A Reflection from a Multi-Cultural Perspective -- My Work and Life in Saudi Arabia

Could you briefly tell us about yourself?

I have worked at CTCI for around 4.5 years now, with one and a half years in the Equipment Department. My work mainly involves tasks like TBE and vendor clarification.

I have been serving as a schedule engineer since transferring back from the Mechanical & Equipment Engineering Department.

What made you join CTCI?

As my degree was in management, and specifically project management-related, it seemed natural for me to work in a company specializing in the types of services and operations that CTCI does. Also, an old military friend had joined CTCI and really seemed to enjoy working here. The company has a rare quality that cultivates and motivates any employee—or person—that it crosses paths with.

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

Being dispatched to Saudi Arabia was a truly great experience. Be it the people, culture, or work ethic, everything there is alien and vastly different compared with how it is in places like Taiwan and the UK. 

If you asked me which aspect of living in KSA shows most culture shock, it would be the prayer, also known as Salah, taking place 5 times a day is a tremendous commitment and effort to be put into your religion. 

Starting 5 o’clock in the morning the first thing you will hear is not the sound of your alarm, but the sound of Salah. Imagine coming back to Taiwan and you wake up wondering why you did not wake up because the alarm did not go off. Furthermore, while working abroad in KSA, neither shop nor restaurant will be opening for service during Salah is also a strange phenomenon. As a result you grow accustomed to cooking for yourself.

On the other hand, while working with the Client, you will find the work ethic is vastly different. With the Arabians being very cautious and assertive regarding their profession, working as a coordinator amongst Client and Third Party takes certain amount of patience in order to achieve the scope intended. In particular, while joining hand with client to achieve a reliable reputation, protecting CTCI’s interest while also meeting the demands of both sides was always a primary target, this requires extra efforts for communication while Change Order is applied.

To conclude, this oversea experience endowed me with tremendous amount of work experience and opportunity to witness the growth of myself as well as the project itself, I would not change it for the world.

How do you get rid of work stress?

I enjoy a good workout—the harder you go, the more stress you get rid of. I am also currently teaching martial arts at a university during the weekend.

Could you give us some examples about Taiwanese culture and people that you are impressed with?

Growing up in a western country, security was always a concern regarding the safety of myself and my property.

In Taiwan, however, you can leave your house any time you want without looking over your shoulder. People are also very willing to help you if they know you’re from out of town.

In other words, people are warm, mindful, and friendly in Taiwan; there is no place I feel safer.