For the last six years, he has been following a strict routine, a punishing routine at that by Bhutanese standards. He comes to office early in the morning, cleans the office premises and starts his work. “I want to set an example and teach the Bhutanese people to work in a clean environment,” says Masayuki in his smattering English.
“Working in a clean environment is good for health,” he said, adding that he can’t use a dirty toilet and can’t work in a dusty and dirty environment. “The campus is too large so I assist the sweepers,” he said.
Masayuki’s day starts at 5 am. In the evening, he leaves office 10 minutes later than others, only after cleaning the premises once again. Later in the evening, he is joined by his office friends in a bar. He drinks two bottles of Fosters beer each day. Back home, he cooks for himself. “Except for chillies, I like any kind of food,” he says. He goes to bed at 11 pm sharp.
Tshewang, a co-worker in Zimdra, said that the Bhutanese should learn from him. “Such a dignified and senior mechanic cleaning toilets is something worth emulating,” he said, adding that the Bhutanese always shift responsibilities to somebody else and don’t bother to even pick up litters lying in front of them. Masayuki trains the inhouse mechanics and trainees from vocational training institutes, who are sent to Zimdra on apprenticeship trainings on the changing technology in the automobile world.
Masayuki came to Bhutan in 2002 as a volunteer from Japan Skilled Volunteers Association and worked for four years in Singye and Zimdra automobile industries. He went back to Japan for 10 months. He returned to Bhutan through Nippon Skilled Volunteers Association. He worked for 10 months in Bhutan Automobile Association in Thimphu but couldn’t continue due to health problems in the cold place.
He was later posted to Zimdra Automobiles in Phuentsholing. He said the company has all the facilities required to impart his knowledge to the staff and trainees. He is paid USD 1000 a month by the Japanese NGO. He pays Nu 5800 as house rent, electricity and water bills.
BB Ghalley from Singye Agencies in Phuentsholing said Masayuki is a most advanced learner and keeps up-to-date with the latest technology. “Whenever there are new models of vehicles coming into the country, he is asked to analyse the kind of technology used and teach the company’s mechanics,” he said. He added that, while teaching his students, Masayuki started from minute details and went to complex components.
Masayuki can speak some Nepali lines such as “teme ramri chaw” (you are beautiful). He can use a few Dzongkha words and understand many more. He said working in a work place with the people of all races is sometimes challenging. “There are people from different communities of Bhutan and Indians from different religious backgrounds. Working with them in a group is sometimes difficult,” he said.
Zimdra staff say that Masayuki is a hardworking man and mingles with anyone from executives to sweepers. “He comes to office even on Sundays and teaches us and treats us to lunch,” said a mechanic.
Masayuki has donated a few of his training materials and models to training institutes.
The company will lose this dynamic man by the end of March when his contract completes. BB Ghalley said, “We will miss him and we will lose a good trainer.”
Masayuki said that, if his contract could be extended, he wants to work in Bhutan but “in Phuentsholing or other hot places, not in Thimphu or Paro”.
When Masayuki first came to Bhutan, he taught a group of students from Samthang Vocational Training Institute. His students said he was a patient instructor and taught everything he knew. “We felt comfortable learning from him,” said a trainee.
Copyright © 2009 Bhutan Observer
February 6, 2009
BHUTAN: Senior Japanese Volunteer Masayuki Trains By Setting An Example
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THIMPU, Bhutan / The Bhutan Observer / February 6, 2009
Masayuki from Japan is a highly skilled mechanic. But his trade goes beyond fixing engines. Rabi C Dahal explores the dignity of labour through this mechanic-cum-sweeper expatriate worker.
If you happen to visit Zimdra office in Phuentsholing between 7 am and 9 am, before other officials come to office, and find 55- plus-looking man in light blue dangri cleaning common toilets, don’t mistake him for a Bhutanese sweeper.
He may reply to you in a few Dzongkha words, but he is neither a Bhutanese nor a sweeper. He is a Japanese volunteer working in Zimdra as a mechanical trainer. Masayuki, a bachelor, says his age is a ‘top’ secret.
For the last six years, he has been following a strict routine, a punishing routine at that by Bhutanese standards. He comes to office early in the morning, cleans the office premises and starts his work. “I want to set an example and teach the Bhutanese people to work in a clean environment,” says Masayuki in his smattering English.
“Working in a clean environment is good for health,” he said, adding that he can’t use a dirty toilet and can’t work in a dusty and dirty environment. “The campus is too large so I assist the sweepers,” he said.
Masayuki’s day starts at 5 am. In the evening, he leaves office 10 minutes later than others, only after cleaning the premises once again. Later in the evening, he is joined by his office friends in a bar. He drinks two bottles of Fosters beer each day. Back home, he cooks for himself. “Except for chillies, I like any kind of food,” he says. He goes to bed at 11 pm sharp.
Tshewang, a co-worker in Zimdra, said that the Bhutanese should learn from him. “Such a dignified and senior mechanic cleaning toilets is something worth emulating,” he said, adding that the Bhutanese always shift responsibilities to somebody else and don’t bother to even pick up litters lying in front of them. Masayuki trains the inhouse mechanics and trainees from vocational training institutes, who are sent to Zimdra on apprenticeship trainings on the changing technology in the automobile world.
