E066 Diana Shepel

Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 0:00 your femininity is powerful in all its forms, exceptional women, rare girls must be appreciated in every way for their perspectives, actions, thoughts, and their unique ways of being. Such rare girls are inspiring. And this is what this podcast is all about. Hello, my name is Aziz and my guest today is Deanna scheffau. Deanna is a hospitality management student in Spain. Marbella. In the previous years, Deanna was professionally engaged in ballroom and latin dance. She received a master's of sports and took sevens place in the European Championship. She is originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, and her biggest hobbies are traveling and taking photos. Dianna, how are you today? Diana Shepel 1:08 Hi, thanks for having me. How are you? I'm fine. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 1:11 I'm doing great. I'm feeling optimistic, happy excited about life and very curious about you. So Deanna, what inspires you what gives you that energy of feeling really alive? Diana Shepel 1:25 I think, first of all people inspires me, every person around new acquaintances, new places, adventures, traveling. That's all inspires me a lot. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 1:39 I love that. Let's begin speaking about people, because this is a topic that I love so much for you. What inspires you about people? Is it people that have that shine and their eyes because they're passionate and have goals and big things? Or is it there are some people in this world that you meet and you feel, oh my God, I know them all my life, you have instant chemistry, like you know each other 1000 years, or in a previous reincarnation? Or is it their stories you learn from the what the problems they have overcome and their challenges, and so you learn from them. And that inspires you. Diana Shepel 2:18 I like when I match the energy or the person that I speak to. But at the same time, I really appreciate the friendship that I had, since the childhood, I had a lot of friends that I'm in a good relationship since the years and we have overcame a lot of troubles together, or happiness, or ups and downs. So, but I really like to meet new people. And when I see that I'm comfortable with that person, and we have such interests. And when I feel comfortable with this person, I like it. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 2:59 Thank you. So I understand that feeling comfortable with a person is very important for you. And let's take dance at that metaphor. I don't know if you have like only one or a few dance partners that you stay with long term or you have tried many. But have you also had the experience that even some people who can be good dancers, they might not be good dance partners for you. Because the energy is not compatible. Or Diana Shepel 3:30 I have been dancing with a lot of guys, different partners, different partnerships. But it's really hard to when you're not connected. Besides the dance floor. It's really hard. But I was like here with all partners, I had a really good relationship. I mean, different in other couples had a lot of argues or something. But with my last partner, we had such an amazing relationships. And I think it's really helped us to achieve the goals together that we wanted. And yeah, I appreciate it. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 4:17 Thank you. And I'm really curious about this because it's also similar to real life with the different guys that you dance with. Maybe they're you know, the dance moves are the same, etc. But it's their energy that is different. What is the different energy of men? That is interesting for you? And is it the same like let's say masculinity, and it's the same energy in different guys, or is each guy a unique kind of energy that is very different to everybody else? Diana Shepel 4:51 You know, I think a lot of partners have been teachers to be leaders and and to leave the partner to be the main character in the pier. So I think they have the bigger Yes, responsibility. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 5:13 Thank you, and what is the meaning of leadership for you? What is a good leader in dance or in any kind of relationships? Diana Shepel 5:22 I think, good leader, listen to you. Here really count your interests, goes to compromise. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 5:32 Thank you. That's really, really interesting. And tell me about travel, new emotions and everything. Are you a kind of girl that if you're not having new adventures, you feel bored? Or can you be happy alone, but if you travel, it's even more interesting. Diana Shepel 5:50 To be honest, I'm a big fan of traveling. It's one of the most my favorite things to do in life. But I really feel good in a place. Not even only when I'm traveling, if I'm surrounded around to my family and friends, I feel good, even at home. But to be honest, I like to travel more, especially with my friends. It's much funnier, and I like spent a great time together. