Michiel – Dutch trainee- working hard in Kochi(March 2nd, 2007)

Hiroshi Nakamura
(Translated by Mariko Wada)

Mr. Michiel Ruiter (a newcomer of De Jong Lilies Holland) has started to work hard as a trainee in Kochi prefecture from 16th February (until 29th April)
He stays at Nakamura’s house during training.
Now he works in Mr. Sawamura’s greenhouse from Monday to Friday, works in Nakamura-Noen’s test-greenhouse on Saturday, and studies Japanese cultures on Sunday.
He enjoys everything and his Japanese is improving day by day.


in the office of Nakamura Noen	in Mr.Sawamura’s greenhouse	in Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden

Name:	Michiel Ruiter
Age:	26 Years (12-02-1981)
Study:
4 Years lower agricultural school (Clusius College) Special event : Traineeship at Southern Flora in New Zealand (2.5 months).At Southern Flora I helped to manage the processing of the bulbs. I worked close together with the floor chef. Together with my chef I was responsible for all kinds of activities, like grading, packing, washing, unloading/loading trucks, and sending the bulbs.3 Years Higher Agricultural school (HAS Den Bosch) ・　I especially focused on Business strategy and Marketing. ・　Special event: Traineeship in Tanzania for Pop Vriend Seeds BV (3 Months). Pop Vriend (http://www.popvriendseeds.com) sells and grows his seeds around the world. They have a subsidiary in Tanzania, which is mainly responsible for the production of beans. At this Subsidiary I did a market research and wrote a marketing plan for the rest-product of safflower oil. Safflower oil is made by pressing the seeds of the Safflower (a highly branched, herbaceous, thistle). 2 Years University of Wageningen At the University I studied Management Economics and Consumer Studies. I finished this study last year and got here my Master Degree. The main goal of this study is to learn how to investigate and analyse the strategies and operations of companies in production and distribution networks as well as the dynamic decision making processes involved in production. My focus during the study were the various aspects of marketing and consumer behaviour in agribusiness and food sector.
Other Background information:
I am a son of a big lily-bulb grower in Andijk. The company’s name of my father is Ruiter Bloembollen BV. Besides my study I worked a lot in his company and did varies activities. In the busy time (oktober-januari) I always tried to be as much in the company as possible. During summer-holidays I always worked in the field. I come from a family which has a lot of experience in growing lilybulbs, this is one of the reasons why I have always been interested in the business and have the eager to learn more. Now as you know I am working for the Jong Lelies Holland BV, I started begin November with my job. In these months I have been doing varies activities to learn more about the company. Since November I started learning basic Japanese, and I want to improve this during my stay in Kotchi. I am really looking forward to this coming period, and we will have a nice time at your place. I am sure that I can learn a lot regarding the language and culture during my time in Kotchi.Best Regards, Michiel Ruiter