Originally from China, marine technology master’s graduate Mark Xiaoming Ma feels right at home in the Netherlands.
Mark Xiaoming Ma. (Photo: Heather Montague)
“I used to study ship design which is purely technical, but then I wanted to dive into something a bit more commercial in the shipping industry. I found this perfect combination in 3mE called shipping management. I learned things like how to design a ship and how to do structural analysis, but I also learned about economics, finance, and management. It’s a combination between the technical and commercial stuff.
When I first came here I thought I would study and then go back to my home country. But I feel really grateful for my hobby, which is rugby. I joined a local club at TU Delft called SRC Thor. Most of my teammates are Dutch but the interesting thing is that most of them have some sort of international background. From them, I learned about working and living here in Holland and gradually I made some social connections that made me feel a sense of belonging here.
‘I feel really grateful for my hobby, which is rugby’
That was a starting point for me and now I feel like I could happily stay here for at least several more years. Now I’m doing a technical management traineeship for two years and I really enjoy it so far. The company is called Royal IHC and it specialises in shipbuilding and technology-intensive marine equipment.
I love traveling and meeting different people. I’ve travelled a lot, but for me until now the most beautiful place I have been is Switzerland. You can just walk anywhere and randomly take photos in the mountains or rivers and they are all beautiful. I also get to travel for work. Next month I will do an international rotation for a half year. I had choices of where to go, but in the end, I chose Shanghai. It’s a booming market in the industry and I will be the General Manager Assistant there.
At some point you do miss your family and your home, but I have an outgoing personality and I have friends here so most of the time it’s easy.”
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Heather Montague / Freelance writer
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