With their linguistic dexterity and international mindset, Luxembourgers are well-equipped for life abroad. Yet, as these expats reveal, adjusting to new cultural norms--whether Swiss precision, American ambition or German diplomacy--still comes with challenges.
Like many Luxembourgers before and after him, Pierre-Sébastien Thill chose France to study law. This was in the late 1970s. Having found a job in his host country, he never returned home. “At the time, even more so than today, my proficiency in three major languages and the cultural openness that characterise Luxembourgers were seen as significant assets by the law firm that took me on,” recalls the lawyer, now 68.
Thill, a specialist in international tax, led CMS Francis Lefebvre Avocats--one of France’s leading business law firms--for 20 years. He remains its executive chair to this day. Moving from Luxembourg to France did not involve a major cultural shift, but certain differences stood out to him....