What started as a career has now become a passion, as she firmly believes that the children of today shape tomorrow’s world and that a teacher can play a huge role in influencing them. Being a teacher and a school leader gives her the opportunity to interact with people from all professions and diverse cultures, enabling her to constantly review and add to the skills and competencies being taught in middle school.

Currently she teaches Business Management to high school students concurrent with her other responsibilities at the school. Since coming to Hungary, Dhanya has added two master’s degrees and numerous micro credentials to her qualifications, the latest one being a leadership qualification from Harvard Business School. In her opinion, a good teacher must be a lifelong learner.

She loves interacting with the students and being in the classroom, as this gives her a good insight into the problems and issues faced by students and teachers. Her goal is to enable students to realise and appreciate the value of what they have, to encourage them to look beyond their circles of influence, and to broaden their outlook.

She lives in Budapest with her husband and two daughters and enjoys exploring the city and its beautiful surroundings.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?

I came to Hungary in 2008 June, accompanying my husband who works for the UN and have been here ever since. You could say that Budapest is home now, for every time we come back from a holiday and see the view from the Margit bridge- it feels like home-coming!

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?

Yes, we lived in Geneva for 7 years and were fortunate to travel extensively in Switzerland.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?

That it has something to offer for everybody- whether you want the bustling downtown with its bars and restaurants or the quieter Buda hills, architecture and nature, fishing and hiking trails- there is something for all.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do? 

Normafa hills, the Libegő (chair lift) and the view from the Gellért hill at night! As you can probably tell, I love looking at this sprawling, beautiful city from a height and these two offer the best views. People tend to go for the usuals - baths, museums, shopping street etc. but when we have guests, I make it point to have them experience these two and they have never been disappointed!

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?

Despite being a vegetarian, I have still been able to find foods that I love, and my absolute favourite is Gomba Paprikás.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?

Coriander!

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?

It keeps changing every time I learn a new one- the current word is elvágyódás which means the desire to be elsewhere.

8. What do you miss most from home? 

Beaches! I grew up in a tropical place where I could get to a beach in 10 minutes and sunsets by the Arabian Sea are something I have missed.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?

Travelling food critic- combining the two things that I love doing, visiting new places and experimenting new food.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?

Taxi driver- I don’t think I would have the patience and focus required for the job, also having to work at odd hours in the day.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?

Italy in 2019…we went to Mt. Vesuvius and Italy is a country that we keep going back to as a family.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?

India with my family…

13.  Apart of temptation what can't you resist?

A massage!

14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

Jurassic Park- there was this aura built around the movie that elevated it to a must-see status.

15. Red wine or white?

Neither- a cup of piping hot masala chai, anyone?

16. Book or movie?

Both, depending on my mood, but I tend to avoid movie adaptations of books.

17. Morning person or night person?

Definitely morning…it offers immense possibilities and opportunities.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?

Currently the mental wellbeing of teachers and students as I am in the profession and the stress due to this uncertainty and the weight of expectations on both teachers and students is getting too much for them to bear.

19. Buda or Pest side?

The middle! Anyone who has enjoyed the beauty of Budapest standing on one of its many bridges, especially in the evenings would agree with me :-)

20. What would you say is your personal motto?

“What day is it?” asked Pooh.
“It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.
“My favorite day,” said Pooh. - A.A. Milne
Make today the best you can, for your future yesterdays and tomorrows depends on today!