"MY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS, OR MORE ABOUT MYSELF" by aliante1981

General Questions: Life, Work, Education

Q: Where do you come from?
A: Dubna is the name of the place, and for me it is absolutely the best! I have literally put it on the map here in VT, I guess :))) Although now I live in London - which is far from bad, believe me:)))

Q: What are you doing right now?
A: Writing and answering questions :))) Seriously, I am working in investment banking in London, which probably explains why I have little time for my VT pages. Sorryyy!!!

Q: Why did you select this path?
A: Many people ask me that question, usually as "Why would anyone in their right mind...." format:))) Still, that's the profession that excites me most, so I think I've made the right choice:))

Q: What are your further plans for education?
A: Languages, mostly...

Q: Where would you like to work?
A: Where I work now:))

Q: What languages do you speak?
A: Russian which is my native language, also English and Italian almost as if they were such. I also understand Portuguese, French and Spanish, though my writing/speaking is really deplorable.

Q: Family?
A: I live alone now. I still want to enjoy life on my own account and have no time for relationships, real or virtual

Q: Any pets?
A: I prefer plants, they are so much quieter and you do not have to walk them at 6 AM :))) Though I would not say no to a St. Bernard dog or a koala :)))

Travels

Q: Why do you travel?
A: To get new impressions, to see famous places, to understand other cultures and people better

Q: How do you travel?
A: In any way I can, though I prefer going without a travel group with a main goal of discovering new places, not frying myself on the beach

Q: Your favourite type of attraction?
A: Ruins, churches, mosques, castles. Though I would not say no to museums, statues, monuments, and the rest!

Q: Top five countries still to see?
A: New Zealand, Iceland, Japan, USA, China

Q: Why?
A: New Zealand, Iceland, Japan, and USA mostly for nature, while China and Japan - for historical monuments.

Q: Comfort or exotic: your choice?
A: Comfortable exotic, I should say :))) Basically anywhere in the world where there's a really good hotel, comfortable transportation, and good cuisine.

Hobbies

Q: What is your main hobby?
A: Traveling, of course!

Q: Collecting something?
A: Yep! Postcards :))) My best guess is that I have something like 1500 of them already from more than 60 countries (most of which I have not been to), in 5 years of collecting

Q: Are you a technology junkie?
A: Very much so! Besides traveling, studying, collecting, taking photos what I like most of all is toying with my pc, laptop, pda, color screen mobile and the rest of the gadgets! I am often like a mobile electronics shop on the move!

Five Favourite Things

Q: Your current five favourite books?
A: Lord of the Rings by Tolkien, Three Men In A Boat by Jerome K. Jerome, Innocents Abroad by Twain, Monday Starts Saturday by Strugatskie brothers, Man of Destiny by G.B. Shaw.

Q: Current five favourite TV shows?
A: Yes Minister, Yes Prime Minister, Rough Science - all by BBC. Commissar Rex - an Austrian/German series about a police dog. Law & Order- a US police & court series.

Q: Current five favourite films?
A: More difficult, as I do not watch many films. But, I guess they'd be - in no particular order - The Nights of Cabiria, The Lord of the Rings, The Queen, Music and Lyrics, The Rock, 'Beethoven' series, K-9 series.

Q: Current five favourite operas?
A: Aida, Rigoletto, Cosi' Fan Tutte, Carmen, Barbiere di Siviglia.

Dreams And Wishes

Q: A job you'd like to have?
A: The one I have now suits me fine:))

Q: Where would you like to live?
A: Dubna!!! But my dream job choice makes this impossible, so I'll name London, New York, Sydney, Singapore, Milan, Geneva, and Zurich.

Q: How would you like to live?
A: Own house with large study with a large study for my books & gadgets and I guess no kids

Q: What is your ideal gift?
A: A good (preferable English-language) book or a postcard. Though a real Bugatti Veyron would be welcome :)))

Q: Your ultimate travel wish?
A: To fill in all the white spots on my map and remember only the positive side of my travels.