Episode Transcript
Hello, my name is Aziz and I'm the son of a divorced mother.
She is really my superhero.
That's why it's important for me to support women to share their uniqueness, their personalities,
perspectives, and emotions about this world.
In these difficult times in human history, we need to bring the people of the world together.
And when we hear the voices of women, when we listen to real lives of women from other
countries, we connect our cultures without differences or stereotypes, and we get inspired
by their stories to live a better life.
That's what this podcast is all about.
My guest today is Sumaiya Mohamed.
Sumaiya is the first Ethiopian girl in this podcast.
Living in Dubai, UAE, Sumaiya is a BBA student, a makeup artist, and a translator of English, Arabic, and Amharic.
She loves watching movies and playing tennis.
Sumaiya, how are you today?
I'm doing great, Aziz. How are you?
I feel blessed, I feel happy, and I feel very curious about you, Somaya, as a person, so I'll begin with this nice first question.
If your friends and the people who know you well could describe your personality, what would they say about you?
If they see my personality, they would say maybe kind and generous. That's all what they would say, I think.
I like that. Those are very positive traits. And I'm curious about your newer life in Dubai,
because I imagine moving from Ethiopia to Dubai, how was making new friends there? Did you stay
more in the bubble of the Ethiopian people, or do you have friends from all over the world?
Was it easy to make new friendships? Was it a bit harder? Can you share the adaptation period?
Oh, when it comes to making friendship, as is to be honest, I'm very, you know, I'm too sociable,
you know, so it was not that hard for me. In addition to I have three languages, so it was
really easy for me to communicate with people from other country. And I'm not much, you know,
being with my people because, you know, my surrounding areas I was working in was not,
you know, much of my country people populations. So basically, I have friends from throughout
world, like Arabs, non-Arabs, all types of friends, and I'm really good at that.
Thank you. And you are a makeup artist. What do you love about this profession? What made
you interested from the beginning in makeup? Is it that you felt more confident or you could
see yourself put makeup to become any kind of woman and person in this world? So
you felt free to explore your imagination or is it when you help women with their makeup
and you see them feeling beautiful,
it was so enriching to you,
or what's your love and the reason you are so interested
in being a makeup artist?
Okay, on this one, I'll be very frank
and honest with you as is.
I really don't have any, like, before I came here,
like, I didn't have any plan to be a makeup artist
or I didn't have that thing as a passion, okay?
But I came here, you know,
So I suppose to do anything that will, you know, make my life better, you know, because, you know,
at the end of the day, we are in a foreign land and I'm a woman and I came here at the age of
around 20. So I have to do anything that make my life better, that make my family life better.
So in order to do that, I just, you know, I was working in a company and in that way,
also I learned makeup. So I start doing it. And like when I was a kid or child, you know,
always say like I want to be a doctor, I want to be engineer, I want to be but when you grow up and
you don't reach whatever you say you want you know to reach but at the end of the day what I see is
like still I don't find myself what I will reach you know still I'm on the way still I'm on the
you know struggle but at the end of the day what I advise all ladies is just you have to
enjoy whatever things you're doing so now I'm doing makeup I'm happy doing it because I'm
get me right? Yes, 100%. And so then to ask you because you needed to fend for yourself and for
your family. So how hard is it to make a living in Dubai? Imagine there are other women who are
interested to immigrate or become an expat in Dubai and they're wondering if I need to
make some side money or anything like that. Is it too competitive or is it because it's
competitive? There are so many opportunities or is it very, very hard so you need to be lucky as well
or how do you perceive it? Aziz, I mean when it comes to coming to foreign land, first of all
in life everything is hard but it's about you choosing your heart. So staying in your home
country is also hard, you have struggle. Travelling is also hard, you have to choose your
heart. So if you want to improve your life you have to go for it. So in Dubai, I mean
getting a job is something, I mean, it's hard, but you have to look for it. And also making
side business also hard. It's not easy, but you have to do your best. And I went about the
computation. It's really competitive. You know, there is a lot of great makeup artists. There
is a lot of other translator. The thing is you have to keep practicing. You have to keep improving.
