People of Amsterdam | Nina

Meet the People of Amsterdam. Here we will showcase a different Amsterdam native every week. Every Amsterdam native will share a little about their lives during quarantine, sharing their favorite spots, and what makes Amsterdam so special to them. These interviews showcased another perspective that influenced their lifestyles. Read about how each individual continues to pursue their career. Take it all in. After all, the People of Amsterdam know Amsterdam best. This week: Nina Wagner, Production and Operation Manager @Extreme Cashmere

Have there been any changes in how you work? How do you cope with those changes?

Primarily, the work from home. This influenced communication and interaction with the team. To be able to work at home efficiently and to give oneself a structure was a challenge in the beginning.

Could you share with us about your mindset to stay motivated?
I am used to working in a very lively and interactive context. The exchange is stimulating and motivating. As this was no longer the case, it simply helped us to keep things moving and exchange ideas through daily zoom-team meetings and mutual support.

How do you continue to build relationships with the people you work with?
Much of my work and the people I work with are already digital anyway – because we produce outside of Holland. This hasn’t changed much in the way we work with them. With the team we tried, as already mentioned, to keep up the exchange via telephone and zoom calls. Now that you can go back to work in the office, the exchange has also become a bit more normalised.

Could you tell us about the spot where you and your colleagues love to hangout?

We always see each other once a day for lunch in the kitchen. We try to keep this up, but surely this is also difficult with the given measures.

Do you have a goal of how you’ll come out of this Covid-19 situation? Could you tell us about it and how you’re going to achieve it?

To be honest – take it as it comes and make the best out of it. It is, anyway, so difficult to plan in the future . I think I plan to think small, to reward what is there, and to grow with this.

Is there something or someone that’s helping you to get through the lockdown?

I think we are all in the same boat and with the given respect and exchange we can all make the whole situation a little bit easier.

Have you adopted anything new as a part of your lifestyle? Do you see it continuing even after the pandemic?

To think on a small scale and to benefit and learn from it without having to move on and on. I think that’s something I would certainly like to adopt as a new part of my lifestyle.

We all have something we could be proud of. Could you share with us your moment of pride during the lockdown?

Difficult to name a single thing here. I think more to confront and accept the situation and try to make the best out of it. and also to see the good in it.

Have you found a new spot in Amsterdam that you are going to more often?

I discovered the platform of the BIMHUIS next to the main station – there, you can enjoy the evening sun for a long time. And I discovered Westerpark for reading.

Restaurants and local stores were closed for a while. Which one are you glad to have reopened and why?

To be honest, when I eat out, it is usually a special occasion for me. So I didn’t really miss eating out. But in the sense of going out and being together and enjoying a nice evening or a moment, I certainly missed that. I must also say that we were really lucky here with the lockdown, as many shops were actually still open and accessible during the whole time.

How are you going to spend your vacation days, now that you can hardly travel anywhere?

Here in Holland. I have not lived in Holland that long and still have many places to discover, even here in Amsterdam.

Are you longing for things to complete return to what it was? Or do you have something you wish to have continued into the future?

As I said, I have to say that we were lucky with the lockdown here, if you compare Amsterdam with other cities. Therefore it is not always easy but certainly doable to adapt to the circumstances. Of course, it would be nice if everything would be a bit more natural again, without measures and masks. With great certainty also for all people and industries which were hit hard by the virus. What I have certainly learned to appreciate, is working in an office. I find it gratifying to be able to get up in the morning and change places instead of working from home – even if this sometimes clearly has its advantages as well. Even just for the exchange in the office or just on the way there. You see things and people. Every encounter can be inspiring. So it doesn’t always have to be travelling, but even small distances help to clear and refill your head. I live in the middle of the city, in the red light district. To be allowed to experience this part of the city so calmly was insane. Amsterdam is such a beautiful city and you have noticed this even more during this time.

Do you have a tip or advice for the reader to help them get through the pandemic?

To try to accept, try to understand, try to learn, and create from it.