You might easily recognize Burcu from TikTok, as her account has garnered hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of views in such a short time span. She’s always posting her take on trending challenges and snippets about her life in Kuwait. And if you’re unsure about how to pronounce her name, she’s even dedicated an entire video on her page, just for that purpose, jokingly saying “It’s not Burk-oh, or Burj Khalifah, just Burju!” For this Turkish resident in K-town, moving here in 2016 was a dream come true. She was so eager to try something different, take on new challenges that would help her grow as a person, and get out of her comfort zone. With her current posting as Restaurant Supervisor with Al Hajery Group’s locally acclaimed Kuwaiti restaurant Khaneen, Burcu is making all her dreams come true.
Meeting Burcu for the first time, you can’t help but feel charmed by her welcoming demeanor. She’s kind, sweet and her bubbly personality is simply contagious. It’s only natural for her personality to shine online, as her real-life persona will instantly captivate you. “I’m generally a happy person, and I love making others feel happy. This is why I am so lucky to also be able to share my personality on social media, “ she begins to tell us her story, “Coming to Kuwait was a big move for me, but I knew I was doing the right thing for my future.” And that’s the beauty about living in Kuwait, as you get to meet people from different walks of life and experiences that truly change your outlook. Only in Kuwait will you find a Turkish resident opting out of working in a Turkish restaurant and choosing to delve into the world of Kuwaiti cuisine, learning new languages, and submerging themselves into something totally new and unknown.
What was your first impression of Kuwait when you moved here in 2016?
I was nervous at first because I was coming from a really different culture. When I first arrived, I didn’t even know how to speak English yet, and I don’t know Arabic. I was happy to take on the challenge because I was so eager to plan for my future, and work hard and save money. Soon I realized that I don’t even need to speak in English or Arabic because the people were so welcoming and dealing with their body language alone made me feel so comfortable. I was so happy immediately, especially when I learned that locals love Turkish people, visit Turkey frequently and they even know some Turkish words! I honestly was very comfortable, Kuwait has become my second home and I am really finding myself here.
@burcu_inkuwait Eid Mubarak 🌺 ##kuwait ##eidmubarak ##iyibayramlar ##fypシ ##kuwait_tiktoker
♬ الصوت الأصلي – سسآارونہ🦋
What do you like the most about working in a Kuwaiti food restaurant? Why not Turkish?
I actually started out as a hostess in a different Turkish restaurant with Al Hajery, and the management has been so kind and encouraging when I requested to move to a different concept because I wanted a challenge and I wanted to learn new things. I wanted a new experience! When I came to work in Khaneen, I fell in love with the food immediately, but also I was the only Turkish person on the team. Our team has people of many different nationalities, and I was so ready to learn something new and learn English. Also, I love traditional Kuwaiti food, like rice and diyaay, and I am so lucky to work here because I am always hungry, like all the time! I love this industry so much, and I actually don’t want to work in fashion, or anything else.
When did you begin your social media journey? What encouraged you to begin?
I actually started with the very first lockdown. My dream was to get into social media. I had always wanted to be a Vlogger or influencer but I was waiting for the right time because I was always focused on my work. When everything shut down, I said to myself this is the right time at this you can do something just right. I did my first video in Murouj Complex and the next day it was trending in Kuwait, even local news outlets picked it up! I am blown away by how welcoming my followers are in Kuwait. It just felt natural to continue from there, showing who I am at work and outside of work.
Why do you love social media so much?
I like to make people happy, this is something so special for me because when I see people are happy I feel happy as well! I love social life, being active, and when we are working so much I think it’s good to do something different. Also, working in the hospitality industry requires you to be happy and social, so it was very natural for me to show my personality online.
How does the team at Khaneen react to your social media videos?
They are amazing! Our waiter is sometimes my cameraman, and our hostess is my number one supporter. Let’s be honest, when you work in the restaurant industry, you don’t have much of a social life, so the people you work with become your family, and I am so lucky to work with this amazing team at Khaneen. I am who I am today because of them and their support. We work hard at our jobs and we support each other with our passion, they give me ideas. We work the same hours, every day, and we make sure that we support one another with everything that we do.
