your social life and for learning the language.”
Phil: “General advice would be typical things such as getting a European bank account so you don’t get charged when you withdraw money. Make sure you’ve got internet access so you can Skype your family and friends. Also, chose a big football tournament year, because it’s always a uniting conversational topic, and an excuse for a party!”
October 2008
