Anotidashe Godsave Masaire

BUCHI Labortechnik AG

Bachelor student in Mechanical Engineering Namibia University of Science and Technology

February 01 - April 30, 2024

At work

Interning at Buchi Labortechnik has been nothing short of life changing. For my first ever work experience, I am happy that my expectations were exceeded. I received a tour of the entire company on my first day of work and started with my assembly work right after. I had challenges in the first few weeks which was understandable, but with the help of my mentor and my colleagues, I got more comfortable with the work and trusted myself more. My mentor, Thomas, made it possible for me to visit the other departments in the company and I was in awe of the level of professionalism I witnessed from everyone in the company.

Some of my colleagues from the assembly hall and from other departments would invite for coffee breaks or lunch and after a short time, I started taking breaks along with them regularly as I enjoyed getting to talk with them. Despite the language barrier, I became especially close with some of my colleagues, and I will always remember the connections we established.

I am truly grateful to Buchi for allowing me to be part of their team. The skills and knowledge I gained from there will be key to my growth as a working man.

My Swiss host family

I had the privilege to be taken in by the Bieri Family, which is made up of Ursula, Sarah, Tamara and Reto. Their warm and open nature helped make me more comfortable with them. They went to great lengths to ensure that I settled in well and after a short time, their house became a home for me. When I had no weekend plans, they would always suggest places for me to visit or activities to do.

On days when everyone would be home and I had no plans, we would play board games or sit and watch television together, or even just have conversations. Because of all the conversations and moments with them, I have even grown and become more open as a person and for that I owe them a great debt and will always treasure the moments we shared together. 

Highlights and Challenges in Switzerland

I have had so many delightful experiences in Switzerland which will stick with me for times to come. Experiencing the different cultures and other aspects of livelihood that I was not familiar was a delightful shock to me. I especially enjoyed the curiosity of the Swiss people and their affectionate nature. I visited quite a few places and the sceneries from each place was something I genuinely appreciated. I even got to experience different activities like ice skating and snowboarding which I’ve always wanted to try, and I quite enjoyed those moments.

The language barrier was the biggest challenge for me as there were points where I would be become overly aware of that. Despite that being my challenge, I admired that difference and even started to appreciate it because I was able to experience a different way of life.

My Future Plans

After I finish University and obtain my Bachelors, I will try my best to find a job in the industry that will help me hone my skills and gain more experience in the field. I plan on furthering my studies at a later stage in my life to possibly work in the petroleum industry.

Personal Message

I would like to thank B360 for putting their trust in me and for providing this opportunity to me. I am happy to have been a representative for them and I hope they continue this great programme that helps to expose young African individuals. The experiences and skills I have gained encourages one to be able to make a difference in the future to come. For the future interns, I would like to encourage you to take chances and not be afraid to gain new experiences.