Laura Paterson, 30, twinning and international partnerships officer at Aberdeen City Council gives us an insight into a day in her busy life
My morning
My day usually starts at 7am with a hot shower and bowl of porridge. One of the benefits of living in the city centre is that I enjoy a 15 minute walk to work in the morning – I take this opportunity to learn languages. I studied German at school and since the start of the year I have been learning French as well so that I can communicate with partners in Clermont-Ferrand.
Aberdeen is twinned with five cities across the world – Stavanger, Norway; Clermont-Ferrand, France; Regensburg, Germany; Gomel, Belarus, and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – so languages are an important part of my role.
By the time I’m in the office at 8.30am, I can have a full inbox as the working day in Aberdeen’s twin cities is already well under way.
