|
|
|
Ronan Brady
Holcim Lanka Pvt Ltd.
2008 |
 |
I was given confirmation that I had been offered an overseas placement in Sri Lanka a number of months before I departed, to be honest I didn’t really know all that much about the country itself. I knew it was somewhere near India and that they had a pretty good cricket team. So when I heard that I had been offered the placement I trawled the internet looking for information about the country and also about the company I was going to be working for, the company was called Holcim Lanka which again if I’m being honest was a company I had never heard of before my departure. I looked up their website and apparently they were the second largest cement producers in the world so this sounded like an exciting company to do my training with. |
|
I booked my flights as early as possible to get the cheapest prices, got my working Visa sorted with the help of the Sri Lanka IAESTE president Thilina. Went to the doctors and got all the vaccinations I needed. I am quite an unorganised person at times so the weeks before I left were very busy as I had left everything to the last minute I had to get some clothes and sun cream and mosquito spray and all sorts of thing, finally I was ready and flew out. I arrived in Colombo on the 5th of July, the first thing I found very hard to get used to was the humidity every time I moved I seemed to drip with sweat, of course people had told me this before I left but I didn’t really believe it would be so bad. My first nights sleep was a sweaty affair although after time I got used to this and it was no problem.
On my first day in the plant I met all the managers of different departments and the plant manager people seemed really friendly and always went out of their way to help you however they could, I was surprised how good every ones English was but I found out they actually study in English so they seen me as a big opportunity to practise so everybody wanted to talk to me. It was interesting to be able to sit in an office and study the theory and then go down to the plant and actually see this process in action whether it be crushing, grinding, burning or mixing.
The IAESTE committee which was mostly made up of students from the local university took us on some fantastic trips during our stay we got to see some beautiful beaches and the up country was really beautiful. I went to the big annual parade in Kandy were 100 elephants are paraded through the streets along with music and traditional dancing. I even got the chance to go on a Safari on my last weekend there which was a lot of fun and a great experience. The students always asked us what we wanted to do and although it wasn’t always possible always tried to bring us were we wanted to go and show us the best time possible. The willingness of these students to give up their time every weekend and show us around amazed me, I was just trying to think of how many students that I knew or even me myself would give up that kind of time just to show some foreigners a good time and to make sure they enjoy their stay, but for this I was very grateful. |
I became a lot more independent while I was away and by the end of my stay was quite confident to find my own way from Colombo to Puttalam after the weekend, and we would organise small trips ourselves to the beaches and other places. I became friendly with the local trainees and also with my fellow IAESTE trainees, and we all had a big party together on my last day up at the plant. On my last weekend a new IAESTE trainee had arrived in Colombo she was a German girl, she and the other trainee from Finland organised a party at a local pub, it was a nice day as we were all together and had a meal with the local students. |
 |
|
|
Once I went along once with the university students on a day out when they take school children from a very poor area out on a trip around Colombo and to a local museum and a play park, just giving these children a nice lunch to eat and a field to run round in meant so much to them, and as I sat watching them laughing and playing with sticks and flowers the feeling of guilt hit me again and I remembered when I was that age I had to have the latest toys or the best Nintendo game and these kids had nothing but there was still no mistaking the big white smile of happiness. We also gave them some gifts of new school bags and books and pens and brown paper to wrap their books in, I couldn’t believe it when all the young girls started throwing themselves at my feet in a show of gratitude when being given a pen and some paper so they can learn how to write.
I had many amazing experiences in Sri Lanka and although its not the beautiful paradise island that some people think it is still well worth a visit as there is so much to see and do, the people are the friendliest iv ever met. I would like to again say thanks to everyone in Sri Lanka and at home who made this experience possible for me, and also to anyone who is thinking of going on a placement in Sri Lanka and are not sure whether to go for one reason or another I would say go for it believe me you’d love it. |
|
Mattihiasa Gallus Weilat
CECB ("Central Engineering and Consultancy Bureau")
September 2007 to January 2008 |
 |
I did my Trainee as Civil Engineer in a semi-governmental Company called CECB ("Central Engineering and Consultancy Bureau"). The first plan was to work on a site for a new 150MW-Hydropower Plant (www.ukhp.lk) in the highlands, but there was a accommodation problem, which gave my the chance to stay and work in the exciting city of Colombo for three months. Finally, I got the opportunity to work on the Upper Kothmalee site in my last month in Sri Lanka.
