I have spent the past week and a halfs time emailing companies, saying that I had begun my truck driver education, and asking if they would be interested in a quick conversation to hear about me. One said they didn't do apprenticeships, but the other three have resulted in interviews. Two of them are up in the air, but the third one looks like a winner.
I received a reply back this morning, saying I was welcome to swing by for a short interview. So once school ended, I was at the company, talking to the boss. He explained that they are a moving company, specializing in moving from country to country. They had one client who had just come back from Switzerland to Denmark.
We talked back an forth for about ten minutes time, and we came to the subject of the apprenticeship. He felt that it was best to have me there for a week, just to see if I liked it and if I fitted in with the rest of his crew. So we agreed for me to come down to them at some point this year, to work there for about a week. He would call the school to arrange the final details, and he would stop receiving admissions for apprenticeships, until he was sure I wanted to do a weeks work there, which I definitely will do.
I am quite confident that I will like it there. Hopefully they will like me as well! If they do, I will do my apprenticeship there
I deleted the previous blog, because it didn't give any information about the event. So here goes with a more descriptive blog.
Every year, a trucking industry hosts an even called Transport Øst, or Transport East. It's the biggest event on Zealand, and there's gonna be a lot of different exhibitors there. Among the attendees are:
Mercedes-Benz CPH
Truckmail
Nyscan Trucks A/S
Volvo Denmark A/S
Scania Denmark A/S
Lastas Truck Denmark A/S
Scanvo Trucks Denmark A/S
REA Commercial Vehicles A/S
Andersen Cars A/S
Apart from that, there will be trailers, fuel suppliers, forklifts, cranes, education centers (one of them is my school), tires, financing departments, banks and different accessories vendors.
At the event, you can get behind the wheel of brand new trucks, strike up a conversation with different companies and generally create connections, that you can use in your future. Think of it as SEMA but for trucking. An event not open to the public, but to people in a specific field. This case, it's trucking.
I am so excited for this! It's gonna be my first ever show like this. Later on in the education, we are also going to the biggest transport exhibition in Denmark, which hosts 250+ exhibitors, conferences, show trucks, rc trucks, old trucks and the Danish Apprenticeship Championship. Plus a LOT of other things as well. However, I am not sure if it's this year or next year, but I will ask tomorrow. Hopefully it's gonna be this year.
Earlier today, I went to a haulage company for a small interview. They wanted to see who I was, and talk a bit to me. It was pretty easy to find, and it'll take me about 55 minutes to get there. If I have to be there by 6.15 am, I need to get up at 5, which I don't mind. Well, I need to get up at 5 until I have a car. Then it'll take about ten minutes to get there. I can then sleep in until 5.30 am. You need to get up early if you want to be a trucker.
Anyway, while I was heading down to the interview, I got an email from the CEO of the other company I applied for. They want to see me for a little interview on Tuesday at 2.30 pm in the afternoon. This company is one of the oldest in Denmark, and they can solve any job you throw at them. I look forward to that interview, because the company is a bit older than the one I interviewed for today. Also, something about the first company rubbed me the wrong way. I don't know what it was, but I just felt that the company was not really for me. I need to make a great impression at the other place, so they will pick me. Or maybe I will have to pick between both companies.
But in any case - interviewing for apprenticeships one week into my education, that's fantastic! Most of my classmates haven't even begun to think applying for places. They need to get a move on, because suddenly it's time for exams and tests, and then what?
In order for me to progress from the basic course to the main course of the truck driver education, I need to get a driving license for a regular car. In order to qualify for that, I need an apprenticeship with a trucking company.
I sent a few emails today to companies, that offer apprenticeships. I explained, that I have recently begun the truck driving education, or the road freight transport education, to be exact, and I need an apprenticeship by January 21st 2022, or earlier if possible. One got back to me, saying I was welcome to pop by on Friday afternoon, so that's what I am going to do.
However - we are going bowling on Friday. I will talk to a teacher tomorrow, and hear if I can be excused for the day, since all we have to do is bowl. I would rather go to that company and talk to them, than go bowling. I am fairly confident that I can be allowed to go to the company and have a word with them.
All in all, things are hopefully looking up
That was the first exercise today. We were instructed on how to safely secure a load, this instance a small crane. The teacher had laid a ratchet and a roll of latching strap on the ground, and he showed us how to put both together, and safely secure a load to a truck. He then disassembled the ratchet and the lashing strap, and told us to strap the load down safely. We were allowed to do it in groups, so off we went, helping each other securing the load. It went very well. I am definitely confident that we will be a bunch of great drivers at the end!
Apart from that, the day consisted of us having a team building exercise, where we had to build a tower by using marshmallows and pasta. It went as well as you'd imagine.. My team placed 5th out of 6, but I didn't really mind. It was a fun exercise, which is what's most important.
