Meet Kerstin Alm – aka Mamarazzi – from Sweden who moved to LA 51 years ago ‘to pursue a normal life with her Swedish husband’.
The reason for our emigration was a great interest in America. This was 1963 when the Sixties syndrome was flourishing at its peak. I got a job at the Swedish Consulate, had 2 children and returned to work at Finnair, the Finnish airline downtown LA. In the floor below was Air France and this seemed more exciting. Worked for Air France in their reservations department, got a job as a cargo sales representative (the first woman sales rep for Air France in USA) and finally got the job as Regional Sales Manager when my boss retired. Many great years with the French!
What one thing do you miss from home?
The Swedish light summer nights. May be some Swedish food, but otherwise I LOVE LA!
What do you find the biggest difference is living here versus the UK or Sweden.
The lifestyle is different. Most Americans are light-hearted and easy to deal with. Swedes are more conservative. The climate is fabulous. I lived in the UK in 1956-1957. Enjoyed London a lot and saw Judy Garland on stage plus Sir Lawrence Olivier and Vivien Leigh in a bloody Shakespeare play on stage. Titus Andronicus.
Do you have a hidden gem in LA that you want to share with us?
The fairly newly-built complex Terrannea in Palos Verdes… A great place for good meal with nice people. Ports of Call in San Pedro is a great place to observe all the cargo ships which move in and out of the harbor. Los Angeles is the largest man-made harbor on the globe and a very busy one. Ports of Call restaurant on Friday nights sitting outside during Happy hour. Free snacks and inexpensive wine, only £5 for a glass of decent red wine. Well worth a drive on the Harbor Freeway to San Pedro.
What would you suggest to others who are thinking about making the move here?
Have all your paperwork in order. Be sure you are ready to deal with the traffic in this enormous city. LA is a big place, which surprises people, even though they may think they know how it is.
Lastly, how can we find you on the Internet?
My website is www.mamarazzi.us.com. Have photographed professionally since 2005 in Cannes during the film festival. Since then been in Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Dubai and Doha during their film festivals. Love meeting new people and I am a very easy-going older girl!
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