From Nantes to Dezhou (China)

Here is a small text from Carolina Marin, who is doing her internship at Himin in China. Enjoy and feel free to send us your contributions on ME3/PM3E stage experiences. Enjoy:

From Nantes – France


To Dézhōu – China

I’m a Colombian woman commonly known in the PM3E (2009 – 2010/2011) and ME3 (2008 –2010) masters like “El niño”. On September 2009 people started looking for internships, but I didn’t know how to start. I knew that I wanted to do something related with green buildings, so I started looking for construction companies in Europe. I did a “lettre de motivation” and I applied to seven French companies, but I knew that it wasn’t enough. By November people were getting internships, and I hadn’t received any answer from the companies. I heard that they were getting their internships through contacts, but I didn’t have anyone in Europe. Also I had no experience about looking for a job, so I hadn’t thought about contacting people.

Finally on November we had a lecture with a Chinese professor about solar collectors and solar heat pumps systems integrated to green buildings. For me was like: –Opportunity to get a contact from one of my dream countries, related to a green energy technology giving green building solutions–. A great chance was there and I took it, so Carolina’s next destiny: Dézhōu, China at Himin Solar Energy Co., Ltd.

On February 28th I arrived to Dézhōu with two of my master classmates during a cold snowing night. Two Himin employees were waiting for us and took us to our home for the next six months, but I was in shock when I saw my new home. I think Chinese people don’t have cleanness into their basic needs as I do, but I was too tired to start cleaning. Next day one Himin employee was helping us with our breakfast, transportation, and communication; actually everybody was trying to help us they are very kind people. Just 3 hours with them and we realized that communication was going to be the most difficult fact during our adaptation, since Dézhōu’s people and our colleagues don’t have a good level of English. The day passed by and lunch time arrived.

For me and my Colombian friend Chinese food is not a problem we love it, but for my Ethiopian friend is not the same even the chop sticks were a problem. Work day finished and we went back to our home, and when I got there I bought all the products to clean my new home, it took me like four hours. Since that day everything was getting better, we overcame language limitation problem learning some Chinese words, using internet translators, and speaking slower with our colleagues. We accepted Chinese culture stuffs like people spit everywhere (restaurants, buses, buildings, etc), babies have holes in their pants to poop and pee wherever they want, and people don’t use street trash cans. I’m breaking my own taboos and eating new things like scorpions, but I have to confess that my Colombian friend is more daring than I’m and he helps to encourage myself to take advantage of Chinese food. My Ethiopian friend stopped asking what kind of meat dishes have so as to enjoy them, and now he uses the chopsticks. We also went to Beijing, and we realized that Dézhōu is a giant town. That city has parks all around the city, Hutongs (old Beijing’s neighborhoods) are beautiful, pubs and clubs exist there, old and modern architecture are mixed, there are public toilets everywhere, and people don’t think we are circus elephants walking through the city. We are walking money bags, though. Beijing’s people respect traffic signals, use street trash cans, and as always are very kind. I can keep talking about China and how awesome it is, but I want to invite you to come here and enjoy experience by yourself.

Enjoy my pictures! http://malsyjac.buzznet.com/user/photos/recent/