Towards the end of the day, we were setting up our it details, and during that time, I went on a bit of a browsing spree. Somehow I found a Kenworth W900B for sale in Idaho. 47.000 dollars for a truck that has gone 1.1 million miles. I am not sure how many miles the engines in the W900B can hold, but this was a Cummins powered unit. I am not sure about the exact model of the engine in the truck for sale, but the link to the advert is here.
Maybe someone can tell me how good this is.
That made me think about buying a truck from the USA and import it here. I did a little calculation on a website, and the fee for getting it on the road, is just under 100.000 Danish kroner, which is 15.715 US. I then need the shipping as well, which hopefully isn't that expensive. I could also just import it from somewhere in Europe, since I have seen one for sale in Poland. Now I just need to save up a million and a half, and that truck could be mine..
Oh the dream!
Today, we had three exercises, a test and some information to go through. Seeing as I'm still in the first week, and that is the introduction to all the stuff we need to do, the teachers are more relaxed about it, and they just gloss over the things we need to go over during the basic training. That does not mean I can take it relaxed, or that it's not informative.
The first exercise was in a forklift. We had to pick up a pallet, drive through a course, head back to where we picked up the pallet and then put it down again. "Easy", I thought.. I jumped into the cab of the forklift, and then.. Panic.. I completely forgot what I had to do. Luckily, all of the students are very good to help each other out and give pointers, so I was quickly filled wit confidence. I slowly began to creep towards the pallet. The forks slowly making their way underneath the pallet. I then proceeded to lift up the pallet. Reverse gear, foot on the throttle. Gently pressing it, reversing the forklift. I headed down the course at medium speed, and with the surface not being the best, it was quite a bumpy ride. I made it down to the turning point, slowing down. Made the turn. Now it's just a sprint to the finish. I slowed down, in order to put the pallet down the best way possible. I made it with no advisories. "Awesome job", was the reaction from the teacher.
After we all had a go, it was time for a break. After that, it was time to learn about a big machine - the MAN truck, that we are going to take our truck license in. The teacher went through the basics of the truck, and asked us questions such as "What is the first thing you have to check before starting a truck?".. The answer is the oil. If there's no oil in the truck, the engine seizes up and gets destroyed. After our heads were interjected with a lot of information, it was time to head back to the classroom for a quiz.
While walking back to the classroom, we talked about everything from trucks to Euro Truck Simulator 2. It turns out, that it's the one game that the teachers are recommending to people who wants an education as a trucker. Arriving at the classroom, we were instructed to log into a game, where 13 questions were asked. Out of a possible 13 places, I placed 5th. Pretty excited about that. Then.. Yes, time for yet another break..
With the break over, we headed down to the yard for the last time today. This exercise was reversing by using the mirrors. First, a slalom reversing exercise, followed by a figure 8. After that, we were allowed to head down to the start line forwards. Now, I have been playing a LOT of Euro Truck Simulator 2. so I was feeling very confident about my ability to reverse using the mirrors. It went extremely well, and I was super excited about that. I know a truck is different. but if I really practice, I know I can be good at reversing, even with a big trailer at the back.
By then, it was time for lunch. After lunch, we were treated to a step-by-step walkthrough of the student handbook, and then the day was pretty much over.
I am SO excited about this! Three years down the line, I should be a truck driver. I just need to figure out what I'm gonna haul, since I haven't decided that yet.
The day I have been looking forward to since I had the interview is here - the day I am starting my education. However, I had a bit of a bad start to my day. At 5 am, I was woken up by a leg cramp. It was one of those cramps where you just suffer for what seems like forever, when in reality, it lasts for about ten seconds. I had trouble sleeping after that, so I decided to get up and somehow start my day.
I cooked some breakfast and looked at the news, until it was time for me to leave. I was the first to arrive at the school, and from my seat, I was able to do some people watching, because there were a few people who were taking a forklift certificate. It looks fairly straight forward, and nothing too difficult.
The other students gradually arrived, and before long we were 35 people. The rest of the day switched between classroom and outside. We were introduced to where the trucks were stored, where we could get something to eat and just generally having a tour of the facility. It's pretty big, but I have a few years to get acquainted with the place.
The day ended at 1 pm, which was a few hours ago. I am excited to know more tomorrow! As for now, relaxing is on the menu, and later some good food
I am a creature of habit. Every morning I check my phone immediately after I wake up, to see what time it is, and what notifications I have received during the night, and this morning, I was in for a bit of a shock: A text message from R. Keep in mind, the last time I spoke with her was in 2019, where things ended.. Let's say, less than ideal.
It was a reply to a text I sent her last month, before I moved, regarding the things she still has here. She wanted pictures, so I sent them. I then got up, and went on with my day.
At one point, a notification ticked in from Bumble - someone had liked me, and wanted to get in touch. So I went on the app, and pressed "like" on the first person I saw - which was the person who had liked me. We began talking. It turns out, she's new to Denmark, and she's looking for friends. I am looking for friends as well, so it couldn't be any better!
