From a Chinese megacity to the banks of the Rhine river, Michael Robinson’s philosophy for expat life is simple: “Say yes to things and don’t let opportunities pass…”
A stepping stone
Just before moving to Shanghai in 2017, Michael completed a degree in fine art as a mature student. “In China I managed to find a voluntary role in an international school as an artist in residence, teaching some lessons but also free to work on my own projects, too,” says Michael, whose specialty is linocut printing. “It was an unpaid job but looked good on the CV, which helped me to find a paid role at school, a smaller, local institution – everything you do in life leads to something else, doesn’t it?”
The beautiful game
“When I was living in Edinburgh, I played football with artists, actors, a journalist and a video director. I was repairing fax machines at the time but those guys really inspired me to push myself creatively,” says Michael, still a keen footballer who plays with VfR Wiesbaden Alte Herren (Old Men) every Friday night in Wiesbaden. “So wherever I go, I always want to push myself and try new things…”
Treading the boards
“Here in Wiesbaden, when I discovered an English language theatre group, I thought why not give it a go. I had never performed in a play and perhaps it showed when I first auditioned! I didn’t get the part but in the group’s next production there was a role for a Yorkshireman, which wasn’t too much of a stretch. I got the part and the play went really well. Now we’re working on a new show (Permanent Collection by Thomas Gibbons). It’s really been a fantastic and wholly unexpected experience for me.”
There’s no limit
If you are also an artist, or just enjoy sketching, Michael also recommends Urban Sketchers, which has 450 chapters in 70 countries around the world: “They organise regular meetups for people to sketch together. It’s been a great way to discover new places in Wiesbaden (and Frankfurt) as well as meet like-minded people,” says Michael, who, last but not least, is also a musician. “Last year, with the expatriating company’s support, I completed a songwriting workshop and completed some songs, which was a fantastic experience. Over the years, I have performed at a lot of Open Mic nights but I would love to do a whole show on my own in future. I mean, why not, right?”
Photo: Michael Robinson
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