Let's balance 'em eggs up!

Let's balance 'em up!
Dragon Boat Festival Style!

Yeah! Today was the first day of our race and guess what? We're moving forward to round two! Party on! Say what? Hope that we can advance further to Semi-Finals!

NCKU-IIMBA Dragon Boat team 2014

But, did you know that other than the race itself, one of the most important traditions during Dragon Boat festival involves balancing eggs? You heard me right! Eggs... Balancing eggs! According to Taiwanese tradition, Egg Balancing would bring good luck and fortune! Moreover, this has been a popular craze all over the world!

Quoting from Ms. Ottavia Huang's Blog, during the dragon boat festival, the pull of gravity tends to be at its strongest during the position of Earth in respect with the Sun in our solar system.

Solar Solstice (This year's June 1st-2nd)

This phenomena however has been proven to have no significant connection in the Earth's position. They mentioned that it's solely due to the mood and concentration of the one who balances the egg and that the eggs may be balanced any time of the year.

My good friend Otta's egg balancing activity

Why keep on doing it then if it's proven already that there's not scientific fact behind it? Well, it's fun! Balancing those eggs can be a huge challenge! really! Moreover, it's about the tradition! It wouldn't hurt anyone to actually try it and even receive good luck and fortune, right?

So here's what we will do! I'll give you a chance to win a 500 NTD Carrefour Gift check  by posting a photo of yourself and as many eggs balanced as possible! Yes, a selfie with all those eggs you've balanced!

Rules and Regulations:

1. Everyone can join the competition however the winner will only be for people who are in Taiwan.

2. Take a photo of yourself together with as many eggs as possible tomorrow at exactly 12:00 noon.

3. Post it on Facebook with #Balancingemeggsup and tagging my name Aldrin Perez Atienza as well as this blog.

4. The person who got the highest number of standing eggs on June 2nd will win the prize.

So what are you waiting for? Train yourself! Prepare! And Balance 'em eggs up!

CREDITS to Ms. Ottavia Huang's blog for all photos and information!

Working in Taiwan: For Foreigners

Working in Taiwan: For Foreigners

My blog's been up now for 3 months now and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking a moment of your time to read my articles. I will do my best to keep on updating my blog for as much as I can for your viewing entertainment! I hope that you are learning a lot from the things that I have posted in this blog.

More importantly, however, one of my friends asked a very important question: Have you done a post about working in Taiwan as a Foreigner/Filipino? And, honestly speaking, nope, not even once, which was actually weird since this is a blog that highlights my experience in Taiwan as a foreign professional. Therefore, thanks to Ms. Amy Hubbard, I have prepared a very nice article for everyone especially for those who are aspiring to work here in Taiwan.

TYPES OF WORKERS IN TAIWAN

Basically, there are two types of workers in Taiwan namely the Blue collared and the White collared workers. Blue collar workers are skilled laborers or foreigners working as household helpers or factory workers and are working under a binding contract of a specific time period. On the other hand, White collar workers are foreigners working in a specialized or technical work.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

So, I heard that you really want to work in Taiwan. Here you go! I've prepared an infograph just for you! The infograph below dictates information and requirements if you would like to work here in Taiwan. I'll give a brief explanation for each block right after the infograph. NOTE: If you want a copy fo the Inforgraph, just send me a message or place a comment below!

WAYS OF LANDING A JOB IN TAIWAN

There are different ways in order for you to land a job here in Taiwan. The most common among all of them would be graduating from a legitimate Degree program here in Taiwan. There's a ton of universities here in Taiwan that offers scholarships for a 2 year MA or MBA degree. After graduation, the government of Taiwan then gives you the opportunity to be hired by letting you stay in Taiwan for 6 more additional months. 

Been there, done that? Well try checking some online job searching sites such as 104.com.tw, 1111.com.tw (Yes, they are all numbers) and Orseek.com.tw. These websites are popular job search engines here in Taiwan. However, take note that 104 and 1111 are all in Mandarin. I suggest that you either ask help from a friend who can read and write in Chinese but if you don't, then Google translate can assist you but it may not be as good as you think.

IMPORTANT RULES AND REGULATIONS

Of course, it's important that as a foreign worker that you know your rights, and equally important, your requirements. Your company must sponsor your ARC or Alien Residence card as per Taiwan government regulations. In order for the process to proceed, you must supply your employer with the following documents:

1. Highest Degree Diploma

2. Recent 2x2 Photo (according to Taiwan regulations)

3. Proof of Residency / Rent Contract

Your employer will print a copy of your contract and then apply for a work permit for you. After receiving the work permit, you should then proceed and apply for your ARC.

