Waterproof Tours Suriname

Placement organization

Name of organization: Waterproof Tours Suriname
Town/city: Paramaribo
Country: Suriname
Website:

Name of student: Ezra Kokje

Specialist area: ITMC
Placement period: 2017-2018

Information about placement organization

Type of organization: tour operator, Destination management company
Organization’s activities: – they make specialized packages/vacations for their customers. They work together with various other tour operators and accomodations to organize trips.
Target group of the organization: Dutch , 50+, families, couples
Company culture: We all work together in the same room. The communication is quite informal as we communicate via skype, and we also just talk to each other normally. But my boss has the last word in every decision and she wants it quite in her way. Therefore, i can say that there is a hierarchy structure.
Number of employees: 7
Dress code: formal
Did the organization meet the agreements you made beforehand? yes

Information about your placement

In which department(s) are you working?

I am mainly working in the marketing departement, bu sometimes in the operations departement.

Brief description of your daily activities: so for marketing i mainly have to update social media, update website, think of new content/to improve our online marketing. but i am also doing daily activities such as answering the phone, emails, making reservations etc.
Brief description of your company assignment: The company wants to implement a booking system, together with another company. so before we can do that we have to gather, organize, create documents we need for the booking system. So i created an action plan, and i am in charge of the deadlines, that everybody does there part, and that it is all finished before the company comes to Suriname to implement the system.
Comment briefly on your supervision by the organization: Supervision is good, my boss and my coach help me whenever i need it.

Requirements for students on placement

What kind of personal skills are required for this placement? independent, deal with women who have a strong opinion, multitasking,
Additional company requirements for this placement? Would come in handy : SEO, Photoskills, marketing, Office, word, excel etc
English: Basic
Spanish:
French:
German:
Italian:
Other languages: Dutch should be mothertongue or advanced. english is basic enough but appreciate if its on a higher level

The trip

Mode of transport to reach your destination: airplane

Accommodation

How did you arrange your accommodation? via agency online, i recommend stagehuisvesting suriname
How did you go to work every day? bicycle

Visa / work permit / vaccinations

Do you need a visa? yes!
Do you need a work permit? no visa is enough
How did you arrange the necessary documents: embassy, in amsterdam and suriname
How much time did it take to arrange the necessary documents? TOO LONG. start at least 3 months before hand. and also in suriname it takes a lot of time and money too.
Did you need certain vaccinations? Yes
How long in advance? 10 days

Language course

Did you take a language course before you started your placement? No
Would you recommend to have a language course prior to this placement? no

The costs in euros

Travelling expenses (e.g. return ticket): € 900
Accommodation (monthly): € 200
Local transport (monthly): € 0
General costs of living (monthly): € 300
Costs of visa: € it will costst around 400/500 euro to get everything arranged
Costs of work permit: € 0
What did the company pay for/to you? i get 100 financial compensation a month.

Culture

How did you prepare for the country’s culture?
i read a bit about the culture and the safety of the country online, but i did not do a lot of research to be honest.
Did the culture of the country influence your performance during the placement in any way? no not really, the company is dutch as well

Future students on placement

Future students are free to contact me for further information: Yes
My e-mail address: ezrakokje@hotmail.com

Other information

Recommendations on what to do and what not to do: Start on time with your visa! it takes a lot of time to arrange it all. You will have to go to amsterdam to get it as well. Count on that you will spend a lot of money, and that things can go wrong so make sure you have a backup.

Just some safety rules, do not cycle when it is dark and definitely do not go alone. only go with cabs you can trust (1660/1680/1690) cabs are really cheap and afforable. do not take to much money with you when you go out, etc.
Leisure possibilities in the city/surroundings of where the placement took place: Suriname has so much beautiful places to offer!!
I have a subscription at the Torarica hotel for the swimming pool and zumba lessons and a very small gym for 120 for half a year. its really a good place to relax in the weekend. Jomax is my favorite restaurant, it feels like you are on a beach in the city. Food is very cheap and delicious here.

I recommend to go to Boven-Suriname, Fredberg, Galibi, Peporpot, Bigi pan and many more trips. The jungle is really beautiful !

Media

Youtube link Youtube placement video link