About us
Our Team ispassionatemotivatedhelpfulsupportiveprofessionalinternationalmulticulturalmultilingualexperiencedpreparedpositiveefficientnicehands-oncurioushappyflexibleattentiveenthusiasticavailable
Kristin EberlManaging Director Openmind
I was brought up in Munich, have lived in Barcelona since 2007 and I am a declared Europefan!
In 2009, with love and passion, I founded Openmind with the specific aim of promoting the European dream of social inclusion for all. As a former exchange student and someone who has travelled throughout the world, I am aware how fortunate we are in this continent. It´s wonderful to see how many emotions we move between the countries. It is exactly what Europe needs... emotional connections!
My two children are tri-lingual and they embody the colourful spirit of Europe! I am convinced that students will also become infected with this passion. We are looking forward to looking after them.
Carmen BujalanceDirector High School Programme
I am a translator and interpreter for English and German.
In Germany I was responsible for the selection of exchange students and discovered my passion for the intercultural world.
When I met Kristin, I started working as a coordinator in Seville for Openmind. Now I have become her right hand, the director of our school programme in Spain as well as the director of the High School
Programme abroad for our Spanish students.
Hopefully one day my little daughter Emma asks me if I could organize her stay in New Zealand.
Gracia GonzálezShort Term Stays
I am from Lima, Peru. During my school days, I spent a year in Germany as an exchange student, an unforgettable experience.
In 2001 I studied communication science in Spain and got stuck here! My enthusiasm for travel led me to work as a travel guide all over Europe ... and now I devote myself entirely to the world of intercultural exchange.
At Openmind I support the team of the High School Programme and look after our participants who take the language course in Sitges before their academic stay starts.
Get to know our coordinators
Openmind would not exist without our wonderful team of local coordinators! The majority has lived abroad, already hosted foreign guests in their house or grew up in a bilingual environment. They all know what cultural adaptation means and do a fantastic job in choosing the right host family, while closely supporting the students during their whole stay.
She likes listening to music and travelling. She loves meeting people from other countries and therefore gains new perspectives about the world.
A true Sevillian who loves her hometown, although she describes herself as a citizen of the world who is passionate about foreign cultures and languages.
Ángela studied German Philology and worked in education and tourism for many years.
She has been working as a coordinator since 2009, a job she loves! She finds working with people from different parts of the world extremely enriching.
She describes her two daughters as the "greatest engine of her life".
Mariló is a positive, active and warm-hearted mom of two teenagers who have been abroad many times. She has been a host mother several times. As a coordinator, the students can count on her great empathy for all involved people/parties.
She uses all her power and engagement to ensure that participants have an unforgettable experience. She is convinced that by achieving that, the participants come often back to Spain, which makes a real sustainable cultural exchange.
Her hobbies are reading, cinema, cycling and learning from others (especially from young people because of their “freshness”).
She has studied a Master in Emotional Intelligence and empathy is one of her greatest values.
Curiosity and love for other cultures have helped her being a local coordinator.
Juan has graduated in Business Administration and Management and he is studying Marketing.
When he was 20, he lived his first experience abroad in Bournemouth, where he shared unforgettable moments with his host family.
His hobby is discovering new places. He personally knows how it feels experiencing new cultures. That is why he would like to help students who want to live in this beautiful city.
Born in Andalusia, he has lived in Valencia since he was 14. José is married and has two children. He and his wife Neli have been a host family for several years. The experience has always been so positive that he decided to join our team. His wife is also a coordinator for Openmind and both of them are a great team.
Josés hobbies are running and he often participates in races. He likes spending time at the beach and the countryside.
One of her favourite activities with the students she coordinates is the “Day of typical food of each country”.
Being a mother of two sons gave her the opportunity to take an active role in their schools, setting up international exchanges as well as being a host family.
Amongst her hobbies are hiking, handicraft and various cultural activities (theatre, cinema, music, conferences…).
She participated in an exchange program with a high school in Poitiers (France) when she was 14. This experience meant a lot to her and it awoke her interest in travelling and getting to know other countries and cultures.
She likes reading, walking through the countryside in autumn, and being like a tourist in her own city rediscovering its spots.
Cristina was born in Madrid and now lives in Aranda de Duero. She is a school teacher for children and teenagers. She currently works in an English school and she is in permanent contact with families who look for the experience in participating in cultural exchanges with other countries.
She is really interested in discovering other cultures and lifestyles, enriching herself every day from the company of people.
She likes doing opendoor activites with her family, seeing a good film and travelling.
Her family has previously hosted exchange students from Germany, New Zealand and Canada. She loved this experience so much that she became our coordinator.
Her passion is theatre. She also loves going to the cinema, reading, doing outdoor sports and chatting with her family and friends.
Her biggest hobby is meeting people from all over the world!
Elpidia, a native of Tenerife, is mother of two children. Her family hosted a German student a few years ago. The experience was so great that Elpidia was immediately interested in becoming part of the Openmind team.
Since she has a children’s clothing store, she is in daily contact with children and adolescents.
Elpidia is an active person, always in a great mood. Our participants will be in the best hands with her.
An unforgettable
cultural exchange
Kristin, Carmen, Gracia and Silvia
We are looking forward to meeting you!