Work

What is your job? Where do you work? Why did you choose that job? Is it a popular
job in your country? Do you like your job? Do you get on well with your colleagues?
What was your first day like? What responsibilities do you have at work? If you had
the chance, would you change your job? Do you plan to continue with your job in the
future?

I work as an Operations Executive in Orel corporation. We are manufactures of

Lighting items and Network cables. Our headquarters is in Srilanka. Here we handle
trade operations of Middle East market. I manage both local sales and purchases and
international Imports and Exports.

I did my major in Electrical Engineering, but i was working as a Software Engineer. I

wanted to change my field, but directly jumping to technical field was difficult. So i
decided to move to management profile. I did a distant post graduation diploma
course in Operations management and moved to a company in Electrical Industry. So
now i am doing something which is relatively close to what i study. Its a small step.

I love my job. I am a multi-tasker and i like managing people. Everyday i wear many
hats and facilitate various deliverables at once. It keeps me busy all the time
(during work hours i meant) and i enjoy it. It is totally different from what i had
been doing when i was working in IT field where my life revolved around some
programmes or codes.

My fellow workers are easy to work along. Most of them are of my age group
and from my country. We have many things in common and i like working with
them. However, i miss not having another woman co-worker in my office. It
would have been more fun if i was not the only female employee.

My first day at work was memorable. It was a hectic day since the previous
employee who was handling my work got fired and i had to start the job
immediately without much time for an orientation. In the evening, my boyfriend
offered to pick me up from work and when he came he brought a cone of my
favourite ice cream and was waiting in front of the building. That was very
romantic and it made my my day.

As i have mentioned earlier i love what i do. I have no intention to change my

job. But if my situation demands, like moving to a different country, i will have
to change my company. My current company has offices in many countries,
so if the place i am moving have operations there, i will try for a transfer rather
than resigning.
 Study
What do you study? Where do you study that? Why did you choose that
subject? Is it a popular subject in your country? Do you like that
subject? Do you get on with your colleagues? What was your first day
like? What are the main aspects of your subject? If you had the
chance, would you change subject? Do you plan to get a job in the
same field as your subject?

I did my major in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Mar Athanasius College
of Engineering in Kerala. It is one of the oldest college in India with high reputation.
You need very good grades to get into it and its my pride to be an alumni of that
institution.

My father runs a small business of Electrical Items. Our main product was his brain
child. He never had a proper education, so being his firstborn expectation fall upon
me to take forward our family business. Since i was academically good, getting me
into electrical engineering was his plan. So i went with his wish and took up Electrical
Engineering.

Even though, getting into Engineering was not my plan, life in my college
compensated for everything. It was a vibrant campus and i made friends for a
lifetime. Those were the best days of my life.

In Electrical Engineering we had more labs than theory subjects. We worked with
small circuits as well as big machinery. Time spent on experiments getting small
electric shocks is one of my many fond memories.

If i wouldn't have been an engineer i might have turned out to be a doctor. I

attempted for both Engineering and Medical Entrance examinations and qualified for
both. So that would have been my choice and i could have been a good doctor. But
then again, i have no regrets. Life turned out to be good anyways.

Now i am working as an operations manager in a company which manufactures and

sells Electrical items. I like what i do. I am thinking of doing a Masters in Biomedical
Engineering and move to research field. Hopefully a PHD as well in future.
 Hometown
Where is your hometown? Do you like your hometown? Do you often visit
your hometown? What is your hometown like? What is the oldest place
in your hometown? What is there for a foreigner to do or see in your
hometown? How could your hometown be improved? Has your hometown
changed much since you were a child? Is there good public
transportation in your hometown? Do you think your hometown is a good
place to bring up children?

I am from a small town called Fort Kochi. Its on the southwestern

Malabar Coast of India, a charming seaside area, Fort Kochi is known for its Dutch,
Portuguese, and British colonial architecture, and elaborate bamboo fishing nets at Fort
Kochi Beach. Upscale eateries and chic cafes serve Keralan specialties, and quaint
shops sell cotton clothing and handmade souvenirs. We have heritage buildings house
contemporary art galleries.

Set foot into Fort Kochi and you will be instantly transported to a different time period. This place
is steeped in the history and culture of all who have occupied it through the ages. Its roots and
essence are unique in its diversity

While walking through K. J. Herschel Road, one gets a glimpse of Fort Immanuel. This former
Portuguese bastion, built in 1503, is a sign of the strategic alliance between the Maharaja of
Cochin and the Portuguese Monarch. Further along the road one can see the Dutch Cemetery,
housing the graves of former Colonists. People also love visiting the nearby Thakur House, a
bungalow built in typical colonial era style. It was formerly called Kunal or Hill Bungalow.

One can also visit St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India. Built in 1503, it was
here that the legendary explorer Vasco-da-Gama was originally buried. The Vasco-da-Gama
Square is a beautiful promenade nearby where one can go for a relaxing walk. One can drop by
Pierce Leslie Bungalow to view the waterfront verandas or Koder House, a fine example of the
transition from colonial to Indo-European architecture.

Vasco House is another must visit landmark as it is said to have been the explorer’s actual
residence. It is among the oldest Portuguese buildings in Kochi. A visit to the legendary Bishop
House is an enriching experience. The facade of the house has large Gothic arches.The streets,
shops and the residents operate at their own pace. Time is rather abstract in Fort Kochi, and
visitors will feel instantly transported into another era altogether.

One thing i love about my place that it has not changed much. People in our hometown made sure
that history is preserved along with modern addictions.Conservation of Fort Kochi's heritage has
always been prime importance in all development activities.
 Home
Where is your home? Do you live in a house or a flat? Who do you live with? Are
there many rooms in your home? What is your favourite room? How are the walls
decorated? What would you change about your home? Do you plan to live there in
the future? What facilities are there near your home? What is your neighborhood
like? Do most people live in houses in your country?

I live in Diera in a bed space with my friends. Its a flat opposite to Creek, which is
one of the most beautiful places in Dubai. My residence is walking distance from
both red and green line and accessible to bus station as well.

We have 3 bedrooms, 2 washrooms and a kitchen. Rooms are painted in purple

chich happens to be my favourite color. Our owner is an aesthete, so we have a lot
of paintings at home.

There is nothing i want to change there. I have been staying there for one and half
years. Its my second home and people over there are like my family.

I intend to stay there as long as i would be living in Dubai. My flat has everything
you need nearby, such as parks, grocery stores, gyms, shopping malls, creek etc. If
my office location changes, i can take public transportation for commute.

Our neighbourhood is very peaceful. After a hectic day at work, that is something
everybody wants i belive, a relaxing atmosphere.

Most people live in rented places, as they are expatriates. Some stay in shared bed
spaces and others rent an entire apartment for themselves or for family.
Accommodation is relatively expensive in dubai than other emirates.
 Art
Are you good at art? Did you learn art at school when you were a child? What
kind of art do you like? Is art popular in your country? Have you ever been to an
art gallery? Do you think children can benefit from going to art galleries?