LIFESTYLE
Roshanie Jayasundera-Moraes
In conversation with Ashwini Vethakan
JOURNEY OF LIFE
Born in
Sri Lanka
Alma mater
Holy Family Convent
Family
Son (Joshua), husband (Stefan), brother (Ravindra), my pets (Flash and Sparky) and many friends who are like family
Wanted to be
A teacher at one time and then a journalist
Why?
I wanted to be a teacher because some of the most inspirational people in my early life were my teachers at Holy Family Convent
They were truly phenomenal – I don’t remember the content we learned in school but I remember the life lessons they taught us in those years
Journalism was another fantasy I had although I cannot imagine why since I’m not much of a writer
I even interned as a journalist with an overseas newspaper during a brief scholarship overseas and secured a job at The Sun upon my return
But I had a choice between that and a job in the tourism industry – and that was the end of my journalism career
You are
I have no idea what I am (all those soul searching people, please don’t call me) and I have no intention of finding myself either as I am happy to be lost
Likes to play
Any game that the rest of the family wants to participate in – the gap is widening now with the teenage years setting in
Most unforgettable event(s)
A million small events that I’ve experienced in life
Best advice received
I was told this by a boss quite early in my career and it has served me well over the years: “Shut up and do what you have to do”
Mantra to unwind
Do nothing
INTIMATE AND INSPIRING
One new thing you tried this year
Learning to play the organ (not very successfully though) thanks to YouTube lessons and the lockdowns
Workout preferences
Yoga, badminton and walking
Saddened when…
I think of the lives lost due to the pandemic and as a result of many terrorist attacks before that
Success to you is…
Happiness
Impressed by
God’s creations
Purpose in life
To be a normal human being like everyone else
Describe your day off
My day off would involve taking a long drive on a scenic country road since I enjoy the journey more than the destination or staying at home and doing nothing
Items on your bucket list following retirement
Engage in more mentoring and with an industry that I have not been exposed to… and simply chill out
Languages you’d like to learn
Tamil, Japanese and Mandarin
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Most hated chore
Cleaning up
Obsessed with
Doing something all the time
Pet peeves
Spelling errors and bureaucracy
A moment in time you’d like to go back to
All moments are great – particularly the toddler days of our son
Hobbies
Cooking and reading
Three must-haves
Lacto Calamine lotion, eyeliner and my phone
Likely retirement destination
Sri Lanka
Challenged when
A person says that something cannot be done
Desired qualities in a friend
Simply being there for you
One thing you would change about yourself
I wouldn’t change a thing
Yourself in a few words…
A human being
FAVOURITES
Day of the week
Saturday
Colours
Black, red and white
Drink
Nothing in particular
Food
Rice and curry, jackfruit white curry, kiribath and white aluwa
Chill out spot
Home
Brands
Anything local
Civil servant
The war took out all the good ones and I’m told that God threw away the mould
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
The first thing you do after waking up is…
Put on my spectacles
The first thing you notice when you meet someone is…
Their smile
Recently laughed out loud when…
My son did or said something funny – I don’t remember the exact reason
Last gift received…
A tasty treat from Mrs. G’s at Carlwil Place
I find myself challenged by…
Repetitive tasks
You know it’s going to be a bad day when…
I start to think it’s a bad day
The best thing about working in your sector is…
All the lovely people I have been blessed to have met and worked with – this is true for all the diverse sectors I’ve worked in
A new technology that will transform the future…
Tech is moving so fast and every new development is transforming the world!
Sri Lanka in a few words…
A small miracle waiting to happen
Children are…
A gift from God
PICK ONE
Most productive in the morning, noon or night
With a teenager in the house, I have to be productive all day long
A leader or follower by nature
I have no idea
Cook or foodie
A bit of both I think
Quality or quantity
Depends on the need
The glass is half full or half empty
Both
The most delightful word you can think of
Joshua
Work or play after retirement
A bit of both
Your most used word or phrase
‘Can be done’
Role model
My mother
Why?
I saw what a career woman looked like from an early age and through her, I learnt that one should never give up – and that every situation is temporary and can be converted to your benefit
