A short blog of final weeks of my internship in Indonesia.

Week 13 & 14 – Final weeks

My research has reached a point that final conclusion can be made and a reflection can be given on my internship in Indonesia.
Researching a project which is still going on means that you have to beware of the changes was may occur. The Banger project is still acquiring the funds and approvals before construction can start. During these final weeks I have been spending most of my time on writing my report and preparing my presentation. As I was writing my report I came across certain aspects of my research which have changed since I started. Therefore I was not sure how to include this in my report. It seems to me that in the world of consultancy you have to stay aware of the changing environment in which you work.

During my internship I was confronted with deadlines. As my colleagues were working on projects it came to my attention that they always had a deadline which had to be met. Proposals which had to be submitted to an initiator, in the correct format and before a certain time limit. And when work was done with other companies this could sometimes lead to stressful situations. Situations like when formats are different or pieces are not finished on time. With my research I was working independently, but I can imagine what situations could arise if I had to work with other companies and maybe even with other countries.

Since this were my final weeks, I was frequently asked by my colleagues about my results and if I enjoyed my stay in Indonesia. I assured them that I learned a lot of just being around them, having conversation with them and seeing them work. When you work in a foreign country you can learn a lot of the country just by having small conversations with the local colleagues. My research contained a lot of insight in the way of working, in this country, through these conversations.

After I gave my presentation to my colleagues at the office I was asked various questions about my research. Some questions I did not have an answer for, simply because I did not consider it during my research or it was not in my field of expertise. So at that moment discussions arise which showed me the importance of working in teams. An international consultant should be able to work independently but on the other hand working in a team is also important. It gives you the possibility to identify shortcomings in your own analyses and find better solutions for complex problems.

At the end of my internship I was sad that I was about to leave Indonesia, but on the other hand I was glad that I had the privilege to witness the work of an civil engineer outside the more common grounds of western society. I have been able to develop myself personal and professional on different levels and learned much of the Indonesian culture.

Hereby I would like to thank Witteveen+Bos and NEDECO for giving me the opportunity to gain practical experience abroad and witness on firsthand the advantages and disadvantages of an international consultancy career.

Thank you all for reading my blog.