Where is your SCHAUPLATZ?

By Claudia Tönz, Founder of the My Schauplatz

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‘It takes a sense of freedom to realize your dreams and passion to make the impossible possible – the present is all we have, so what keeps you from taking the chance?’ – Daniel Thomas Faller, Founder 

Only once in my life I felt really bored. During school time my eyes often wandered into the distance daydreaming. From the snowy mountains of Switzerland my birthplace, to Seoul’s beehive I ventured far and wide. I love being inspired, and I trust that the idea of living an inspired life appeals to you as well. And I love to travel – why? Initially to lose myself and next to find myself; travel for me means the quest for not just the unknown, but also the unseen. 

Painting and screen-printing intertwined with my love for photography brought me in contact with many inspiring people. One of the places I come back again and again is Isle of Skye and the Scottish Highlands. Sometimes just to relax and reflect upon my life. Sometimes with a group of friends and photographers exploring the great nature and landscape. Isle of Skye is for me a place of both of power and tranquility. 

As it happens a well-thought-out plan was triggering a surprising turn in our professional and private lives and in 2015 a peacekeeping mission brought my wife and me to South Korea, Panmunjeom and the DMZ; the demilitarized zone (DMZ) is a border barrier that divides the Korean Peninsula roughly in half. The DMZ is 250 kilometers (160 miles) long, and about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) wide. My past workplace for some years I may best describe it as a place, where power meets tranquility in a way far from the ordinary. 

What surprised me the most when I first came to South Korea were the Koreans who are friendly, diligent and so passionate about their daily lives despite the divided situation. Always attracted by inspiring places and new perspectives, I found pleasure in exploring the culture of the real Korea. Getting closer to the people of Korea I was puzzled by another fact: Koreans don't know Switzerland. Nevertheless, Switzerland is considered by Koreans as a popular tourist destination within Europe with high-end watches and the Alps. The fact that bias formed a blurry picture of a culture that is my home I am driven to share more of the culture that forms my identity. 

My insatiable curiosity for the hidden pleasures of life as well as a mindful way to look at things and my surroundings has transformed my way of seeing and growing as a person – My wife and I decided to take the chance to realize our dreams and passion to make the impossible possible – SCHAUPLATZ was born from our passion and love to unveil the magic things in life, mindfully grow, slowing down and thrive through cultural exchange. Where is your next SCHAUPLATZ? 

SCHAUPLATZ: Location, place where something specific is in progress, something specific is taking place, has taken place.