(0:00) Working for an international company brings challenge after challenge, and after a while you slowly start to realise that qualifications matter very little. (0:10) It’s making a name for yourself in order to move up the company ladder, something I very much plan on doing. (0:16) It can be challenging and requires you to be quite cutthroat at times in your approach, but I have never found this job dull.

(0:23) Always on the move and a different challenge can be taxing, but it’s invigorating and gives me exactly what I want from a job. (0:30) It can be hard, unwinding at the weekend after being so switched on for the whole week, but I make sure I have my leisure time. (0:38) Cycling in the morning clears my head before the day starts.

(0:44) Starting in a firm as an intern can go both ways insofar as you might easily become trapped in a certain role and find it difficult to break out of. (0:53) I’ve seen myself on many occasions, which quite a number of people who attempted the same route as me found unmanageable. (1:00) However, when I decided to go the intern route, I quickly realised that the key to getting on was to have an ability to turn your hand to whatever task is laid in front of you.

(1:12) This is the route I’ve chosen, and to do so, I will need to continue to pick up as many tricks of the trade as possible, if I wish to have the future I want. (1:21) This, of course, in turn leads to the best part of any job, the end of the month and seeing the effect on your bank account. (1:28) It’s this aspect that drives the majority of people.

(1:34) Tourism is a funny business. (1:36) It’s one that never stands still and by its very nature demands a constant circulation of clients. (1:42) Repetition in this business means your business is not moving, although somewhat counter-intuitively establishing long-term connections is how you progress and help your business grow.

(1:52) And talk to anybody running their own company, that is what you must have looking ahead. (1:58) The reason I still continue to be involved in the cruise and liner industry is that it offers you so much in terms of something different every day. (2:06) Let’s leave aside the new views, countries and culture you come into touch with at every port, something that never loses its charm.

Speaker 4

(2:16) Many years working on developmental car design projects, I know only too well how long and strenuous a job it can be. (2:26) However, it’s one that more than covers the cost of family life, school fees, college expenses to come and a comfortable life for our children and my partner and me. (2:37) Looking long term, it’s all I want from a job.

(2:40) Long hours locked in a room exchanging, debating, building on each other’s ideas before anything ever becomes reality and sees the light of day. (2:50) It’s mentally taxing but offers a beautiful challenge to us all. (2:55) Every step depends on all of us working effectively as a collective.

(2:59) On its day, it is a magical place to be and it’s these rare as they may be days that I think people should get from their work. (3:07) What it offers in terms of financial security gives us great peace of mind and should always be at the forefront of your mind with a family to support that’s essential.

(3:20) I have been designing buildings for over two decades now and I’m well established within my firm, which was always my goal setting out at the start. (3:30) Very little gives me as much pleasure as being able to look at a project that at the end of the day I was solely responsible for. (3:37) And yes, the great team I have in support deserve their own credit in their role in the project but knowing I will always be able to cast my eye on with a great sense of satisfaction offers a great sense of personal satisfaction.

(3:51) I know people find this type of role particularly stressful due to the enormous pressure placed up on the shoulders of one who is tasked with multi-million euro development projects but this is inspiration, drive as far as I’m concerned. (4:06) I find it pushes me to do the best I can, see this less as pressure and more of a challenge.

(0:03) We were searching for a holiday online when my daughter pointed out something interesting. (0:10) I had to admit that the photos of the river looked stunning. (0:14) We wanted something a bit different this year.

(0:17) I checked it out and it was the river Jammu in northern Kashmir. (0:22) We would be staying on a houseboat which looked really comfortable, so we went ahead and booked. (0:28) We got back last week and we had a fantastic time.

(0:32) The scenery was stunning with clean air and fabulous food. (0:36) I’d highly recommend it. (0:39) Every time the boat stopped, the locals would come out to meet us.

(0:43) We were surprised how warm and friendly they were. (0:46) It was a holiday of a lifetime, so different from the everyday modern life we have here at home.

(0:55) Two years ago, during the Easter holidays, I went on a trip to Barcelona. (1:00) Being a student, I didn’t have much money to spend on accommodation, so I tried couchsurfing. (1:05) A couple of my friends had done it before, but it was my first time, and I was a bit nervous sleeping on someone else’s sofa in a foreign country.

(1:12) I stayed with Brian, who’d lived in Barcelona for over ten years. (1:16) Brian was a totally chilled guy and made me feel very welcome. (1:21) While Brian was at work, I spent the day sightseeing.

(1:24) Gaudi’s architecture is just amazing and Barcelona is a really cool place to visit. (1:28) Brian was kind enough to drop me at the motorway, where I hitched a ride up to Paris. (1:34) I stayed in Paris for a couple of nights before getting the train home.

(1:38) It’s probably the cheapest holiday I’ve ever had, but it turned out to be one of the best. (1:43) I’m still in touch with Brian and have lots of great memories of the trip.

(1:49) I love the countryside and being outdoors. (1:52) Even at home, you can always find me in the garden. (1:55) I can’t understand people who just enjoy sitting at home on the sofa, in front of the telly, or playing computer games.

(2:04) The same thing applies to when I go on holiday. (2:07) Sitting by a pool all day is not my idea of a good time. (2:10) I need to get out there and do things.

(2:13) When I’m on holiday, I get up at the crack of dawn, not wanting to miss a minute of the day. (2:18) You wouldn’t believe I’m 69. (2:20) I put my youthful looks down to a healthy lifestyle and spending a lot of time in the great outdoors.

(2:26) Active and adventurous holidays are a big part of my life.

Speaker 4

(2:32) We had to wait until our children had grown up and left home before me and my husband could afford to go on our dream holiday. (2:40) We went on a safari to Kenya. (2:42) The accommodation was top-notch.

(2:44) They called it glamping, as in glamorous camping, but it was more like a luxury apartment than any tent I’ve ever stayed in. (2:51) The location was out in the African bush with just the sounds of the animals under the wonderful skies. (2:57) It was totally breathtaking.

(2:59) Our guides were very professional. (3:01) They took us out to see some amazing animals in their native habitats. (3:05) I’ve never been out of Europe before and was not sure what to expect.

(3:10) The holiday turned out to be fabulous from start to finish. (3:14) The birdsong at daybreak is the thing that stays with me the most. (3:17) It’s indescribable, the noise of all those hundreds of species.

(3:22) For sure, it’s a holiday we will both never forget.

(3:26) I have a well-paid but high-pressure job. (3:30) My professional and personal life are very busy. (3:33) When I usually take a vacation, it is to totally unwind and recharge my batteries.

(3:38) Normally, I never do anything on holiday but sit by a pool and relax. (3:43) This year, I had a complete change. (3:45) I volunteered to go to work in a village in Sri Lanka to help in the rebuilding of a community centre after it was destroyed in a tsunami.

(3:55) It was probably one of the best decisions of my life. (3:59) The work was quite physically demanding but working with volunteers and the local people was an excellent experience. (4:06) The most rewarding part of the vacation was feeling that what I was doing was making a real difference to people’s lives.

(4:13) I did get a lot back from being part of the community. (4:17) It really made me think about what matters in life. (4:21) It’s certainly something that I’d like to do more of in the future.

(4:24) Perhaps one day I may think about making a career out of this sort of work.