Making it in Germany: Dishwasher to Alpine lodge manager

DW (English)

Originally a Sherpa from Nepal, Ang Kami Lama started his career in Europe as a dishwasher in the Austrian Alps. He now runs two alpine lodges in Germany and Austria — a childhood dream come true.

Transcript

00:00Karma means what you do in this life, you get back in the next one.

00:12That's what we believe.

00:20Hi, I'm Ang Kamilama.

00:23I come from Nepal.

00:26And here in Germany, in Bavaria, I run a beautiful guesthouse, the Hochalphütte.

00:34The Hochalphütte is especially for mountain and nature lovers.

00:41You can spend the night here, or if you're just out for the day, you can stop in for a bite to eat.

00:57These are dumplings, and they have a spinach filling.

01:01This kind's for vegetarians or vegans.

01:04We call them momo, Nepali-style dumplings.

01:07And they can have lots of different fillings.

01:10But for the past eight or nine years, I've always liked the spinach ones best.

01:16In the winter, on a good day, we are preparing 100 dishes.

01:22And then to drink, maybe 150, because the people are drinking much.

01:28And then in summer, it's quite busy.

01:33In summer, in the good weather, it's very busy.

01:37We are preparing 400-500 dishes.

01:41And for drinks, there are definitely 800-1000 dishes.

01:53I was guiding a group and then we met in the one.

01:57This was the first time we met in the hotel.

02:01We met in the hot ring.

02:04We met in the one, this is a really popular trekking tour.

02:09It's called Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.

02:12I know him, then he's a very honest and trustful guy.

02:15Then I said, okay, then let's get in the relationship.

02:20The result is already there.

02:23Yeah, I love him.

02:25He's like my destiny, everything.

02:27Where he is, then it's like my home.

02:30I wake up, I go and then I start my day, yeah.

02:36Then I start to prepare for my client's breakfast.

02:49I wake up, I go and then I start my day, yeah.

02:54Then I start to prepare for my client's breakfast.

03:00You requested an overnight stay for August 9th,

03:05from Saturday to Sunday for two people.

03:08Ciao, ciao, have a great weekend.

03:10Ciao, thanks.

03:16Now I'm running two mountain huts.

03:19One is in Austria, one is here in Germany.

03:23The early turnover from all business that I'm running,

03:28it's from several hundred thousand euros.

03:35This is my bassinet.

03:37If you don't have a bassinet, then you cannot do this.

03:41I was born in Deurali, in Nepal.

03:48I was born in Deurali, in Nepal.

03:50In our culture, the responsibility mostly goes to the eldest son.

03:54In our culture, the responsibility mostly goes to the eldest son.

03:57Also, I was alone and an elder,

04:00so I couldn't take care of my family.

04:03So I couldn't take care of my family.

04:05So I couldn't take care of my family.

04:07Also, I was alone and an elder,

04:10so I took that responsibility to help financial support for my family.

04:18After I left school, I started to work as a sherpa completely.

04:23In Austria, I have worked as a dishwasher.

04:26I started my career as a dishwasher here in Europe.

04:31In Nepal, I wasn't guiding,

04:33so it wasn't quite different again.

04:37I'm a sherpa.

04:58When the time is allowed for me,

05:01then definitely I work and I grow myself.

05:04I take time for myself.

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