Back in May, something special unfolded along the banks of the mighty Rhine. Career development professionals from Germany, the UK, and Australia came together in Cologne for the very first Fuddle on the Rhine — a weekend that blended professional learning with curiosity, culture, and creativity.
Although the event has long since wrapped, its echoes still ripple. This post gathers those moments together as one story — a record of what we shared, discovered, and imagined.
Setting the Scene
Cologne, with its cathedral spires, lovelock bridge, gardens, and street art, became our classroom and playground. We explored how everyday landmarks and local legends can open up new pathways in career conversations:
- Drawing metaphors from the Rhine River
- Unlocking symbolism on the Hohenzollern Bridge
- Using urban art to spark storytelling
- Finding fresh perspectives through gardens and sculptures
- And even learning from the Elves (or Gnomes) of Cologne
This wasn’t just sightseeing — it was experiential learning with deep professional purpose.
A German Twist: The Schultüte
To mark the beginning, each participant received a Schultüte — the traditional German cone of goodies given to children on their first day of school. Inside? Creative resources and career development tools tailored for practitioners. It was both playful and symbolic: a reminder that we, too, need to refill our own packs with new ideas and curiosity.
Day One: Exploring Cologne
Armed with tote bags (and sunshine at last), we headed to the Hohenzollern Bridge to reflect on the symbolism of padlocks and keys in career development. By the riverbanks, in full view of Cologne Cathedral, we trialled creative tools:
- The Gnomes in Cologne game (Karneval/Cathedral edition), where participants became gnome crisis-response teams linking challenges to real-world occupations and the UN 17 SDGs.
- The Bonkers Book of Creative Career Coaching Ideas and other playful approaches to experiential learning.
Laughter, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue flowed as freely as the Rhine beside us.
Later in the afternoon, we braved a downpour with a short Rhine boat trip, dried off over dinner, and dove into resource-sharing. From magnetic jigsaws to colour cubes and multidimensional metaphors, the evening was filled with experimentation, reflection, and a sense of wonder.
Day Two: A Gnome Scavenger Hunt
If Day One was about resources, Day Two was about adventure. We embarked on a gnome career scavenger hunt across Cologne, guided by local legends and cryptic clues. From the famous VW graffiti bus to the 4711 perfume shop, we cracked riddles and guessed occupations, stretching our thinking about jobs and storytelling in playful, place-based ways.
Ten thousand steps later (and plenty of snacks at Neumarkt), we had not only solved puzzles but also explored new strategies for engaging clients in Stretch-the-Box Thinking.
Cathedrals as Career Guides
Inside Cologne Cathedral, our conversations turned reflective. Participants engaged with the Career Exploration through Cologne Cathedral booklet I created — a resource that connects the Cathedral’s architecture and symbolism to Hope-Action Theory competencies:
- Foundations → What supports the structure of our careers?
- Bridges & Connections → How do relationships shape our journey?
- Stories in Glass → What symbols capture our career values and aspirations?
- Resilience & Restoration → How do we rebuild after setbacks?
This session proved that history, art, and spirituality can guide modern career growth in unexpected, profound ways.
Connections, Gratitude & Looking Ahead
Beyond the tools and activities, the heart of Fuddle on the Rhine lay in the connections: building bonds, strengthening our professional community, and creating moments of joy alongside deep learning.
The inaugural Fuddle ended with inspiration and a commitment to keep building — both careers and cathedrals of possibility. Ideas are already brewing for Fuddle on the Rhine 2, and plans are underway for Fuddle on the Yarra in Melbourne, Australia, next year.
Final Reflections
The weekend was a celebration of what happens when curiosity, culture, and creativity collide. From riverbanks to cathedrals, bridges to gnomes, we rediscovered the joy of experiential career learning and the value of being seen and supported within a like-minded community.
Here’s to many more chapters of creativity, connection, and career exploration — with sustainability and a little gnome magic leading the way.
✨ #FuddleOnTheRhine #TheGnomeThatInspires #StretchTheBoxThinking #CreativeEngagementStrategies #CareerDevelopment
Jenn Barfield - Holistic Career Development Coaching 