Meet Pia Beltoft Nielsen

Photo: Stefan Lingg

The exhilaration of starting from scratch all over again with a new job, a new apartment and new surroundings is what enticed Pia Beltoft Nielsen to the GROW program. Signing up for the work exchange program is one thing, but deciding to speak only German and taking language courses is quite another, which is exactly what Nielsen has done since she arrived in Munich almost two months ago. "I'm speaking a whole new language and it challenges me in a new way that wouldn't be possible back home in my 'safe' environment," says Nielsen.

Back home at Bonnier Publications in Copenhagen, Nielsen works at I Form magazine as an assistant editor where she rewrites articles from health and fitness experts and oversees the final layouts in production. "Our experts are highly skilled when it comes to knowledge about a certain topic, but they tend to write in a way you would for a magazine at university," she says. "We need the language to be more sparkling and easier to understand straight away, and that's the job for the journalists at I Form." In her new role as rights assistant at Piper Verlag in Munich, Nielsen is assisting the foreign rights director whose job it is to negotiate rights deals in other countries. "I have also made a business plan regarding how Piper more lucratively can enter the Danish book market," she says.

The change of working with books instead of magazines is an adjustment, but the major difference is the more polite and formal atmosphere at Piper. With an office environment of only women at I Form, there tends to be much more interaction and discussion about each others' private lives, she says. "I'm actually lucky that my colleagues here at Piper are so polite because that means that they've not yet laughed at my German skills."

Nielsen went to Munich ready to experience life to the fullest and live as the locals do, which has included indulging in a variety of beer and sausages and experiencing the nightlife during the week. "In Denmark I tend to only go to concerts and bars on the weekend, but the people in Bayern have showed me that you should also enjoy your life Monday through Friday," she says. "I have made more new friends than I could have ever asked for, and I am sure we will stay in touch."

The decision to apply for GROW came from a desire to get new inspiration and a new insight in life, says Nielsen. "Physically you'll be gone for only three months, but the feeling will last a lifetime!"