But the biggest surprise of the day was definitely hearing from R. I am keeping things civil. She blocked me, not the other way around. If she wants to collect her stuff, she can do so. If she wants it sent, she can transfer the money to cover the expenses. Either way, I want the stuff gone. I want to close that chapter of my life and start a new one.
It's now been a few hours since my second dose of the covid vaccine was administered, and so far I feel normal. No aches. No headaches. No soreness. When I got the first shot, I had some pain a few hours later, but today there's nothing.
It was a completely different experience as well. The first time, I felt the needle go into my shoulder, but this time.. Nothing..
I originally had an appointment in a few hours time (current time is 11:21 am, and my scheduled time was 1:50 pm, but I decided to just get it over with. My second dose was administered at 9:02 am.
I went to the vaccination center, and I got booked in. I then got called into one of the booths, where I was instructed to sit. Then I met the person who was going to administer the vaccine dose - and she was absolutely beautiful. I swear, if it wasn't in a professional setting, I might have asked her out. I didn't, because it didn't feel like the right thing to do then and there. Anyway.. I told her about my discomfort with needles, and she was super understanding. She told me to look away while she administered the dose. Ten seconds later, I was done. I thanked her for her way she administered the dose, and then I was on my way to the observation area.
Fifteen minutes later, I was out of the door, feeling good about what I had done. Two weeks from now I will be fully vaccinated, since it takes 2 weeks for it to take effect.
Wonderful!
After the second shot was administered, I felt great. Like nothing could shoot me down.. Thirteen hours later, though.. Well.. Let's just say I am happy I was informed about the side effects, because they came to say hello.
5 hours in, it started with muscle pain at the place of vaccination on my arm. I had that the last time as well, so I wasn't worried. If anything, there's less pain than before. Okay, so the pain came to stay. "I can deal with this, if that's all I get", was my though. 8 hours later, however.. Well, that's when the fever and headache began.
By the time I was going to bed, I walked like an old man. I was super uncomfortable, and it took me twice the time to get downstairs to brush my teeth than it usually does. I finally laid down in bed, where I was hoping to get some sleep. The fever, however, kept me awake until 2 am, where it mercifully subsided, and allowed me to fall asleep.
I feel back to normal today, after I finally got some sleep. The thing about these side effects I experienced, is that they are perfectly normal. One of my friends, who also got the same vaccine as me, had the exact same side effects. I was not worried at all, just annoyed that it prevented me from sleeping. Hopefully I will be able to get a full nights sleep soon
My youngest niece turned 9 yesterday, so we were having a birthday celebration for her today. It was a proper child birthday, complete with cake, chocolate milk and freshly baked buns. Plus a lot of presents, but it's a 9th birthday, so presents are a given. The gifts were beads, slime and a bunch of stretchy toys, so my niece was very happy.
On my way home, I decided to unfriend and block my previous housemate. I had already unfriended and blocked his girlfriend, so now it was time to do the same to him. The person in question is the guy I lived with for three years. The guy that was talking to me like I was 5. Not the person I lived with before moving to this new room. Anyway.. I felt it was time, since I don't really have the desire to reconnect with him, or have him be a part of my life again. He's probably gonna be really angry about me just unfriending and blocking him, but it's my life to live, and if I cannot find a place for him in it, then I don't see why I should.
My life has improved significantly after I moved away from him. Not having to look over my shoulders all the time. Not having to watch where I step, remember that there's a robotic vacuum cleaner running all the time. I also sleep a LOT better, which is very important when I have to begin studies soon.
I might have celebrated my 37th birthday two months ago exactly, but it's never too early to plan my next big bash - my 40th birthday! What follows now and a few blogs in, is ideas that I have for the various parties that I can plan and host.
Let's start with a garden party. Theme: USA.
The menu would be bbq food - Texas style. I then need to get all the sides. We're talking potato salad, garlic bread, mac & cheese, baguettes, condiments, salad and what else is present for a good USA bbq. I think I will need to contact a company that rents out fridges for parties, and explain that I am turning 40, so I might need two of the biggest fridges they have. Then I'm gonna head to Germany to buy all the soda and beer I can haul. By the time I am 40, I will have a driving license. I will then rent or buy a van, and fill it up with said soda and beer. Forget buying it here, it's WAY too expensive.
I NEED to have a party where there is spared NO expense on anything - at all! If I start saving up now, I should have plenty of money to host a fantastic birthday bash.
Anyway, that's the food and drinks situation planned. Next up is decoration. complete with country music, hay bales and other pure USA. That means dress code. I just need to narrow down what that's gonna be. I am thinking a somewhat laid back dress code. No suit/tie, dress or fancy clothing. It's a bbq, and things WILL get messy, food wise. Getting bbq sauce on a white shirt is not gonna end well.
I might actually invite an American friend over, so I get everything just right! Fingers crossed if that can happen!
Next idea is coming up later!
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