"Don't think that going abroad will make things easier—it's still just work! There's no such thing as suddenly becoming easier," my senior shared candidly. As I watched her bravely pursue work in Singapore and wondered if I might have similar opportunities there, instead of the usual motivational advice to "just go for it," she directly revealed the harsh reality of working abroad.
The last time I visited Singapore, the cityscape and atmosphere felt wonderful to me. I thought it would be a good place to "practice" English while still being able to communicate in Chinese if needed. Since I had lived in Korea for half a year without knowing any Korean at all, I figured I should be able to adapt just as well in an English-speaking country. This made me seriously consider Singapore as a destination to "hone myself," so I messaged my senior.
Because my English listening and speaking abilities are really not that strong—my reading and writing are decent, but when I speak, I'm barely at a junior high school level—"Why don't you try language school first?" When my senior suggested this, I actually started to reflect. The idea of throwing myself into an English-speaking country to start working seemed too naive! "I think you shouldn't just follow what everyone else is doing and go abroad. Think about what's best for you. I really, truly recommend that you think of Singapore as an English-speaking country." My senior shared that finding a decent job requires treating English as your mother tongue, because "even at the interview stage, nobody will speak Chinese with you." You don't just adapt once you arrive—nobody at work will wait for you to adjust.
This advice was incredibly practical and genuine. Of course, I might have been too naive. We should first clarify "Why do you want to go abroad?" For me, I hope to step out of my comfort zone, overcome my laziness, and really improve my English. Just as "Aisha" mentioned in her book, in Singapore, she worked hard to break through her social circle, expanding her perspective and collaboration opportunities by getting to know friends from different backgrounds.
I really admire this, because I tend to be afraid of making new friends, but that's exactly why I want to change my environment and polish myself. However, regarding breaking out of your social circle, you don't actually need to leave the country—you can do it in Taiwan too. For example, you could attend community meetups like the tech industry women's gatherings I've heard about, or more widely known organizations like the Lions Club or Rotary Club. Members come from different backgrounds, and joining is ultimately about broadening your horizons.
Another thing is, with my poor English ability, I could only do low-level work in Singapore. Aren't these types of jobs easily replaceable, with long hours, low pay—exactly like in Taiwan? And when you can't take it anymore and impulsively quit, you lose your "work status," your visa becomes a tourist visa, and you can only stay in Singapore for a month. During this short month, you can only wonder whether to give up or quickly find another job to muddle through—your mood will be heavily affected. Is this really why people want to go abroad?
For myself, I work in media, and I'd probably still be working in that field abroad. But Singapore has few media outlets, and my senior frankly said it's not suitable for journalism, telling me to "think about your strengths—that matters more than anything." "I think people here aren't necessarily more capable. Taiwanese people are actually more diverse, creative, and hardworking. So find your strengths and leverage them—don't just follow where everyone else goes," Because we're willing to leave home and go abroad to work to add value to ourselves and improve our living conditions in every way. Don't be seduced by external conditions for a moment and end up undermining your own strengths, only to find yourself lost without suitable work again.
Because you can find just-okay work anytime, but work that actually adds value requires you to be prepared first before you can make an impact. Without first creating your own differentiation, how can you stand out?
That day, I was very grateful to my senior for sharing so much with me. Years ago, when I was considering a student exchange to Korea, I followed her lead as the first student in our department to go there, which helped me discover new horizons. I had asked her for advice back then too, and because she shared so genuinely, I've been able to think carefully before every major decision. I wish her all the best in her work in Singapore, with smooth sailing and worthwhile rewards :)
