Xpat Interview: Leonor Carvalhal Garcia Corrêa da Silva Zwack, Child Psychologist

  • 1 Jul 2014 12:00 PM
Xpat Interview: Leonor Carvalhal Garcia Corrêa da Silva Zwack, Child Psychologist
I was born in Lisbon, Portugal, went to live in the States at 6 months old, came back to Portugal around 4/5, went to live in Belgium when I was 9, finished my International Baccalaureate at the European School there, did a degree in social psychology in the Uk, followed by another degree in clinical psychology in Lisbon when I moved back in 1998.

In 2000 started to work there as a child psychologist specialized in autism; and in 2003 moved to Budapest, where I married Sándor Zwack, from who I have 2 beautiful amazing children.

Here I continued working as a child psychologist introducing the floortime method in treating autism in various institutions (Autizmus Alapitvány, Korai Fejlesztő Központ and Nemzetközi Cseperedő Alapitvány - foundation I helped to create). In 2011, though, started dedicating my time to my hobbies, namely acting and in particularly singing. Currently I am trying to integrate all these different aspects of my life and of who I am into one...

Who am ? - Leo

A mixture between everything and definitely technologically challenged

I relate and understand to people easily, having lived a life of "saltimbanco", studied and practiced psychology, lived in various different countries and speak 6 languages. I love to laugh and never finish any…

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
In September 2003. Love.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
I AM the incarnation of X-pat: USA, Belgium, Italy, Uk. Also in my own homeland, Portugal, where they see me as ET.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
The fact that you can have one word that expands in four-long sentences, all ending in "e".

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Szimpla kert. The funky bars and music. The baths. And search for Jude Law.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Goulash soup from Ecseri.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Parmesan cheese and wine.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Gyógyszertár and habtejszín; because they are unpronounceable.

8. What do you miss most from home?
The Ocean and the Sun in Winter.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
All of them. Through singing.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Same as above (except the singing part).

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Portugal.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
Portugal.

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Depeche Mode; Gorillas in The Mist, Project X, Some Kind of Wonderful, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Footloose; singing in nature.

14. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
A good laugh.

15. Red wine or white?
All of them and more. Preferably without a job.

16. Book or movie?
Can't choose.

17. Morning person or night person?
Depends in the country where I am at.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Autism. Orphans. Homeless. Excluded minorities and cultures. Discrimination. Poverty. Unfair inequality. (www.raiseyourcause.org- first icon)

19. Buda or Pest side?
Countryside.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Try to find balance. Never give up hope. And believe.

  • How does this interview make you feel?