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 6:24 Thank you. And they say that people who travel a lot, they don't have a typical kind of brain or mind. They have a new culture. They're a mix of many countries, and they're different. Do you feel in your personality? In your mindset, you are a typical Ukrainian person, or because of travel, you became like a mix of many countries? Diana Shepel 6:51 Well, you know, I used to say that I am like a citizen of the world. I like to travel. And of course, I like to discover new cultures to learn something new, and, of course, something Ukrainian, I will keep this myself because I just like the mentality of Ukrainian people. And something I like, for example, of Italian people. I have been leaving Korea in Italy, almost half of the year, this time. And I think I have learned something from them, too. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 7:33 Thank you. I like that. Yes, Italian people are always open or they love delicious food, and many things like that. So I'll ask you. I don't know whether it's now or in the beginning. But did you have a situation or a period where new people who met you thought oh my god, Deanna has a bitch face? She looks so angry and arrogant. But in reality, you're a very kind that positive person? Or are you always smiling? Always warm? So people don't have that impression? Well, Diana Shepel 8:08 to be honest, I had some situation like you said before. The people that knew me only from Instagram, or we don't really talk with each other close. And they say, oh my god, yeah, really? I thought you so such a beach? And you're so cute. Yes, I had some situation like this. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 8:29 Thank you, then what do you wish any new person who didn't know you to know about you as a person? How do you describe yourself? Your personality? What is something about you that those people from Instagram don't really know, Diana Shepel 8:46 I would probably say that I'm proposal. Every time I say goals, I try to do my best to achieve them. What they don't know, you know, maybe that I'm very demanding to myself and others and perfectionist. But in general, I would say that I'm very open and easygoing person, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 9:05 thank you. This is really interesting. What motivates you to set goals and achieve them? What is the reason why you're purposeful, like you mentioned, Diana Shepel 9:16 I like to set goals because it feels me to be more alive. I don't know. Because I like the process. When you set a goal, you do something for it, and then you achieve it. I think it's very important in life to set goals because you make really great things that you wanted before, and then they became to life. I think it's cool. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 9:42 I like that. I think it's related to your desire to learn new things and constantly developing grow. But I have a question about perfectionism. Often people who are perfectionist, they are, like you said, demanding on themselves. So inside their head As the voice is very critical, they never think they're good enough or beautiful enough. And often they're depressed and sad. Is this your situation? Or how do you overcome it? Because perfectionism often is really a painful experience. Diana Shepel 10:17 Yeah, I think sometimes it's really not very good to be too much perfect strings, because, you know, even I'm a little bit too much worried about myself, too much criticized, and so on. So yes, sometimes it's really not very good. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 10:39 Thank you. And you mentioned that you're demanding of other people. So let's say you meet some new people or the beginning of friendship, what are some things that if you notice about someone, you will think no, this is not my person, they don't live to my standard, what are some red flags? Diana Shepel 10:59 What I have teach recently, that sometimes you need to give people a second chance. There are not perfect people, there are no perfect person that you want to be. Everyone is different. And everyone has as a good side as a bad side. And I really, always try to find the very best in every person. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 11:26 Thank you. And I'm really curious about your education. Why did you choose Hospitality Management? What's the story behind that choice? Diana Shepel 11:38 You know, before this choice, I was predicted, like, my future career, I have to be dancing, the coaching, and so on. But I really understand that to dance myself and teach children to dance is completely different things. And that's not really that I wanted to my whole life. And then, after some sports injury, I really changed my priorities, and so on. And then I realized that I wanted to do something that connected with communication is people traveling. And I think this fear of hospitality is great here where you can do it, and discover different can countries cultures. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 12:23 And that's it, thank you. And since I understand, you know, you're wanting all your life to revolve around dance, and then the injury really tells you Oh, my God, this could be something that is not long term. And so you can keep interacting with people in different ways. And then to ask you more about dance specifically, there are dancers, who may be you as a perfectionist focus on the technique, you're not really enjoying the dance, but you're planning making strategies, thinking what to do, and focusing on that. And there are others who flow with emotions, where when they dance, it feels like they're transported into a different planet, where time stops and they feel happiness, and like they're dancing with angels and things like that. Which one is you and why? Diana Shepel 13:17 Well, I think every dancer is kind of perfectionist. Like I said, we used to really practice, even to the little little details for long periods of time, a lot of hours in a day. Like for me, I really liked the process when you transform the competition's. When you train, in the gym, you're like, training training. And when you came to the big scene, you feel like another person. I don't know how to say it. I like the atmosphere, music, the audience. And that's all makes you feel like transformation in another person. I don't know how to say it. