Tatianna Thurik '13

Tatianna's First Trip to France with her Minnehaha French Class 

Tatianna and her Minnehaha Academy French Class

Tatianna is back row, middle 

Tatianna Thurik started learning French in middle school at Minnehaha.  During her junior year, she went on a two week trip with her Minnehaha French class to France. “During that trip, I had a rather cinematic moment.  We went and had dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower, and during that dinner, I felt like I didn’t want to leave, I felt almost a calling to want to come back.  My teacher, Mr. Norlander, said  "You know, this does not need to be the end, this can be just the beginning of your time here in France. You can study abroad here or you can do an exchange with someone your age and come back to France and they can come and visit you in Minnesota."

We went and had dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower, and during that dinner, I felt like I didn’t want to leave, I felt almost a calling to want to come back. 

Tatianna said Mark Norlander made learning French fun. “It was the class that everyone looked forward to going to.”  Besides spending time in Paris, the students went to southern France and visited a Christian ecumenical community called Taizé. “This trip changed my interests in the French language.  Before this trip, it was fun to learn French, but I was never planning on living in France.”  That summer, Tatianna hosted one of Mark’s friend’s daughters from France in Minnesota.  She came for three weeks and then the following summer, 2013, just after Tatianna graduated from Minnehaha, she went back to France and spent a month with the French girl and her family.  

Tatianna and Minnehaha Academy French teacher Mark Norlander in France

 

Studying and Living in France 

In college at Gustavus Adolphus, Tatianna majored in French and her junior year studied abroad for six months.  “I lived with a French host family and all of my classes were in French. That was a pivotal experience in my language learning, and where I made the most progress. I went from an academic French level to an everyday social French, having conversations and building friendships in French.”

After college, Tatianna decided to teach English in France for a school year in the elementary schools. “During that time, I had a lot of time to think, and I saw myself living here and working here but not necessarily being a teacher. I knew that I wanted to find a way to combine my interest in French culture and gastronomy.  I also had an interest in writing and photography, which I wanted to integrate into my career." She decided to do her master’s in French at the University of Wisconsin Madison.  A part of her master’s program was a six- month internship in the South of France working for a yogurt company. “To this day, it is one of my favorite professional experiences. It was a great introduction to working in France. I wrote all my emails in French. It taught me so much and led me to where I am today. All of my other experiences have built upon that internship. It led to my first job, and then another job, and eventually to my current role.”  

Working in France 

In January of last year, Tatianna started as a Communications Officer for a French family wine group called Domaine Clarence Dillon. They have three estates in Bordeaux as well as a 2 star Michelin restaurant in Paris called Le Clarence right next to the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. “I do all of the communications for the brands including social media, website management, print materials like brochures and brand books, and press relations. I am the liaison between journalists and our establishments. It's a very fun and dynamic role because there are a range of brands, each one with their own identity and challenges. Every day is different–it’s a smaller, family company, which allows me to cover a large scope of responsibilities.”

The Oscars

The family wine group began their partnership with the Oscars in 2023. Their wines are the exclusive red and white wines served at the Oscars. They are also the official partner of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. “Last year when I started working for the company, they told me about the partnership. I was obviously very excited to be working on the project, but I didn’t anticipate that they would ask me to attend the Oscars. However, given that they wanted a native English speaker to represent the company, I was honored when they asked me to go.” 

I was able to dress up, attend the Governors Ball, and meet different stars. It was an incredible experience.

Tatianna representing Domaine Clarence Dillon at the Oscars

Tatianna organized a press event at the Awards, facilitating meetings between the owner of the company and the press. For the last two years, she also attended the Governors Ball. She spent time with the owner of the company, Prince Robert of Luxembourg, facilitating press interviews and organizing photoshoots of the various wines being served. “It’s a big event, both very busy and a lot of fun.  I was able to dress up, attend the Governors Ball, and meet different stars. It was an incredible experience.” 

I love living and working in Paris. There is this kind of magical element of living here that doesn’t get old.

“I love living and working in Paris. I especially enjoy the lifestyle and the whole culture around food, as well as the slower pace of life. Living in Paris is like living in a work of art. You walk outside your door and you’re surrounded by beautiful aesthetics. I really love the architecture there. On a weekend if I don’t have anything planned, I will pick an area and walk around and take pictures, trying out new coffee shops or restaurants, or simply strolling along the river. There is this kind of magical element of living here that doesn’t get old.”  

“I am grateful that my experience starting with the high school French trip led me to this. If I had not gone on that trip, I would not be where I am now.  I have Mr. Norlander and my whole experience at Minnehaha to thank for catapulting my interest in living and working in France.”