Nico Vermeulen, Van Den Bosch Transports

  • 5 Feb 2015 11:00 AM
Nico Vermeulen, Van Den Bosch Transports
27 years old, studied Logistical and Transportation management, working for an big international bulk-transport company called Van Den Bosch Transports. After 4 years of being a transport planner I moved up to my next challenge as an office manager at our local site in Székesfehérvár.

I'm part Dutch and part Hungarian, and now given the opportunity to taste the Hungarian life, when it's not only fun and party-ing, but when there is work to be done as well.

Recently started a Facebook page, to find and meet some other expats in the Fejér-megye. It's called (young) expats in Székesfehérvár, but don't get fooled about that young part. Your only as old as you are in your mind and this way it could be shortened to a catchy Y.E.S.

I'm speaking Dutch as native language, Hungarian as 2nd language, fluent English and mid grade German.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I arrived the 2nd week of January. As I'm part Dutch, part Hungarian my company in the Netherlands offered me a job in Hungary, for me the perfect chance to find out more about my 2nd 'home' country.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
No, this is my first job abroad, nevertheless, it might not be my last.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
As I've spent almost all my holidays at relatives in Hungary there isn't much that really surprises me.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Book an extra week! I discovered Budapest only a few years ago when I was at Sziget. Me and a friend of my walked trough the whole city to escape Sziget at daylight. I really fell in love with Budapest at that time, and I still find it hard to leave it once there.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Pörkölt should be the standard answer. But i'm not that really into food, so I actually prefer the smaller bites, like Pogácsa or Lángos

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Another food thing? but easier to answer, it's the family pack of Turo-Rudi, laying next to some Gouda cheese.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
As I'm still discovering the Hungarian vocabulaire I have a few word, but that what always makes me smile is Sör, especially when a foreigner tries to say it after he or she had some, then the word sometimes changes in ször, or something even dirtier…

8. What do you miss the most from home?
I recently found out that they sell Dutch treats like Drop and stroop wafels in the hypermarkets. So i'm covered regarding the material stuff. But what I really miss are my friends from back home, can't hardly wait to see them coming over in the summer.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
O wow, there are so many jobs that would have my interest, but they almost all have to do with some kind of engineering. Probably architect, or classis car restorer, or wait.. maybe psychologist…

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
I've never wanted to be a planner at a transport company, always being in the middle of trouble.
But he, look at where it has brought me! O, and I really hate fish, so probably a fisherman is not my cup of tea.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
My last trip besides Hungary was Le Mans in France for the 24heures du Mans, a 24hour car race. I think I really should get out more.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
I'm still dreaming of a trip to the US, and also Jamaica is high on my list. Couldn't find anyone to come with me though.

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Band: UB40
Film: Intouchable (sorry, that's a recent one)
Hobby: Drawing

14. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
I really have a lot of strange tics, like, when I walk, I only step on whole stones not the half ones. and that sort of stuff. You could also call it a bit neurotic I think.

15. Red wine or white?
White wine.

16. Book or movie?
Movie because it takes you from the beginning till the end. I always read quickly trough books, realising that I don't really enjoy it, only absorb the information from it.

17. Morning person or night person?
I'm no use in the morning, can hardly speak or eat so for sure a night person.
That's why I love the 24/7 economy in Hungary. Too bad the government wants to change that.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
As I'm working in transports, I really hate it when they talk bad about those eastern European truck-drivers, something that's just keeps getting worse in my opinion.

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Although Pest has a more sparkling nightlife, geographically it's too flat. I like it when the streets go up and down, so I think Buda is more my kind of thing.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
That what doesn't kill you, can only make you stronger. I know, a bit cheesy, but so true when you think about it. Bend all the negative things to positive things, and learn to use that to reach your next goal.

  • How does this interview make you feel?