"Follow my internship day by day"
I'm Thomas. I am going to live during 2 months in the Netherlands, and it is here that you can follow my adventures throughout my stay to Almelo!!
DAY 2
"Welcome to Almelo!". That is what my landlord told me when I arrived the Saturday 9th May on a Almelo's train station. And he gave me the most important to survive in a foreign country :
Water - Bed - Wi Fi
DAY 1
A long way... 8 hours of journey to arrive to the Netherlands. That is 6 hours of trains and 2 hours of waiting in every train stations. But time passes more quickly when we read! And the train " intercite " which exists between Amsterdam and Almelo help us to do this, with some magazines availables in every places, certainly leaved by the previous passengers! A beautiful custom of solidarity!
DAY 3 : Almelo it's...
The flag!
7600-7614, 7627
72 125
Zip code
population
1 039 hab./km2
Dentsity
+31
International dialling code
69,40 km2
Surface
Almelo is the city of packaging company! HK Plastics, Packable, Halopack...
These three companies collaborate together, but for my part, I will work for Halopack, but in office of Packable!
Yes, I can understand that seems complicated, but fore more explanation, you can order my internship report
DAY 4
This is my first day of work! I will work in a nice office which is situated in a center of Almelo's city. It's only in 7 minutes in bike of my home! Obviously, when you don't know exactly the city, it can take more time when you get lost, but don't worry, people are nice and help you to find your way back.
DAY 5
Working in music! that is a really good way to work!
If only we could work in the same way on the EGC...
DAY 6
The Netherlands, nickname " the flat country " are the countries of bikes. In France, you have roads with double way for cars. Well in the Netherlands there is the same thing but for bikes, a kind of bikes' highway!
But I haven't seen a toll for bikes yet...
DAY 7
We are the 14th May, and like in France, it's a national Holiday!
On program, visiting the city, calling the family and rest for day in the sun!
DAY 8
If there was only a single thing to retain when we go to the Netherlands, it is that houses are without shutters.
Because the daylight is really a (bad) surprise in the morning when we do not know it!!
Believe me!
DAY 9
Today, I take a walk in street of Almelo. And after a few minutes of walking, I notice that every 'front window' of house is a real floral museum! Every house has its shrubs in triangles, its flowers of all the colors, its trees cut in square, and others types of which I had never seen except in a book on the desert …
A real kind of floral competition rages here to Almelo!
DAY 10
As we can see on the photo, bikes are not apparently protect by a padlock, as we can have traditionally in France. The fact is that here, in the Netherlands, padlocks are directly settled on the bike in the manufacturing, on the top of the back wheel.
It is a system working with a key, and so, no key = in feet!
DAY 11
To start this beginning of week, I went visited the production's factory of Halopack, a small factory where there is only two persons for two small machines but which work almost all the time.
This factory produces innovative packaging allowing to extend the shelf-life of food by using principaly cardboard. It's a environmentally friendly, and recyclable packaging, good for the planet!!
DAY 12
The good thing, when there is sun in Netherlands, is that there is lots of patios, lot of time in height. And so we can take advantage peacefully of the sun.
And the second good thing is that I have one of it!
DAY 13
Here, a lot of people say " I understand you" by a thumb in the air. I don't know why... may be because they are happy, or relax, or may be because I don't totally understand all when they talk...
I don't know, but it's cool!
DAY 14
How we say already...? "Big"? Yes, Big! HK Plastics is a really big facory of packaging production. HK Plastics has been a family business with over fourty years of experience in the plastics industry. HK Plastics is specialised in the field of plastic packaging containers, buckets, tubs – both round and rectangular, (construction) foils and rubber products.
As a manufacturing company HK Plastics develops and produces plastic packaging containers for food and non-food markets,all over the world.
DAY 15
Today I received my first reduction card for food shop of all my life!!
To me Albert Heijn stores!
DAY 16
I asked to my roommates if it was normal that when I put some foods in the refrigerator, I find only the half a few hours later??
He said "No, it's daylight robbery!"
Ok, so I have to lead the investigation, and I am not strong in Cluedo...
DAY 17
I found the first mill which is has 5 min from my home! Yes, Netherlands is also the country of the mill. Because there is a lot of wind here (sometimes, when I am in bikes, I have the impression to move back so much there is wind), that's why it was very used before for the agriculture.
