Brigitte Korsnes – President
I was born in Germany, in the southwestern city of Karlsruhe. After graduating from college in Freiburg near the Black Forest I moved to Trondheim in Norway. There I taught Kindergarten, and, after obtaining another teaching degree, I taught High School.
In 1977 my Norwegian husband Terje received an invitation to learn about the Export business in Boston. We came here, intending to stay for two years. Our three children were born here, two boys and a girl. They consider themselves citizen of the USA first, and then citizen of the world. We speak Norwegian at home, so we truly consider ourselves a multicultural family, and we stay in touch with our families overseas.
In 1999 I returned to school, Wellesley College this time, because I wanted to find out for myself what the American Educational System has to offer. I reached my goal of graduating ahead of my children in 2004.
At about the same time I joined the IWCB, at that time a small but very welcoming social club for women, many of them newcomers to Boston.
After all these years in the United States I am very comfortable, but I still say that my family will return to Norway, “when the two years are up.”
Ikuko Kawai (Iko) Burns – First Vice-President
I was born in Tokyo, Japan, and grew up in the Japanese countryside. After completing college, I worked two years as a TV announcer. When I met my American husband, I moved to New Haven, CT with him. After two years, in 1961, we moved to Boston, and I have been here ever since. I have three children.
The Japanese Consul’s wife recruited me for IWCB, and I enjoy being involved with the International community.
Linda Zimmerman – Second Vice-President
In 1998 our family moved to New England from the area just north of San Francisco. In 2004 one of my friends from California encouraged me to look for a women’s club and that’s how I found out about the IWCB! At that time it was a very small group but it has maintained that essence of warmth and friendship that appealed to me from the first event I attended.
Joining the IWCB has been a great opportunity to make friends with many interesting women from both the U.S. and from around the world!
Françoise Matte – Treasurer
When my husband was offered a job in Boston in 1998, I came speaking bad English (still do…!), and leaving my job in France.
But with three kids you have to move on and meet people… so I first became a volunteer at the French School and then at Boston Accueil (a francophile welcoming group).
IWCB is a great place to meet people from all over the world.
When we move, no matter the country we are coming from, we all share a similar experience.
Personally, learning about cultural differences is really rewarding, many times it is done through activities as simple as sharing a book or a recipe with someone else or visiting a place in Boston.
Joann Kowalski – Member-at-Large
I moved to New England from the Midwest in 2004. I joined the IWCB because the expatriate community was very friendly and welcoming.
I love to learn about food and culture. Whenever I taste an interesting new dish at one of our meetings, I make notes on what flavors I can identify and then try to make it at home.