You have to keep learning. You know, you don't have to stop learning. You have to be
confident, but don't be overconfident, you know, because there's always people who are
doing more than you. So keep learning, keep updating yourself to the extreme point you
reach that you will be, you know, well, I'm the best. And that time, you know, you don't
have to, you know, look for the money. You don't have to, the money will start looking
for you to start flowing to you, but you have to start to be good, like 100% good
at whatever you do. That's what I think. And that's how I see it.
I agree 100%. And I noticed the energy of confidence within you. A lot of women
and girls nowadays, maybe because of social media
or life or the pandemic or the judgment of parents,
they feel they cannot follow their dreams.
They don't feel confident
because they think maybe they will fail
and they will be ashamed.
What's your advice for them to go through bravely
with their dreams, even if it's sometimes risky?
Okay, so as I said before,
in life, everything is risky.
But it's about choosing.
You know, like to be confident, I mean, we,
I will talk about my country, from what country,
where I came from.
It's not a country that, you know,
in power women match, okay?
So I grew up in a household
and a lot of silly European women,
they grow in a household that, you know,
when they come from school,
they will be staying at home,
they will be washing dishes, making something,
and maybe their brother,
the family will tell you,
go and play football, do something, you know?
Dishwashing and cooking, doing,
this is for women, this is for you.
And you know, always, you know,
mostly the community still keep telling you that,
you know, your basic need in life
is to get a husband to marry you, you know?
So you have to be very, you know, in that shape.
Or, you know, you don't have that much confidence
because at the end of the day,
you think that your target in life
is to be a wife for somebody.
You don't really, you know,
get that type of motivation that tell you,
you know what, you are somebody, you will be somebody.
If there's no one to push you to tell you that,
you know, you will be this person,
you will be this, do this,
then be that person for you, you know?
And at the end of the day, believe that whatever God creates you, the way He creates you, you are unique. You are rare. No one is like you.
You are the only one in the billions of populations. You are the only one that can be you in any way.
So stay positive to whatever God gives you and try to change those blessings to income, if that's possible.
Or if you cannot change it, at least accept it and be happy whatever you have.
you know ignore negative things ignore don't you know always around yourself with other people.
I will say something strong here as is if your family even if your best friend your brother
whoever is around you is not giving you the positive energy is not giving you
the good vibe you deserve it's not giving you that please try to stay away from them
even I know this thing may be hard for some ladies to hear but that's what I did you know
Sometimes even your family, unfortunately,
it's unfortunate that you have some type of person
that's really negative, that's really, you know,
jealousy and some really bad energy providing you,
you know, within your family.
Then you have to, you know, be away from them,
whoever it is.
So stay positive, keep yourself in a circle
that makes you happy.
People who really, you know,
feel happy to see you growing.
That's what I would advise.
I agree 100% about having a circle of people
who are great and help you grow.
And for you as a sociable person,
you said it's easy for you to make friends.
When you meet someone new,
maybe what is your advice for other women to know,
is this a person that will and should be part
of my circle or not?
Because some people are great at giving first impressions
that make them maybe sound amazing, but they're not.
Or maybe some women give them, if they see red flags,
they give them too much benefit of the doubt to you,
what criteria or what do you notice to know,
yes, this is the right person to keep in my circle
or no, this person should not be,
they will be toxic within my life?
I don't know, but I think I see that for me
when I'm so shovel,
I will give benefit of doubt only for me
because I know what I'm saying
and I know whatever I say,
maybe someone understand me in a wrong way,
but I mean it in a good way.
So benefit of doubt,
I don't know why people keep giving it all stronger.
me. I gave it for me only. And when I meet a stranger, if that person show me who he is from
the first point of who she is, I'll believe her. Maybe I'll give her another chance. But if she
prove herself again, do something wrong, I'm not going to give her a third chance because I don't
really need negative energy. I really need positive, no positive. I'll prefer to stay alone.
