By Theyab Al Tamimi
I am Theyab. I am a User Interface Artist at the Barcelona office of Ubisoft, one of the largest video game companies in the world. Living in Barcelona is great! I love seeing Gaudi’s architecture, listening to the husky voices of the Spanish women and feeling, smelling and tasting the excitement in the jam-packed metro trains when a Barca game is going on. I recently did my Masters in Entertainment Technology in Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where I attended the super bowl riots when the Steelers won and happy fans destroyed their town in celebration. I lived in the UAE for undergrad where I learned Emarati slang words such as, “yal saikal,” for four years. One more thing you should know about me: a lot of people always tell me they don’t know if I am serious or joking because of my facial expressions, or lack thereof.
How would your mother describe you in one word?
Why can’t you be more like your brother?
How would you describe your mother in one word?
Why are you are asking so many questions about my mother?
What is the most insane question you’ve ever been asked?
Some of the questionable questions on this questionnaire look like runner ups for this question.
What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?
Many years ago, I was visiting this colorful group of people living in a palace in rural India with interesting food habits. When I went to my sleeping quarters I found this secret, insect-infested, passage that led to a jewel mine. Disturbingly all the workers were enslaved children. I was spotted and captured by one of the evil guards and then taken to the mastermind of this sinister plot. He tried to rip out my heart while I was still alive but I was saved last minute by a young companion of mine. Without much time to think of an escape we spontaneously got on one of the mine carts close to escape this hellish place. We were chased by the guards who piloted other mine carts but we managed to exit through a cave on the side of a mountain almost falling into the river below.
What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented?
Defenestrate.
Where would you like to live? / What is your dream retirement location?
I would currently like to live on an unspecified island where the weather is always great, laws are just suggestions, men are scarce, and has a high speed broadband connection.
As for retirement location, that would be in 40-50 years. By that time the solar system would have started to get colonized. I would like to be one of the first people to live on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. With our advanced future technology we would be able to have artificial weather and tera forming, so Titan’s weather will always be great. It would be a new colony so laws are just suggestions. I would be one of the pioneers so men would be scarce. And obviously in 2065 the internet would be insanely fast.
What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind?
Life is a cafeteria.
What animal best describes the kind of partner you’d be interested in?
A wolf, because of my name, Theyab, which is the plural of wolf. This way when someone says Theyab is coming, it would be true on two different levels.
What do you miss about your childhood?
Nothing, I brought it with me.
If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
George Cloony, because I’ve been likened to him on more than one occasion.
How would you describe your handshake in one word?
Shaky.
What is the toughest part of your character?
My “shoot first, ask questions later” take on life.
Who is your favorite historical figure?
Leonardo De Caprio.
What in the world do you least desire?
Fast cars.
What do you think is lacking in the world, which would make the world a better place?
Money in my bank account….and clean water in poor countries?
Why do you think most girls/guys like you?
Why do you ask, did someone say they like me?!
Finish this sentence: “Happiness is a thing called…”
Happiness is a thing called ice cold beer Coca Cola.
