From working with unknown machines to a permanent spot at Fuhler

Raymond looks proudly at the massive agricultural machine in front of him. The two-storey giant has a malfunction, and it’s Raymond’s job to fix it. A year and a half ago, he had zero experience with this type of equipment. Now he repairs them daily as a mechanic at Fuhler, a company that provides people and machinery for heavy outdoor work.
“In South Africa, I never had the opportunity to develop myself or learn new things,” he says. “That’s exactly what I’m looking for here.”

Becoming a specialist in your field
The first months were intense. Raymond had studied at a high level in South Africa, but the specialised machines at Fuhler were completely new territory. The theory he knew, but practice turned out to be something else. Fortunately, he received the support he needed: courses on working safely with specific machines, time to learn, and colleagues who explained everything patiently.
“No day is the same,” Raymond says with enthusiasm. “You work on old and new machines. The problems differ, the repairs differ. That’s really cool.”

Technical jargon
But there was one challenge Raymond hadn’t expected: the language. Not Dutch itself, everyday conversations were fine. It was the technical jargon that tripped him up. Parts and tools have completely different names in Dutch compared to Afrikaans.
“Sometimes it comes across as incompetence, as if you don’t know what things are,” he explains. “But sometimes you simply don’t have the right words yet. That doesn’t mean you don’t understand it.”
At first, the team communicated in English for him, but gradually everyone switched to Dutch. Raymond’s advice to other South Africans considering this step? “Dive into the Dutch language. Learning it as quickly and as well as possible will help you a lot.”
And to employers, he adds that expecting someone to speak perfect Dutch right away is unrealistic. “Give employees time to adapt and get used to the new language.”

Manschap, the agency through which Raymond first worked, therefore offers not only standard language courses but also specialised training for mechanics. This helps newcomers learn the vocabulary they actually need on the work floor.

A different work culture
For Raymond, his employer’s involvement was a surprisingly positive culture shock. Manschap even helped organise the baby shower. In South Africa, his employer wouldn’t even have known he was about to become a father.
“Even contact with your manager is rare there,” he says. The work-life balance is also completely different. In South African mining, twelve-hour days are normal. Forty hours of overtime per week? Standard. Otherwise your paycheck is too small.
“Here, every extra hour is paid fairly, and you’re not dependent on it,” says Raymond. At Fuhler he feels part of a team with many different nationalities. “I fit in really well here. People are used to adapting to different cultures and backgrounds.”

Becoming a father in a new country
Then his daughter is born. And that’s when Raymond feels the pull of home.
“Having a child in the Netherlands is really eye-opening,” he says quietly. “She’ll barely see her grandparents.” His parents will visit at Christmas—the first time they’ll meet their granddaughter in person.
It’s a reality you don’t always consider when deciding to emigrate. A child born here grows up differently than in South Africa: different schools, different churches, different traditions. “But it also has its charm, raising my daughter in the Netherlands.”
He stresses that South Africa isn’t bad. He misses it, especially now that he’s a father. But the stability and freedom the Netherlands offers makes being here worth it.

Staying
“I can really see myself staying in the Netherlands,” Raymond says firmly. “If things continue like this, I’m definitely not leaving.”
Fuhler is happy with their South African mechanic. His openness, eagerness to learn, and willingness to ask questions make him a valued team member. And who knows, jokes his colleague Ciska, maybe in twenty years his daughter will be welcome to work here too.