The work in the first three months was as structural engineer in an EPC Branch of CECB. People there allowed me to do all the jobs a Structural Engineer usually does, including steelwork design for a new building for the National Museum in Colombo and the basic structural design for a large new building for the Eastern University in Batticaloa. In this office, I learnt to now a lot of different people in all ages and with every ethnic background, which was a very good experience for me to learn to understand the background of the conflict in Sri Lanka. |
In this time, I lived together with a German trainee - Marco - in Mount Lavina, so I was able enjoy live in Colombo. The city is full of live, with a lot of entertainment opportunities. But the thing a liked the most was the culinary variety there, you can find meals from whole Asia!
In January, I shifted to a town called Thalawakele in the southern Highlands, approximately in the middle between Hatton and Nuwara Eliya. As I wrote earlier, I worked there on the site for the new Upper Kothmalee Hydropower plant. In spite of my short stay there, I got the chance to do some interesting work, as designing bridge bearings and huge retaining walls. |
|
There, I shared my room with other sri lankan trainees what gave me the opportunity to enjoy the advantages of a so called "chamary" -system, which means that we all together shared a cook who fed us really good. (As you can see, I'm a big fan of the sri lankan cuisine.) But life was definitely different than in Colombo, due to the height (1200 m above MSL) and the seclusion. The culture was also different there; most of the local people are Hindu, which made it possible for me to see a part of their culture also.
The close contact to the members of the local IAESTE committee was another possibility to learn about the country and its people. These guys really took care about me and showed me some of the nicest and most famous places on the island. In fact, I was on weekend-trips to places like Galle, Kandy, Pinewalla, Adams Peak, Dambulla (including fascinating Sigirya) and Nuwara Eliya, they showed me also some nice places in the Colombo area or took me with them to their parties, like on 31st of December. Once, I got the chance to go to wedding of one of their friends. |
 |
|
 |
During my stay in Sri Lanka, a learnt a lot about engineering practice, but not only that: I experienced a lot about a culture which is totally different then the Swiss culture I grown up in it, I learnt to know so many interesting people and got a new angle of view to many things. Last but not least, I learnt a lot about myself, about being on my own and about the things which are really important in life. |
Silvia Schmid
Lanka Transformers Ltd
2006
|
|
At the beginning of the year, IAESTE
Switzerland normally makes information
events about an internship abroad. I also
joined and I thought it is a good idea to
improve my practical knowledge in
combination with getting know other people
from different countries. The country I was
most fascinated by was Sri Lanka. So I
applied for doing my internship in Sri Lanka.
In March I got the affirmation to go to Sri
Lanka for six weeks in summer. It was really
like a dream will come true.
I had enough time to organise everything. I
booked my flight, applied for the visa and
studied some Sri Lankan travel books. I also
had contact with IAESTE Sri Lanka. They
were really nice, organised everything and
send me a lot of informations about Sri
Lanka. I was relieved to know that I will
work at Lanka Transformers Limited, LTL, at
Angulana and that I can stay with a host
family in Mount Lavinia.
I was really looking forward and also a little
bit curious to go to Sri Lanka. |
Illustration 1: Beruwala Beach |
|
 Illustration 2: Lotus & Temple flowers |
I took a flight via Singapore. After the long
journey I was really glad to arrive in Sri
Lanka. When I arrived at Katunayake airport, local
IAESTE members Prabath and Pubudu
picked me up and brought me to my host
family.
