In the latest issue of Costa Blanca Magazine, we meet an impressive young woman whose zest for life and versatility are inspiring: Tenisha Weitzmann. Born in Germany and raised on the Costa Blanca, she spent over a decade in the USA before returning to Dénia. Today she lives a life full of adventure, professional diversity and inexhaustible curiosity. She works as a photographer, teaches English, accompanies children on dolphin therapy programmes and loves exploring the world with her husband and dogs. A conversation about courageous decisions, love and the happiness of turning your passion into a career.
Tenisha, we met at a barbecue event last year,
where you worked as a photographer.
Exactly! That was here at The CUT, where my husband works as a restaurant manager.
Whenever I experience extraordinary I get curious when I meet people. Would you like to tell our readers more about yourself?
Were you born in Germany, in Saarland to be precise?
(laughs) Yes, in Saarlouis!
What a coincidence - I'm from Saarbrücken! When you were two years old, did you emigrate to Spain?
Yes, we moved to the Costa Blanca, to Dénia. I spent my school years there and was very lucky to grow up multilingual. We spoke German at home, but my everyday life at school and with friends was in Spanish. Today, I feel even more confident in Spanish than in German.
At the age of 17, you made a courageous decision.
Yes, I was dissatisfied with my knowledge of English and - inspired by my father - went to the USA on my own to study. Language was the gateway to the world for me and crucial for my future plans. When my student visa expired after five years, I simply started another degree programme and spent a total of ten years in the USA.
After a decade in the States, a visit to Dénia made you realise how much you miss the light of the Costa Blanca and the palm trees. In 2019, you turned your back on Harrisonburg (Virginia) and returned - to your beach and the mountains.
What happened next?
I had actually planned to travel the world with my dogs in a motorhome. But then everything turned out differently. I was eating out with my parents in a restaurant - back then it was still called „DUE“ - and Sascha, my current husband, worked there. That completely changed my plans - but only for the better.
And you have a special story with Sascha. He proposed to you in a very special place, right?
Yes, we walked the Way of St James together with our dogs. On the last day, right in front of the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, he got down on his knees in front of me and asked me
That sounds incredibly romantic!
You then got married - and how did your life develop?
I have many passions and at some point I realised that I could also pursue them professionally. Today I am very happy because I am doing exactly what I love. In winter, I teach English to senior citizens at the University of Valencia in Gandía and offer tutoring for schoolchildren. In the summer, I work at Mundomar with disabled children from all over the world, who receive free dolphin therapy here.
But that's not all, is it?
No, my greatest passion is photography. I'm regularly booked for weddings and events. But I also feel comfortable in front of the camera - when my agency is looking for a cheerful blonde for advertising shoots, I'm often involved. It definitely never gets boring! If you're curious, you can check out my work on Instagram at @tenishaweitzmann.
Your everyday life seems to be well filled! How do you spend your free time?
We are absolute sun lovers and outdoor fanatics and make the most of every free minute outside. We go hiking with our dogs or explore new, exciting corners of Spain in our campervan. In all our jobs, we always try to make time for travelling - of course, that's not always easy in everyday working life, but we enjoy every minute together and draw new energy from it.
Your zest for life is really infectious!
Thank you for the exciting insights into your fulfilling life. I wish you and yours all the happiness in the world!
