First Week

I woke up to the fourth sunny day in a row now in Taiwan – a record for me when looking back on my past experience in Taipei. I guess that’s one major bonus of Hsinchu, although I haven’t figured out if it is enough to totally convince me that living in the industrial park is better than living in the city. We’ll see.

This morning was pretty exciting. The President invited me to a sales meeting with some Americans who were interested in expanding their product line. They liked our solution and our technology but what I found most interesting was watching our leader in action. He is an unbelievable salesman and I know I will learn a lot from him. It was also exciting to watch a business deal evolve from initial product introduction to the evaluation of possible ways to partner in the future. Aside from playing them out in business class, I’ve had very little experience with real world business deals. I am currently in the process of learning the ins and outs of the products so I also learned a lot from the initial presentation as well as the questions the clients were asking – questions I will have to answer to in just a few short months.

This week I am being left alone to soak up all the information I can. I am being thrown manuals and articles, and relevant websites and podcasts – all that will help educate me on our products and the markets in which we operate. It’s really similar to the kind of research we did for business projects at Ivey, except I think this time around it will take weeks instead of hours. I am often pulled aside by different employees in the company – engineers, product managers, salesmen – and given brief presentations on relevant topics. It’s a lot to take in.

Have I mentioned the hours here in Taiwan? These people are machines! Most people come into the office around 9:30am - fine – but they don’t leave until around 10:00pm, some even staying past midnight! Machines. I told Christina that it’s just not in my DNA to handle hours like that. She said she was the same, but that after being here for nine months she’s started to adopt their ways. For instance, leaving and coming back after dinner and only meaning to stay for an extra hour can easily turn into three. I was here until after 8:00pm last night and I know what she means. The employees are livelier at night. They engage you in certain activities and tasks almost making you not want to leave. And of course, everyone is tired, but that is no excuse here. People push through. If you’re tired, eat quickly at lunch and take a nap at your desk. I think I will learn even better work habits here than I did at university. Like that’s a surprise – hehe.

I have to admit, Taiwanese food is better than I remember. Keep in mind that is saying a lot given the fact that I am eating mass production food from the company cafeteria every day. Christina watches me in disgust as I make comments like, “it’s not that bad; I actually really like it (on today’s seaweed soup).” She is convinced that all I need is a few more weeks, after I’ve experienced my second menu repeat and I will be singing a different tune. I would rather not talk about it and let it happen on its own terms. For now, I am content.

Well, it’s almost 6:30. We are leaving earlier than usual today (although not early by North American standards) so that we can bring Christina’s scooter in for repairs. I swear, if I wasn’t here to push her she would let that thing rust on the sidewalk until she leaves in January. She bought it months ago and still hasn’t used it! I was right on that like a kid on candy. That scooter is my ticket out of the industrial park and into the lovely nearby city of Hsinchu where I can eat a variety of different cuisines, take Mandarin courses at the University, and meet foreigners who have also parked here in Taiwan for a while. Christina has agreed to share it with me as long as I agree to be the designated chauffer - Fine by me as long as you hang on tight and don’t mind my driving.

Oh that reminds me! One last interesting fact before I take off. Yesterday I was warned - very seriously - to watch out for trucks while walking on the street. Apparently, here in Taiwan if a truck hits you and you survive, the driver is obligated to take care of you financially for the rest of your life. However, if he hits you and you happen to…die…he only has to pay your family two million NTD’s – a small price to pay if you ask me. Well you can imagine where this is going. As confirmed by a number of my co-workers, if you are struck by a truck driver on the street he WILL intentionally back over you again…and again to make sure that you are dead so he avoids the burden of having to provide lifelong financial support. Wow. Yeah. So if the long hours don’t kill me a fluke truck accident will. Until next time…