Nepalis at Singapore KFC hard-worked but happy

SINGAPORE, June 21: Narayan Khakurel spends his weekdays working at the Tengbaru outlet of international food chain KFC here in Singapore while his weekend is for friends who have also come to work in this island nation.



He is one of six Nepali youths selected by KFC from Kathmandu around two years ago to work at their outlets in Singapore. Bhagirath Thapa ´Anil´, Narayan Krishna Kayastha, Mohammad Nazi Uddin, Dilip Atreya and Sanjay Thapa were also chosen along with the lad from Chabahil, Kathmandu. All six are managers posted at different outlets in the city. [break]



"My stay here is a memorable one for me," says Khakurel who completes his two years in September. These youths are happy to be working in this dreamland despite the distance from near and dear ones.



They had applied for their jobs after seeing advertisements for managers at KFC in Singapore. "We were selected from a large pool. Many worthy individuals may not even have read the vacancy announcement," Khakurel adds.



Being selected for KFC in Singapore may be an opportunity but also no less a challenge.



"We have to work 10 hours on average but sometimes may have to stay on the job upto 15 hours depending on the situation," Khakurel reveals. They, however, are hopeful that all this pressure and strain would lead to a bright future.



Bhagirath´s experience with McDonald´s in Kuwait proved useful for him as the requirement of a bachelor´s degree was waived in his case thanks to that experience.



This job is not the first engagement with eateries for Khakurel, who once opened an organic café in Thamel, Kathmandu. Failure in that brief business foray inspired him to try new things, apart from giving lessons.



They are thinking of opening their own restaurants back in Kathmandu if their two-year contract is not extended beyond September. "I´m thinking about operating a restaurant based on local flavors that would give value to the Nepali," Khakurel states.



"I´m trying to learn the best I can during my stay here so that it will help me in work after returning to Kathmandu," Bhagirath adds. They all are delighted to be working in Singapore but believe that working in every corner of the world is no substitute for being at home.



"We are in a sort of laboratory. We would use this experience after returning to Nepal," vows Bhagirath who has experience of working in around 25 countries.

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