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Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Philippe ARMAND

Monsieur Philippe ARMAND,
He’s a family man with two small children, a cute boy and an adorable girl.
He has their photos all over the wall in his work place.
The company he’s working in is ELECTRABEL SUEZ France;
a company responsible in supplying electrical power all over Europe.
He’s in charge of a gas turbine combined cycle that would be constructed in Fos-sur-Mer, a place near to a sea in the south of France.
A chance for me to work with Electrabel, also give me the opportunity to know this person.
He is one of those French that’s not arrogant, and see u as equal, even though u’re a foreigner and have different skin color.
He always sings in the office, it’s a way, I found most people do, to cheer the place up and mostly their feeling.
He has a lot of work, like any other engineers would, but he never neglect me as an internship student.
His fav words were 'Selamar Tinggal', 'Selamat Jalan', and 'Selamat Pagi'.
He learnt them back in the old days when he had to work in Borneo.
he explained how the townfolks always replied yes to his questions, but when he speak in their native tongue which is 'Mengerti?', they'ld reply, 'sikit2'.

There were times when the air becomes heavy, but, what I remember most about him,
Is how he tried to be a good industrial tutor, even though he actually didn’t really need to.
Sometimes, I was late, didn’t even go to the office and I gave him fictitious reasons.
How I wish I could admit that to him before our last meeting last Friday.
Strange how being somewhere, just for a little amount of time, could bring a big effect to your life.
Like when I worked as a promoter in Pacific Megamall. It was just a month, but the memory, the experience, really changed me, and I could still remember those moments till now. How big it has contributed in my life.
The same goes for my first internship.
Even though it was just 10weeks, minus the time I skipped, I have gain, so much, so much, in terms of professional career, my confidence, my capability, my view towards people, knowing my own skill and much more.
It was not just an industrial training; it was a new exploration in life.
That’s how much this internship means to me.
Thank God, for giving me the opportunity to take this route,
And M. Philippe ARMAND, who has now I see, not just as a tutor, but a friend,
A friend I respect and remember my whole life.
Michel, me(damn i look small with them on my side) and Philippe.