It can be intimidating as a foreigner to come to Fuzhou to work in a waizi (China-based foreign company). The language barrier is just one of the obstacles together with the work culture, the codes of relationships and the values themselves.
Fuzhou is not Shanghai. The city is relatively small in Chinese standards and it doesn’t have the same level of international exposure as Shanghai does, at least for now. Some aspects of the Chinese and the Western cultures are so different that it seems impossible to reconcile one with the other. As a strong advocate of mutual understanding between people, however, I believe that it is manageable to work together towards a common goal.
The first thing I’ve learnt is: we should embrace the difference.
Yes, foreigners are different from the people in Fuzhou. And the Fuzhou locals are actually different from the typical Chinese depicted in the West.
As I often work with Fujianese business partners, I realize that they really value what is different in someone else. In Fuzhou, a foreigner is special and doesn’t go unnoticed. It is a great advantage for two reasons. First, people can spot you and remember you easily. This is highly beneficial as long as you have the proper behavior. A foreigner almost always has an edge when it comes to making friends, and Fuzhou is a particularly friendly city.
Second of all, by being so different, you really have something to bring to your local colleagues at workplace, even if you don’t realize it. The way ideas are created and plans are laid out is very different between the two cultures. There is a lot to share and also a lot to learn from one another.
The second point is: we should remember that we are not that different.
Differences cannot be an excuse for not trying to adapt to the local culture. Working in Fuzhou with local people requires efforts by both foreigners and locals.
It is important to keep in mind that locals and foreigners share similar dreams and ambition for happiness.
Fuzhou is a rapidly growing city with lots of opportunities in terms of work and business. Some foreign businesses fail to acknowledge that many Fujianese do not only want to work, but also want to learn new skills and have an interesting career. As Fuzhou develops economically, its taste for culture, arts and good living is also on the rise as well as people’s expectations.
A foreigner in a waizi has a special responsibility towards its Chinese colleagues as he or she is an ambassador of the main company.
If I work in Fuzhou, I should try to give more and ask less, and everybody should benefit from the collaboration.
The third thing I learnt is: we shouldn’t be let down by negative details, but should rather appreciate the positives.
Some foreigners living in Fuzhou have their share of criticism towards their workplace and the behavior of people. Having worked in Fuzhou for two years, it is true that I saw many things as suboptimal and sometimes really disorganized. I could complain about the company food, the heating system, the rubbish on some roads… But those details are just what they are: details.
Fuzhou is really an easy place for a foreigner to live. The weather is not extreme, and the city is very safe and well located.
The social etiquette of Chinese companies is also very interesting to discover. Having a weekend outing with my colleagues, inviting children to the company for the Children Day and taking part in the corporate annual party were all new and incredibly interesting things to me.
The fourth thing I’ve learnt is: we should work hard
As an employee of a Fuzhou-based multinational company, I have to deal with a set of managers from different origins. Depending on where the manager comes from, they have a different leadership style. An American manager could be a charismatic leader who leads his/her team by fostering motivation amongst them. A European could win respect from their employees by possible proven knowledge and intelligence. A Chinese manager is often respected by the amount of work he/she delivers.
Hard work is highly valued in Fuzhou culture. This shows itself even in some other countries. For example, a large part of the growth of New York City’s Chinatown was fueled by the immigration of industrious workers from Fuzhou and nearby cities.
I have actually noticed that my colleagues indeed esteem diligence. Working hard is a duty towards your colleagues and your community, and it is especially true in a traditional society like China’s.
You may not be the brightest or the smartest, but industriousness will win you respect.
Working in Fuzhou has been a great experience. I understood many things from my colleagues and partners in Fuzhou, such as the importance of keeping things balanced and the role of relationships.
I also learnt that it is possible to reconcile true friendship with business partnership; which I was not convinced of before coming to China.
Francois is an engineer in the electricity power industry. He has lived in Fuzhou, Taiwan, Europe and the USA.
His hobbies include traveling, trying new things and meeting people from all walks of life. He is interested in sociology and philosophy and likes to record his experiences on video.
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