I am a firm believer that international friendships and experiences not only lead to unforgettable memories but also foster motivation, emotional connection and authenticity to schooling and education. Through my international residences in the Netherlands and the United States I was lucky to experience this myself. I am not only interested in building partnerships but also friendships (also for my students) and I want to show them that there is quite a big world outside the walls of our school building and that this world is worthy of being explored.