Now, let's talk about Salary! According to regulations, the minimum salary for Foreigners in Taiwan is 47,971 NTD. However, it should be clear that there are certain exemptions and this includes the salary for Research Assistants (Bachelors 31,250 NTD & Masters 36,050 NTD) as well as graduates from universities in Taiwan (37,619 NTD, Yes, if you finished your masters, that is the minimum wage according to the law). Take note that all deductions such as Tax and health insurances are excluded and are allowed to be deducted from your salary. It depends upon your skills in negotiation and experience on how you would be able to work things out.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, TIPS, AND CONCLUSION

It's been two years now since I became a part of the workforce here in Taiwan. And I must say, it is a feat that I am really proud of. We all know that we are away from our families and that living alone takes the best out of us. Experiencing rejection (at least 85% of the time) was probably that something that I will always remember from my experience here in Taiwan. I didn't work in the corporate world right away to tell you the truth. I think not every one knows. I was a Cram School teacher for a year right after MBA. However, being a Filipino that I am, I was rejected by almost every single Cram school employer out there, except for one! I received a phone call one day and he said "Why don't we try and see first, then I'll decide". To cut it short, I got the job and I became an English Cram school teacher! And I am very proud to be one! Because I learned that educating children is something that I can hold on to forever. I was able to make a difference in those kids lives.

But I had to move forward. I was hungry for more! I started throwing my CV's everywhere in 104 and in 1111. However, to no avail, I always face either of the two situations: A. My Chinese was not enough and/or B. The salary offered was way too low. I guess this connects to the tips that I could share to everyone who's reading this article right now.

TIP 1: Never give up! Just keep sending out those CVs!

TIP 2: Never lose hope! Hope is something that keeps you going!

TIP 3: Never give in! Don't you ever accept a low salary! It's your right!

TIP 4: Lastly, never tie yourself in Taiwan if you really couldn't find one.

My experience in Taiwan has been a life changing experience. It gave me a broader horizon and numerous opportunities. I guess this is one reason why I started this blog. I guess I want other people to have that life changing experience as well and grow as an individual. I sincerely invite you to come here in Taiwan and experience the Life of an Expat!

Genesis 12:1
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.

Question of the Day: The Old vs. The New Sales Model

The Old vs. The New:

Sales Model

How's your weekend guys! Mine? Tiring! Dragon Boat races are just around the corner and we started our boat practices last Saturday (my back was aching until yesterday!). Other than Dragon Boat, our Thai friends here in National Cheng Kung University celebrated their Songkran Festival (Thai Water Festival) last Sunday. Quite a week eh? But it was definitely a fun-filled weekend!

I think I was way too happy in this photo... =_="

The question of the day was brought to you by LinkedIn. You know guys, I really do suggest that you apply for a LinkedIn account (especially for professionals). I picked up a lot of useful articles, insights, and cases just from my daily news feed. Like our question for today! The Old vs. The New!

I think it's obvious that everyone of us have that "salesperson" within us since we were kids. You don't believe me? Well, remember that time on 1st grade when you have a lot of candies but you would like to take a sip from your classmate's "oh-so" delicious chocolate milk drink? That's right! Your first barter trade! Or when your seatmate in highschool forgot to bring a piece of paper for that surprise quiz? And guess who supplied the whole class in exchange for a few change? That's right, You! But in this day and time, the way that the game is played changes more often than not in order to cope up with the times. Like our model above. 

THE OLD

 A well dressed Sales Representative will walk around town, knocking on your doorstep and fronting a big smile. Instead of receiving emails, most people would receive phone calls. These phone calls would come from Sales Representatives who would do their best to offer their products during your conversation. The good old times, right? However, is it still efficient in this time? In my opinion, the answer is "No".

THE NEW

In this age and time, information is most likely the most valuable asset for new generation sales representatives. Every single one of your potential customer are connected in the world wide web, and most likely owns at least 3 social networking accounts. Instead of giving a demo on how your product works, why not educate them of the importance of your product? Engaging the customers helps them get more involved with how they wanted their product to be which in turn helps increase the chances of having your products sold.

CONCLUSION

We all know that times change, so does our market, and the ways we engage with them. We are now facing a market with complex needs and wants, with the fact that all of them are educated and well informed buyers. So let's keep up with the tide! Make a change!

Proverbs 16:3

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Expectations

Expectations: Oh Life!

I can still remember the moment that I watched the very first video from their Youtube account. It was a video full of emotions as they gave everyone the glimpse of what happens in most break-ups (watch it! It's worth it!). But most of all, their recent video regarding Expectations caught me the most. You can check their video below.

I've been there specially for the most part! Growing up, I remember that my family used to call me "Attorney" or I would hear that I'll become a doctor someday (which failed greatly when they found out that I was afraid of blood when I was a kid...Shame on you Aldrin! haha). This then brings me to my next topic! One of 9gag's most famous meme: The Asian Dad!

I have to be honest though, my parents weren't really as sadistic as these fellows! hahaha but kidding aside, I guess this is one of the most prominent issues most Asians face. Admit it! What's the most common line for most parents (especially for Filipino families)? Mag-aral ka ng mabuti! (tans: STUDY HARD!). This measures causes extreme pressure that leads to lower self-esteem and great fear over failures.

