A Wonderful Workmate - IV

Alex(L), Jonathon (M), Me (R)

"Hello, I'm Sancha, and I've been with the company for the last 15 months."

"Hi, I'm Jonathon," and "I'm Alex."

Though I'm unsure how long they will stay, I'm thrilled to work with these two young gentlemen who bring diverse experiences and perspectives. We often joke that we are three brothers from different mothers.

After our brief introductions, we dove straight into work. I cautioned them about proper posture, particularly bending. As a senior in the job, I shared not only some concerns but also insights into our daily routine, timing, challenges, and the importance of self-care.

By noon, we had already bonded well, sharing our personal journeys and even talking about our love lives.

Interestingly, all three of us attend the same university—University of Canberra (UC). Jonathon is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts, Alex is majoring in Business and IT, and I'm doing postgraduate studies in IT (MITS).

What intrigued me further was when Alex asked if there are any KFC or McDonald's in Bhutan. I paused briefly to ensure I gave an accurate response.

Information I got from Google

Bhutan doesn't have either KFC or McDonald's. However, I believe they will eventually come as we continue to open up to the outside world. I hope that every Bhutanese will get to enjoy not only KFC and McDonald's but also a variety of other exciting foods like burgers and sausages.

To support my point, I mentioned the recent development of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a dream project of His Majesty The King of Bhutan. I believe this will make Bhutan a hotspot for international visitors, featuring modern infrastructure. This expansion will not only introduce new food options but also bring about positive changes, including shifts in mentality and attitudes towards a modern lifestyle.

Quora (Jeewan Raj), gave me this information on KFC or McDonalds

Intrigued by our earlier conversation, Alex asked another question: what is Bhutan's main food? Without hesitation, I told him it's rice and curry. I went on to explain our national dish, Ema Datshi, a stew of cheese and chili. He found it hard to believe the spiciness of the chili, which we eat as a curry, but I did my best to explain. I also mentioned Bhutan's heavy reliance on a rice-based diet and assured him that the government is working hard to diversify our food habits so future generations have a wider variety of foods to choose from, without being overly dependent on rice and curry.

Our conversation then shifted to the business, public service, and IT sectors.

Alex expressed his deep interest in entering public service, which he sees as a stable and reliable career with steady pay. Having worked in a government job in Bhutan for many years, I shared my experiences of job security. I noted how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many private and corporate employees lost their jobs or had to survive on reduced pay, while government employees did not face such hardships.

I was particularly impressed with Jonathon's knowledge of history and politics. He seems well-versed in global affairs beyond Australia. With his keen interest in the arts, I believe he would excel in a future career as an anthropologist or archaeologist.I hope he can become an asset to his country and the world, sharing his passion for different cultures and traditions. Even as technology significantly shapes lifestyles and ways of thinking, he can still make a meaningful impact.

These two young men made me wonder why Australians are not only knowledgeable about almost everything related to cars but also well-versed in laws and policies.

Through all the talking, working, and laughing, these boys have imparted a wealth of wisdom that I will carry with me, not just in Australia but also back to Bhutan and beyond.