With the help of guest Becky, this week's episode focuses on the journey towards obtaining Luxembourgish citizenship.
I’ll be honest. As a little girl born and raised in California, I never dreamed of growing up and moving to Luxembourg. Hawaii? Sure. But Luxembourg, a tiny landlocked country in Europe? It was absolutely never on my radar. When I grew up I married an international guy who was raised in London, so I did sort of think that maybe we might end up there one day. But then Brexit happened, so London was off the table. Weirdly, even though we are American, it was Brexit that led us to a life in Luxembourg.
It was the same story with my next guest, Becky. She never had Luxembourg on her Bingo card either. Even though she is British, her husband is French. They are here as a consequence of Brexit, too. When Brexit hit, it profoundly affected Becky’s family, prompting intense discussions about their next steps. What could have been a daunting experience turned into a brave leap towards a new beginning in Luxembourg. Surprisingly, the decision to move here came almost out of nowhere – a colleague’s recommendation that changed the course of their lives as they knew it.
For many of us living here, Luxembourg was something we didn’t expect, and yet it has started to feel like home. Do you find yourself liking it here more than you thought? Have you more or less found a solid community that you enjoy? Do you like the healthcare system and the quiet and the cremant? Are you thinking about staying here for a long time and possibly becoming Luxembourgish one day? If so, this is the episode for you!
In this episode of Mom Life in Luxembourg, my guest Becky describes her journey from being a Londoner to applying for Luxembourgish citizenship. We delve deep into her transition, including selling her house in London, getting her kids in school here, and leading a life she feels is enriched by the cultural and linguistic depth here that we all get to experience everyday.
Our conversation centers around Becky’s decision to pursue Luxembourgish citizenship, and the steps she took to make it happen. Her journey through language courses at INL, Luxembourgish with Anne, the challenges of self-study, and tips about the spoken test provide invaluable insights for anyone considering pursuing citizenship.
As someone who is just now taking Luxembourgish A1 and staring down the path of earning Luxembourgish citizenship after five years of residency, I found this interview incredibly helpful. I hope you will too. Please give it a listen and let me know what you think. If you want to learn more about Becky and her journey and life in Luxembourg, you can follow her on Instagram @beckswhatsnext. And if you’d like to connect with me, you can follow me on Instagram @momlifeinluxembourg.
