in
‘It’s super relaxed to be back in the Netherlands for a while. Just that you arrive at Schiphol and can immediately board the train to Rotterdam. In many countries where I come, it is not so well organized. I am now working on a big project in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. A new airport is being built and we are spraying the land on it. I’m off for four weeks now, but I’m going that way again in November. As a technical foreman, I make sure that the right equipment gets to the right place and I make sure that everything continues to work. The nice thing about this job is that it involves both main and manual work, and I am in contact with others. Sometimes I’m in the office, but I also have to go in the mud with my boots.
“After my mechanical engineering study, I followed a traineeship with my current employer and I liked it right away. The first few weeks of training were in the Netherlands and after that we were sent out. Then you will be told on Friday that you are going to Saudi Arabia on Monday.
„I have now completed my traineeship and I am in permanent employment. My income is very dependent on where I work: if I am at the office in the Netherlands, I earn 2,400 euros net per month and if I am in Manila, it is 5,000 per month including food allowance. Then you are working full-time, twelve hours a day and at least six days a week.”
from
‘I cycle a lot, so I spend a few things on that too. I use my racing bike both in the Netherlands and in Manila as a means of transport, but also for real training. For example, I have a trainer app that tells me exactly how many minutes to go and how fast.
“Recently I bought a second-hand smarttrainer, a rack on which my bicycle can stand during my training. That is connected to the computer. That way I can also work indoors. I also have a racing bike in Manila, which I use to cycle from the hotel to work in the harbour, which is very convenient. At least then I won’t be stuck in traffic.
“With every flight I make a donation to Trees for All. For my work I have to fly quite often and because of corona there is sometimes no chicken on the plane. And meanwhile, a lot of CO . goes out for that flight2 in the air. Donating makes me feel a little better about it, but I do hope they actually plant those trees.
“Now that the catering industry is open again and I am in the Netherlands, I spend more on going out than usual. In such a period I want to see all my friends again and then you quickly eat something outside the door. Although it is also nice to cook once in a while, you never do that abroad. We do get a daily allowance there, so food and drink don’t cost me anything during my work.”
#hope #plant #trees