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 14:01 I understand and is that other person that you transform into during competitions, different to you? Maybe in real life, you're more shy, but in that competition, you're very confident or some or you feel like a superhero or something like that. Tell me like what is different between Dianna when she is that new person inside the competition or a show compared to Deanna at home? In Kyiv? Or in Marbella? Yeah, Diana Shepel 14:33 to be honest, I'm a calm person in real life. But when I'm dance, I try to show all my emotions that hides inside me. So they're really came out in this moment, but in real life, I'm not really emotional person. Mostly calm and so one, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 14:56 thank you. And if you're not an emotional person, that Does it mean? You don't you know, try to not feel emotion strongly? Or are you someone who feels the emotions really strong, but you don't show it on your face, body, etc? Oh, well, Diana Shepel 15:13 I think maybe I'm not used to show my own emotion that I feel. But of course, sometimes I can be so emotional. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 15:24 Thank you. And tell me about February 24. I don't know where you were that day. But how did you hear about the invasion? How did you feel? What did you do? Tell me the story of that day for you. Of course, Diana Shepel 15:41 can I start from 23rd It was a great day, my friend just got the driver's license. So we really drive around all the scenery, we listen to the weekend. And it was just a great day, when she came to me to the late night, my mom say to hear, or radiology or please go home, because tomorrow will be something not really good. She really felt something. And another day, 21st of February, she woke me up at 430 and save to pack my luggage. And to be honest, I was really angry because I was jogging every morning. And she woke me up really early. So I didn't really realize what should I pack in this use cases. So I really packed very strange things. And then my family and I decided to go to our friends to their countryside house. And you know, it was the worst decision at the time because this countryside house was in Houston. And if you know, the aerodrome was one kilometer away from us. And so we heard of this, all explosions, few hours later, we decided to change the location because it was really dangerous and not comfortable. So we went to the Western Ukraine. And it was really scary, because we heard all that explosions around. When we cross the bridge, the few hours later, they was destroyed. So there wasn't the way home back. It was really not very good experience. We spent a few weeks in western Ukraine. Our friend has a seven days years old child. So it was a big, big company. And we spent there some time before leaving to Italy with my mom, grandma, and brother and my dad was dog returned to key Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 17:43 of thank you I understand. And actually I was in Kyiv on February 24. And I know exactly what happened in hostel, mil et cetera. I was not far from there as well. And it was really a time of error rate raid sirens and bombs and a difficult situation. Why did you choose Spain? I know you love ballroom Latin dance, but you could have studied in London, in America, in Paris, in Germany, any other place in the world? What interests you about Spain? And that part of Spain Marbella? Diana Shepel 18:27 Well, you know, first of all, I have chose the university because it's one of the best in this field. And then I saw that these compasses have switched one and in Spain, and of course, I realized that Spain is more close to my heart. Marbella is very beautiful city, and I for sure, without doubt, decided to choose it. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 18:53 I like that. Thank you. And since that traumatic experience of the war, did you change as a person? Did you become someone who doesn't focus so much on burning out where every day you spend some time with family and friends? Or did you think like, No, I have to create an even better life for myself? Because many things were destroyed before or how, in the six months did your brain your psychology change? Diana Shepel 19:25 I think war change, all of us or Ukrainians have been changed. We are united more than ever. And it feels like epic family. There are no strangers and I think a lot of people change, change priorities. And I came home a few weeks ago, and I feel so comfortable here. I really loved even more my Ukrainian people and maybe were teach me to live in the moment and Appreciate it. Every minute spent with your family and friends. That's it. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 20:06 Thank you Diana. This was honestly a fantastic conversation. It was truly enriching. And all I can say is Slava Ukraini Diana Shepel 20:17 Heroyam Slava Thank you for having me.