Oldenburg
More or less chance encounters have made a difference in José Manuel Cerrud’s life, for example that he was able to realize his dream of running his own travel agency in Canada – or that he currently lives and works in Oldenburg.
Cerrud had danced at a travel fair in Israel and went over to the open window, heatedly. “There was this little woman. I spoke to her and we talked for about half an hour. It was Inge Hauer from ‘Die Landpartie Radeln und Reisen’ ”, says the 59-year-old. They met again shortly before leaving. “I suggested organizing a trip to Canada together because my company there specializes in pilgrimage and cycling trips. Your answer was: No, ”laughs Cerrud.
important contacts
They stayed in contact anyway. Inge Hauer accepted Cerrud’s invitation to Canada, traveled with him there, found out about tourism in Canada and then wanted to organize a tour with him.
But how did Panama-born Cerrud get into a travel agency in Canada in the first place? Especially since he studied journalism and also worked in the field. “That was at the time of the dictatorship in Panama. I came into conflict with the government. That’s why my wife and I fled to Canada, ”reports Cerrud.
There he took on “all sorts of jobs.” He had already shown flexibility in Panama, where he worked for casino security during his studies and was active in the first aid department of the voluntary fire brigade: “In the casinos I saw people who tried to cheat and others who gambled away their monthly income in one day. We have trained a lot at the fire brigade in order to be able to help people in emergencies. Both have left their mark. “
He also learned French in Canada. This school was looking for an employee for a project that wanted to bring refugees together with entrepreneurs and private individuals. Cerrud got the job. This led to contact with a Colombian who had a travel agency and wanted to employ him: “I had no idea about the industry. But he said: It doesn’t matter, I’ll teach you everything – and that’s what he did. “
After working in the field for several years, Cerrud wanted to open his own travel agency. “I told a lot of people that and at some point a friend introduced me to Dianne. She had the money to start a travel agency and needed someone with the required experience. We became business partners with equal rights. “
Popular onion look
In this role he also flew to the fair in Israel, where he met Inge Hauer. After the joint Canada tour was successful for the first time, Inge Hauer visited the Cerruds in Ottawa. “She said she wanted to take a sabbatical and asked if I could replace her during the time. “If my wife and my two adult sons can visit me in Oldenburg, it will work,” Cerrud remembers his answer.
Everything worked out – until the corona pandemic thwarted the travel agents’ plans. Inge Hauer made it possible for her colleague to work for her longer as a business development manager. “The positive thing is that I’ve never ridden as much bike as here in Oldenburg – even in winter. Then I dress like an onion, ”laughs Cerrud.
He is also professionally involved with bicycles: “We have developed a new bike tour from Hamburg to the Zugspitze, where you get to know people in every region who live there,” reports Cerrud. As soon as it becomes possible to travel to Canada again without quarantine, he plans to live in Ottawa for around three months and in Oldenburg for the same length of time.
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