Osman Javed (33) and Jahanzeb Alam (35), both cloud infrastructure specialists, travelled 10.060 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur to Enschede, to join Keenondots and bring its ODIN platform to the next level.
Their ambition is to integrate your platform with ours, in such a way that you can keep on working on your existing platform, while your billing is automatically processed through ours. An all-in-one window. Not just for big companies, but also for smaller ones.
Let us introduce to you the men behind this technical feat.
From Kuala Lumpur to Enschede
Osman and Jahanzeb were colleagues before in Kuala Lumpur at Datacom, ODIN’s provider. Both are of Pakistan nationality. Jahanzeb originally comes from Karachi where he got his master in Information Technology. Osman spent most of his life in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and the United States of America, where he studied Computer Electronics Engineering and got his masters in IT Management.
Although they enjoyed working for Datacom they were both looking for a more challenging job. Keenondots offered this opportunity. Using their niche expertise, they are now focussing on two challenges for the coming year: improving and standardizing the integration of ODIN with all kinds of platforms and developing the offer of the platform-as-a-service.
Life in the Netherlands
As Keenondots was their customer at Datacom, Osman and Jahanzeb knew who would be their future colleagues when they decided to switch. Apparently Keenondots’ staff was likeable enough for them to pack up their stuff and start working with them on a daily base.
So the workplace isn’t the biggest change. Even the direct way of the Dutch doesn’t put them off. Osman explains: “I like it when people tell me straight what they want, as long as it is constructive. I am like that as well. So no, that’s not a big adjustment. The climate, on the other hand, is.” When he just arrived in July 2017 he was struck by the long evenings and then again in winter time by the short days. He doesn’t like the cold but adds that it is nice to be able to bike without sweating. Because both of them cycle to work. They have to, as taxis are not around in the Netherlands, like they are in Kuala Lumpur.
Unlike Osman, who is single, Jahanzeb brought his wife and two sons Haseeb (6) and Muhib (5) with him when he moved to our country in October 2017. His boys will be learning Dutch in the coming year and then go to a Dutch school. When Jahanzeb just moved in his Dutch home, his elderly neighbour came by to welcome him. Only after 15 minutes of speaking in Dutch he realized his new neighbour did not understand what he was saying. Nevertheless they have good contact and are now communicating through Google Translate.
That was the only time Jahanzeb ran into such a situation as most Dutch speak English, he says. But then Osman steps in by saying: “All Dutch do speak fluently English, but the products in the supermarket only have Dutch labels. That’s difficult!”
Spice it up, you Dutch!
Talking about food Osman shares he likes kibbeling (fried fish) and patat (French fries). Drop (licorice) is something they both do not appreciate. When asked what they miss, they both agree on spices although they found a shop with plenty in store. So, like all the Dutch, they are also cooking at home now. Even Osman, who hardly even cooked a meal when he was living in Kuala Lumpur.
Bringing their own cuisine they spice up their life in the Netherlands. When asking if they have any advice for the Dutch, Jahanzeb replies: “Eat more spices!” Why? So you can eat and survive all over the world!” Such a true word.