Name: Uneeb Farooqui (O-Neeb Far-U ki)
Age: 25
Profession: HRMS Consultant for Oracle ‘Super Geek’
Nationality: Pakistan
Motto: No news is usually good news!
PERSONALITY
Your most valued possession: It’s got to be my Blackberry at the moment
Where can we find you hanging out most? At the dive center!
One thing you cannot live without… The geek within me says air but I reckon it’s my eyeglasses. My vision is like the face of a crocodile without them!
The person who inspires you the most: Living – not to sound cheesy but I draw a lot of strength and inspiration from my partner and artist Sarah de Raikem, whose gaining some experience and skills in Belgium at the moment. Not living – Ralph Waldo Emerson’s writings often bring out the best in me and sort of put things into perspective. I achieve a lot of goals because of these two!
Five things you need for survival: I’m assuming wildlife – not city life type of stuff like phone, car, blah blah.
1. Food and water (that’s one right?)
2. Compass
3. Survival knife
4. Flashlight / batteries
5. Internet in some way, shape, or form (thinking of the deserted island scenario)
Describe a typical day in your life…
Weekdays are usually mundane. I’m up quite early, always in a suit, working with clients, developing strategies to streamline the human capital side of their business. Lunch is a sandwich and extended work discussions and the evenings I take to just chill out and catch up with friends and family. I use my weekends to go out to sea for a few deep dives and to watch movies. I’m in bed typically by 12pm like the good Boy Scout that I am.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? My 10 year pipe dream is simple. Own a house of my own, sports car and start a cool family. I’ll still sneak in the odd adventure.
Your goal in life? To one day work for myself, and start up a small dive center.
What random act of kindness you performed recently? Helped a lost child find their parent.
What are 3 things that today has taught you that you can improve on tomorrow? To understand before I am understood. To be more patient. To always base my decisions on principles rather than on personal benefit.
Who in your life deserves a big old thank you? My parents deserve the biggest thank you that’s ever left my face. It’s because of how much they helped me through school, when I changed my career (had an epiphany once to work for a large tobacco company) and how I’m pampered when I visit home.
Have you found your purpose in life yet? Probably, but I’d rather not say for sure. I like to think I’m Batman.
What is the craziest thing you have ever done? Broke in to my neighbor’s house, watched MTV while I ate chicken nuggets that I took from his freezer and cooked in his kitchen. All this while he was still asleep in the house! I’m still surprised he didn’t wake up. I mean, what if it was a real break in?
What have you done that others might consider crazy? Once I witnessed my friend point a large firework at another friend. Once it launched and exploded his (the victim’s) clothes caught fire. Then he ran up to him to put it out but as he did so, a maniacal laugh took over and he continued kicking him even after the flames on his clothes had died out.
What is your earliest memory? I remember being pushed in to the swimming pool and drowning, then being pulled out and resuscitated, and waking up again at the hospital. I was three years old. One of the earliest memories I can recall is riding bikes with my brother. Once someone’s dog mistook us for dangerous people and broke away from the owner’s leash and chased me while I peddled for dear life. I cycled two circles around my block before the owner had caught up and stopped the chase. I remember it because this is when I probably had my first heart attack.
If your life was a book, what would it be called? “How to get somewhere, accidentally.”
If your life was made into a book or perhaps a movie, what would you call it? “Just wing it!”
How social are you on social media?
I’m on facebook and I enjoy the cheeky one line comical tweets from the odd tweeter. I’m quite happy to say that I never add random people on facebook and I’ve met everyone on my friend’s list at least once. I would say I’m good friends with at least 40% of my friend’s list and close friends with at least 10 %.
If you wanted to look absolutely great, how would you dress? I would wear a sharp looking black tuxedo with a bow tie. I like bow ties but I’ve never had the pleasure of wearing one.
If you could wake up tomorrow in the body of someone else currently living, who would you pick? This one is easy. I would like to be stuck in the body of Hugh Jackman. It’s because of his really cool name, his excellent movie roles and his super cool Australian accent… Mayte!
What’s great party music? It depends, latin and reggae music often gets people to loosen up and have a good time. House and dance is for the hard core.
The song you’d like played on your funeral. The Red Hot Chili Peppers “Stadium Arcadium” album.
How many songs have you heard with your name in? None whatsoever
What’s your current Last SONG syndrome (LSS)? Currently I like to end with Frank Ocean’s “Lost”.
What was the most recent movie that made you cry? Life of Pi
What is your idea of a perfect weekend? Where I can sleep well, watch a movie, do an interesting outdoor activity and be able to talk and laugh with close friends and family.
If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be? Belgium. Close to my partner. I’ve never been there before.
If you suddenly found yourself with a free ticket to the moon would you go? I would definitely take a round trip to the moon. I love traveling and to go where so few earthlings have gone is just all the more reason. I’ll take Sarah if she’s up for it.
If you were on death row, what would your last meal be? A simple, freshly prepared Spaghetti Bolognese.
What is your favourite dessert? Don’t have much of a sweet tooth but I do like properly prepared Tiramisu
