I have learned to think in terms of possibilities

Interview: Maaike Dukker-‘t Hart

 

Daphne de Meijer went to Dubai to do her work placement. Quite an adventure in its own right, but how do you undertake that when you are in a wheelchair!? 

‘The fact that I’m in a wheelchair didn’t play a part in choosing the International Facility Management programme,’ says Daphne. ‘Of course, I look at things from a different perspective. Literally. In my graduation project at ISS Facility Services in Utrecht I’m going to contribute ideas for the refurbishment of the head office, and I’m sure I can make a valuable contribution to the themes accessibility and inclusion. But that was not the reason for me to choose this study programme. I actually liked a lot of courses: Tourism, Events, Media. I’m good at organising and planning and I feel everything comes together in Facility Management!’

 

On stage 

‘When I first had a talk with a BUas student counsellor, she asked me how it went. To be very honest, I said, I was not able to come here myself. The outer door did not open automatically, neither did the lift door. But when I encounter a problem, it is always fixed in a minute. I remember I was unable to get onto the stage in the Chapel for presentations in the first year and that I thought ‘It would be nice if I could be on that stage when the graduation ceremony is being held here!’ After all, my field of expertise is mostly about feeling good, and welcome. Meanwhile I am an experiential expert on the BUas campus and far beyond – in Dubai!’ says Daphne enthusiastically.

 

I am seeking a work placement

‘Studying or working abroad for a while had been a dream of mine for quite some time, as early as at mbo. My BUas mentor said “Why not? We encourage all students to gain experience abroad!” That was what gave me that little extra push. I applied for a work placement vacancy at the Mariott in Dubai. That’s how Dubai appeared on the radar screen. Eventually, it became the Hilton through a Hilton Connect Event in Rotterdam. I met the head of recruitment for the regions Europe, Middle-East and Africa there. I simply said “I’m seeking a work placement”, and he got me in contact with the right people. I was given all the support and confidence I need to be able to achieve something.’

 

My dream was shattered

‘I was mostly concerned about care. I need somebody who can help me, also with my personal care. I myself thought of a student of Nursing; perhaps this could be a good work placement. Through Fontys I got into contact with a student who was eager to join me. We had come quite a long way with the necessary preparations when we were told that our trip could not go ahead – with a placement like this she would not earn credits for her competencies. My dream was shattered, at least that’s how it felt, but I persisted!’

 

Appeal via Facebook

‘I’d leave two months later. Everything had been arranged with Hilton. They had arranged a furnished apartment in a complex where all students on placement of Hilton were accommodated and my taxi rides would be compensated. I have an adjusted car at home, which I missed a lot there although I myself would never drive a car in Dubai,’ laughs Daphne. ‘I was given an opportunity to work in the Groups, Conference & Events department; something I really wanted to do. In short, everything had been arranged except the most important thing: a buddy! Somebody who could join me. So I made an appeal on Facebook.’  

 

Assertive and enterprising

‘That appeal was shared over 1,000 times and I got some 30 responses. There were remarkable stories among them,’ Daphne remembers, ‘From a woman with a family who just wanted to get away for a while, and from an elderly lady. One of them wrote “I won’t be available for six months. Could you perhaps split up your stay?” ‘Seriously, I’m not exaggerating,’ laughs Daphne. ‘Of course, I was looking for somebody of a similar age who was assertive enough, who spoke English, who does her share, has an enterprising character, and can put herself in my place. I talked to people a lot, and eventually, a nurse of my age turned to me who was able to take unpaid leave, and wanted to undertake this adventure with me. She was called Kiki and we immediately had a click.’

 

Taking a detour

‘I have a great deal of equipment, so Kiki had to carry a lot of weight at the airport! Although Dubai has a state-of-the-art airport, its infrastructure is not equipped for wheelchair users. They hardly have any pavements there. At first, I travelled to work by taxi. I discovered that public transport in Dubai is free for wheelchair users, so I could save costs for Hilton. However, because there was no bus stop near my apartment, my trip consisted of a taxi-tube-bus ride that took ninety minutes. At a later stage, I discovered I was eligible for a 50% discount on taxi trips, but for that purpose I required a doctor’s certificate. I will spare you the story,’ Daphne concludes.

 

Panic

‘When my work placement had nearly finished, some changes were made to Hilton’s accommodation arrangements for students on placement boiling down to the fact that I myself had to seek another flat quickly. I was getting into a panic although they assured me that I wouldn’t be kicked out of my apartment just like that. Eventually, they accommodated all students on placement in a Hilton hotel, which was only a ten-minute trip with my wheelchair. In this way, the last six weeks were a lot more relaxed all of a sudden!’

 

Extremely expensive

‘In my leisure time, I always went out together with Kiki. Travelling by tube and monorail was very easy. We were able to see quite a lot. What made the biggest impression on me was the Burj Khalifa, the highest skyscraper of the world. That tower stands almost one kilometre high, really bizarre! We also went to bars and parties. Another striking point was that in those bars, for example, everybody was wearing smart clothing. You don’t see anybody wearing jeans or hoodies (I must admit I’m wearing my BUas hoodie right now, ed.). Drinks are extremely expensive and they can usually only be had in hotels, and cocktails are often juices.’

 

You do things for yourself   

‘There are a lot of people working very hard in Dubai. I just think of the workers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. But there are also people who feel less of an urgency to work. Emirates, native Arab citizens, get money from the government. They constitute some 10% of the population, and the other 90% are non-native residents. At the Hilton, we had one student on placement from Dubai who rarely showed up. I just don’t understand, that mentality. You do things for yourself in order to learn from things. I was responsible for events, and I really felt that way. I organised parties, lunches, expositions, from the beginning till the end; They soon gave me their trust to do so. I controlled the budget, drafted scenarios and supervised people. They worked really hard according to my plan!’

 

Look at what you can do

‘This adventure was very important for me. I needed to be very persistent, and I wouldn’t have been able to do this alone, but it eventually brought me more independence, that’s for sure. You should always look at what you can do. I have learnt to think in terms of possibilities because - believe me - they are always there!’