That's really great. You know, instead of staying with, you know, this type of people,
stay alone, read books, do whatever makes you happy. I don't know, go out to be through
anything. But, you know, red flags are really hard to know. But just, you know, the way
how someone talk to you, for example, someone give you appointment, okay, they're telling
you, you know, tomorrow I'm meeting you on this time. And if that time you're calling
them, they're not answering your call, you are not their priority. Okay, is you
call someone, you tell them you are in need of something, but they are not willing
to, you know, help you when you need and only you are there for them when they need
you, then these people are just taking you for granted. So this type of people
you have to try to get them off and have boundaries. That's the basic thing. Have
boundaries with any relationship you have. Is there a family, a husband, friend, anything?
You need to have boundaries. You need to let people know, you know what?
This is my boundaries. And if you are willing to cross this, you are done.
I'm over you. I think that's the basic thing.
I understand fully and completely. And for you as well, working so hard in Dubai,
How is usually your typical day and what do you do in order to take care of your mental health
so that you don't burn out or feel overwhelmed by the dynamic, fast-paced energy of the city and the people there?
The really great part about Dubai, one thing I cannot ignore is that the country is so peaceful
and the country is so safe, you know, so I can go wherever I want.
For example, I really love to work in the beach side,
that give me really peace,
that provide me really positive energy.
So I can go anytime and nothing will happen to me.
It's really safe place.
So that's what I do.
I try to work like from Monday to Friday.
So Saturday and Sunday will be my day.
Like on Saturday, I like to read books,
talk to my family online.
If there is anyone I will meet,
Sunday is my day.
I'm not sharing Sunday with anyone.
I will go out to the beach.
I will work, I will come back, and I will do my laundry,
I will do everything, I will make my skincare,
and I will try to relax, you know?
Even I will turn off my phone.
I don't want communication with any external thing.
I will be with me, I will pray, you know?
So I will try to relax myself
because Monday will be another long day for me.
I like how much of a priority you put on yourself.
So let's focus a bit more even on this point,
although you mentioned it.
What gives you the strength and the courage
to set boundaries when many, many women might feel
or were raised to be people pleasers who say yes
and worry about offending people.
What is your way of thinking?
What is your advice to all the women?
What made allowed you to give this decision
so that you can set boundaries
without feeling weak or shy about it?
That's really the hard thing to do, to say no.
Everyone really, no one like the word no.
know. But the thing is, as I told you, I'm a social person that I've been with a lot of people,
even in Dubai, I meet a lot of nationalities, like different nationalities, okay. And I meet
a lot of people and I'm too open, I'm kind, I'm generous, especially I have this generosity
that I give anything, you know, whoever asks me, someone tell me, I like this, I give them,
you know. So through time, I realized that people are really taking me for granted,
you know, my kindness have been taken for granted. So I have to, you know, minimize
that I have to know for whom, who deserve what and who doesn't.
So when I realized that and I start keeping boundary
and whoever respect me and love me
will stay with me with my boundaries.
And whoever willing to not respect my boundaries
and whoever trying to neglect me on that,
I can say bye.
And what I realized is after these people,
after I cut off these people who are not willing
to respond my boundary anymore,
imagine I really feel really safe, more confident,
more happy than I was before. So I realized sometimes we're not happy, we're not confident
because people around us are giving that energy, the bad thing, you know, or people are jealous of
us. You have no idea, these people are jealous with things that are not even valued, you know,
that are really something really cheap, but they're still jealous on you and you don't know
why. So just these people, you have to keep them away, keep them away. Then you will find
yourself getting more confident, more growing mentally,
and feel more safe and happier.
100%.
And now that you're living in Dubai,
are you living in the moment,
taking care of like week to week and day to day,
or do you have some big goals for the future
that you're building slowly?
Like, can you share about your vision
if you already clarified it for the next years,
or how are you approaching the future?
