I have an Arabic first name, a Gujarati last name, a Tanzanian birth-place, a Canadian hometown, and English as a mother tongue. When speaking English, my first and last name usually get pronounced like this: fah-tey-muh uh-mee-jee. I grew up primarily in Dar-es-Salaam, an East African city on the coast of the Indian Ocean. My international upbringing has fostered a lifelong love for travel and a taste for new languages. I speak several fluently, including Swahili, Urdu and Gujarati (I'm still working on my German!). Most are unable to place my accent. I think I like it that way. 

My non-academic achievements include having climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro (16,000 ft!). When I'm not doing philosophy or climbing mountains, I pursue a range of indulgent activities. I enjoy indoor rock-climbing and spending afternoons immersed in historical espionage thrillers or detective fiction (Alan Furst is a favourite). I also love opera (Le nozze di Figaro ranks among the top). In addition, I'm not above taking a few hours to binge-watch TV shows (some favourites include The West Wing, Rome, and The Crown).