Do customers normally visit Khaneen and ask about you?
Yes, they do! On Sundays, for example, we get a minimum of 15-20 people coming to ask about me, only to realize I am working a different shift. But to be honest, I think that people accept me and like me because I am an honest, friendly person. When people tell me they are shy to meet me, I encourage them to come and take a picture with me. After all, people are my supporters, as they are the ones who followed me, they encourage me to do more. I never imagined I would reach so many people online in such a short time, it is people’s love, acceptance, and support that have given me this opportunity.
What do your followers always ask you when they visit you at Khaneen?
Turkey is a very nice country, why are you living in Kuwait? I explain to them that I feel so safe and loved in Kuwait, that I never think of moving back! And it’s so easy to deal with locals here even before I learned English, just using body language, I found it so easy to communicate with everyone.
@burcu_inkuwait @muna_390 kişisine yanıt verin Khalwally 😀 ##fyp ##fypシ ##tiktok ##challenging ##foryou ##tiktokarab ##funny
♬ orijinal ses – Burcu 🇹🇷
What do you think was the hardest thing you faced when the pandemic first started in Kuwait? Who supported you throughout?
It was scary for everyone at first. It was so difficult at that time actually because we couldn’t travel anywhere and I was worried about my family in Turkey, as my sister works as a nurse and she was always around positive COVID cases. I was going crazy. Most of my friends then eventually went back home, and I was alone here. When I decided to go on social media, it really helped my mood and I found support from so many people online. Even more important was how our company and the team supported one another during this time. We were always paid our salaries, and during the strictest lockdown days, we were always checking on each other, making sure that everyone was safe and had what they needed to get through that difficult time. We met up during the times dedicated to walking, we all faced the challenges together. The biggest positive out of all of this is the relationship that I built with our team at Khaneen, I am very lucky to have gone through this with them.
Let’s talk about Burcu the foodie, do you have a different personality inside and outside of work?
[Burcu laughs] Before I went on social media, as a Restaurant Supervisor I was definitely more serious at work and outside of work I am constantly laughing and joking. But then I realized that when I went on social media, that I can show who I really am even at work. My team used to be so surprised at first, telling me that I am not the same person who is on these funny TikTok videos. So, I relaxed a bit more, while always being professional of course, but definitely less serious. I was over Seeda (straight)! [laughs again] By now, my team knows me so well, they know when I am angry, or if there is a mistake at work that needs to be fixed, they know how I will react. We’ve been working together for four years, and now I show them who I am all the time. Everyone’s happier, I have nothing to hide, and I feel more relaxed at work. They tell me, “This Burcu is much better!” and I see how their attitude at work has positively changed too. They are very honest with me, come to me with any problem, and we have an amazing family atmosphere going.
What is your favorite dish at Khaneen?
Machboos Diyaaay! It is classic and delicious, and I always recommend the Khaneen fries, and the Fatoush! I love choosing these dishes for our patrons.
How do you deal with negative people and comments?
I always say to people, don’t believe everything you see on social media. I might come across as always happy online but I did go through difficult times. When my sister got married and I couldn’t make it back home to attend, it was the first time I had cried in a very long time, and then I went live and my followers were telling me how it’s amazing that I am always so happy. It’s crazy. But when I first made the decision to get on social media, I told myself to accept the negative before the positive because it comes with the territory. It is expected. You can’t make everyone following you from different parts of the world happy. I grew stronger, and I am ready for everything.
Finally, is it harder dealing with an unhappy customer at the restaurant, or a negative commenter on social media?
Oh, social media for sure! Dealing with people in real life is always much better because we will continue to communicate to address the issue. People on social media don’t know my whole story, they know me from short videos online. Whereas here at Khaneen, my team knows me so well, they are aware of every mood change, they are my family.
Anything else you want to add?
Thank you so much to everyone who supported me, my team at Khaneen, my followers, my amazing company. I want to continue as I am, on this path, with everyone’s support.
Follow Burcu on TikTok, at @burcu_inkuwait and on Instagram @burcutufancli. Stay updated about Khaneen’s latest @khaneen_kuwait.
