Internship abroad: I would do it again in a heartbeat
Giel Hesselmans and Jeffrey van de Donk, both students in the Entrepreneurial Furniture Maker/(Ship) Interior Builder program at Summa Wonen & Design, completed a 20-week internship in Suriname. It was an unforgettable experience. "I learned a lot. About the trade, but also about myself."
Giel and Jeffrey were quick to jump on the bandwagon when lecturer Jos van de Wouw asked if students were interested in an internship in Suriname. A Dutch freelancer was looking for people for a project. "A foreign adventure, living independently, without parents: we wanted to see how we'd like that," says Jeffrey. So they were deeply disappointed when it didn't happen. "We'd already read a lot about Suriname. The country appealed to us, partly because you can speak Dutch there. We decided to find an internship there ourselves."
Learned a lot
They found a position at an interior design company in the capital, Paramaribo. Jeffrey: "There are about 35 people working there, they mainly make kitchens and cabinets. It's a modern company, especially by Surinamese standards. But the employees aren't really specialized in the trade, because there's no training for it in Suriname." The two learned a tremendous amount there, says Jeffrey. "We did everything: from designing and making kitchens to installing them at the client's home. The employees were very helpful. They had all the time for us; no question was too much."
Living on your own
Giel and Jeffrey not only gained a lot of professional knowledge in 20 weeks in Suriname, they also learned a lot about themselves. "It took some getting used to at first, of course. We lived in an apartment on the factory grounds. After a day's work, you came home to your apartment and had to do everything yourself. Cooking, housework. When we arrived, we knew nothing, but now we can manage perfectly well on our own."
Relaxed people
Jeffrey really enjoyed Suriname. “The country is beautiful. We went inland several times, including with our parents. The scenery is truly stunning. The weather is good, the food is delicious, and the people are friendly and relaxed. There's much less pressure than in the Netherlands; people are less stressed. If it doesn't work out today, it will tomorrow. That way of life is wonderful.”
Beautiful adventure
Jeffrey highly recommends an internship abroad. "It's a wonderful adventure. You meet new people, experience a different culture, and learn to be independent. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I'll definitely go back to Suriname someday."