Work wanted: carpentry or related construction work in Europe. California contractor/carpenter seeks temporary position in Europe – will work for cheap if housing can be arranged for me and my wife.
I want to spend a year in Europe, I will do menial work. My German is very limited (Ich spreche nur ein bisschen Deutsch), Spanish atrocious (hablo muy poquito, me faltan practicar), but my Yankee English is pretty good. I’m old and pretty used up, but full of that youthful enthusiasm for learning. I don’t have the money for my plane ticket yet, but I’m working on it.
Just testing the waters to see if I can eliminate this from my bucket list by checking it off, or if I have to erase it!
View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles Greene
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
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Might want to see what it takes to get a work visa in those countries first. Something's telling me it's not easy but not sure why.
Was in Germany in '98 for quite a spell and got to know quite a few people there. With the reunification with the East the per-hour wages had dropped since the East Germans were so willing to work for less than stanadard or low end wages. Maybe it's balanced out now? There was a lot of work to be done in the East though, since there was little to no reinvestment in it for repairs or mtc during the years of the Iron Curtain.
A work visa would be tough to get...but a student visa or tourist visa easy.
I have a friend who went to a tile setting trade school in Italy. He had a fantastic experience. I spent a semester in Germany in college also a great time. After the semester was over I got a EuRail Pass and traveled all over by bike and rail. Wonderful.
The dollar is rather weak now though, makes Europe a tough sell now.
Europe, that's pretty cool. why do you want to work in Europe. Just an excuse to go see the sites :)
It takes studs to build a house
I don't know exacty - not so much to see the sights, but to see how people live and work in the construction industry over there. I would take a menial job, just to be on a jobsite, observing and being a part of another culture far removed from the Calfornia milieu.View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
cool. sound interesting
It takes studs to build a house
The birth rate in a number of European countries is low and they are importing a lot of workers and also getting a lot of illegals.Some stories make it sound like they have a worse problem than the US.You can search the countries web sites, but you will probably get a better answer, at least for the inital look see by contacting the local embassy.There is a German contractor that post from time to time, but I have not seen his name for a while and not sure what it is. If any one remembers it you can try emailing him through the forum..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Here it is.http://forums.taunton.com/dir-app/bbCard/profile.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&uid=268168077Apparently he has a new ID, might have a different email address.http://forums.taunton.com/dir-app/bbCard/profile_center.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&cType=2&uName=Mathias34&dMode=0&eBtn=0&uid=650540045Also see.http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=91066.11&search=y.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.Edited 1/1/2008 2:54 pm by BillHartmann
Edited 1/1/2008 2:57 pm by BillHartmann
Thanks - I sent a message to all three, we'll see what happens! - HuckView Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
I don't know too much about Germany but in northern Italy, they are crying for workers. Work visas and such aren't a big problem since working under the table is pretty common - not wide spread, but not rare either. I worked there for three months as a masons helper about 20 years ago and it was a gas. I've been back five or six times since and am astounded every time by how much construction is going on. I returned there two years ago and visited my old boss and he was just frustrated at not being able to find good help. Italians aren't the easiest people to work for - they want the job done quickly and to a very high standard - I had a great experience. I am sure that you will have a great time. Remember that, just like here, the first job will be the toughest. Once you have found one job and get to know the system a bit, it will be no problem finding something better.
Good luck?!!
That's cool.
When we've been over there we've always made it a point to drop by housing construction sites and look around.
One typical one in Germany (Dinklesbuel I believe) was typical: A development with 20 or so houses, some finished, some just starting. A crane sitting out in front of a house going up and it's a crane that can't be moved easily, up on blocks etc. A tree on the roof of every house under construction, no exception.
Heavy use of masonry, even the dormers were masonry. Interior walls of red terra cotta blocks with wires attached to them soon to be buried in the plaster finish coat. All lumber is something like 3X material. Super clean job site, no trash lying around etc.
Germany I really liked because the workmanship was so superior.
You'll have the experience of a lifetime. I envy you.
