Katriel's Life Steps Part 4
Katriel's experience Dubai
He left again for the United States, where a new and exciting proposal was waiting for him. A call that surprised him completely. It involved a job in Dubai, one of the most luxurious cities in world. Katriel's ceilings were getting higher and higher...
The call came from Gastón, a friend he met in Calafate. He advised Katriel to send his resume to Dubai to try his luck. Surprisingly and as if life wanted to anticipate some news, Katriel picked up a magazine in which the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, appeared. He jokingly told himself that this would be his work destination. But the joke, in no time, crossed over into reality.
The call from a restaurant interested in his resume came in. The job offer was at the Burj Khalifa. He was asked when he could travel and start working. They covered absolutely everything: food, hotel, restaurant, visa, etc. Katriel did not doubt that a great opportunity was opening in front of him and that he should take it.
Katriel's feeling when he arrived in Dubai was like that of a newborn child. He was very anxious to discover this luxurious city, which presented itself as a new world to him. He was picked up by a driver who dropped him off at the accommodation complex, an apartment shared with a roommate from the Philippines.
Katriel had two weeks of training, and then he started working all day and all night. For a month he worked making garnishes. The demand began to become a companion of the moment; he had a lot to learn about fine dining and the difficulty of the new language at the same time. As 23 different nationalities coexisted in his work, English had many accents, and it was difficult to understand. Everything was a challenge.
Every 3 months they rotated the positions in the kitchen. In the rotation, Katriel moved to cook meats and side dishes in the oven. Here, he experienced some of the worst moments in Dubai. The atmosphere, as is common in haute cuisine, was one of competition and envy. The competition and demand for excellence made for a very difficult work environment.
Faced with this distressing situation, Katriel talked to the Sous Chef at the restaurant and asked him to teach him how to do things properly. He granted the request. And Katriel began to redouble his efforts, doing everything his boss wanted efficiently, and asking his colleagues what they needed. He wanted to help his colleagues and gain that ground
After a month of following this rhythm, the chef recognized that he was doing a very good job. His colleagues expressed surprise that it was his first time in such a demanding kitchen.
Eventually, his boss also congratulated him. So many hours of work, headaches, and sleepless nights were rewarded by the recognition. Ultimately, Katriel was promoted to Chef de Partie and then Chef de Partie Especialite during his time at this restaurant. Katriel’s gratitude and motivation were both greatly enhanced by this experience, which made him much stronger as a chef.
A year later, he decided to return to the United States, feeling satisfied and grateful for his time in Dubai. And as always raising the flag of illusion, in which, where one project ends, another begins.
"That's what life is all about, to take a chance, to hope, to believe, to make mistakes, to succeed, to be disappointed, to dream. But above all, it's always about starting over. Keep going forward."
