'I know people who do not even have a job, so I'm happy I have one'

Mohammad Shaban

Pakistani salesman, Mohammed Shaban, epitomises the saying 'the early bird catches the worm'.
Starting his day at 5.30am - seven days a week - his first port of call is the shower.
"A good shower helps me get a good start and freshens me up," he tells me.
By 5.50am he gets into the company bus, and by 6am he is ready at his desk to start his 12-hour working day.
Born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan, Shaban came to Dubai two and a half years ago to "better his opportunities".
Back home, the eloquently spoken expatriate worked as an assistant accounts manager for an executive firm, but in Dubai, he says he's had to take a small step back in his career - but for a good reason. He is a salesman now.
"When I came to Dubai I didn't know what the market was like so I accepted this role through an agency. It allowed me to explore my options regarding vacant accountancy roles and I now have a better idea of the market place here."
The dream is to one day become an account executive again, but for now he says, he's just happy he has a job.
"For now this is okay, Alhamdulillah (All praise be to God). I know many people who do not even have a job, so I'm happy I have one."
With a mother, father and four siblings - two brothers and two sisters - to support back home, Shaban cannot afford to not have a job. The 29-year-old man sends Dh1,500 to his family every month.
Aside from his family and friends, he says the one thing he misses about Lahore is the travelling opportunities he once had.
"In the last five months I have not had one day off because our staff count is low. Back home, every six months my friends and I used to travel to the tourist areas near our home and have a great time together."
And now, when he sees his friends posting pictures on Facebook of the missed adventures, he finds it hard to even look at them.
"I miss that so much and sometimes even tell them not to post the pictures."
Sharing a room in Dubai with four of his colleagues, Shaban says the best thing about his accommodation is the "huge kitchen".
Noting himself as "quite the chef", he says the kitchen is where he goes to remind himself of home.
"I love to cook. I cook mainly for myself and it's always food from back home like chicken biryani and chicken karahi."
As he describes the dish to me, I can almost smell the spices.
Though Shaban plans to stay in Dubai for a few more years while studying for his MBA in finance online, he said Lahore will always be his home.
"In Lahore city the people are very loving and the food is so tasty. This is what I love about my home, Pakistan."
kelly@khaleejtimes.com
Interviewed by Kelly Clarke Street talk is a weekly column to get a glimpse of people's lives in uae

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