Up Close … with David Bill, chef de partie |11 March 2014

‘Experience and willingness can get you out of any situation’

By B.P. Damou

Most of you might agree that at a certain point during your school days you wished you were working. However, when you are in the world of work you miss the times you were sitting in a classroom surrounded by your mates and you are listening to your favourite teacher.

It has been a few years since I have left school but looking back it seems only yesterday. Peeping through my friends’ list on facebook I wondered what happened to all of them. One friend in particular grabbed my attention, getting me thinking that I have not seen him in a long time. His name is David Bill, a 28-year old guy from Quincy Village and the second child of a family of four children – three boys and one girl.

David started his early school days at the St Elizabeth crèche. Then he did his primary studies at the English River school, which was at that time a mixed primary/secondary institution. In 1996 the Ministry of Education separated the primary school and the secondary school and the English River school became a secondary school. So David, who at that time was in Primary 5, moved from English River to Anse Etoile primary school. After his primary studies, David returned to the English River school to pursue his secondary education.

“As a student in class I remember I was as quiet as a mouse. But whenever I was in my circle of friends oh boy! I was one of Denis the Menace kind of child,” David said laughing.

After his secondary education David went to study at the Seychelles Polytechnic for two years to do his A-Levels, after which he went to the then National Institute of Education (NIE) to become a personal and social education teacher. However, David did not complete his studies at the NIE, managing to do only two years.

“When I did not complete my studies I decided to walk into the world of work. I went to work as a steward at the Maia Resort Seychelles,” David said.

David worked at Maia Resort Seychelles for only three months, then he applied for the apprentice scheme at the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA), where he did food production for one year. He did his attachment with Maia Resort Seychelles and then went to the Hilton Northolme Seychelles. David worked there for about 17 months before moving to Pamplemousse where he spent three months only as it then closed down.

After that he moved to the Fisherman’s Cove before going on to work at North Island for over 15 months. After a brief spell of seven months at the Sunset Beach Hotel, David has for the past two years now been working on Fregate Island as a chef de partie for the Cold Section.

“I have been doing everything that concerns a full course menu. From cold to hot dishes, pastry and bakery,” David said.

“Preparing a dish is like an art. When you are mixing different ingredients and the outcome titillates the taste buds, I think this enhances every cook’s pride. It is important to be passionate in your cooking as in the kitchen we always say we eat with our eyes before we eat with our mouth,” he said.

“It gives me great pleasure to create my dishes. It brings me satisfaction when the client gives you great compliments or they come back for your dishes,” David added.

David used to be part of the fourth Seychelles Youth National Assembly representing English River. He also used to do athletics for the English River Stars team but when he started working odd hours, he had  to quit athletics.

Now that he is working on an island, it has not been easy for David since he is father to a four-year-old boy.

“The family relationship is very difficult; with my son in mind I feel like I am missing a lot in his development and his growing up stages. He needs to have his father figure with him but as much as I can I come to Mahé and spend quality time with him,” David said with sadness in his eyes.

Despite his busy schedule and living at his work place, David likes to distract himself by playing video game, watching movies and any chance that he gets he goes fishing with friends.

Having friends is very healthy for someone but sometimes there are some friends that will draw you into bad influences.

“I would like to advise the youth to be careful of the friends they have. I remember when I used to skip school especially on days or during the time that I did not have classes; some friends and I used to go and try to experiment different things. It was at that time that I started smoking marijuana. I am among the lucky ones who did not become dependent on or become a chronic addict to the drug,” David said.

Looking at David I could tell he was ashamed of his behaviour and I had to ask him if he was still using drugs.

“I stopped using drugs when I was still working on North Island. I remember I was going on my days off to Mahé and when the time came for me to leave North Island, I fell sick and so I had to take the boat a few days later. On that day that I was taking the boat to leave, the National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDEA) carried out a search on the passengers and I was caught in possession of illicit drugs. I was charged and released the same day but later before the court I was given a fine. Going through this experience made me think that this is not the right path and it was like an eye-opener. And having a lot of people, especially my son, looking up to me and expecting good things and behaviour from me, I made the decision and I stopped,” David said.
Having been in such a situation, David has this piece of advice for young people who are using drugs.

“I know that it will be difficult to make the decisive step to stop, but I advise them to reduce their doses and step by step it will come easy. For me experience and willingness has made me come out of such an ugly situation. Finding someone to confide in can also help.”

David took the opportunity to thank everyone who have helped him to be where he is today, especially his mother and all his family.

“Even if my mum did not like what I did and I disappointed her, she always had constructive criticisms for me. She was always the hand that pulled me up when I was down. Thank you mum!” David said with gratitude.

David wishes to gain more expertise in the kitchen and maybe why not go back in the teaching field to teach cookery at the STA!