The Beginning

As finals come to a close and graduation parties wrap up, we realize that SUMMER 2013 IS HERE!  The time for backyard barbecues and some serious R&R has arrived.  And for a lucky few of us it also brings internship opportunities.

However, I get to prepare for a very unique internship that I am truly blessed to have.  This summer, through Black & Veatch, I will be traveling to the southern island of Mindanao in the Philippines.  THE PHILIPPINES!  I have lived in Overland Park my entire life, and I have grown up in the shadow of Black & Veatch since as long as I can remember.  Last summer I was lucky enough to land my first internship experience with B&V at the headquarters in Overland Park (a mere 15 min drive from my house).  But this summer I will be assisting with a construction project that is halfway around the world.

I am excited and anxious.  I have recently realized that this will be the first time that I will spend more than two weeks outside of the US ... and more specifically, Kansas!  There has been countless hours of preparation and research for the trip.  We have been in touch with American B&V personell currently stationed in Southeast Asia.  I have also been doing some research on my own through the various resources that the internet offers.

Here is some background on where I will be and what I will be doing:

• I will be in Davao City, which is the third largest city in the Philippines with about 1.3 million people.  It is a tourist hub for people from Manila (the capital of the Philippines), Japan, Korea, and China.  By land area, it is one of the largest cities in the world (Yahoo Travel).
• The project that I will be directly working with is a 2 x 150 MW coal-fired power plant that will be located just outside of Davao City.  The project is being undertaken by Therma South, but I will not know my role until we arrive on site.
• From the various sources that I have found, Davao City is a growing city with strong ties in business and investment.  If I had to guess, I would expect that this power plant is a being built to prepare for increased power demand that comes with this expansion.

I cannot wait to start this summer adventure!  I leave on the 28th of May and fly through Japan to the Philippines (due to the time difference and the international date line, May 29th is going to be one of the shortest days I have ever lived).  Tomorrow morning I report to Black & Veatch's headquarters in Overland Park to begin my week-long training with a majority of the other summer interns.  It will be very similar to the orientation I took last summer, but with a much difference outcome.

Stay tuned and I will keep posting more about my adventures!