Kevin Barron is Executive Chef at Ole Sereni Hotel Kenya, Kevin shares his overseas journey, offering a Chefs’ eye view, of the life of an Ex-Pat in Kenya.

PART 7 (Part 6 can be viewed HERE)

So.so,so I resign and spend a few meetings with the Directors asking why im leaving, will I stay, reasons etc etc and I can’t lie but I’m not totally honest with everyone, I figure it’s easier that way I’m not happy doing it it’s not my style but pressure makes me tell them im going back to the UK.

 I can’t sit there and criticize the GM can I?

So the day pass and more meetings why am I going stay longer they will help me out even an offer of going to the UK one week per month to sort out my “issues” there.

I then get a call from India from Mr Bakaya, asking me can anything be done, I’m starting to feel shitty and realize I have handled this all very badly but I have to do what is best for Me, Ania and Kasia so it has to be Good-Bye.

So I am asked by the new GM of my new role and the Owners if I can fly out to Zanzibar and look through some projects, have some meetings and set the ball rolling, so one sunny Sunday I board the plane to Zanzi flying right next to the snow peak of Mt Kilimanjaro a truly awesome sight to behold, if I want so unfit I would give climbing it a bash!!!

I’m picked up by the GM and driven to the Hotel I meet the new F&B Manager who I actually knew already from here he was the pre-opening F&B at Ole-Sereni!! We talk have meetings and look around the kitchen checking what is needed before I arrive, things are looking good, the beach and sea looks amazing and I’m happy knowing Ania and our little girl will have a very good life and Kasia can grow up on the beach and the sea, happy thoughts so far BUT I have a funny feeling about something which will hit me like a punch from Mike Tyson, what the hell is it??????

I would know soon enough!!

I’m only there for a day and fly back early evening, I’m on the plane and it hits me in such a way the mass panic I have I don’t mind saying has me in tears, I think I’m shit scared and im making a really big mistake, I get back to Ania and I’m in a right state, she freaks out asking me what is wrong so I tell her”¦”¦”¦”¦”¦”¦.. 

I think I/we are making a big mistake leaving, oh dear really shitty times!!!

I think I called Steve to ask him what the chuff I should do now, but deep down I know I cant leave just yet something is telling me I need to see the project through still so so much to be done, so an hour later I SMS all the Directors late that Sunday, telling them I’m sorry but I have not been totally honest and could we sit down as soon as, so there I am no job to go to and a job I have im due to leave in around 3-4 weeks I have really ballsed it all up eh??!!  so much for living the dream!!

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