Citizens of the World

ABU DHABI: AYAZ M. KHAN, 56, Business Unit Manager at Bilfinger Berger Power Services
Abu Dhabi is cosmopolitan. My department alone boasts 28 different nationalities. I myself have a Pakistani background, but I have friends from all over—Iran, France, the United Kingdom and Japan. The city is growing rapidly, fueled by the expansion of the real-estate sector, which together with the city’s oil reserves continues to attract a wide array of investors and multinational organizations. As the wealthiest Emirate, Abu Dhabi serves as a safe haven to its residents with stringent laws ensuring a minimal crime rate. A cultural hub, a shopper’s paradise, Abu Dhabi offers something for everyone. The best part for me is that I can enjoy a long walk along the beautiful beaches any time of the day with absolutely no worries.

VANCOUVER: KATE SPEIR, 30, Project Developer at Bilfinger Berger BOT
It is an exciting time to live in Vancouver as we prepare to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. From my office, I can see the Olympic Clock counting down to the start of the Games. The clock is a reminder of how much time we have left to complete all the things necessary for a successful event. One major project is the False Creek Olympic Village, which is being built in accordance with the principles of sustainability: combining spaces for living, working and leisure; encouraging interaction within the community, and a pedestrian lifestyle. Once the Games are over, the Village will become a large residential district, something we urgently need as the influx of people to Vancouver continues unabated.

WARSAW: TOMASZ KALEJTA, 37, Business Unit Manager at Bilfinger Berger Industrial Services
The Palace of Culture, a gift from the former Soviet Union, used to be the only high-rise building in the city center. Now it’s surrounded by modern skyscrapers housing the headquarters of western corporations. Opening up to the west gave Warsaw a real boost. There’s an incredible amount of construction work going on, including lots of hotels. Many of them offer such favorable prices that even small business people from the Ukraine and Russia can afford to stay there. They come in large numbers to do business here—the enormous Russian market by the stadium is just the tip of the iceberg. The Poles are fascinated by the west and they also have a friendly relationship with their eastern neighbors, whose mentality they understand well: this is Warsaw’s big opportunity.

SYDNEY: SOPHIE POOLE, 30, Project Manager at Bilfinger Berger Australia
I moved to Sydney from London three years ago to pursue new opportunities to work overseas. I love living here. It’s a city full of vibrancy and cultural diversity. I love the outdoor lifestyle—the many beaches and national parks, and the quality places to eat on the edge of Sydney Harbour, like Woolloomooloo Wharf and Circular Quay overlooking the Opera House. It’s a city where you can enjoy great work opportunities as well as a rich experience of the arts and fun with the sports. While we all currently enjoy the wonderful lifestyle that Sydney offers, we must be aware of the challenges that the city faces in providing essential services, notably water, for the ever-growing population. I believe that if Sydney can meet these challenges as it develops, the future will bring us recognition as the number one city in the world for lifestyle choices.

ABUJA: MICHAEL NWOYE, 62, Site Manager at Julius Berger Nigeria
I recently visited Rome with my wife, and I told her: Rome is so rich in history, but Abuja is more beautiful! Abuja is one of the few cities in recent decades to have been built completely from scratch.We have many extremely modern buildings, like the velodrome, that are just as good as those in European cities. The tidy streets with lush flowers blooming everywhere, the many trees in the city: it’s this mixture that makes me happy. Naturally, there are significant challenges. Abuja is growing rapidly and public transport, infrastructure and social services are struggling to keep pace. But all in all, I’m always happy when I drive through Abuja. “This is your city,” I think to myself with pride.

MUNICH: CLAUDIA VEIT, 45, Civil Engineer at Bilfinger Berger Tunneling
For me, Trudering-Riem symbolizes the future of Munich. The eastern part of the city has changed a lot in recent years: a new exhibition center with new subway lines and residential areas have been built. Trudering-Riem is a wonderful mixture: the amenities of a city and the atmosphere of a small town. It’s a good place for my two children to grow up. There are lots of events on offer and the people get involved—for instance in the parents’ council at our school. Involvement is important: the communal infrastructure is not keeping pace with the growth of the population and the economy. The day care centers often have 120 applicants for 20 places and there is a lack of secondary schools. Munich prides itself as “the world city with a heart.” To me, this means that it must continue to invest in families.