This trip was an amazing experience. Before this trip, I was inclined to find a job back to my home country, because I thought it was the safest bet and there is no place like home. But after this trip, in which we got a glimpse of Taiwan’s manufacturing industry, I might change my mind. The companies that I found extremely interesting were Delta, Phison, A-Pro, and GPM. I used to work in a manufacturing company and they were slightly similar. I like how these companies invest in research and development, which is a notable contrast to Honduras. Another fascinating factoid to me was that I never heard of these companies before but I have heard lots of the products they manufacture. For example, I currently have several Phison’s USB products. I also own an Xbox 360 with cooling fans produced by Delta. Based on the few hours we spent at each company, I also liked the way they treat their employees. A-Pro seems like a big family and GPM works like a highly efficient team. And if the way they welcome us can be samples of the Taiwanese hospitality and company’s attitude toward foreigners, then I must say that Taiwan is a great place to live and work. Perhaps the only obstacle is the language barrier. I am certain that some other students can speak fluent Chinese and may be candidates whom Taiwan’s companies are eagerly needing. For those struggling with the language, we still need to learn and practice. GPM told me speaking English and Mandarin is a tremendous advantage, especially for those companies with support sites in the US and even in South East Asia. I learned some Chinese but until now I still cannot hold a conversation without mixing English, but I think this is a challenge which can be overcome gradually if I continuously work on it.
