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Erfahrungsberichte
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Leben auf den Philippinen - Love ko to (englisch) |
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Love ‘ko to!
As his internship in a Cebuano Communications Agency finishes, German student Erik Neumann reflects about his experiences, his employer, the Philippines and Filipinos.
Is it normal to just hop onto a funky painted vehicle to get to the office? Is it normal, that some ladies come to that office to sell little bags filled with rice, veggies or shanghai rolls at lunchtime? Is it normal to call your boss with his first name, but to add a “Sir” every once in a while?
For you it is. For me it is not. In Germany busses stop only at specially marked bus stops and food is sold only at specially accredited places - outside offices. Unless you do your military service, you won’t call anybody “Sir”; neither would an intern call his boss by his first name.
But before I actually started my internship I took sometime to travel and get to know the country. I learned that that a soptdrink should not cost more than pipteen pesos, and that shouting “Hey Joe” does not mean you are Jimmy Hendrix fan. Busses and ferries may leave on time - or not, and rice seems to be a life elixir that Filipinos need to absorb every 5-6 hours.
In May, after almost two months of travelling and finding a place in Cebu, I started working in Campaigns Cebu. An internship is a compulsory part of my masters in Germany and after Cebu became my place of choice, applying at the only advertising agency with an international reputation seemed to be the next logical step. And though neither I nor my bosses actually knew what the cooperation would look like, we agreed on that experiment.
As I had already worked in German Media Agencies, a Swedish Film Crew and done PR for a charity in Brazil I was impressed to see, that the agency is nothing short of international standards. Yet tasks for the agency vary from those abroad, since companies often don’t just need new ads, logos or designs, but business strategies, concepts and definitions of target markets, which results in a higher workload, but also more variety in the tasks.
By spending time, travelling and working in a great atmosphere I got to know a country I had very little knowledge about. There are kids playing everywhere, even in the offices, without anybody complaining about the noise they might make. People show a broad smile no matter how few teeth are left in their mouth, and, unless there is a typhoon, getting anywhere seems possible at any time, while if there is a typhoon, getting anywhere is simply unnecessary.
I love this country; the people and especially the things to do and see: Swimming with whale sharks, spotting tarsiers, hiking past rice terraces, chilling at palm lined beaches and sleeping with a sea breeze in a nipa hut. There is no place like here.
And while there were of course less euphoric times, I could always remind myself: At least I didn’t waste my time at the copy-machine or the coppee-machine in an office in cold and rainy Germany.
Erik departed August, 19, for another month of travelling around the Philippines before he will return to Germany in September.
geschrieben am Mittwoch, 02. Mai 2007
Kategorie > Kulturelle Besonderheiten
Thema > Auslandspraktikum
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