When my supervisor first invited me to go on an overseas business trip, my mind was very complicated. At first, I was surprised and flattered that my capabilities had been recognized, but soon after, endless anxiety ensued.
I had wanted to go overseas and experience different work cultures and norms, because it would be healthy for me to leave my comfort zone and challenge myself. But at the same time, I had four young children at home, who needed me to run the household. I was not sure if they could cope without me.

When I first got to the overseas office, my colleagues were very friendly. My work efficiency was not compromised in any way, and after work, I was free to roam the city as I pleased.
What I always looked forward to was visiting a nearby mall on my day off and spending every last dime of my per diem!
The hardest thing to get used to was the local food. The flavors were vastly different, and at those times, I found myself missing the buffets in Taiwan.

The business trip overseas allowed me to meet different colleagues and get along with people with different personalities. Over the course of our collaboration, I had the chance to consider my shortcomings at work in terms of communication and coordination. I also thought about how I could improve the way I handled problems so that others might feel more comfortable. This would be helpful for our communication at work in the future.

One year, I happened to follow a group of research and development supervisors and the owner on a business trip.
On our return trip, we stopped at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and suddenly, a huge thunderstorm came in. All flights were cancelled.
And being the most junior staff, I even got lost and couldn’t reach my supervisors! !

At that time, our luggage was all checked-in, and there were no flights that we could stand by for.
I took the small toiletries bag the airport gave us, and just stared ahead blankly in the hall.

The owner of the business group was staying in Chicago for two more days, as he had other arrangements.
So I gathered what courage I could and dialed the phone:

“Boss, I am stuck at the airport. Would it be possible for you to come pick me up and look for a hotel room downtown?”
Boss was probably taking a nap, so he hesitated for three seconds and said, “Oh, okay, sure~”
Then he told me where I should wait for him. A few minutes later, the boss was there to pick me up.

I didn’t have much of business travel experience, and it was also my first time in the city. The incident showed that I had pretty poor adaptability.
After we found a hotel for me to stay over, the boss asked how I was planning to go to the airport the next morning.
“I’ll probably ask the receptionist to call a cab for me, or I’ll see if there is an airport shuttle bus,” I said.
Boss thought for a while and said, “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning, and we can have a chat on the way.”
The next morning, the sky was incredibly clear; the huge thunderstorm yesterday seemed like just a dream.
During the short half hour ride, the boss had not only taught me the direction in which I should prepare for my work, he also listened to all the questions which I was afraid to raise, and graciously shared his thoughts.

At that time, I had a really close colleague who was going through a professional bottleneck period, so I also seized the opportunity and asked him, “Boss, would you have time to chat with a certain colleague?”
Boss, with one hand on the steering wheel, and the other hand drinking coffee, nodded assuredly, “Sure, have him make an appointment with my secretary.”
Boss didn’t ask for my reasons, but whenever a colleague needs his opinion, he offers his thoughts. I was deeply impressed by his attitude.

At the boarding gate, I finally met my supervisors, whom I had lost contact with yesterday, and it turned out that they had slept at the airport for the night.
They said I was the luckiest of them all.
How thankful I was for the heavy thunderstorm that day!

Come to think of it, I have joined Wistron for almost four years now. I remember that one week after I first joined, I started my very first business trip. I was so looking forward to it and set out with great excitement. In the following years, I have had to go on business trips to China around 50 percent of the time. Our colleagues in Kunshan foundry have been very supportive. They have always tried to help out as best as they could, especially when I am not in the foundry. Their assistance is imperative in fulfilling many of the customers’ requirements. I have gradually come to accustom to the way we work together. 

The most interesting part about working on overseas assignments is the opportunity to make small trips to different places and experience different cultures and lifestyles. The hardest part to get used to is the internet connection. The restriction imposed by the firewall in China makes it hard to connect to websites that I use at work back home. I am resorted to using VPN for connection, which can be unstable. In the past two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our working trips have been vastly affected. Apart from taking into account the quarantine time, much of our schedule in Taiwan has to be adjusted, despite it having been planned well ahead. Also, I have to deal with the worries of my family and friends, as well as my own insecurity of whether I would catch the disease. Nonetheless, I have to account for all of these variables and make plans as best as possible to focus on my assignment overseas. 

Many may associate luxurious hotels, exotic gourmet and mileage awards with working trips, or fantasize about communicating with foreigners in fluent English and earning the limelight. It is true that one or all of the above may happen. However, more often than not, these are just products of fantasy. On the contrary, learning as much as possible during these trips is the most crucial thing. 

Actually, last year, when I first found out I had to go on a business trip, I was upset and quite worried, after all, the global pandemic was still grim and my family was against the idea. I thought about it and contemplated why the company asked me to due to the necessary business expansion. After thinking it through, I found that it would be a good opportunity for my career as well. While thinking positively as much as possible, I tried to persuade my family to let me go. After the project was finished, I could also pay my parents a visit back home. 

Interestingly, this time, I got to go to a metropolitan area where I had always wanted to but never had the opportunity to-Shanghai. When I started working, I had the desire to go there and get started with nothing. But for some reason, it did not happen and I had to give up. After this business trip, I had more yearning for the place. The thing I could not get used to the most was not being around my family. I could not have dinner with them. But then, after the project was over, I could get together with my aging parents. 

My experience overseas allows me to develop a product and its manufacturing process from a practical point of view. Not only must I design the framework of the product during the development process, I also had to take into account the practical application of production. It is helpful to my development process in the future, as I can also take into consideration the feasibility aspect during the production. During these business trips, the process of providing support has not only enhanced my experience, I am also able to foster a closer relationship with counterparts that I have been liaising with remotely. 

After weighing the pros and cons, the overseas business trips have actually provided us with many advantages. 

When it was confirmed that I would be assigned overseas, I felt both excited and somewhat anxious. I was about to embark on an unknown but new exhilarating environment. Although I had studied abroad, but it was the first time I would be working abroad. The destination was Guangdong, China, a place that spoke my language but had a slightly different culture. When I set out on my journey, I had countless imaginations to fill in the information gap, including different simulations for anxiety and circumstances. But when I thought about being able to step out of my comfort zone, the reward of self development and challenging the unknown future, my anxiety about the assignment overseas began to subside. On the contrary, I started to look forward to it and felt quite joyful. 

As the destination of my assignment was Zhongshan, Guangdong, the most interesting part of the city was the Qijiang River bank near Xingzhong Square. There were stalls that set up tables and chairs and served beverages. Chilling out and gossiping with friends by the river bank and chit-chatting with colleagues who were also assigned here while having a cup was splendid. We got to talk about the hardship we faced at work and the reward we reaped. We could also encourage one another and share stories. This was an exotic experience that would otherwise not have happened if I had stayed in Taiwan. However, when the Cantonese rinsed the cutlery, plates and bowls with boiling hot water for disinfection in restaurants, I knew it was something that I had to get used to. Probably after living here for a longer period, I should be able to. 

Having worked in Taiwan, I have got accustomed to the way Taiwanese communicate and think. However, the differences a foreign city presents in terms of culture and education content would leave a different impression. More often than not, working overseas requires more patience in communication to ensure that both parties understand the correct message and accomplish the common goal. In the process, there may be conflict and disagreement. In this regard, it requires more effort to reduce and minimize differences. But once you get through the process, working overseas rewards you with a different kind of growth. No matter where you are assigned to, it is an experience and test. Learning to collaborate with others when you are away from home and cultivating your capability in looking after yourself are the skills you pick up. Wanderers will always go home one day after they are worn out. But before they are, experiencing the trial of working overseas will always bring you different memories.