My work should start on Monday the 10th of
July. The Sri Lankans have on each fullmoon
day a holiday. The holiday is called
poya day and it is a religious day for
Buddhists. They go to the temple, worship
their gods, bring flowers and light up
candles. On this day, we went to Kalutara
temple and worshiped their gods. It was
really fascinating for me and different from
our religious activities in Switzerland.
On the 11th of July, I started my work at
LTL. They are specialised in distribution
transformers. I worked together with other
Sri Lankan trainees. Our supervisor was a
woman called Thilini who also studied
Electrical Engineering. She was really good
and every time we had a problem we could
ask her. Sometimes we worked in our
discussion room to understand how a
process was working and got a deeper
theoretical knowledge. And the other time
we went downstairs to the transformer plant
and saw how processes were working.
During the internship we gained practical
experience in basic knowledge about
distribution transformers, transformer
assembly inspection methods and routine
and type tests of transformers. We could
also do some routine test on our own. We
also learned a lot about design
fundamentals of distribution transformers.
In additional, we were given analysis work
about a special test for distribution
transformers. It was our aim to find a
relationship between no load current of
different applied voltages to the low voltage
windings.
I got to know a lot of nice people at LTL.
They were all very helpful and interested
about Switzerland. During lunch time we
always had a long time to discuss about Sri
Lanka and Switzerland. I didn't know that
Sri Lankas don't have holidays like we have
in Switzerland. During the year, we in
Switzerland have four or five weeks
holidays. In Sri Lanka, this wouldn't be
possible, because per company mostly they
only have one Electrical and Mechanical
Engineer. So they, at LTL, were sometimes
surprised when they wanted to contact
companies from Europe and they only got
the answer that the person from Europe will
not be available for two weeks. |
 Illustration 3: Core Assembly |
|
During my internship I stayed with my host
family. My host family Shanthi, Shehani and
Algi Wijewickrema were very nice and let
me feel since the first day I have been with
them like at home. Sometimes we went out
together and had a lot of fun. One day we
went together to visit a friend who owned a
coconut estate at Chilaw. It was really
interesting to see different areas in Sri
Lanka and see how people are living. In
Colombo you can't see much differences to
our western world.
IAESTE Sri Lanka also organised a lot of
activities during the weeks and in the
weekends for all the trainees from different
countries. There were also trainees from
Northern Ireland, Norway, Finland and
Germany. Sometimes we met at Lions pub
and talked about our experiences in Sri
Lanka and about differences from our
country. IAESTE Sri Lanka organised also a
reception meeting, where all the trainees
introduced their country. At this day we
were fortunate to have a typical (hot) Sri
Lankan meal. Then we could show our
talents at playing cricket ;) At the end of
this day we met up at Lions pub.
The beach and the sea in Sri Lanka are
really fantastic. I have never seen such
huge waves. We tried to go as most as
possible to a beach regions. In Hikkaduwa
we could see coral riffs and in Aluthgama we
could enjoy the huge waves.
We have also visited two pera heras. A pera
hera is a grand religious festival with a
procession. We have been to Kandy and to
Kataragama. In Kandy all around you can
see, there are elephants. Sometimes you
will also see some little monkeys ;)
One weekend we went to Embilipityia and
visited Prabaths family. The area and how
the people live here is totally different from
Colombo. I really appreciate how the people
live here agree with the nature. They have
their own garden and everything they need
is growing there. If they want to eat a
mango, they just go to their garden and
take one :) I was really fortunate to taste a
Sri Lankan meal which Prabaths mother
made. She cooked the rice and the curries
on coconut fire and it was the best meal I
have ever eaten.
IAESTE Sri Lanka has done a really great
job and I am really thankful to them. They
made it possible to have a great time in Sri
Lanka.
This six weeks passed very fast and I got
lots of unforgettable memories. At the end I
liked to stay more longer.... But I am sure,
that I will visit Sri Lanka again, because it is
such a beautiful country with smiling people
everywhere.
