Never be Afraid to Take on a New Challenge Before You Start

— Ching-Fang Hsu, Field Civil & Structural Engineer, Civil & Building Engineering Dept., CTCI Corp., Group Engineering Business

Could you briefly tell us about yourself?

Hello, I’m Gina (Hsu, Ching-Fang), a structural engineer from Civil & Building department. I’m a goal achiever who likes to take on new challenges, a fast learner, and a great contributor to teamwork who is willing to learn and share with others. I have been working at CTCI for 3.5 years. At present, I am assigned to the EP1 project in Qatar as a field engineer.

What made you join CTCI?

Honestly, as a civil engineering graduate, everyone knows CTCI. CTCI is the global company that most people want to join, and I am one of them. I submitted my resume to CTCI before I graduated with my master's degree and was lucky to get an interview. I remember the first time I went to CTCI for an interview, the environment and the people there made me even more convinced that I wanted to join CTCI.

Could you give us some examples of the foreign culture and people that impress you during your stay (when being relocated)?

There are two things I would like to share.

The first one is about Islam culture. This is my first time to experience this culture personally. As a devout Muslim, you must worship five times a day, unless you are delayed due to duty, such as a doctor or a policeman. There was one time when we were trapped in the middle of the road at lunchtime because a group of people suddenly spread out carpets directly on the asphalt road and worshipped. Sitting inside the car, I was stunned.  

The second thing is the construction site. Safety is the most important issue on our site, and we implement it very well in every activity. I came to realize that "safety first" is more than just a slogan. I was impressed by the people here. Even though we are from different countries, we have a common goal and we all put our efforts into this project. These people always share their experiences and teach me selflessly. Thus I learned a lot from them, not only about designing under high pressure and limited time but also about other disciplines, safety, communication skills, etc. They also share with me the traditional food from their home country and some of their country’s culture, which is very interesting. 

How do you get rid of work stress?

Frankly speaking, I felt very stressful during the first three months upon my arrival at the site. I am a very demanding person and was worried that I would not be able to achieve what the PM/leader wanted me to do here. I guess many people may try to eliminate stress through entertainment, but for me, understanding the source of stress and improving it was the most fundamental. I am very grateful to my colleagues around me. Whether they are in Taipei or on site, they have taught me from experience that "there is no need to worry about things that can be solved, and there is no use to be nervous about things that cannot be solved." I'm sure we've all heard this old sayings before, but it really became a beacon of light for me when I felt hyper stressful.

On weekends, we would visit some attractions in Qatar, do special or interesting things so that they can become part of our memories, as well as refresh our mood for upcoming new challenges every week. I went to Purple Island for kayaking, to a farm for camel racing, to the museum of Islamic Art in Doha, and to the Doha education stadium where 2021 FIFA Arab Cup was held. In addition, on Eid holiday our administration team arranged trips for all employees to Katara Village and Souq Waqif Market. All these memories are wonderful experiences that I never got.

Could you share some interesting experience you had when working in CTCI?

It was difficult to apply for a visa due to COVID-19, which is why I arrived in Qatar almost a year later than scheduled. COVID-19 also prevented us from engaging more outdoor activities and experiencing more of the Qatari culture, which is a pity.

However, I still have a lot of great memories from my time here.
This is my first overseas assignment, my first time working on a construction site, and my first time in the Middle East. When I accepted this assignment, I was very excited, but as the saying goes, "Imagination is the scariest thing in the world". It wasn't until I actually got here that the nerves and anxiety were lifted from my mind. It was all thanks to my amazing colleagues here. I will never forget the day I moved into the dormitory, when they prepared pizza, fried chicken, pasta, and drinks to welcome my arrival. It made me feel very integrated into the family.

Not only that, we usually cook after work and go shopping for daily necessities together. We also take care of each other if we are not feeling well. What I want to say is that in the three and a half years I've been with CTCI, I've always been grateful for the wonderful people I've met, really.