Anyone who meets Duygu Sümer immediately notices her friendly manner. She lives in Bürs, a picturesque community in the Vorarlberg Oberland, and has been commuting to FMA Mechatronic Solutions AG in Schaan every day for eleven years now. There she assembles and solders various small components and assemblies with dedication, a job that suits her: calm, precise and with an eye for detail.

"I can concentrate very well at work," she says. "I love soldering - it's fine, precise and I can see what I've done at the end." She previously worked in retail for a long time, then worked as a solderer at another company for four years. When she came across the job advertisement at FMA by chance, she became curious. "I came here and was delighted to see how much there was to solder - I really liked it and still do today."

A day with structure - and peace and quiet

"My day starts very early - I get up at 3.30 am and leave the house at 4.30 am. Getting up early isn't always easy, but I've got used to it. As soon as I'm at work, everything is fine - and I'm back home at 5.30 in the evening. That's wonderful.

I walk from home to the train station in Bludenz - it's good for me because I spend all my time sitting at work. Then I take the train to Feldkirch, where I change directly to the bus. The bus stop is very close to the company - that's a big advantage. It takes me about an hour from door to door - that's easy to do and I can make the most of the time.

I used to drive, but eight years ago I switched to public transport - and that was a good decision. There's a bus every 15 minutes. If you're stuck in a traffic jam, it's no quicker by car - and public transport is simply much more relaxed. I like listening to music, sometimes I just enjoy the silence. It's my time to switch off."

At home between two cultures

Duygu Sümer was born in Vorarlberg and spent the early years of her childhood with her grandmother in Samsun, a city in the Turkish Black Sea region. She only returned to Austria at the age of six - but her connection to Turkey has remained.

"I speak perfect Turkish and German - and I love both cultures. I often spend my vacations in Samsun with my family and relatives and enjoy the family atmosphere. I love going to Turkey - it's a part of me. I also use recipes from both countries in my cooking. I love the delicious cheese noodles from Austria, but I also love cooking vegetables, pasta and, of course, börek. Sweets aren't really my thing - but a delicious baklava every now and then is fine."

Time at home and in nature

"When I'm not working, I like to be at home - or in nature. Bürs is located at the entrance to Brandnertal, surrounded by mountains and forests. It's a wonderful area for hiking - and a great ski resort in winter. My favorite place to spend my free time is at a lake - lakes are my passion. I love being by the water, swimming or just sitting and enjoying the peace and quiet. Vorarlberg has many charming places, but I also love Switzerland. I find Lake Walen particularly beautiful, and the picturesque region around Lake Werdenberg really is a place where you can forget about time.

Sometimes I also go for leisurely walks - preferably with my son. We like to go out together, it's a healthy way for me to spend time and keep moving."

What resonates in all of this is a clear attitude to life: Duygu Sümer lives in the now. Not loud, not flashy - but with a calm manner that is infectious.

"My credo is to enjoy the present day, take in the moment and live in the now."

Perhaps this is precisely what makes her daily commute seem so easy and why Duygu Sümer still feels good about going to work in Schaan even after eleven years.

Photo: ©Liechtenstein Business | Abderhalden