DAY 19
It is 6 pm, and it is the hour of the beer! So, the end of day sat on a terrace, in tasted a beer and a dutch typical aperitif: the "Kroket"!
A kind of ball fries with inside a purée and some meat. Delicious! Especially when we put, as the custom wants, some mustard above!
DAY 18
An other holiday, today. And to the program, the meeting with an old student (who is an engineer now) of my master of internship, for advices and opinion about my realizations on " How to develop the communication of the halopack concept ? "
Very informative!
DAY 20
In halopack, we write on tables!! I didn't understand one of the numerous things that my master of internship teaches me, And so he tooks out his pencil and began to write and draw on the table!
I better understood at once! (Even if on the photo that doesn't seem to be very clear)
DAY 21
Here, handshakings and kisses when we say hello are made only on the first meeting.
Later it is just a simple "hello" to the crowd with generally a rise of hand.
DAY 22
Obviously, during an internship in a foreign country, we try to have its accommodation near to the company which receives us.
But that we don't think necessarily, it's a possible moving …
And it's what is going to take place for me!!! Today I take 7 minutes to do the journey from my home (green point) to the office (red point at the top). But in few days, It will be more or less 15 minutes ( to get from red point below).
I still thank my master of internship to letting me borrow a bike :D
DAY 23
Coffee every day!
I am obliged to get to like it, at the rate of 3 coffee / half an hour in every coffee break on the terrace!
DAY 24
My first maxi best of menu in Netherlands!!! When there is nothing more common, there is still Macdonald! A safe bet!
DAY 25
Here, contrary in France, the goal is not to separate the various populations by district or by zone, but to try to mix the differents cultures and the social classes. There are thus no visible separations, but a good mix of culture.
As example, there are parks where we can find hinds. " It is a zoo? " I asked of my intership's master when we passed in front of the park. He said me "no, it's just park!". Indeed, these animals were "offered" by the superior social classes to share with the neighborhood. It is a kind of tradition which exists since almost 60 years!
DAY 26
" You failed the test! "
There are words of my master of internship this morning, 9 hours, in my office.
I asked why, and he showed me bulbs on a chair and stepladder. The test was to understand that it was necessary to change the lights (that I have never switched on since I am there) and make it!
I'm a looser...
DAY 27
First Dutch typical meal! To the menu, fried with sauce mayonnaise-peanuts-oinion, served with a sausage cut in two filled with mayonnaise and BBQ sauces
( They like sauces yes... a little bit too much!)
DAY 28
On Thursday, it is the market! As in France, except that here it is on my way...And so I have to come down from my bike to cross, or " recalculate of the route " and lose several minutes!
So I don't really like the thursday here...;)
DAY 29
Today rémi ( design specialist) puts the music of Mac giver completely in the office because he found incredible that I make 3D pictures on power point!
(I make with what I have!)
DAY 30
HERE WE ARE ! One month since I am in the Netherlands! And to celebrate that, my master of internship told me at the end of the day " hey, do you want to take a beer with us? "
- OK!
So we set, 1, 2, then 3 beers. He says then "Hey, do you want to come to have dinner at my home this evening? "
- OK!
A real barbecue with all his family, really nice :)
And to finish this royal meal, a small liqueur taste caramel accompanied with a cappuccino -->
DAY 32
OK, I realize here my internship in a company turned to the environment and the recycling. May be that we communicate too much on this part because I have the impression that people try to make the same thing with their bikes...
DAY 31
Today, I enjoy products Halopack. There is a real difference of freshness and taste with regard to(compared with) the other products!
DAY 33
Halopack invites itself in England with this packaging! A fish and chips product ! SO every students being on an internship in England, don't hesitate! ;)
DAY 34
One o'clock pm, I have no food, and then Rémi comes with a plate at the hand, and telling me " for you Maestro! "
Really generous!
DAY 35
What is good when we make a corent between guy, it is that there is never "a traffic jam" in the bathroom!
At least there's one bright spot in all of this.
DAY 36
Here, the weather changes so quickly that you can't even trust the weather report!
So, you must be organized and always have a backup plan when it is raining (and an umbrella also).
DAY 38
My girlfriend arrives at Almelo this week end!
A weekend 100 % in French with the most beautiful girl of the world!