Runnerguy
I have never been to europe but grew up working under German carpenters from Germany, I know that sounds odd but heres the story, My dad went to a German catholic parish in NJ, He spoke German but was Dutch, After the war he built track homes and sponsored Germans to come over as the priest and others had relatives there wanting to leave, So maybe hundreds came worked for awhile and moved on, On many jobs later on Germans would come over and tell me to thank my dad, What i know is that back there they serve years and years in the trades before they are journeyman, They were older then and many were German soldiers, The foreman that took over my dads framing biz was killed in a car crash later on but he was like family to us, I dont speak German but do know they dont have any good swear words, Heres what they always told me......ROWWWWWW.Bert das ist ien dumpkolf... ROWWWWW Bert das ist ein shisekolf, .. I think they were telling me how smart i was, you should go over there lots came here after all
OMG!!
You're Dutch??
That explains the stubbornness LOL
Just so ya know, my wife is 100% Dutch decent; I'm only about 1/4 Dutch.
So sh'e definitely more stubborn than I am. <G>
Hope you had a good Christmas and New Years, and a nice visit to NJ.
thank you for remembering i went there, My grandparents lived in hawthorne and New Milford , Lots of dutch people there, Our name was Shorjsdsma or something like that but they changed it . And yes i yam stubborn to a fault
Ich weis nicht dummkolf oder scheissekolf uber dummkopf und scheissekopf ich weis ya.
My wife is German and just got back from holiday there and said there was very high unemployment and that many people were working very long days 6-7 days a week. Typical german. When afraid for your job, work hard and zen hardter und zen ze WURLD.
Of course being a Limey I think like that.
roger
i knew they were calling me dumb and a poopy headLOL
A buddy of mine went to France to teach them how to hang sheetrock. It wasnt his trade, he was a framer, but nobody else wanted to go. He spent a few weeks there hanging rock and having a great time.
I have no idea how you could go about doing this, but I've met Americans overseas all over the world who were there to teach differnnt things. From just speaking English to them, to wrenching on old American cars and just about every trade there is.
Good luck,
Eddie
I would set my sights on Ireland first. I seem to recall seeing
a great many new stick-built houses in the south of Ireland when
I was there in the mid 90's. I had the idea that there was a sort
of boom in American style housing. There is less of a language
problem than in a place like Germany (although it is not entirely
non-existent, and the same could be said for Scotland).
Japan is another place you might try. Lots of stick built new
construction, although it's mostly panelized. Many American
carpenters have done a rotation in Japan over the years.
Thanks! Germany seems to be out, Italy is a maybe, I'll look into France Ireland or Japan!View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Wondered if you were still considering the big move? I have been a carpenter in Spain for five years now.
Well, sort of. Seems most posters here discouraged the idea, thought it wouldn't work out. I'd love to go somewhere in Europe I could work for at least a month, doing anything.View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
I am going to Germany in July for 3 weeks and maybe I am able to arrange something for you if you are interested. My best buddy back home has a small painting business, maybe I can talk to him. Btw as a painter you do drywall, wallpapering and outside stucco work. I doesn't pay a lot, but maybe it gives you a little bit of work experience there.
If you are interested contact me.Martin
Yes, that sounds interesting! I'll send you an email.View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Go to Germany. Bad scene in building developing here. Goodluck.
"Go to Germany. Bad scene in building developing here. Goodluck."
LOL! Need to re-word this thread: California carpenter seeks work in California!!View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
I spent two years living in London and I worked under the table for a young couple on odd jobs. If I were you I'd go the "rough-hack" route. (I think that's what it's called??) Sort of like a gypsy carpenter who lives in a trailer on the job site until the house is done. There are all sorts of wealthy Brits who want to buy a bombed out chateau in France or Italy and fix it up. Would be a sweet gig but the quality of tools and materials available over there will make you want to pull your hair out.
If anyone has some work in Italy, they may be able to coerce me into helping out.
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I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic
Huck - I lived in Europe for 8 years - when I got out of the Army in '74, I took a European Out and stayed in Europe for 14 months - had a BMW bike and put the miles on it - most 95+ MPH. Anyway, after summer in Greece and Italy, went school in Saltzburg and moved to Vienna for the winter and started knocking on doors - second knock the guy said show up on Monday -- I did and worked in a second generation cabinet shop with 4 masters and 4 apprentices -- I did everything for 7 months and then moved back to the states in June of '75
Going to write a book as the tales you would not believe - iron curtain time and had some time behind the IC -- My Chef (boss) had no problem getting me a work visa -- most thought I was Austrian and when I told a guy that I spoke English he asked me if I had ever been to America as he was an Austrian that had worked as a LA Policeman and move back to Austria for the socialized medicine that he need to addresses his wife's cancer -- good luck and all the best -- Dudley