I stayed abroad via: Name and surname: E-mail address ...

I stayed abroad via:
‘Fonds Studiepunten Buiten Nederland’ (FSBN)
Name and surname:
Michael Damen
E-mail address:
m.a.damen.1@student.tue.nl
Department:
Technology Management – Industrial Engineering and Management Science
Contact person TU/e:
Dr.ir. A.P. Nagel
Subject of practical training abroad:
Possibility of a revival of TAMECO’s knife making activities
Period of stay:
October 2005 – January 2006 (3 ½ months)
Name of company abroad:
Tanzania Mechanical Engineers Cooperative Society Ltd. (TAMECO)
City and country:
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
1. Preparation and financial matters
Next to Industrial Engineering and Management Science, I also take part in the elective
certificate programme for Technology and Development Studies. As such, I received
emails regularly for internships in developing countries. That is how I came across the
TAMECO project. I managed to arrange that it was allowed to take this project as final
part of the certificate programme and as the international practical training for Industrial
Engineering and Management Science. Next to the FSBN support I also received
financial support from the international office of Technology Management due to the fact
that a period in a country abroad is an obligatory part of the study programme Industrial
Engineering and Management Science.
Before I left, I didn’t have a clear understanding of the situation in Tanzania and the
company I was doing research for. I made a general project plan and was prepared for
everything. The most important part of the project plan was the first two weeks in
Tanzania in which an assignment had to be formulated and the problem defined.
2. Accommodation
I decided to stay in the Msimbazi Centre Hostel at Kawawa Road in Dar es Salaam
instead of the University Campus. Because of new policy measures of the university you
are not allowed to stay there for a discounted fee if you’re not going to study at the
University of Dar es Salaam or doing research for them. Since I was doing research for a
company this was not the case for me. But Msimbazi Centre was not only cheaper, it

was also much closer to town, it had sufficient facilities and the people who passed there
were far more diverse than only students at the campus.
3. Language and culture
The Kiswahili language is spoken throughout the country. Only in very remote areas they
don’t speak the Kiswahili but the local (tribe) language. English is the official ‘business’
language and the language used in the government. If you have to get information of
local people I can advice you to learn the Kiswahili. English is sufficient to survive in
tourist areas and the bigger cities. The language is not too difficult to learn but if you
want to know more than the basics it is advisable to take a course of one week.
Otherwise you can just teach yourself the basic stuff.
Especially when you are in the tourist areas and big cities your clothing style does not
seem to be a problem because people are used to it. In remote areas people tend to be
more conservative and it is wise to inform yourself about the situation where you are
going there beforehand.
4. Free time and travelling
You can use your free time by socialising with other people very easily. My personal
experience is that it is far more difficult to rest for a while in the outside on your own than
to get a interesting conservation with some locals or other travellers. If you decide to
travel I suggest that you take as much time as possible because Tanzania is a very
beautiful country. If time is limited I can recommend that you go to the northern circuit
(Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater) and one of the islands (Pemba, Zanzibar, or Mafia).
Most of the time I stayed in Dar es Salaam and there is enough to do to make a party.
The best way to know where to go is by asking the local people … otherwise you end up
in a bar with only Mzungu’s (white people)!
5. Contents of your project abroad
The company I was doing research for stopped the production a few years ago because
they were not able to keep up with the cheap imports from Asia. At this time, they want
to restart their production activities but they did not have any idea of the market
conditions and the capabilities needed to restart their activities. The research I did was
two folded. On the one hand, I have done a general market study and on the other hand
I carried out a problem analysis to analyse why and where the company made mistakes
that leaded to the production stop.
6. What was your best experience?
Everything the weather, the people, the country, the assignment, etc…
7. What was your worst experience?
Only one thing was very annoying (especially in Dar es Salaam) mosquitoes! I really
hate them and they are so numerous! One thing worth mentioning is waiting, you have to
remain patient, polite, and a real go-getter to get the information you want.
8. Other(s)
…