Interview transcript.
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What is your name?
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Samuel Ricardo Soto Rodriguez.
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And what is your job?
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Everything related to laptop reparation and repowering.
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Anything in particular?
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Electronic board repair.
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Welding?
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Yes, welding all the microchips, including chips, muffets, and all other laptop parts.
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How long have you been working in this?
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In this shop you mean? I've been here for 12 years now.
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And before?
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I used to work for a company. It was an institute.
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I was in charge of the technical part of computers.
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In the service area as an assistant computer technician.
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Was that here?
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No, that company is based in another department, in Miraflores. It's a secretarial institute.
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They had a computer service area which I was in charge of.
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I was in charge of repairing those computers.
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Then my contract came to an end and I saw it convenient to work independently.
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Since I could see this coming, I decided to specialize in this.
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And this is you store?
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Yes, this is my store.
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So 12 years ago you decided to start off on your own?
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Yes, I've been here for 12 years. It's mine.
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Have you purchased it?
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I'm currently renting, but we're negotiating for it to be a rental-purchase.
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The idea is that the store be mine, officially. Now it's only halfway there.
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And when you arrived, were things different in Leticia?
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Yes, it has really changed.
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I am one of the first, so to say.
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When I first arrived here there were about 7 to 10 people renting, I was perhaps the 11th.
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From there, things have grown, the infrastructure has improved.
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That's what we had always demanded, mainly in order to insure quality service for our clients.
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And that's how we arrived to where we are today, and it's improving every day.
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You have internet here?
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Yes. At least I do.
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I am very self-dependent. I have my own internet, my cable-TV, and my internet cable.
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I like to be self-dependent, not depending on others.
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Before, I used to depend on others, but the level of work here demands that you have constant access.
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How long have you had all the cables and all?
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It's been about six years now.
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So the first six years were different?
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Yes. This store is new, it's relatively young. Perhaps about 15 years.
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Little by little it's been improving, perhaps about 70% of what it used to be.
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Not bad.
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Yes. And there is still much more to be done.
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We consider we are only about halfway when it comes to this place's infrastructure.
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We are still working on the 2nd floor.
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A second floor?
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Yes, they are making warehouses and stuff.
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The idea is to improve the infrastructure.
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Not that model.
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Why do you think that Leticia is an important place to have a store?
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This is The Mecca. As we say in Peru, this place is "La Macca".
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For example, you may find a keyboard for a conventional Toshiba laptop in other places, like Wilson or Miraflores.
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But when you are looking for a specific brand which is hard to find on the market, you'll find it here in Leticia.
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All the businesses here, we purchase in large quantities, and we purchase all kind of brands.
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So you can find everything here.
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Where do you buy from?
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Before, perhaps 8 years ago, we'd buy from Korea, we'd buy in large quantities.
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But nowadays, auctions are announced in the newspaper, and that's where we buy our stuff.
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That's why. Through those special sales, we buy 10, 20, or 30 computers.
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We buy them wholesale. Without knowing if the computers are functional or not.
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And we repair them ourselves in our workshops.
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We try to repair and render functional as many as possible.
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But only if they're in OK conditions, because sometimes there are computers that just can't be fixed, and we discard them.
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But, believe it or not, we sell all kind of parts.
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If the circuit no longer works we can sell the antenna or the case.
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The idea is to get as much out of it as possible, that's for sure.
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Do you think that's a part of our culture? Or is it something new?
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Why do we do that, whilst other countries don't? What do you think?
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The bottom line here is the economic aspect.
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That's the main element. The quality aspect is secondary.
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I can tell you, because I have friends in Europe who find a minor error and discard the device and look for another.
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Here, on the contrary, things are different.
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We can't give ourselves the luxury of changing a whole device for one malfunctioning circuit or screen.
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We try to find a solution to the issue.
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The main question here is the monetary aspect, that's where we try to satisfy our clients.
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While at the same time being as perfect as possible.
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Because if we leave circuits only partially repaired, then logically clients will come to request their guarantee.
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But yes, the main topic here is the monetary aspect. That's the truth.
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You said the market used to have parts from Korea, and now you have sales?
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Yes, now with free trade, the market is more open.
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I can - for example - speak with producers from China or Korea by Skype, and they send me...
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But even so, sometimes it's very expensive, so some companies - without saying any names - have special discounts for their own laptops.
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From other countries, or from within Peru?
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I don't know. I think they are from here in Peru, but I don't know where they bring their devices from.
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These are laptops that the companies discard.
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For example, there are clients who purchase laptops through credits, but sometimes cannot finish paying, so the company sells those products with special discounts.
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They announce it in the newspapers and that's where we purchase those laptops.
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Not only laptops, but sometimes TV screens also.
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Do you want to ask about 2011?
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I noticed that used computer imports diminished since 2012. Do you have any idea why that is?
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As I mentioned, free trade has facilitated-
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For example, a semi-new computer is sold for $600 dollars.
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A new computer is about $800 USD.
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The difference is not abysmal, and these days it's easier to obtain a new computer or laptop.
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Now things are easier with free trade.
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I can use my laptop to communicate at 1 AM with producers who send me replacement parts.
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It used to be more difficult, more bureaucratic.
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When did the trade law change?
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When do you think that people started to prefer a laptop as opposed to a desktop?
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I think it began in 2008-2009, when the boom entered.
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Especially nowadays that things are more at hand and prices more accessible.
