By day Jone Koroi spends his mornings at Fiji National University studying for a diploma in architectural drafting. By night he is behind the bar at Privé in Toorak Central, pouring drinks and collecting life lessons from Suva’s professionals — a dual routine he says is helping him pay his way through study and shape his long-term ambitions.
Koroi, who hails from Mavana in Vanuabalavu, Lau and has maternal links to Qalikarua Village in Matuku, began working at Privé six months ago after earlier stints as a bar attendant and waiter. “Most of my classes are in the morning, so I decided to get a job here,” he said. “I started off learning how to make whiskeys and cocktails, and now I’m serving at the bar.” The practical decision to work evenings has become part of a broader plan to complete his diploma next year and eventually open his own architectural firm.
His interest in design is rooted in childhood curiosity. Koroi said technical drawing was his favourite subject in high school and that an uncle who worked as an architect helped nurture his interest. “When I was small, I used to go around with my dad in places like Namadi and Sigatoka, looking at different houses. That inspired me,” he said. He wants to grow in the field, share experiences with fellow professionals and keep learning as he builds a career beyond the hospitality shift work.
The bar itself has become an unlikely classroom. Koroi values the conversations he has with patrons from different industries, particularly businessmen who recount their own starts from humble positions. “A lot of them started from the bottom. Some even did bartending before becoming engineers. Hearing their stories is inspiring,” he said, adding that those encounters reinforce his belief that persistence and hard work can lead to success.
Balancing study and work has required sacrifice. Koroi admits time is the biggest cost: long hours on shift mean less time with family and friends and fewer leisure opportunities beyond watching movies to unwind. “You won’t be enjoying most of the time with your friends because you have to work,” he said. “That’s one challenge, I don’t spend much time with family or friends. I just work.”
Behind the counter Koroi has also built a small reputation for his drinks, with his favourite to prepare being the Espresso Martini — a choice shaped by regular customer feedback. “A lot of people say I make the best Espresso Martini,” he said.
Speaking directly to other young people from Lau who come to Suva, Koroi urged them to accept the sacrifices that city life often demands and to keep their goals in sight. “It’s not easy, especially when you come and stay with relatives. You have to learn the value of sacrifice and appreciate what your parents and relatives have done for you. Stay focused and don’t be distracted by what you see here in Suva. Think about those back home who are counting on you.”
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