IB graduate profile - Louise Ayling

Graduated from the Montevideo British Schools, Uruguay, in 1978.

"After IB graduation in 1978, I studied design at Estudio Moncalvo in Montevideo. Then in 1979 I moved back to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to study interior decorating. In addition, I taught Scottish dancing at both the St. Andrews Scots School and Northlands School in Buenos Aires.

For a long time I was the lead dancer of the Highland Thistle Pipes & Drums Band in Buenos Aires. In 1984, I married my longtime friend and schoolmate Bernd Schmidt-Liermann (he graduated in 1977), once he obtained his university degree in Germany.

Bernd and I are happily married and we have three children: Patrick, Sophie and Dominique. All of them are currently in the IB Programme at the Colegio Americano de Puebla in Mexico.

My husband was a banker for many years and his career led us to live in Argentina and Germany. Thereafter, he was hired by Volkswagen to run the Corporate Treasury Department in Argentina for four years. In May of 2001, Bernd became a director for Volkswagen de Mexico.

As an artist, I specialize in decorative painting, and I have managed to enhance various techniques through working experience working in Uruguay, Argentina, Germany, and now Mexico. I love painting and I am quite successfully running a decorative painting business called Maderika in Puebla. We also design furniture for children's rooms and for the entire house. Should anyone be interested, my webpage is named Maderika.com.

While we are away from our home in Argentina, we try to take advantage of the fabulous tourist attractions, archeological sites, and lovely beaches throughout Mexico. I also enjoy reading, travelling, gardening and playing tennis."