By Clotilde Angelucci TSiBA on 05 Sep 2018
TSIBA is thrilled to welcome the new Faculty Manager Lizel van Biene, who started her position at TSiBA on Monday, the 3rd September 2018. Although very busy at work, Lizel kindly managed to find some time to chat with us about herself and her passions.
Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I fell in love with education at the age of six when I went to school for the first time. According to my first teacher, while the other kids were crying and hanging onto their mothers’ dresses for dear life, I told my mom that she should leave as we had to start working. Once I matriculated, I went to Stellenbosch University and studied BA Languages. Just before graduation, I got a bursary to study the Postgraduate Higher Diploma in Education, which I also completed at Stellenbosch.
After University, I then went to Israel to work on a kibbutz for a couple of months. Eventually I worked my way through Europe doing odd jobs like Au pairing, caring for old people, working night shifts in bakeries and hotels as well as waitressing. Upon my return to SA, I got a teaching position at Langenhoven High School in Riversdale where I taught History, Afrikaans and German for two years. My husband (whom I met while abroad) was transferred to East London and I got a position in the catering company where he worked. I worked for them for six years when I was promoted to District Manager for the company and was transferred back to Cape Town. As my firstborn came along in the same year we moved to Cape Town and I wanted to spend more time with her, I resigned and took a part-time lecturing position at Damelin, teaching Hotel Management. Within two years, my son was born and I was employed full-time at Damelin and moved to Faculty Manager and then Academic Manager, and ultimately ended up working for the company for 21 years before I started with TSIBA yesterday.
What are your hobbies?
I love gardening, sewing, painting and mosaic.
Are you a dog person or cat person?
I love both dogs and cats but for the last ten years only have two cats due to living in a small townhouse. It would not be fair to keep a dog in such a small environment.
What makes your heart tick?
Honesty, respect for others, caring for the sick, elderly and vulnerable, appreciation of beauty in people and nature and reliability.
Anything else you would like to say to the TSIBA students?
Every day, start off as a blank canvas. Our decisions, actions and words are the colours we paint with and must be used wisely to create the best picture of the day that we are able to come up with. Do not waste time and seize every opportunity that comes your way. Richard Branson said: “If someone offers you an amazing opportunity, but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later.”
My best wishes for the last semester of the year!
Lizel can be reached on lizel.vanbiene@tsiba.ac.za.