Matkaraportin laatija: Eric Lendormy

Osasto, pää- / sivuaineet:
Mechanical Engineering, -

Työ ja saamani opit:
Job Title- The job in Bosco Eng. consisted in designing an industrial crushing machine for plastic wastes. This is the first step in the recycling process, the size reduction of the waste allows easy storage and further processing for recycling. The outcoming grains have an average diameter of 7-8mm. I was particularly asked to design a prototype which would include all possible existing developments in order to increase the capacity, reduce the noise and the dust.

The working place - Normal working week in Thailand includes 40 hours. However, in Bosco Eng. alike many other Thai companies, employees are working 6 days per week and have Sundays off. Also, 1 Saturday per month is off.

About the working habits, I believe it is interesting to talk a bit about working conditions in such a factory: Talking about safety or ergonomics. I’m not talking about highly thought ergonomics, just about giving a table for a worker instead of letting him do some precision drilling on the floor level.

The family aspect takes an enormous place in Thailand. As much as they considered me as another son, it was common to have the employees’ children in the office which then was turned into a kindergarten.

The general working atmosphere is relatively flexible: I actually never suffered any pressure for working: I was left to my own responsibility. The same atmosphere seemed to apply also to other employees. I can’t say if this is particular to Bosco Eng. or general in Thailand. However, the system is very much controlled by the company’s owner: Employees work and live in buildings owned by the company; no mention of worker union or personnel’s representatives (okay, just 40 employees). The salary is paid in cash as most people can’t afford a bank account. The social system (retirement, health care aid, …) is inexistent. Employees are allowed to have 2 weeks paid holidays plus 5 days off for illness reason each year. Accordingly, having a job and staying in a hard house is a blessing. The social gap between employees and management is greater than in Europe. The respect showed by the first to the company’s owner is representative of this control.

As an average, the atmosphere in the company was relaxed and based on confidence among people. Trust about keeping each other’s interests safe extended to a level I never saw in Europe. For example, it was common to leave the employees taking care of the production site for their own purpose or taking extra hours to finish the job. Again, this may not be representative of Thai companies. But, working in such easy atmosphere, where after work was regularly organised a queen’s chess tournament, made me really enjoying my work among them.

Palkkaus ja verotus:
10 000 Baht full salary

Majoitus:
My personal accommodation was arranged by the company, right above my office in the same building and I still managed to arrive late at work! :D Definitely upper calss according to employees standards: I had Air conditioning, private bathroom, cleaning lady, always welcomed to my boss’ apartment. A rent for such an accommodation was deduced straight from my salary according to IAESTE Thailand standards: 10 000 Baht full salary minus 4 000 Baht rent. All student I met were at this rate. But an accommodation as described here is well above 4 000 Baht in Bangkok.

Matkajärjestelyt:
Going there and Settling down - Work permit and visa were arranged by CIMO. Finnair flies everyday to Bangkok and they can offer excellent rates. Tongdee Chevapruk is the person in charge of IAESTE Thailand. An energetic woman caring for her children (again this family aspect), who is making herself really available for the visiting students. She however counts on us for keeping a respectful attitude while being in Thailand: I mean: not behaving alike so many tourists in Thailand. For this, and her concerns about IAESTE’s reputation, she might be felt a bit invasive by some. Understanding her concerns is also part of our experience and recalling we are not in our own home place implies some reserve.

So, you will definitely be welcomed and taken care of by a nice team of available people and other Thai IAESTE students from the landing of the plane till your departure.

Vapaa-aika:
Leisure Time - A lot to do in Bangkok: In general, reading a good guide book beforehand gives more than I can write here. However, I strongly suggest that you keep in touch with other IAESTE students in order to build up a network of friends. Definitely needed for short stays and thus, no time enough for integrating Thai society. Organizing visits in groups is more fun. Otherwise, I definitely recommend escapades to Ayuttaya, Vietnam, Cambodia, southern Islands…

Thailand is a safe country in general. I was maybe naïve, but I never feared to walk anywhere at any time of the day or night. Neither did I received any warning from locals. However, caution must be made about drug dealing. Northern border regions must be visited cautiously. In Bangkok, I was offered pure white drugs in powder (precise identification of the substance beyond my competences). The island Ko Panghan is also having a reputation of drug dealing place. Enforcement laws against drugs are very strict in Thailand: I recommend watching the movie “Bangkok Hilton” for an insight. This was for the warning part, but in general , I felt highly safe everywhere. Just don’t provoke the trouble I would say.

About going out, Khao San road and Pat pong areas are fun. In both cases, plenty of foreigners forget about deep Thailand there. Forget about buying items also: even bargaining hard for 30 minutes, you’ll pay 3 times the value. For shopping, the Week-end market at the North end of the sky train line is much better. Bargaining in real Thai places is tolerated but not approved. In Chakutchak Week-end market, don’t expect to have more than 10-15% discount. An idea of real pricing in 2003 is: Sunglasses 60-120 Baht, good trousers 400 Baht, jeans 250 Baht, T-shirt 100 Baht. Remember that 50 Baht is worth 1 euro… Don’t be too hard here also. Food is just great in Thailand. Okay, it is very spicy. The way to appreciate the food is to eat always spicy: the first 2 weeks you won’t even notice whether you’re eating chicken or fish, just spice. But the third week, you’ll discover another taste behind the spice and you’ll start enjoying the food. Food s a big part of the Thai culture and is definitely worth the effort! After 2½ months there I became addicted and cook Thai myself some days now. One more thing: Be cautious with the meat: get it well cooked all the time: Hygiene isn’t top class.

Maan tapa:
Thai Culture - In Thailand, they are in year 2547 when we are in 2004. they indeed have over 3500 years of history and legends that will probably take a life to discover all. There is a lot to see: Beside following your guide book, you’ll find the Thai culture quite untouched because they were never under the rule of colonization. The most obvious aspect of this rich culture is the king and his worshipping. Some parts of Thai look conservative (place of the family, worshipping…) and some other seem really modern (Big place for women in the society, ladyboys…)

I let you discovering Thailand: Just keep your eyes wide open…

Muuta:
-

« Takaisin