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Now they promote laptops as more practical, since you can work from wherever, whereas you only spend a couple of hours at home.
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And sometimes you're in the street and need a computer.
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They promote it as an alternative.
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But I wouldn't say desktops are a thing of the past.
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I believe they are still vanguard. I myself still use a desktop, even if I have a laptop.
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When I get home, I use my desktop.
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It depends on what you use it for and how.
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I don't think one will replace the other. It depends on your needs.
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That's what it depends on. That's how I sell my laptops.
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People ask me if it's better than a desktop and I tell them 'not necessarily'.
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It depends on how you use it.
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Do you believe tablets will affect demand for laptops?
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No.
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Technically speaking, I can tell you for sure that that won't happen.
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Tablets are an alternative, no more.
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They will not replace laptops.
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They provide mobility, and that's all.
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How did you begin working in laptop repair?
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Well, if I speak of my beginnings I must mention my father, who was a radio-technician.
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He pulled me into this. And I saw that computers grabbed my attention more.
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I didn't like radio repair. So I introduced myself into the business.
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It came naturally. I liked circuits, and getting an electric shock, or a burn while welding.
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You have to like this stuff, and have a particular interest. Otherwise, no way.
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But I see that some people don't share that passion, and they don't understand this sometimes.
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Did you study...?
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Yes, at the UPC.
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I am currently a student, with two and a half years to finish.
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What are you studying?
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Communication. Networks and communication.
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It's related. Because whenever I've made a network, I always do it with a laptop, or vice versa.
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But, honestly, this is my passion.
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What is the difference between recycling, dismantling and repairing?
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I see a relation.
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Because in the end, I recycle these for example, and I'll try to get the best out of these three laptops.
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It's true, I'm a repairer - recycler... I see them as related.
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Do you also fix things for family and friends?
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Yes, they follow me, even when I'm traveling.
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They follow me all the way to the bus station.
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They see me as a NASA genius.
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And watch out, because they don't only want me to repair laptops.
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If you know how to repair laptops then you must know how to fix TVs, fridges...
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Even if there is no relationship among them, but they see things like that.
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But I try to do as much as I can.
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In light of what you just said, do you feel that people appreciate your work?
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Look...
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I haven't realized it myself, but sometimes people tell me they've heard good things about me.
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People recommend you for the quality of your work.
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I've had problems, of the kind that come with this line of work.
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But the fact that people leave me their devices, that's already an expression of trust.
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The big error I have now is that I sometimes take too much time repairing.
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Things don't always turn out as you want.
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Sometimes you fix something on the spot, and the device is working fine. But you get home and it breaks down.
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So those are the things one learns.
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Yes, I have good statistics. And, to be honest, if people didn't appreciate my work, I'd simply close my shop and retire.
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It's true, and that speaks for itself.
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Last question. How do you keep your work knowledge up to date?
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Precisely, I'm studying at university, and I sometimes take classes here and there.
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But, aside from that, one must be self-schooled in this and be up to date.
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Because my 9-year-old niece sometimes surprises me with these iPhone concepts I can't even pronounce,
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and on top of everything, in English, I sometimes feel lost.
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And if that's how I feel, it means that there's still much to do to meet the standards.
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But my very job itself is what obliges me to do so.
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I have to know what processor to use, etc.
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Even further, nowadays the computer is tied to the cell phone.
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And so people speak of iPhone and what not.
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I know what an iPhone is, but my 9-year-old niece knows more about software and all.
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She blows me away.
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I attend 3 to 4 courses per year, aside from what I do at the university.
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However sometimes I just don't have enough time.
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I finish at 8 PM, sometimes 9 or 10 PM.
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It's difficult, but the objective is to be able to solve the problem at hand.
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The courses you attend are here in the zone?
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No, no.
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For example, I took one here at the engineering university.
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Or there are courses here, provided by the technicians themselves.
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Those are much better than the courses provided by other institutions.
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Sometimes you'll be able to go straight to the point, for example a new chip that's come out and has a different form of welding.
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You learn much more than the courses in other institutes which can be more general, whilst here we are rather focused on detail.
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I see it as an alternative.
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Other questions?
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Thank you very much. Many people have come to ask you questions, we don't want to interrupt your work.
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No worries, I like these things, and am glad people can see what we're doing.
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Perhaps due to the area people see it differently, but in reality the people here are very responsible, and very good technicians.
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Very good technicians.
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Additionally it seems that it's not only a question of good technicians but also very specialized technicians.
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In reality those are antique technicians.
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They began with pure electronics, which was basically televisions, radios.
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Then some plug into computers, but not all of them.
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I came here for a reason, because this is where you can find the best technicians.
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I don't include myself, but my colleagues here are very good technicians.
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Is there much communication among technicians?
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Yes, but sometimes we're lacking public relations.
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Not to say that everything is perfect.
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They are very good technicians, but public relations could help.
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I think that's the issue.
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Perhaps I see things that way because I used to work in a company.
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Sometimes in order to service a device you need to make a memorandum saying 'I will use this machine'.
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That's what I think is missing here.
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But things have been improving here, and that's good.
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Is there collaboration here?
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Yes.
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I can't depend completely on myself, I sometimes need to borrow a replacement part from my colleague.
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But that doesn't work with everyone.
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We know one another and we know who is responsible and who isn't.
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Like in any job.
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We're no different than any other company.
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And most of the people I have working here previously worked in companies, so they know how it works.