I can really recommend to do an internship
with IAESTE Sri Lanka. |
Illustration 4: Family Wijewickrema & Silvia |
|
Illustration 5: Group at Reception day |
|
Illustration 6: Elephants at pera hera |
|
|
Iiro Vuorenmaa
Linear Intimo-(MAS Group)
2006 |
|
I was offered a possibility to learn how the outsourcing and communication with global customer is made in Sri Lanka. I learned how to product garments with circular knitting machines, which are computer programmed. I got a good introduction to the international clothing business, to the Sri Lankan way of doing things and to realizing which major factors have an influence on the quality of the garments.
Every weekend there was a trip organized by local IAESTE committee. The trips were very nice and gave a good out look of the island. The local committee did their utmost so that my stay would be pleasant and I would like to thank them about it. An introduction to local customs as well as to local religions was given.
Coming to Sri Lanka was one of the most challenging decisions for me so far. However, I had a great time and the local IAESTE committee supported me well through my training period. Even if nowadays the most of the news about Sri Lanka you see through western media are sad, it is still worth of visiting. The people are friendly, the sun is hot and the beaches are superb. |
|
|
ANTTI-JUSSI
2005 |
 |
To strangers I am Antti-Jussi but my friends call me A-J. Myself I rather prefer the later. Last year I reached the age of quarter of a century. Right now I am living in Espoo, trying to finish my studies.
My roots go back to South Karelia, to Lappeenranta where I spent most of my childhood and school years. After the high school the world pulled me out of my small and cozy hometown and I started the studies of computer science engineering in the Helsinki University of Technology.
Along the years the pulling to the world got stronger. On my fourth year I spent the year in Spain studying and learning the language. It was a very self-educative year, a lot of fun too, in Barcelona. The picture above is taken on my last day in Spain.
Later in the second half of 2005 I headed to Sri Lanka for a period of work training arranged by the IAESTE organization. It was a very different experience from anything I had previously went through. There is a blog of my adventures for anyone who is interested to know more about the country and its culture. I can warmly recommend the country. |
|
Emma Rex
Holcim Lanka Ltd
July to August 2002 |
 |
I must admit that I did not know much about Sri Lanka
when I got the mail from IAESTE that I was offered 8 weeks of traineeship in
this country. The first thing I heard when I started to find out more about the
country was the civil war. That made me a bit worried and I tried to find out
more. I read the Sri Lankan newspapers on the net, wrote to the Swedish
embassy, the IAESTE committee, the Swedish trainee who was there the year
before me, my reception officer. Everybody was really kind and helpful, though
they of course could not tell me how the war would progress. Lucky for me, a
ceasefire had just been signed, which made me a little less worried � along
with all these friendly people. Further, the Swedish trainee in Sri Lanka
before me warmly recommended me to go, and I could choose a time to come when
there were other European trainees around.
Except the war, I was also worried about spiders. I am awfully
afraid of spiders. But, I didn't let that stop me either. Today, I am really
happy I took the chance. It was two wonderful, exciting and memorable months. |
|
|
It was a lot of things to do before I left. Nothing
hard really, but a lot of things to find out; what vaccinations I would need,
insurance, visa, flight tickets. It turned out to be quite expensive all
together. You had to book a ticket several months before you should leave in
order to get a modest price, and it was a little hard since it took a long time
before the company could confirm my traineeship.
Pretty soon, I came in contact with Gerard, a guy from
Switzerland who also was accepted for a traineeship at Holcim Lanka the very
same company as myself. We decided to synchronize the time of our traineeship.
It felt nice to know that I shouldn't be all alone.
I left Sweden early in the morning the 5th
of July. When I changed planes in Kuwait, it took me some time to realize that
the heat wasn't from the engines, but the actual air temperature! It was a
little better in Colombo, though still really warm. I was lucky to have brought
long light cotton clothes and a hat. I managed pretty well with that.