Masayuki came to Bhutan in 2002 as a volunteer from Japan Skilled Volunteers Association and worked for four years in Singye and Zimdra automobile industries. He went back to Japan for 10 months. He returned to Bhutan through Nippon Skilled Volunteers Association. He worked for 10 months in Bhutan Automobile Association in Thimphu but couldn’t continue due to health problems in the cold place.
He was later posted to Zimdra Automobiles in Phuentsholing. He said the company has all the facilities required to impart his knowledge to the staff and trainees. He is paid USD 1000 a month by the Japanese NGO. He pays Nu 5800 as house rent, electricity and water bills.
BB Ghalley from Singye Agencies in Phuentsholing said Masayuki is a most advanced learner and keeps up-to-date with the latest technology. “Whenever there are new models of vehicles coming into the country, he is asked to analyse the kind of technology used and teach the company’s mechanics,” he said. He added that, while teaching his students, Masayuki started from minute details and went to complex components.
Masayuki can speak some Nepali lines such as “teme ramri chaw” (you are beautiful). He can use a few Dzongkha words and understand many more. He said working in a work place with the people of all races is sometimes challenging. “There are people from different communities of Bhutan and Indians from different religious backgrounds. Working with them in a group is sometimes difficult,” he said.
Zimdra staff say that Masayuki is a hardworking man and mingles with anyone from executives to sweepers. “He comes to office even on Sundays and teaches us and treats us to lunch,” said a mechanic.
Masayuki has donated a few of his training materials and models to training institutes.
The company will lose this dynamic man by the end of March when his contract completes. BB Ghalley said, “We will miss him and we will lose a good trainer.”
Masayuki said that, if his contract could be extended, he wants to work in Bhutan but “in Phuentsholing or other hot places, not in Thimphu or Paro”.
When Masayuki first came to Bhutan, he taught a group of students from Samthang Vocational Training Institute. His students said he was a patient instructor and taught everything he knew. “We felt comfortable learning from him,” said a trainee.
Copyright © 2009 Bhutan Observer
For the last six years, he has been following a strict routine, a punishing routine at that by Bhutanese standards. He comes to office early in the morning, cleans the office premises and starts his work. “I want to set an example and teach the Bhutanese people to work in a clean environment,” says Masayuki in his smattering English.
“Working in a clean environment is good for health,” he said, adding that he can’t use a dirty toilet and can’t work in a dusty and dirty environment. “The campus is too large so I assist the sweepers,” he said.
Masayuki’s day starts at 5 am. In the evening, he leaves office 10 minutes later than others, only after cleaning the premises once again. Later in the evening, he is joined by his office friends in a bar. He drinks two bottles of Fosters beer each day. Back home, he cooks for himself. “Except for chillies, I like any kind of food,” he says. He goes to bed at 11 pm sharp.
Tshewang, a co-worker in Zimdra, said that the Bhutanese should learn from him. “Such a dignified and senior mechanic cleaning toilets is something worth emulating,” he said, adding that the Bhutanese always shift responsibilities to somebody else and don’t bother to even pick up litters lying in front of them. Masayuki trains the inhouse mechanics and trainees from vocational training institutes, who are sent to Zimdra on apprenticeship trainings on the changing technology in the automobile world.
Masayuki came to Bhutan in 2002 as a volunteer from Japan Skilled Volunteers Association and worked for four years in Singye and Zimdra automobile industries. He went back to Japan for 10 months. He returned to Bhutan through Nippon Skilled Volunteers Association. He worked for 10 months in Bhutan Automobile Association in Thimphu but couldn’t continue due to health problems in the cold place.
He was later posted to Zimdra Automobiles in Phuentsholing. He said the company has all the facilities required to impart his knowledge to the staff and trainees. He is paid USD 1000 a month by the Japanese NGO. He pays Nu 5800 as house rent, electricity and water bills.
BB Ghalley from Singye Agencies in Phuentsholing said Masayuki is a most advanced learner and keeps up-to-date with the latest technology. “Whenever there are new models of vehicles coming into the country, he is asked to analyse the kind of technology used and teach the company’s mechanics,” he said. He added that, while teaching his students, Masayuki started from minute details and went to complex components.
Masayuki can speak some Nepali lines such as “teme ramri chaw” (you are beautiful). He can use a few Dzongkha words and understand many more. He said working in a work place with the people of all races is sometimes challenging. “There are people from different communities of Bhutan and Indians from different religious backgrounds. Working with them in a group is sometimes difficult,” he said.
Zimdra staff say that Masayuki is a hardworking man and mingles with anyone from executives to sweepers. “He comes to office even on Sundays and teaches us and treats us to lunch,” said a mechanic.
Masayuki has donated a few of his training materials and models to training institutes.
The company will lose this dynamic man by the end of March when his contract completes. BB Ghalley said, “We will miss him and we will lose a good trainer.”
Masayuki said that, if his contract could be extended, he wants to work in Bhutan but “in Phuentsholing or other hot places, not in Thimphu or Paro”.
When Masayuki first came to Bhutan, he taught a group of students from Samthang Vocational Training Institute. His students said he was a patient instructor and taught everything he knew. “We felt comfortable learning from him,” said a trainee.
Copyright © 2009 Bhutan Observer