I remember that by the time that I reached my last year in Highschool, my family told me that I should make my own decisions. That I should bear the responsibility of choosing the university degree that I want (but not disregarding the fact that it should land me on a high paying job! Just kidding! Love you mom and dad!). I can't deny the fact that expectations are good, but if taken to extremes may lead to chaos. 

Sometimes I ask myself, why can't people just be who they wanted to be? Like the video I showed you, I think it's time that we give our kids a chance to make a choice. Don't worry! I'm not asking you to abandon them, but i'm asking you to be their guide (and not their dictator). 

"Life isn't perfect and so are we"

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Question of the Day: What works for you?

What works for you?

The question for today is a simple picture I saw while browsing through Facebook. So here's my question for today! Which equation works for you? "Income less savings is equal to your expenses" or "income less expenses is equal to your savings"?

Let's talk about our spending ways and discuss which is actually the correct way, or I think this question is vital specially for young adults like me (Yes, I am still young!). And I would like to share to you my thoughts regarding this matter. 

Let's start by defining the following items! All of these definitions came from Merriam-Webster's website.

INCOME(noun : \ˈin-ˌkəm also ˈin-kəm or ˈiŋ-kəm\)

-Is the money that is earned from work, investments, business, etc.

EXPENSES(noun \ik-ˈspen(t)s\)

-The amount of money that is needed to pay for or buy something.

SAVINGS(noun: plural \ˈseɪvɪŋ\)

-The excess of income over consumption expenditures.

After learning about their definitions, let's now look at the two equation.

Let's start with the first equation:

INCOME - EXPENSES = SAVINGS

In a general way, we always believe that what is left is what we can keep. Like how our salaries are computed (Gross Income less deductions is equal to Net Income/Take away pay). 

This equation in my opinion however is an inefficient way of saving. Why? It's simply because most of us would tend to indulge ourselves in numerous miscellaneous expenditures. Come on, let's be honest, most of us would love to have that latest Smartphone model, a brand new next generation console (for guys), or that nice dress, those perfect pair of shoes (for girls). No need to deny it, I'm guilty of this as well. We all are. Those who have credit cards are often a victim of this as we are attracted by 0% interests with a "6-month" payment term.

How do you control this? Well, I think it works well if you know how to prioritize. Prioritizing which are the required expenses for a given period will change the outcome drastically. Next one is self-satisfaction, because what you want is that those savings be used mainly for special and important expenditures. However, if you're not satisfied, most of us would say "it's okay to spend my savings for one more pair of shoes since the first one didn't suit me well". 

"We'll always find reasons to use our savings when we're not satisfied of what we have."

INCOME - SAVINGS = EXPENSES

For the next equation, I for one believe that this is not the common way of spending specially for most Filipinos. However, this is known to be the most effective way of "Saving". This way of savings was recently pertained to as the "Kurot" (Pinching) way of saving. This is definitely a "frugal" way of saving money (by the way, being frugal is not being a cheapskate!). When we take savings into account first and then spend for what is left, we feel less guilty of spending it since we know that we already have a part of it safe inside a bank.

However, the issue here is the portion of the money we have to save! Most of us end up saving less to bring a big portion for spending. I guess we just have to  be more conscious of the purpose of our savings. I mean saving another dollar more and spending another dollar less can really make a difference.

IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT WE NEED AT PRESENT AND WHAT WE HOPE TO BE IN THE FUTURE

It's true! I mean, we all have immediate needs and wants as well as future goals and plans. I guess we have to ask ourselves, do I really need a brand new shirt? Could be, maybe because you're stress at work and shopping is your only way of relaxation. Maybe not, simply because your goal is to buy that car your family's been dreaming to drive next year.

People will always have different priorities and goals.

So which one suits you the most?

Proverbs 13:11

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

Question of the Day: Would you rather be praised or paid?

Cash or Credits?

It has been part of my morning ritual at work to browse some useful tips and intriguing articles online before proceeding to the day's daunting tasks. While I was browsing, I landed on this article that brought to a very controversial question:

Would you rather be praised or paid?

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY
Let's face it, MONEY is still and will always be the most important motivator for any employee! Don't you dare say no (You, yes you!)! Praises are good, but it would never bring food to the table especially for most Filipino expatriates like us who would want to send a portion of these hard earned income to our loved ones back home.

HOWEVER, DOES MONEY LAST LONG ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU HAPPY?
According to Motivation Matters, "Motivation and recognition have got to stem from something more long lasting and substantive than money". Which is actually true! For most of us, appreciation and recognition are factors that engages us to our companies and most importantly to our work. We have that yearning for simply being "thanked for" and recognized of our work and contribution in reaching the company's goals.

However, there are a lot of questions to be answered here...

MONEY!

RECOGNITION!

Should you provide both?

When and how much compensation/recognition ratio should you give to your employees?

If you're given the responsibility of handling your own team in the future, what will you do given a situation like this?

Please feel free to provide your comments! Share your experiences!

Let your friends know more about motivation and recognition!

Psalm 37:5  

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.