Unfortunately, I didn't have much suntan lotion with me, and it turned out to
be quite hard to find some especially as I wanted more than sun protection
factor no
The factory I was to work in was situated about 150 km
north of Colombo. That is not a long distance, but compared to Sweden it takes
a very long time to travel in Sri Lanka. The roads are awful, the traffic even
worse and public transport slow and crowded. Gerard and I were placed in a
guesthouse next to the plant provided by the company. It was a very nice place.
Clean rooms, transport to and from the plant and three great meals served a
day. The plant is situated about 10 km outside the small and sleepy little town
Puttalam, and the company guesthouse is situated just in the middle of nowhere.
As you might understand, there wasn't too much to do in the evenings. Gerard
and I just sat outside talking, watching the monkeys playing in the garden. It
was nice and relaxing, but I must say that I was glad I wasn't alone out there.
That would have been boring.
|
|
I would have liked to know more about my
traineeship before I left Sweden. I only knew that I was supposed to do some
kind of project work. It turned out really well however. The company gave me
a supervisor responsible for the areas I had shown interest in, and I was able
to discuss what kind of work I wanted to do with him. He listened to my interests,
and we designed my project together. |
 
My project was about
environmental issues, and I had to learn a lot about the plant. I discussed
with many of the managers in order to do my work. Everyone was nice and helpful
and easy to come in contact with. I felt very welcomed wherever I went.
Unfortunately
it wasn't that easy to get in contact with the workers at the plant, as we
neither did the same kind of work, nor spoke the same language. I got a lot of
responsibility on my own, carried out the work by myself and discussed with my
supervisor every 2 weeks. Gerard and I had different projects, but we had the
computers next to each other. It was nice to have someone to go to work with
and to ask for advice or being cheered up by when I got stuck in my work...
Everything was not perfectly organized,
and sometimes it was a little hard to know what you were supposed to do, but
over all I am very pleased with my work and all other arrangements associated
with my internship. When speaking to the other IAESTE trainees, there seemed to
be very different offers at different companies however, and I can only speak
for my experiences at Holcim Lanka Ltd.
 As I told you before, there wasn't much to do in the weekdays, but
on the other hand Gerard and I did a lot in the weekends. We planned and went
for trips every day we had off. The IAESTE committee arranged a lot of trips
for us, such as the old city Anuradhapura, the Kandy Perahera, the elephanterie
in Pinnawala, the hill country with Worlds end. The students really did a great
job to make us experience the country and feel comfortable. Sometimes it nearly
felt like they cared too much, and that you were not able to do anything on
your own apart from the trips arranged by IAESTE, we also did some trips
supported by the company, or all by ourselves.
Unfortunately, the other IAESTE trainees were spread in time (and also in geography), so apart from Gerard I only got to know a little of Torbj�rn from Norway, and Achim from Germany. We managed to keep contact however, and do some things together.
It seems like I was the first female foreign trainee
coming to Sri Lanka for an IAESTE internship, and some people wonder how I
liked to be in Sri Lanka as a girl. I must say that I didn't find any
disadvantages at all! I actually think it was rather the opposite, that I was
treated with more respect and friendliness because I was a girl. Nevertheless,
I was indeed a little careful in public places. I tried to be properly dressed
and not to go too far away from my male friends.
I must say that
I am very pleased with my stay in Sri Lanka, and I hope many more students will
get the chance to experience this country via a traineeship at IAESTE. I tried
to be prepared for anything, and it was not that many big "cultural chocksi".
The traffic is awful, and there were indeed some scary spiders, but I never
regretted that I went. I guess it was a great help to have Gerard, as another
trainee from Europe to talk to as we both were in the same situation. Everyone
was easy to cope with, no matter if it was students from the IAESTE committee,
other students that took care of us, company people or other foreign trainees.
I would like to
express my warmest gratitude to all those who made my stay in Sri Lanka so
wonderful and full of nice memories!
Hope to see you all again one day! 
Kram!
|
|
