Making my career away from home...

Gayathri Jayaraman is a technical support engineer with National Computer Systems, Singapore.

I DID my B.Com. (Hons.) from Osmania University passing out in June '96 and later went on to do a diploma in computer science through Informatics in Singapore.

It was a program offered through the Cambridge University and was known as an express diploma! While I was working, I took the Microsoft certification papers in NT and presently I am working towards my advanced levels.

I did study computers as a subject when I was in college, but, then it was only a part of my course. Computers really started to interest me only after I came to Singapore. Now, I don't think I can do without them! Before I got into this field I thought the IT industry was nothing but Programming with complicated the logic. In fact when I came to Singapore I didn't know how e-mails actually worked. I had never used the Internet, and I sure didn't know that at some point in time I would need the Internet for street maps!

When I was studying for my diploma, I realised that the IT industry was a lot more than just programming logic. I took a liking to networking, and subsequently did my Microsoft Certification papers .This despite the common belief that women were not very warmly welcomed into the networking field .The attitude somehow it didn't seem right to me. So I pursued what I wanted to do, and my interest in the industry grew along with my exposure.

What I do is basically help merchants put their products online. The company I work for, National Computer Systems, provides payment gateway services, among other services. My work as a technical support engineer is to assist in getting merchants go online. Its a secure mode of buying, the variety of our merchants or clients who want to go online is amazing. We have different platforms and versions, I customise the same according to their e-business needs.

My parents took it all quite well. I had no pressure from either of them asking me to stop my career mid way or come back and look for a job in India. They always left that choice to me. They trusted me and I am glad they did.

Initially working in a foreign country away from the family did need some getting used to. Hence I spoke to my mother when I needed attention, and to my father when I needed advice, and a very good set of friends some that I travel with, some I work with and some acquaintances over the years have kept me going.

I have a number of friends here and I now love cooking! I am learning music and I make it a point not to bring work home. During the week work keeps me busy and so its a manageable combination of professional and personal life. When I need a break from my professional routine, I travel, either for a back packing trip or for a lazy weekend near by. I guess marriage would change a number of things in my present life, and if I am prepared for it, and ready to accept it I am sure I can prioritise my personal and professional life in future too.

As a professional working away from home, one of the things I have learned is that, there is a lot of exposure abroad, from different working environments, and different cultures that has helped me to get where I am today. Professional recognition is something that I have found abroad.

I feel if I can change and adapt to a new country, I can adapt to anything in the world. Nothing is impossible its just a matter of how badly you want to achieve it. There is a quote by John Lennon in his song ``Darling Boy'' that I am reminded of, ``Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans''!

I have been away from home for about 5 years now and my 6th year started last week. Thankfully I have always managed to take everyday as it comes. I have changed a lot and moved on quiet a bit from the naove 20- year-old who first came to Singapore. The experience of living alone and drawing my own boundaries has given me a lot to think about where I want to be in the future. For one, I have broadened the horizons of my mind and I no longer see things as black and white. There are always shades of grey and I have come to realise and accept it the way it is. If I can live life where I smile for a couple of hours everyday, or make at least one other person smile, I think I am managing well. I have learnt to set my standards and live my life by them.

As told to MALINI SURYANARAYANAN