This week’s Into-yous features Indian expat Mariam Kapadia.

Tell us a little about yourself
I am an Interior Designer and was working till i had my daughter. I consider myself lucky to be able to stay at home with my daughter and make some wonderful memories. Being a creative person its very important to me to do something worthwhile everyday so that i don’t feel the days gone wasted. I took up crocheting for a while to find an outlet for my creativity and made number of wonderful clothes for my daughter’s Barbie. It was when my baby was six months old that I took up baking cakes as i wanted to make her first birthday cake… I got hooked! now I run a small home based business Bakes Cakes Ect baking cakes and cupcakes and share the joy of creating something which lights up someone’s face!

When did you move to Dubai and what brought you here?
I moved to dubai in the year 2005 looking for greener pastures. I found a city of opportunities and a land with so many cultures blending together as one and yet retaining their identity.

Have you been an expat elsewhere and if so, where?
I had a chance to stay in Bahrain for couple of months but unfortunately the stint dint last long.

The best advice you were given to prepare you for life in Dubai
I was mostly homesick when I first came and my parents would encourage me to give it some more time…then this place became my home. I couldn’t have stayed anywhere else.

What surprised you most about Dubai?
The traffic flow here. In my home country, it’s right handed driving where as here it’s left handed. I was honked quite many times for not looking where i was going.

What area do you live in?
We used to stay in Diera but recently moved to Al Nahda,Sharjah.

If money were no object, where would you most like to live in Dubai?
JBR!!! love ‘The Walk’

Your favorite Arabic word or phrase you have learned so far
Khallas!!! lol!!

Your least favorite word or phrase you have adopted since moving to Dubai
I don’t recollect any thing such.

What has been your best experience in Dubai to date?
There have been many wonderful experiences here so its difficult to point out one, although my favourite thing to do is to go to Jumeira Beach early on a Friday morning!

Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
Hopefully London! A girl can hope!

Who is the person you most miss when you are in Dubai?
My mom! Miss her very much but thanks to the internet the distance is quite less.

What is your favorite restaurant in Dubai?
The best thing about Dubai is the vast variety of cuisines available here. I love Arabic food a lot. My favourite restaurant would be Aroos Damascus for their grilled food and hot bread!

What grocery item do you most miss from your home country?
We get most of it here. I can’t think of any particular grocery item that i can’t get here.

When friends and family visit you in Dubai where will you absolutely take them?
Jumeira Beach! Must go there and barbecue!

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The team at Expat Echo Dubai would like to feature you in our Into-yous section

Please complete our 5 minute interview and submit your answers along with a profile picture (in JPEG format).