Kenyan Teacher Leaves TSC Career for Hospitality Job in Germany

Former secondary school teacher Linda Almasi left her job in Kenya and moved to Germany, where she now works in the hospitality sector after joining a professional training programme in 2023.

Almasi, who comes from Kitale in western Kenya, trained as a teacher at Kenyatta University, specialising in History and Kiswahili. She had initially hoped to study law, but financial constraints and academic circumstances led her to pursue education instead. Over time, teaching became a profession she valued deeply.

She began her career at Kaya Tiwi High School in Kwale County, teaching Kiswahili and History to lower secondary students. Her work extended beyond classroom instruction and included lesson preparation, marking assignments, counselling students and supporting extracurricular activities, especially sports programmes at the school.

Almasi also took part in collaborative projects with university students from Switzerland, where discussions focused on gender, development and cultural exchange. The experience exposed her to wider international perspectives and increased her interest in opportunities beyond the classroom.

Despite her commitment to teaching, Almasi said she became concerned about long-term career growth and financial stability. Although employment under the Teachers Service Commission is widely respected in Kenya, she felt the rising cost of living and limited opportunities for advancement made it difficult to achieve her personal and professional goals.

Alongside her teaching role, she worked part-time at a restaurant in Diani, one of Kenya’s leading tourist destinations. The hospitality industry introduced her to international visitors, including Germans, whose interactions later influenced her decision to move abroad. She gradually recognised similarities between teaching and hospitality, particularly in communication, empathy and interpersonal engagement.

Leaving a permanent teaching position was a difficult decision. Almasi said some relatives and friends questioned why she would leave a respected profession for an uncertain future in hospitality, while others supported her decision to pursue a new path.

Before relocating, she studied German and achieved B1 language proficiency. She also researched visa requirements and adjusted her curriculum vitae to meet German professional standards. She later secured an Ausbildung apprenticeship visa and moved to Germany in July 2023 to join a three-year hospitality training programme at EssenOst Berufskolleg.

Almasi described her early months in Germany as both exciting and challenging. She had to adapt to a new language, colder weather and a culture shaped by direct communication and strict adherence to schedules and systems. At the same time, she said she admired Germany’s emphasis on professional training, organisation and equal opportunity.

She now works as a front office agent with Motel One Group in Essen, part of a hospitality company with operations across Europe and the United States. According to Almasi, the experience has strengthened her belief that professional advancement should depend on ability and effort rather than nationality or background.

Almasi said her transition into hospitality has not diminished her identity as an educator, as both professions involve guiding and supporting people. She hopes to combine her interests in teaching and hospitality in future through mentorship, training or educational projects linked to hospitality and international development. 

Although she has established a new life abroad, she said she still misses interacting with students in the classroom. Human resource specialist Richard Magoma said career transitions are becoming more common as professionals respond to changing economic conditions and personal ambitions. 

He said successful career changes require careful planning and self-awareness, noting that transferable skills such as communication, leadership and problem-solving can help individuals succeed in different industries.