This week’s Into-yous features Greek/Australian expat Sophie Bogdis.

Tell us a little about yourself
I am an extremely passionate and disciplined person with my professional work and my career. From a very young age I have always known what I have wanted and would pursue my dreams and desires until they came true. At the tender age of 21 and set foot in Dubai all on my lonesome with not much than just a dream to succeed in anything! Dubai has been great to me ever since! I have climbed the corporate ladder and reached the position of General Manager by the age of 25. Now, i have opened up my very own Party Planning & Events company Special Occasions which caters for any occasion which is need of some planned assistance (you can us on Facebook) I love my life and try to make everyone else’s as special as can be by taking something which may be stressful to them and putting my love for planning into action.

When did you move to Dubai and what brought you here?
All the back in early 2006… I was offered a job to move over here, in the luxury retail sector when I still lived in Melbourne, Australia and said why the heck not!

Have you been an expat elsewhere and if so, where?
I have lived and studied in the US…does that count?

The best advice you were given to prepare you for life in Dubai
Not much really! I didn’t know anyone who had lived here prior to me moving over. But I quickly learnt to be weary of real estate agents when I arrived. It was harsh back in 2006!

What surprised you most about Dubai?
Initially I think i was surprised at how long it took to get simple things done and how much paperwork was required. ‘You need a bank account to get cheques to lease an apartment, but cant get that until you get your visa but cant get that until your employer process it…round and round in circles! Don’t even get me started on DEWA! (Things have likely become less stressful nowadays).
But on a positive note, i was surprised at the amount of restaurants and bars available here….especially bars come to think of it.

If money were no object, where would you most like to live in Dubai?
Hmmm…i wouldn’t say no to a nice villa on the Palm

Your favorite Arabic word or phrase you have learned so far
Inshallah – also my least favourite but use it to my advantage when required also.

Your least favorite word or phrase you have adopted since moving to Dubai
As above…are you coming at 3pm? ‘Inshallah’ A yes or no would do just fine.

What has been your best experience in Dubai to date?
Oh wow, there have been many. Aside from meeting some amazing people and building some everlasting friendships, on a more personel level it has to be opening my very own company and it actually being succefull – never would have dreamt it.

Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
I love travelling and I love re-visiting places I have been to previously. Feels like I know the place and I enjoy the holiday the second time round much better – New York City!

Who is the person you most miss when you are in Dubai?
My mum. 🙁 I have a very close relationship with her as i have no brothers or sisters or even much of an extended family.

What is your favorite restaurant in Dubai?
I love food so much, so this is tricky! There are quite a few favourites…Bussola Pizzeria at the Westin for the best Pizza and view. Saffron at Atlantis on a Tuesday night for the best Seafood Buffet!

What grocery item do you most miss from your home country?
Darryl Lea Licorice! So soft and fresh! Nothing here like it, I’ve searched for many years. And also having more ‘Sugar Free’, ‘Low Fat’ etc…versions of foods.

When friends and family visit you in Dubai where will you absolutely take them?
Every visitor I have I always take to a Madinat Jumeirah promenade restaurant on the first night. Maybe because its one of the first places I visited when I arrived and made me fall in love with the place. Just so beautiful and peaceful like your in another world, sitting outside, watching the gondolas across the water while eating a lovely meal. I may now need to change this to somewhere with the Burj Khalifa in view!

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

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