I have a brother whom we, at home, call Morocho - the Spanish word for twin - and a sister, Fina - who is Morocho´s twin. Both my parents are Spaniards and they met and married in Venezuela. So, like many other immigrants to Latin America, they developed a very special relationship with the land that gave them dream opportunities, probably beyond their expectations.

We grew up learning about effort and justice, with lots of love. I was educated in Catholic schools, which encouraged my development by working "with others, for others". I loved my school for all the opportunities it gave me in this area. This later encouraged me to be participate actively in politics during and after my university years. I graduated as a chemical engineer from Universidad Simón Bolívar, in Caracas, in 1979, and immediately joined the Venezuelan Nuclear Commission, where I worked until its dissolution in 1985.

In 1986, I joined the IAEA as a trainee (intern), as part of a program aimed at attracting young professionals from developing countries. That was a great year for me! Living in Europe, learning more about nuclear energy and being the spokeswoman for a group of nine young people all from different countries: an exciting experience! Subsequently, I decided to apply for a job with the Agency, and that was how, in March 1987, I became a Safeguards Inspector in Operations B.

I was the first woman IAEA inspector ever to have responsibility for Latin America, Africa and the former Soviet Union. This was a great experience for me and for the counterparts. I was always treated with a lot of respect and they made me feel confortable and were very appreciative of my visits.

In August last year, I joined the Standardization Section of the Division of Concepts and Planning. My 11 years of experience as a Safeguards Inspector have proven very useful for the present job in formulating procedures to reflect the inspectors´ actual practices. My experience has also proven invaluable to me when reviewing Facility Attachments, the standardization of administrative and technical procedures for Protocol implementation, and for new measures of Strengthened Safeguards Systems. The departmental quality assurance program, with its quality control and audit activities, involves new and challenging functions and requires continuing participation in inspections in the field.

I find the technical part of the job is easily managed. The greatest challenge can be working with so many diverse cultures; this challenge, nonetheless, is what makes the job so attractive. I like to devote my free time to a series of activities that I find relaxing or simply fun, such as dancing - especially the Latin rhythms of salsa and merengue - listening to music, socializing with friends and going to the beach. The latter, regrettably, is something that I can hardly do in Central Europe.