Oh, future. So to be very frank with you, I did have plans, things that I have on mind,
but currently I'm just, you know, it's like, I feel like I'm starting, like I didn't achieve
to, for me, this is just the beginning. I didn't do anything, but I still have plans,
inshallah, I will achieve here in Dubai and also back home. And I plan first of all to,
you know, in my country, there is no anything like Ted Talk, you know, people go out to talk
about their experience and all that.
And I really want to create one big TED Talk,
something like that platform in my country
that will let also women speak out.
And I think that will change that,
their sound will be delivered to wherever it needs to.
And I hope this generation will start
realizing the value of women in a society.
I love that, 100 billion percent.
And so can you share a little bit about Ethiopia?
What is the culture of the country?
are you similar in your culture to other women and how like what are some things you would like
to encourage Ethiopian women to progress in when it comes to their life situation mindset or anything?
When it comes to Ethiopian women I think we are one of I mean the strongest women in the
world because you see that you know Ethiopian ones are really they struggle you know
whatever they are they struggle in order to you know provide their kids the better life
You know, even if you see a lot of women in the country,
even if you see a lot of in Gulf countries also,
there's a lot of people like women from Cuba,
they travel to work as a housemate, you know?
So they are ready to go down no matter what
to support their family, you know?
Even now for me, I'm educated and my things are better,
but most of the majority, if you see in Gulf countries,
you see a lot of housemates or household workers,
which is a really hard job to do.
So they sacrifice their, you know, life, their age, their everything in order to support their family.
So I think, I mean, that is really brave for, you know, a person to sacrifice their life in order to give their family a great life.
So I really appreciate all the women for this. And I hope, you know, the great time will come.
And I hope I will see, you know, more entrepreneurs and more CEOs from, you know, my country ladies.
I agree. And I wish them all the same.
And to finish this, what is your advice, let's say, to some women who might be
desiring to become entrepreneurs or CEOs, like you spoke about Ethiopia, but women anywhere who
might be limited by anybody or any society? What do you recommend to them? Do you recommend
move and go to another country where you can be appreciated? Or do you recommend to fight,
even if it's hard, how to not feel so rejected
and hard if they're in a situation
where they don't have as many rights or privileges.
Like, what's your advice and perspective on that?
Okay, when it comes to entrepreneurs,
to be very frank, at least I'm not an entrepreneur,
I'm not CEO, but what I believe,
I'll share from my belief,
because I believe that one day I will be entrepreneur,
I will be CEO, I will be everything I wanted to.
First of all, you have to believe.
Second of all, I read a quote that says if you can't run, walk, if you can't walk,
you know, even slide, but just don't stand, don't just stop moving, you know. So maybe your dream
you will achieve it maybe outside of your country, maybe within your country, maybe
within your society, within wherever you are. Just make sure you progress. Don't stop,
don't stop wherever you are. Even if you are scared, I also read another quote that says,
when it's really, you know, scared for you to jump,
that's the time you jump,
or else you will stay wherever you are.
So if you want to reach wherever you want to reach,
you have to make progress,
you have to read, you have to learn,
and nothing will stop you.
Everything is possible.
And one thing about women that we don't have to keep
like thinking I'm 30s, I'm 35, I'm 40,
so I cannot do anything.
No, don't count with other people's time.
You have your own time.
God give you your own time.
Someone will die in their 40s,
someone will die in their 60s, okay?
So maybe you will die in your hundreds, or maybe you achieve whatever you want to achieve at your 70s.
That's alright. It doesn't mean that, you know, you are someone achieving their 20s and 30s, so you have to achieve it.
If you don't achieve it, you are a failure. No, that doesn't mean everyone has their own time.
Be patient and be ready for whatever you prayed for because our Lord, He will listen.
Thank you, Somaya. It was my privilege and my honor to share your voice and your perspective.
Thank you so much for participating in this project and I wish you all the success and
I wish you to become everything you desire to be.
Thank you so much.
It was really a pleasure having you here also.