Truly revitalizing!
DAY 37
They created this Sodebo packaging!
OK, this company of packaging is really everywhere! If I had known by eating this pasta box in France where it was them...
DAY 39
Work
Organisation
What is my typical working day?
I begin my days between 8 am and 9 am. I am practically the first one to the office every morning, so it's me who " opens shop " (yes, I have keys). Then, when my master of internship comes to the office, he presents me for what he expects from me, or takes me with him in his professionals meeting.
But being often in professionals meeting, I communicate a lot by email with him. So I'm the rest of the time to the office with the chief designer of halopack (who gives me full of advices on my works), and the wife of my master of internship who manages all the logistics / organization / schedule / travels parts and customers meeting.
So I work in autonomy, my work not being intended for precise tasks, but more for reflection, for research and for realization of ideas which could develop the communication of the company.
And my day finishes between 17 and 18 o'clock with a bière.
DAY 40
1-A product which has a future
Indeed, Halopack products are an environmentally friendly product, recyclable, innovative... It's a contemporary product which is going to develop more and more with the change of the society consumption. Today, Halopack is asked by all around the world: Germany, France, Spain, the United States … A very big market (ex: France consumes 91 billion of packagings a year).
2-A good strategy of development
Halopack does not run at all costs after money and the large orders, but has the will to establish a real commercial strategy. The goal is more to find the good partners / customers with whom they can develop together in the future. And the demand being bigger than offers at this moment, Halopack has the choice, what gives a strength during the negotiations!
3-Not only a company of packaging
With the various companies which surround Halopack, This allows her to have no that a single offer which is the creation of a packaging, but also to propose to these customers : the experience of the packaging (with HK plastics), the creation of concept (with Packable), and the creation of the design (with Visionz). And soon, they want to help their clients to help their customers to communicate with their consumers (That my work!).
Halopack's strengths
DAY 41
Halopack's weaknesses
1-A lack of strength of production
Indeed they are asked of everywhere, and for bigger orders that they aren't used to receiving. That's why they miss machines of production to realize the orders in time.
2-A production plant still in "beta version"
The production plant of Halopack is still small because it contains only 2 machines and is not necessarily converted like brand image of Halopack. She's lacking "sales force" during the visit of the factory to the customers.
3-Lack of communication with the consumers.
The communication of Halopack today is based only on of B to B. Now to develop the demand of this packaging in store by consumer, and thus develop the demand of creation of the Halopack packaging by the brands, it is necessary to create a communication based on of B to C. So Halopack wants to develop this communication and to help his customers to communicate with the distributors and the consumers. (And this is my work!)
DAY 42
I'm alone todayyy!
Yes everybody left for Spain, under the sun, to visit a company of a prospective customer.
So today I open and I close the office. Really strange as situation! But funny!
DAY 43
In France, we have distributors of drinks or candies. Here there are distributors of sausages, chickens, and French fries!
It's a kind of wall made by heights of small compartment, where inside there is food. You just have to insert the money, and the compartment opens!
DAY 44
France is fashion!
Here, T-shirts have symbols written in French! (Well later each have his own tastes, but it's true that this gives a style let us say.... special)
BtoB relationship
Due to following him in his meeting, I notice that every time the BtoB relationship is often informal, much more relaxes than in France (why are we so serious?).
Often a small coffee and a cigarrette before starting, -I tell you my life,you tell me your life- and after it left in the good mood. Very interesting even if the language spoken is the most part of in Dutch.
DAY 45
DAY 46
It's 5 pm, Rémi arrives in my office with a bottle of red wine at the hand, and tells me " you are French not? ".
So he serves me a drink of wine and " orders me " to go out outside with him to take the sun.
Really, really hard life..
DAY 48
Today, again a very healthy meal for noon offered by Rémi!
On the menu, fish fries just coming from the market!
DAY 47
The problem for a french student like me in the Netherlands, is that when the majority of the people are dutch during a discussion, your understanding is equal to 0.
And a big loneliness when everybody laughs...
DAY 49
What's halopack in one circle?
DAY 50
My first
motion design
video !
Création of
DAY 51
Because my 1st obective is two develop the communication of halopack, during two weeks I realised a video of presentation for Halopack product in motion design.
And now it's the time to show this video to every collaborators of Halopack!
