Ten Questions: Karen Souza

Published on Thursday 4 June 2009 09:35

Karen Souza, 23, is conference and events sales manager at Hilton Edinburgh Airport. She lives in Parkhead, near Sighthill

1 What is your earliest memory of Edinburgh? Having a picnic on Portobello beach with my grandad when I was four. The rest of my family were doing a charity walk for my granny who had recently died of cancer. As I was too young for that I got to choose any destination to go for a picnic, so I chose the beach. Not sure he appreciated it given it was a wet day in September!

2 What are your memories of school? I went to Fox Covert Primary then Craigmount High. Primary school was spent in a world of make-believe where my friends and I used to create girl groups or dress up our dolls and have Monday tea parties. I spent most of high school in the drama department.

3 What is your favourite place in Edinburgh and why? Princes Street Gardens on a sunny day. Being able to sit under the Castle with an ice cream in the sun doesn't happen too often so it's a treat.

4 What are the best things about Edinburgh? There is something for everyone. There is so much history and in the city centre you are only ever minutes away from the Gardens or Holyrood Park.

5 What would you change about the city? The constant roadworks and the mess that the tram works are making.

6 Describe a perfect Edinburgh day/night out? I would have a picnic in Holyrood Park with my best friends, head to a pub for some drinks, preferably outside, and end up in a club until closing.

7 Which sports interests you? I love football. I'm a Hibs fan and have been going to the games with my dad since I was seven.

8 What was your most embarrassing moment? When I was 18 I moved out to live with a couple of friends. One evening the lights blew and we were left in darkness. It was just the light fuse that had gone so my flatmate and I cooked our dinner by candle light and sat in the dark. My other flatmate came home and suggested we turn a lamp on. The thought hadn't even occurred to us that lamps would still work.

9 What is your greatest achievement? My career within Hilton. I joined when I was 19 and started as a receptionist. Four and a half years later I am the conference and events sales manager.

10 Sum up Edinburgh in three words. Beautiful, historic, home.