Petroleos De Venezuela Sur America
VENEZUELA | Saturday, 18 July 2009 | Views [75]
PDVSA is of course a main focus of my research. Since petroleum was nationalized, it is in control of all oil exports. And yesterday (my 21st birthday) I had my first encounter with the company. My spanish teacher and now a good friend, Maria, accompanied me to the PDVSA headquarters for the eastern side of the country in Puerto La Cruz. We really had no plans, just to go check it out and see what we could do.
It was really exciting just to go visit the building and walk around it to see what its like. Next to it is a huge refinery so I got to take some up close photos. Although, I did eventually get in trouble for taking pictures and they made me register my camera at the desk and told me not to use it. but i got a few good ones before then, thank god. So I got to tour the building a bit and meet with a man in the technical library.
You can definitely see that the elite class works for PDVSA. In contrary to people I meet on the street, they had money. And their own bank inside of the building to do business in. The man in the library was not very friendly at all and would not give us any info saying all the time that it was classified information. Eventually after explaining I was writing a thesis he gave me a few maps. But, I was hoping to get a map of where oil exploration is occuring, but he wouldn´t do it. However, a coworker of his gave me a lead to a person in another office to talk to.
So we headed over to the economic development department. I spoke to a woman for awhile about her job. It was interesting, but not very helpful. Her workplace educates people on economic development within the oil company. Anyhow, she advised me on a few things and now I have some options. I could take a course there on social corporate responsibility by PDVSA or I could intern for them. I am going to the Delta tomorrow for 2 months. But, while I´m there I will turn in a resume and hope for the best.
Things are working out with my research very well. I will have an amazing time in the Delta i´m sure. Just getting to know a community of indigenous people, the Warao, who are affected greatly by oil exploration and given much money from the Ven government. Nonetheless, I have just gotten accustomed to life around Puerto La Cruz. Ive made some local friends, finally my stomach has adjusted, and I have a family back at the lodge. I wasn´t expecting to settle into a place so fast and thought it would be easy for me to travel and jump around from place to place. But, I´m really going to miss everyone around here, especially my very good friend Aron from Amsterdam! But, the Delta is a must for my education. SO, atleast I know I can return after that and work here in Puerto La Cruz with PDVSA.
Till I´m in the Delta...mucho amor
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